Reaching the moon involves numerous small steps, such as Europe's new LUNA training facility. However, it is still not at that stage. The next step: a moon gravity simulator.
If you were to recreate the moon on Earth, you would need three main ingredients:
A material mimicking lunar regolith in terms of its chemical composition Special lighting to replicate the sun's angle A gravity simulator that simulates the moon's gravitational pull, which is one-sixth of the Earth's gravityA gigantic enclosure, essentially a massive metal building, would be needed to hold all of it.
— in late September 2024, they had achieved nearly two-thirds of the remarkable task of replicating the moon's unique landscape.
Total darkness was illuminated by a powerful beam of light that shone on two astronauts - Matthias Maurer from Germany and Thomas Pesquet from France.
Maurer and Pesquet walked across the hangar, with its 700 square meters of artificial ground, constructed from a blend of volcanic soils from Italy's Mount Etna, German Eifel region, and Norwegian rocks.
A duo, equipped with a long-handled scoop, a sample trolley, and a robotic canine, pretended to explore the mock lunar surface in front of approximately 100 prominent guests.
As they walked, the light shone from a specific direction to replicate how the sun would impede an astronaut's view when humans return to the moon, potentially within our current decade.
— because LUNA has no gravitational pull like the Moon on Earth.
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Against the backdrop of a cinematic soundtrack, Maurer and Pesquet showcased their simulated collection of samples and exploration of a crater on the actual moon. The scene played out for the politicians and agency officials, who enthusiastically nodded along and fist-bumped the astronauts in front of the TV cameras and their crews.
It felt incredibly grounded, unlike anything we'd experience on a moon-like world. However, it's an issue that the engineers are still trying to resolve.
In previous years, astronauts have employed parabolic flights and simulated water environments, such as swimming pools, to simulate and experience the effects of weightlessness or microgravity.
Parabolic flights employ modified jet aircraft to simulate weightlessness by flying at steep 45-degree inclines, both upwards and downwards, reaching high altitudes.
Astronaut training pools are designed with special equipment, and astronauts practice simulated spacesuit exercises in these pools.
None of these options would be viable in the LUNA Analog Facility due to its land-based setting.
Engineering teams aim to design and create a "gravity offload system," stated Andrea Emanuele Maria Casini, an aerospace engineer and leader of the LUNA project.
Imagine suspending the space explorers like figurines, seen from a bird's eye view.
The cables will be secured to the outside of the astronauts' space suits, likely to be pulled taut as they walk and raised while they jump.
The project is currently in its prototype stage. However, Casini stated: LUNA is an extremely costly experimentation facility. Nevertheless, it will be necessary at some point to test new technologies and train astronauts in a controlled atmosphere.
The magic happens inside," said Casini. "The terrain will enable the next generation of astronauts to return to the moon.
There is also potential for expansion available. In addition to the LUNA Analog Facility, there are two more modules situated next to it, including a habitat simulator and a functional greenhouse which was initially used in an experiment called EDEN ISS, designed to simulate food cultivation in low-temperature space environments.
Next to the main hall, there is an empty space, which might be used in the future for either a "LUNA 2" or Mars training facility.
The moon was brought to the Earth.
The person at the forefront of the mission explained that from day one, they were determined to capture the authentic images of the moon, even without the assistance of a gravity compensation system.
"When I step down into the crater and fully face the sunlight, I'm blinded," Maurer stated. Additionally, given that he's in a crater, everything in front of him is shaded by the crater's ridge, plunging them into darkness.
It is a stress test for astronauts, exposing them to challenging and varied conditions they will likely encounter on the moon.
An additional factor hindering space travel is the presence of the moon's regolith. "It poses a major technical challenge," said Maurer. "It causes damage to electrical equipment, gets into mechanical components and hinders their movement, and penetrates space suits. All such scenarios can be tested here on Earth."
Links around the globe
LUNA can interface with mission control centers around the globe - encompassing locations such as Germany's DLR in Cologne and the GSOC in Munich as well as NASA in Houston, US and the International Space Station.
This implies that simulations could be conducted remotely, allowing astronauts at NASA, such as those based in the US, to be steered through a mission simulation located in Germany.
When fully operational, the LUNA Analog Facility will serve as a symbol of Europe's dedication to space, stated ESA's special advisor for political affairs, Kai-Uwe Schrogl.
They provide credibility," Schrogl said. "You can talk a lot about going to the moon and beyond, but if you only have a few rockets or a landing craft in development, then you are not really credible. You need such a facility to demonstrate that you are serious.
In addition to assisting NASA's Artemis program, Europe aims to send astronauts to the moon in the 2030s. The LUNA Analog Facility is one small step towards achieving this goal.
Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
Author: Matthew Ward Agius
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