The Moon’s surface has been recreated at a lunar analogue facility in Cologne, Germany. Operated jointly by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Agency, LUNA was designed to simulate the lunar surface and to train astronauts, mission experts and researchers for living and working on the Moon.

Realistic conditions for developing and testing space technology were realized with the deposition of 900 tons of basalt-derived volcanic grains and rocks in a 700 m2 area. The material has been processed to form a regolith-like covering such as found on the Moon. The deep floor environment, which includes segments that represent frozen lunar soil, will enable drilling and sampling up to 3 m below the surface. A solar simulator replicates the diurnal and nocturnal cycles and is intended to facilitate testing of lighting conditions at lunar polar regions.

LUNA recreates the Moon's surface on Earth. Source:  German Aerospace Agency/ESALUNA recreates the Moon's surface on Earth. Source: German Aerospace Agency/ESA

Plexiglas elements buried in the regolith to represent ice, intended to be explored using radar experiments, and a lava tube offers a relevant localization target for seismic experiments. The facility also includes a chamber for use in evaluating protective measures against lunar dust, which can interfere with the operation of mission equipment.

Future additions to LUNA will include a gravity offloading system to simulate the Moon’s reduced gravity and an adjustable ramp for testing mobility on lunar slopes. The installation of trolleys and cable systems on the ceiling will enable astronauts or rovers to move as if they were on the Moon, weighing just one sixth of their actual weight.

The open hub facility is available to space agencies, academia, researchers and other interested entities worldwide.

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