As the U.S. and other nations prepare for a new era of space exploration, new research suggests "moonquakes" could pose an invisible risk to future landers, habitats and long-term infrastructure.
In a study published on July 30 in the journal Science Advances, geophysicists examined the Apollo 17 landing site in the moon's Taurus-Littrow valley — where astronauts last set foot on the moon in 1972 — to understand how seismic activity has shaped the landscape. Their findings suggest ancient moonquakes, triggered by underground faults, have repeatedly shaken the region over tens of millions of years. These faults may still be active today, posing potential hazards to future missions, especially if infrastructure is built too close to them.
