Training facility for astronautical and robotic missions to the Moon

The Moon now also exists on Earth – for the training of astronauts, the development of technologies and the preparation of long-term missions: The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and the European Space Agency ESA have now jointly established the LUNA research facility. The LUNA hall contains, among other things, a simulated lunar surface spanning an area of 700 square metres. It is filled with ‘Moon dust’, which is strikingly similar to actual lunar regolith. The rocks and boulders are modelled on lunar geology and a solar simulator recreates the lighting conditions on the Moon. The LUNA Hall was officially opened on 25 September 2024.

More information on DLR.de