The idea of utilizing lunar lava tubes for habitation is not new. Most of the scientific and popular literature on the subject focuses on benefits of their extremely favorable environmental conditions, the savings of energy and mass in construction, and concepts for habitable structures and enabling habitation technologies if a base were to be located inside a lava tube. However, prior to any construction or emplacement of infrastructure, reconnaissance and site characterization must occur. Defining a mission planning architecture for exploration missions of robotic and/or human first contact with recently discovered entrances to potential lunar lava tubes is discussed. The paper presents a framework for developing reference mission architectures in order to assess candidate technology elements of reconnaissance missions to a lunar lava tube. The overall goal is to get some understanding of first robotic and human contact with a lunar lava tube for developing associated technologies needed to support these activities, including techniques of entering and examining them robotically and by astronauts. We investigate operational scenarios, technologies, and human and robotic performance feats associated with the first missions of planetary cave exploration. LUNAR SKYLIGHTS, PITS, AND TUBES

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Lava tubes are potentially important sites for the long-term human presence on the Moon because they provide shelter from surface hazards, including micrometeorites, radiation, extreme temperatures, and dust. The discovery of a lava tube opening or pit at Marius Hills in Oceanus Procellarum is compelling motivation for robotic and eventually human exploration missions to these sites for in situ investigations and site assessments to determine viability for habitation and utilization of lunar resources. We make the case for Marius Hills to be a high-priority landing site and present elements of lunar data analysis, instrument/payload concepts, science justification for robotic missions, and thematic geologic reconnaissance and remote sensing that should be conducted prior to any construction or emplacement of infrastructure. This is described as a “green reconnaissance” approach to lunar exploration and exploitation, which seeks to address such contamination factors as sprayed rocket exhaust and sublimating water in order to preserve science fidelity. We are developing a concept of operations called the Leto mission for a green reconnaissance approach to robotically access the Marius Hills sublunarean void.

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