Lava Hole on Mars May Hold the Key to Future Human Habitats

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Human missions to Mars will require shelters to safeguard against radiation, temperature fluctuations, and dust storms. One promising shelter option is to use underground lava tubes, similar to those on Earth and the Moon. These tubes might have collapsed sections called skylights that provide access to the underground spaces.

A potential site for such shelters is a pit in the Arsia Mons region of the Tharsis Montes volcano group. This region, characterized by its elevated volcanic plains, may contain pits that are either collapsed skylights or openings into lava tubes. However, these pits could be simple shafts or craters that do not lead to lava tubes.

On Earth, pit craters form when volcanic eruptions create cracks that eventually cause the surface to collapse, creating features ranging from 6 to 186 meters deep and 8 to 1140 meters wide. The Arsia Mons pit is approximately 178 meters deep. Unlike Earth, where vegetation can colonize craters, Martian craters remain essentially unchanged due to the absence of plant life.

While lunar lava tubes have been studied and are known to be thermally stable at around 17°C, Martian lava tubes are less explored. Observations of collapsed or rilles on Mars suggest that intact lava tubes may still exist. For instance, a pit on the Pavis Mons volcano has a void beneath it, hinting at a possible lava tube.

These lava tubes could offer potential astronaut shelters, but further investigation is needed. Robotic missions could serve as the initial step in exploring these Martian tubes and evaluating their suitability for use as habitats.