Editing Caves of Mars Project (section)

== Description ==

[[File:Pavonis Mons lava tube skylight crop.jpg|thumb|280px|A [[HiRISE]] image of a lava tube skylight entrance on the Martian volcano [[Pavonis Mons]].]]
[[Caves]] and other underground structures, including [[Martian lava tube]]s, [[canyon]] overhangs, and other Martian cavities would be potentially useful for crewed missions, for they would provide considerable shielding from both the elements and intense [[solar radiation]] to which a Mars mission would expose astronauts.  They might also offer access to minerals, gases, ices, and any [[wiktionary:subterranean|subterranean]] life that the crew of such a mission would probably be searching for.<ref name=boston2004/>

The program also studied designs for inflatable modules and other such structures that would aid the astronauts to build a livable environment for humans and other Earthian creatures.<ref name=boston2004/> <!-- and then what?  What came of this study? -->