Scientists Reportedly Pinpoint Radiation-Shielded Spot for an Outpost on Mars

While the surface of the Red Planet may be a bad choice for a base camp, considering the climate and solar radiation, the team shows where human explorers may seek refuge underneath the surface.

While it appears that establishing a manned outpost on Mars is still a thing of the who-knows-how-distant future, a team of researchers has been able to determine where exactly humans may find shelter on the Red Planet, Live Science reports.

As the media outlet points out, while the surface of Mars is arid and inhospitable, constantly bombarded by solar radiation, the lava tubes located in a meteor impact basin known as Hellas Planitia may provide a much-needed refuge for explorers who might have to spend years on the planet.

In order to test their hypothesis, the team visited lava tubes located in the American Southwest, discovering a “significant radiation-shielding effect” offered by such geological features.

Sourse: sputniknews.com