MAKING A TUNNEL THROUGH THE MOON

The pressure in the center of the moon is estimated to be 50,000 atm at a temperature of a few 10³ K. Under these conditions a tunnel to the center of the moon seems possible, if dug by a sequence of nuclear explosions, crushing the rocks through which the tunnel shall pass. The crushed rocks reduce the pressure gradient in the tunnel wall and permit the removal of heat by liquid metals. The number of required nuclear explosions, estimated to be several thousand, can be substantially reduced by thermonuclear shape charges.