NASA has selected a proposal led by the Planetary Science Institute to determine if a potentially large underground cave exists beyond the opening of the Moon’s Marius Hills pit, according to a phys.org report on October 2, 2026. The project, funded through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program, aims to determine if the site holds a stable lava tube that could shelter future astronauts from radiation and extreme temperature swings.
Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar Pit Investigation Overview
Led by Planetary Science Institute associate director and senior scientist Than Putzig, the selected project is named the Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation, or GIMLI. According to phys.org, the Planetary Science Institute is partnering with Honeybee Robotics to build much of the equipment and instrumentation. These payloads will travel to the lunar surface on a lander and rover provided through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, with additional project work carried out in partnership with the Norwegian Space Agency.
Planetary Science Institute director and CEO Amanda Hendrix stated that GIMLI represents the type of ambitious planetary science the organization was built to pursue. By taking a scientific question previously studied from orbit, the team can investigate the lunar surface directly. Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company, will provide project management services, build instrumentation for the active-source seismic system, gravimeter, and cameras, and integrate all instruments onto the lander and rover.
Instrumentation and Scientific Methods at the Marius Hills Pit
GIMLI will deploy ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a gravimeter to look beneath the surface, while onboard cameras capture imagery of the terrain and pit walls. Putzig mentioned that the initiative brings intentional active-source seismic methods back to planetary science, a practice that has essentially not been utilized since the first seismic surveys on the Moon were performed by Apollo astronauts. Combining this seismic approach with ground-penetrating radar and gravity measurements will provide a clearer picture of subsurface properties and target the anticipated detection of a lava tube.
Beyond locating voids, the collected data will help clarify how the Marius Hills pit formed. Gareth Morgan, Planetary Science Institute senior scientist and deputy principal investigator on GIMLI, explained that confirming a substantial lava tube would provide insight into lunar volcanism. Because lava tubes are common in Earth’s basaltic volcanism, identifying them on the Moon allows researchers to apply terrestrial cave knowledge to lunar history. The mission will also examine exposed regolith and lava layers in the pit walls to determine how lava traveled across the lunar surface and whether long periods separated eruptions.
Academic Institutions and Space Agencies Join GIMLI Collaboration
The GIMLI collaboration spans multiple academic and research institutions alongside its commercial and space agency partners. The team includes co-investigators from the University of Oslo, Johns Hopkins University, Boise State University, and the Lunar and Planetary Institute, while the Norwegian Space Agency is specifically providing the ground-penetrating radar.
Frequently Asked Questions About the GIMLI Lunar Mission
What launch provider or spacecraft will deliver GIMLI to the Moon?
The GIMLI instruments will be carried on a lander and rover provided through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
Which organization is building the active-source seismic system and gravimeter?
Honeybee Robotics, operating as a Blue Origin company, is building the instrumentation for the active-source seismic system, gravimeter, and cameras.
What specific region of the Moon is the primary focus of this research?
Research will focus on the Marius Hills pit, a large hole located in one of the Moon’s most volcanically diverse regions.
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