The exterior resembles a typical white, featureless hangar, situated in a corner of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). However, within the nine-meter-high structure, featuring walls and a ceiling as dark as space, lies a replica of the lunar surface.
Illuminated solely by a low-positioned spotlight at one end of the 700 square meters—equivalent to over three tennis courts—the terrain displays a mix of bumps and craters, contrasting areas of deep black with harshly lit patches. The ground is covered in a peculiar pale gray dust, scattered with rocks.
“I walked there yesterday in our new space suit, and when I entered the gray areas, I couldn’t find my way around. Is it just a hollow or an abyss?” notes Matthias Maurer, an astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA), whose training center (EAC) is located adjacent to LUNA.
A materials science engineer, he initiated the joint DLR-ESA project over ten years ago and will be the first participant in the inauguration of “this unique facility, integrating numerous diverse elements, unmatched anywhere else in the world, even at NASA” next Wednesday.
To avoid importing 900 tonnes from the United States, the ESA developed EAC-1A, a substitute for lunar regolith, the thick layer of dust that covers the lunar surface for several meters.
To the touch, it feels as rough as pumice stone. The fine grain size, along with its highly abrasive nature, poses risks to the respiratory system and equipment.
Living and working on the Moon
As we step on it, “it rises and floats” in the air, explains Matthias Maurer. On the Moon, regolith is even more challenging, as it carries static electricity that causes it to cling to any surface. This led to concerns among Apollo astronauts about the waterproofness of their spacesuits after only three excursions.
On the Moon, regolith results from countless asteroid impacts on the lunar crust. The regolith used in LUNA is a “volcanic basalt material that has been ground and sifted, then mixed,” explains Jürgen Schlutz, the ESA project manager. This clever mixture is produced from an ancient German volcanic site.
LUNA is a collection of nine-meter-high containers. Photo ESA
Engineers are still awaiting a special delivery of 20 tonnes of Greenlandic regolith, which will be utilized in the “dust laboratory” (dust lab), a hermetically sealed space within LUNA, for testing equipment.
The facility will soon feature a mobile artificial sun, providing a grazing light effect that alters the appearance of the terrain hour by hour.
An innovative harness system, operated from the top of the structure, will simulate the Moon’s very low gravity, ensuring that an astronaut weighing 60 kilograms will exert no more effort than if they weighed 10.
Frozen ground
Another innovation is the ability to freeze the LUNA ground to a depth of three meters. “Because on the Moon, we will want to drill in locations where we can find water ice.” explained Matthias Maurer.
The space will also include an underground area to test techniques for using regolith as a construction material and for extracting oxygen.
In one corner, a tilting section will assess the ability of astronauts and their equipment to navigate slopes of up to 50 degrees, a challenging task on this material, where you initially sink to your ankle, much like climbing a dune.
“After a long eight-hour day exploring the Moon, you return to FLEXHab,” Matthias Maurer continues.
This living module, designed for four astronauts, will be directly connected to LUNA within a week. They will utilize a watertight airlock to remove their suits and prevent any regolith from entering their habitat.
Next, a closed-loop plant production module, Eden, will be tested, having been in use for five years at a DLR Antarctic station.
Ultimately, this will create an entire ecosystem to help “understand how to live and work on the Moon,” according to Jürgen Schlutz. Additionally, it aims to secure placements for European astronauts in the American Artemis program, which is set to return to the Moon.
For Matthias Maurer, a natural candidate for this venture, entering LUNA “feels a bit like I already have one foot on the Moon.”
LUNA: Revolutionizing Lunar Exploration Training in Germany
The exterior of LUNA may resemble a typical white hangar, blending seamlessly into its surroundings at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). However, inside this remarkable nine-meter-high facility lies a groundbreaking lunar surface replica that aims to transform how astronauts are trained for missions to the Moon.
