  The physical state of the lunar soil in the permanently shadowed craters of
the moon is inferred from experimental investigation. The permanently shadowed
craters do not undergo the same thermal cycling experienced by other parts of
the moon and therefore could be slightly less compacted. This study is
significant because excavating, roving, and landing interactions, along with
the energy budgets and deployment schedules for associated technology, need to
be scaled and designed properly. Results indicate that the degree of compaction
due to thermal cycling is a function of the depth in the soil column.
