ESA’s New LUNA Facility For Astronauts Training Looks Like Moon On Earth!

On Wednesday, 25 September, the futuristic LUNA facility, an advanced testing environment for ESA astronauts and space technologies, was officially opened in Cologne, Germany. Managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center, it provides highly realistic space technology research and development conditions.

LUNA For Moon Exploration

LUNA is meant to help Europe catch up in the new race to the Moon, sparking a “European renaissance” in space. The site will support research, development, and combined testing of lunar technologies, making it available to space agencies, researchers, and companies.

Additionally, the facility plans to introduce a gravity offloading system and an adjustable ramp designed to replicate the slopes found on the lunar landscape.

ESA’s director general, Josef Aschbacher, stated that the facility positions Europe “at the forefront of lunar exploration and beyond.” 

Test Environment For Space Technologies

During the inauguration, several LUNA features were showcased. Among them was a 700-square-metre replica of the Moon’s surface and a Sun simulator that recreates lunar phases.

“The facility will help see the future of #Artemis come to life, providing a test arena for European Space Agency — ESA astronauts and space technologies,” ESA commented on LinkedIn.

Testing Lunar Camp At LUNA

Startups have already begun testing their technologies at the site. One of them is Spartan Space, which is developing a lunar base camp.

The camp is built as a payload so that spacecraft can automatically land on the Moon. After landing, astronauts would travel from the landing site to the base, allowing them to explore more of the lunar surface. But first, they must show that the camp is ready for use.

“For this, we need LUNA. We can put our habitat in there and test robotic operations. We are also planning to test it with astronauts,” said Spartan Space’s co-founder and CEO, Peter Weiss.

Launchpad For European Startups

For European startups, the simulator will also serve as a launchpad. By showcasing their technologies in a realistic setting, they can demonstrate their systems’ effectiveness and attract global partners. Weiss aims for them to establish distinct niches in the market.

“Everybody is concentrating on bringing astronauts to the lunar surface,” he said. “Europe should bring auxiliary elements — what I call the lunar logistics,” he concluded.