Understanding LUNA: A Unique Simulation Environment
Spanning an area of 700 square meters—larger than three tennis courts—LUNA’s interior features walls and ceilings that are as dark as space itself. Under the light of a low-placed spot, the dynamics of bumps and craters create a striking contrast between shadowy depths and starkly illuminated surfaces, with the ground covered in a peculiar pale gray dust speckled with rocks.
A Closer Look at the Lunar Regolith Replica
To circumvent the need for 900 tonnes of real lunar regolith from the United States, the European Space Agency (ESA) has developed EAC-1A, an equivalent material designed to mimic the Moon’s dust. This engineered regolith is as abrasive as pumice stone, posing potential hazards to both equipment and astronauts due to its fine particles. Astronaut Matthias Maurer explains, “When you step on it, it rises and floats in the air,” simulating the challenges astronauts will face on the Moon.
Living and Working on the Moon: Training Simulations at LUNA
LUNA’s innovative design takes into account the intricate realities of living and working on the lunar surface, helping future astronauts prepare for various conditions they will encounter during their missions. Key features include:
- Low Lunar Gravity Simulation: A sophisticated harness system controlled from the facility’s top allows astronauts to experience a reduced gravity environment. This means that a 60-kilogram astronaut would feel as if they weigh only 10 kilograms while performing tasks.
- Dust Laboratory: A sealed area will experiment with the Greenlandic regolith, allowing scientists to conduct thorough testing on equipment that will operate on the Moon.
- Frozen Ground Exploration: LUNA can simulate lunar conditions, including freezing ground to a depth of three meters. This feature is crucial for future missions anticipating locating water ice beneath the lunar surface.
Preparations for the Artemis Missions
One of the main goals of LUNA is to enhance European contributions to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. Maurer notes, “Entering LUNA is like having one foot on the Moon,” reflecting the facility’s critical role in astronaut training. The upcoming installation of FLEXHab, a living module accommodating four astronauts, further emphasizes the integration of living quarters with training environments.
Operational Challenges: Overcoming Lunar Terrain
The facility includes a tilting section designed to test astronauts and their equipment on slopes of up to 50 degrees, simulating the arduous task of traversing the uneven lunar landscape, which can be akin to navigating sand dunes.
Testing New Technologies
LUNA is set to incorporate a mobile artificial sun, mimicking the lunar light conditions that change throughout the day, thereby providing invaluable data on how different light angles affect the lunar surface’s appearance and working conditions.
Benefits of the LUNA Facility
LUNA is not just a training ground; it symbolizes a significant step forward in preparing for lunar exploration. The facility offers several advantages:
- Realistic Training Conditions: Astronauts train under genuine conditions that reflect what they will encounter on actual missions, helping them build familiarity and comfort.
- Groundbreaking Research: Ongoing projects will focus on utilizing lunar regolith for construction and extracting breathable oxygen, crucial for sustaining human life on the Moon.
- Enhanced Safety Protocols: Through the simulation of lunar dust and surface conditions, LUNA helps engineers develop solutions to avoid potential hazards during missions.
First-Hand Experiences: Astronaut Reflections
Matthias Maurer, who has already experienced navigating the training environment, shares insights from his training sessions: “Entering LUNA immerses you in a different reality. It’s challenging and surreal, forcing you to constantly assess your surroundings. The gray areas can become deceptive—one moment you think you see depth, and the next it shifts to an unknown abyss.”
Future Endeavors: Building an Ecosystem on the Moon
The vision for LUNA extends beyond training; it aims to establish a functional ecosystem on the Moon, capable of supporting long-term human habitation. Structures such as the Eden closed-circuit plant production module will be integrated, tested along with FLEXHab for growing food sustainably on the Moon.
Conclusion: Shaping the Next Generation of Lunar Exploration
LUNA stands at the forefront of lunar exploration technology and astronaut training. The establishment of this unique facility is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the ESA and DLR. As astronauts prepare to embark on new journeys to the Moon, LUNA will ensure they are equipped with the experience, knowledge, and technology needed to face the challenges that lie ahead.
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