Investigation of existence and distribution of lunar and Martian lava tubes by remote sensing data

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26400459
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Haruyama Junichi 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 助教 (40373443)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 月 / 火星 / 溶岩チューブ / SELENE / かぐや / 縦孔 / リモートセンシング / 探査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is hypothesized that there exist lava tubes below the surface of the Moon and Mars; these lava tubes are keeping the clues to solve various scientific issues of planetary science and are the most appropriate candidates for lunar/Martian as shelters from radiation and/or micrometeorites. We investigated the possibility of existence of lunar/Martian lava tube and their distribution. We discovered new pits on the Moon and Mars that are possible skylights of underground lava tubes by explorers’ image data. Furthermore, we acquired new knowledge about possibility of existence of lava tubes from radar and gravity data of the Moon and Mars. These results have been already published.

Free Research Field

惑星科学