--- title: "Scientists Searching Mars for Good Caves for Astronauts to Live In" description: "In a presentation earlier this month, a team of researchers identified nine of the most livable caves on the surface of Mars." date: "2022-10-31" modified: "2022-10-31" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-mars-caves-astronauts" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Mars" - "Space" tags: - "mars" - "mars habitat" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Searching Mars for Good Caves for Astronauts to Live In ![In a presentation earlier this month, a team of researchers identified nine of the most livable caves on the surface of Mars.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Martian Real Estate In a [presentation]() earlier this month, a team of researchers from The Geological Society of America (GSA)identified nine of what they believe to be the most livable caves on the surface of Mars — spaces large enough that they could give future explorers much-needed protection from the harsh environment of the planet's surface, [*The New York Times* reports](). The Red Planet is a hostile place: temperatures can drop to [below negative 148 degrees Fahrenheit](), the atmosphere is incredibly thin, and there's no ozone layer, which means solar radiation is extreme as well. And that's not to mention the very real risk of getting [hit by a massive meteorite](). In short, the best place to survive is very likely underground. ## Location, Location The researchers narrowed down their list of hot Martian real estate by starting with the Mars Global Cave Candidate Catalog, a massive collection of over 1,000 caves identified by NASA's Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which could potentially house human astronauts. They whittled the list down to the best options by finding those within 60 miles of a potential landing site, and below around 3,300 feet of elevation, which could give descent vehicles more time as they experience their "seven minutes of terror" during their journey down to the surface. "Mars has just enough atmosphere that you can’t discount it, but not enough to actually give you a significant amount of aerobraking," Nicole Bardabelias, a geoscientist at the University of Arizona, who presented the researchers' findings, told the *NYT*, adding that you need "enough space between when you hit the top of the atmosphere and where you’re supposed to land." ## Cave Digs The scientists ended up with 139 candidates that met their criteria, which they then analyzed to make sure they extended underground. The largest of the nine leading candidates has an opening as big as an entire football field, a tantalizing prospect for future space travelers. For now, NASA's rovers are unfortunately nowhere near any of these candidates, which means we won't be able to have a surface-level look for quite some time. But that hasn't stopped us from wondering what [future dwellings on the Red Planet]() could one day look like. **READ MORE:** [House-Hunting on Mars Has Already Started]() \[*The New York Times*\] **More on Mars:** *[Researchers Say "Conan the Bacterium" Could Be Hidden Beneath Mars’ Surface]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()