Lunar surface meteor strikes on minds of Nasa bosses in developing Moon base
NASA officials are evaluating the risks posed by meteor strikes as they plan for a permanent lunar base by 2032. Recent data from the Artemis II mission and a significant 2024 asteroid impact have highlighted the need for robust safety measures against space debris.
Why it matters
Understanding lunar environmental hazards is critical for the safety of future long-term human space exploration and the success of the Artemis program.
Nasa chiefs are “giving a lot of thought” to meteor strikes on the lunar surface in ambitious plans to develop a base on the Moon.
Space agency boss Jared Isaacman has said there were going to be potentially hazardous environmental factors that needed to be taken into account in establishing an outpost.
He made his comments after it was revealed, last month, that a comet or asteroid the size of a building up to six-storeys high had crashed into the moon’s surface back in 2024.
The impact left a crater about 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep.
Scientists have described the magnitude of the collision as a “once-in-a-lifetime” incident, which occurred around every century.
Headlinne story · 5 newsrooms
NASA Outlines Timeline for Artemis Moon Lander Test Flights
What every outlet reported, where they differ, and how each framed it →
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in