Contribution of Gravity to Lunar Science, Exploration and Resource Assessment

The recent development of high-resolution models of the lunar gravity field based on data from the NASA GRAIL mission have been instrumental in gaining knowledge about the structure of the Moon, and particularly, of the upper crust. Beneath the outer layer GRAIL data reveal evidence of massive ancient dikes and past processes that no longer have any surficial expression due to heavy bombardment during the Moon’s post-accretional epoch that pulverized the shallow crust. The gravity field of this outer crust, with lower density and higher porosity than expected, also reveals anomalies that indicate the presence of regions of even lower density possibly indicating the existence of lava tubes, as well as regions of higher density where mass anomalies could conceivably indicate locations of resources. Lava tubes, long suspected of existing beneath the maria, are places protected from particle and EM radiation and therefore potential locations for safe location of humans.  Gravity anomaly regions are thus prime locations for exploration studies that could help sustain a human presence. The use of high-resolution  gravity in lunar exploration, as well as science, is a tool for survivability for human expeditions.