NASA Selects Mission to Explore Marius Hills Lunar Pit

The project will investigate potential underground lava tubes on the Moon for future human habitat research.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Space

Rugged lunar surface with a large, deep crater-like pit under harsh lighting, creating stark shadows on the gray landscape. — NASA has selected a mission to investigate a lunar pit in the Marius Hills region to identify potential underground lava tube habitats. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NASA has selected a Planetary Science Institute proposal to study a lunar pit located in the Marius Hills region of the Moon. The mission aims to determine if the site connects to an expansive underground lava tube system.

Why it matters

Identifying stable underground lava tubes could provide essential shelter for future human lunar habitats, protecting astronauts from radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations.

The Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation project will deploy ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a gravimeter to analyze the site. Additionally, onboard cameras will image the surface and walls of the pit.

The players

NASA

The United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program and aeronautics and space research.

Planetary Science Institute

A private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to solar system exploration and the study of planetary science.

Honeybee Robotics

A subsidiary of Blue Origin that develops advanced robotic systems and specialized hardware for space exploration.

The details

The mission, funded through NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program, is being developed in partnership with Honeybee Robotics. The equipment must be compatible with the Commercial Lunar Payloads Services lander and rover to ensure successful deployment at the sinuous rille.

The Moon was volcanically active in the distant past when it formed sinuous rilles.
Astronauts conducted the first seismic surveys on the Moon during the Apollo missions era.

The Big Picture

This mission extends the research goals established by the Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program. It shifts the focus toward high-resolution subsurface mapping to test hypotheses regarding lunar volcanism and habitat viability.

Confirming the existence of accessible lava tubes could fundamentally change the feasibility of long-term human missions to the Moon. Such discoveries directly impact the development of future lunar infrastructure and habitat engineering strategies.

The takeaway

Understanding the subsurface of the Moon is critical for building sustainable human outposts beyond Earth. Future research at the Marius Hills site will clarify how ancient lunar volcanism created the structural features necessary for these habitats.