Moon and Mars: colonization in lava tubes

[☆ pantheory ☆]

Although this idea has been around for decades now, it has recently surfaced as a great many scientists are now taking the idea 
seriously. I saw several of these articles and papers concerning lava tubes on the Moon and on Mars as being possible places to 
find indigenous microbial life, but more likely than this these lava tubes can be good places to start our colonization of these 
worlds, with surface outposts above the tubes. Here are just some of the related links: 

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/decadal/leag/AndrewWDagaFINAL.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_lava_tube
https://www.geekwire.com/2019/rover-teams-practice-spelunking-moon-mars-california-lava-tu
bes/
https://www.inverse.com/article/36777-mars-moon-human-colony-lava-tubes
https://science.howstuffworks.com/lava-tubes-on-earth-could-prepare-us-for-life-on-moon-an
d-mars.htm
https://www.airspacemag.com/space/mars-caves-180959123/
https://www.space.com/41921-exploring-lava-tubes-for-moon-landings.html
https://phys.org/news/2017-09-lava-tubes-hidden-sites-future.html
https://www.zmescience.com/science/geology/lava-tunnels-mars-moon-26092017/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/mars-lava-tubes/
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/22058/20190523/astronauts-to-use-lava-tubes-for-luna
r-accommodations.htm
https://news.yahoo.com/rover-teams-practice-spelunking-moon-024434125.html

A very promising idea indeed. This sure seems like the easiest way to start sizable colonies both on the Moon and on Mars.

[older]

Interesting thought. We can trash other celestial bodies just like we've trashed this one.

[Thurisaz]

What we'll do once we're up there is another question, but yes, lava tubes are a very reasonable choice for setting up an outpost or even colony. No excavation needed (or at least not much) and quite some shelter from radiation and impacts.