- VIVA.co.id/Arianti Widya
Jakarta – The Moon has reportedly undergone a phenomenon of contraction, prompting NASA researchers to issue a warning for astronauts landing on Earth's natural satellite during the Artemis Mission in 2026 to establish a permanent habitat.
The Moon, with a diameter of approximately 3,475 kilometers or less than a third of Earth's surface area, is now believed to have a different size than previously quoted on the Space site.
This change was observed using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Researchers identified newly formed cliffs in the Moon's crust, possibly only 100 million years old.
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Moroever, the Moon's contraction is speculated to result from tectonic activity during the cooling process, unlike Earth, which has tectonic plates.
As the Moon gradually loses heat, tectonic activity occurs, causing the Moon's crust to become brittle and fracture, resulting in thrust faults.
This movement creates fragile crust sections pushed upward towards nearby regions, causing the Moon's surface to wrinkle.
According to Insider, such movements could have significant implications for astronaut landings, as Moonquakes are deemed powerful enough to damage human structures.
Moreover, these quakes can last for several hours, and the loose sediment makes the Moon's surface prone to shifting and landslides.
