Russians Want to Live in Lunar Tunnels and Caves

A Russian cosmonaut told a Reuters reporter this week, volcanic tunnels on the moon could provide a natural shelter for the first Russian lunar colony. It's been theorized the moon could be sort of hollowed out by ancient volcanos, and images from the Japanese spacecraft Kaguya showed a way down into the tunnels; a deep hole that punches through the lunar surface, Reuters reported.

"If it turns out that the moon has a number of caves that can provide some protection from radiation and meteor showers, it could be an even more interesting destination than previously thought," Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov told reporters.

"There wouldn't be any need to dig the lunar soil and build walls and ceilings," he said.

Some Russian space agency leaders think lunar bases could be built within the next 20 years. It's only natural for people thinking of any deep space research to consider a moon base as a good starting point. There are mining resources there potentially, and the gravity is much less than what it is on Earth. Any ships taking off from there for a deep space mission would be able to conserve fuel because it would be easier to escape the moon's gravitational pull.

Let us know in the comments if you think a moon base is a good idea.