What inherent advantage might the rugged far side offer for future long-term lunar habitats?
Answer
The thicker bedrock might provide better natural shielding against radiation.
While the near side's flatter maria make initial landings easier due to the smoother terrain, the geological structure presents a trade-off for long-term habitation. The text notes that the far side possesses a substantially thicker crust and bedrock. This increased depth of overlying material offers a significant, passive engineering benefit: superior natural shielding. This thicker layer provides inherent protection against deep penetration from solar particle events and cosmic radiation, which is a major concern for sustaining life below the lunar surface.
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