A new paper reveals that ground acceleration from moonquakes, rather than meteor impacts, was responsible for shifting lunar landscapes at the moon’s Taurus-Littrow valley, where Apollo 17 astronauts landed in 1972. The study also pinpointed a possible cause for those surface changes and assessed damage risk using new models of the quakes—findings that may impact the safety of future lunar missions and the establishment of long-term bases on the moon.



Summary

A recent study challenges the long-held belief that meteor impacts primarily shaped the lunar surface. Focusing on the Apollo 17 landing site in the Taurus-Littrow valley, researchers found that ground acceleration from moonquakes caused significant landscape shifts. The study identified potential triggers for these quakes and used advanced models to assess the resulting damage risk. This research is crucial for future lunar exploration, highlighting the potential hazards of moonquakes and emphasizing the need to consider them in the design and safety protocols for long-term lunar bases.

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