The moon may soon have a high-tech seismic detection system, and it could be as simple as deploying cables across the lunar surface.
Two recent studies suggest that fiber optic cables placed directly on the lunar surface could function as sensitive detectors. moonquakesoffering a lightweight, low-cost alternative to traditional seismometers. The idea is based on a technique called distributed acoustic sensing in which laser pulses sent through optical fibers can pick up small vibrations along the entire length of the fibers, according to a statement from the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Using this method, a single cable could function as thousands of seismic sensors at once, dramatically expanding coverage compared to the handful of instruments deployed during the apollo program. Those Apollo-era seismometers revealed that the moon is surprisingly active, recording thousands of earthquakes between 1969 and 1977, but the tools were heavy, expensive and limited in range.
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“He moon “It has a lot of seismic activity, but deploying traditional seismic sensors like seismometers is extremely difficult and expensive,” Carly Donahue, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and corresponding author of the two papers, said in the release. “Fiber optic cables are light, robust and inexpensive, so we asked: Could they be used on the surface of the moon to detect seismic activity there?”
Moonquakes themselves are very different from earthquakes. Without tectonic platesThe moon’s tremors are driven by tidal forces from the Earth, meteorite impacts, and extreme temperature changes as the lunar surface warms and cools. The result is a tremor that can last much longer than on Earth because seismic energy slowly dissipates in the moon’s fractured interior.
Studying moonquakes It will provide new insights into the composition of the moon’s core and whether it is faulty, researchers said. However, understanding this activity is more than a scientific curiosity. As NASA moves toward a sustained human presence on the Moon through its artemis programSeismic data will be critical for astronaut safety and infrastructure planning. Long-lasting vibrations could affect habitats, landing platforms and other equipment, while mapping moonquake activity will help engineers choose safer base locations and design structures that can withstand repeated stresses.
“Seismometers are placed in one place and are good for collecting data from that place. But what about further away? We wanted to know if it would be possible to use a robot or thief launching fiber optic cables for many kilometers on the surface of the moon without burying them and still obtaining useful data,” Donahue said in the statement. “If so, it would be a much cheaper and more efficient way to collect data without requiring an astronaut to travel long distances to install sensors or the extensive on-site support systems used during the Apollo missions.”
Fiber optics could be especially suitable for the lunar environment. In LandThese cables are usually buried to reduce noise, but experiments suggest that on the airless moon, cables placed just on the surface can still capture strong signals.
As part of the first study, published in February 2026 Writing in the journal Icarus, researchers buried the optical fiber to multiple depths in an indoor laboratory at Los Alamos and analyzed data from sensors that recorded regional earthquakes as well as simulated seismic waves, revealing that the depth of burial did not significantly affect the clarity of the signal. This, in turn, could significantly simplify deployment, allowing robotic missions to unroll kilometers of detection lines without the need for excavation or complex installations.
Meanwhile, the second study, published March 17 in the journal Earth and Space Science, they found that thicker, stiffer fiber optic cables, in constant contact with the lunar surface, produce stronger signals. However, increasing the thickness of the cable also adds weight, highlighting a key tradeoff for space missions, Donahue said in the statement.
Beyond lunar earthquakes, the same technology could also help track the extent to which dust and debris spread during spaceship landingswhich is an important factor when evaluating the risks related to sandblasting for future lunar operations.
If validated on the Moon, the approach could transform the way scientists study not only lunar activity, but also planetary bodies in general, including Land. For now, it points to a compelling possibility: The next leap in lunar exploration could depend on harnessing fiber optic technology.
