Like the kids toy that rolls around the floor, the THEM Roller is a small, self-propelled vehicle that trails a string (a fiber optic data and security cable) behind it. It will be deployed from the Lander and move “downhill” towards the opening. Once over the edge, it can raise and lower itself by sending commands through the data link to the Lander to spool out more cable (lower) or reel in the cable (raise).
Once over the edge, the Roller will use it’s LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system to scan the area beyond the opening. This data will then go back to the Lander and the Comms system, where it will be sent to Earth and displayed as a 3D image of the inside of the lava tube. Evaluations need to be made as to the best equipment to use, considering the lave tube could be 2-300 meters wide and up to a 1000 meters long.
Whether the area away from the hole goes just a few meters or extends for hundreds or even thousands of meters, the Tranquility Hole Exploration Mission will have added greatly to human knowledge and understanding of the Moon.
And maybe we’ll find a great place to build a research station or a settlement. Protected by 10-20 meters of lunar regolith, the area around the Hole will become a sheltered oasis for human settlement. The wide opening and depth of the Hole will allow a fairly large piloted landing craft to enter and traverse to a safe, flat landing sone (if one exists). By the time larger landing craft are needed, an external spaceport can be built with an automated shuttle that goes down to the interior settlement and then back up to the landing field.
Depending on the width, length and depth of the interior space, a settlement of 10s, to 100s or even thousands of people may be constructible away from damaging and deadly radiation and impacts.