From Cave Man to Cave Martian

This book explores the practicality of using the existing subsurfacegeology on the Moon and Mars for protection against radiation,thermal extremes, micrometeorites and dust storms rather thanbuilding surface habitats at great expense at least for those first fewmissions. It encourages NASA to plan a precursor mission using thisconcept and employ a "Short Stay" Opposition Class mission to Mars as thefirst mission rather than the "Long Stay" concept requiring a mission that istoo long, too dangerous and too costly for man's first missions to Mars. Included in these pages is a short history on the uses of caves by earlyhumans over great periods of time. It then describes the ongoing effortsto research caves, pits, tunnels, lava tubes, skylights and the associatedtechnologies that pertain to potential lunar and Mars exploration andhabitation. It describes evidence for existing caves and lava tubes onboth the Moon and Mars. The work of noted scientists, technologistsand roboticists are referenced and described. This ongoing work is moreextensive than one would think and is directly applicable to longer termhabitation and exploration of the Moon and Mars. Emphasis is also givento the operational aspects of working and living in lunar and Martian cavesand lava tubes.