From May 26 to 30, 2025, the 18th SpaceOps Conference took place in Montréal. With 674 participants from 32 countries and 27 exhibitors, the event presented new concepts for future space exploration missions with a specific focus on sustainable space strategies and the return to the Moon.
Under the theme “Toward Space Sustainability,” numerous contributions were made on system architecture, mission planning, and the operational challenges of future exploration projects. The conference clearly demonstrated how closely technical innovation and international cooperation are linked- especially for establishing a long-term presence in space.
In this context, the ESA-DLR LUNA analog facility was presented in the “analog environment” technical session (part of the Human Spaceflight and Operations topical theme): the latest status of the facility and the recent user campaigns were shown. Many delegates were able to engage with the LUNA team by asking questions during and after the presentation. In addition, a scaled 3D model of the facility was showcased at the DLR booth were visitors expressed interest in partnership opportunities, joint experiments, and training projects.
In Montréal, it became clear how relevant LUNA has become for international spaceflight. The facility combines practical training, technological development, and scientific research in a realistic environment. The feedback was unequivocal: LUNA closes an important gap on the way to long-term missions in the lunar environment. Possible user campaigns for 2025 and 2026 were already discussed during the conference, thus showing how Europe is ready to take an active role in the next phase of lunar space exploration.
