LUNA Analog Facility
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are jointly establishing a fundamental facility for the preparation of future human and robotic missions to the Moon at the Cologne site. With its unique infrastructure and the seamless integration into the campus, LUNA will enable complex simulations for lunar surface activities of astronauts and robotic systems. LUNA will be an important and relevant building block within the international capabilities.
LUNA establishes an internationally distinct and visible competence centre for Moon activities as German-European contribution to the continued exploration of space.
News
Motion tracking in LUNA – the moonwalk
Just as important for robotics as for astronaut fitness training or for analyzing precise motion sequences under reduced gravity: LUNA will be equipped with a system to precisely record movements in the hall and make them available to users. In order to meet the requirements of the various user categories
Broadcasting news from the Moon
July 21st 1969 at 02:56 UTC, Tranquillity Base:
Moon enthusiast for sure recall this milestone date, time and place: Neil Armstrong was the first person to step onto the lunar surface and everyone around the globe could watch history being made through normal TVs and thanks to the incredible technology
Living on the moon
What distinguishes the current Artemis programme from the Apollo programme of the 1960s and 1970s is, among other things, the sustainability aspect: the plan is not only to land on the moon and conduct research there for a few hours, but also to have a permanent research station on the
Faking the Moon landing: again?!?!
More than 50 years have passed since the last men were “pretending to walk” on the Moon and now humankind is almost ready again to step on our natural satellite, therefore we need again good cameras, lights effects, a good production studio and new digital technologies where to film the
Ramp test in the underground car park
Rovers that want to explore a crater. Astronauts who need to rehearse the rescue of a colleague on the surface: Being able to set a defined slope in the regolith hall is an important feature for the LUNA facility. What sounds trivial required some discussions, thoughts and conceptual work: The
Topping-out ceremony for LUNA
Topping-out ceremony for LUNA The shell of the lunar training and technology centre is complete and the hall is now roofed over – perfect occasion for the topping-out ceremony for LUNA on 26 January 2024. At the invitation of ESA, which is responsible for the construction of the building, construction
