ESA launches new lunar simulation facility

Jointly operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the the German Aerospace Agency (DLR), LUNA will enable research and testing of space technology under conditions analogous to those found on the Moon. Its 700-square-metre area replicates the lunar surface using 900 tonnes of basalt-derived volcanic grains and rocks, processed to create a ‘regolith simulant’ material. 

LUNA’s deep floor area will allow for drilling and sampling up to three metres below the surface, including on segments of regolith that will replicate frozen lunar soil. Meanwhile, a Sun simulator mimics the day and night cycles on the Moon, including the testing lighting conditions found at lunar polar regions. Future additions to the facility include a gravity offloading system to simulate the Moon’s reduced gravity and an adjustable ramp for testing mobility on lunar slopes.

"The opening of LUNA marks a significant milestone in Europe’s space exploration efforts,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA director general.