ESA opens ‘moon on earth’ to advance space research

08 Oct 2024 | News

The facility, run by the European Space Agency and German Aerospace Agency, is an ‘open hub’ for researchers, companies and space agencies

Photo credits: DLR German Aerospace Center / ESA

Researchers, space agencies and companies from around the world will have access to a new facility in Cologne designed to recreate the moon’s surface, to research, develop and test their technologies.

LUNA, which opened last week, will also be used to prepare astronauts, scientists and engineers for living and working on the moon.

"The opening of LUNA marks a significant milestone in Europe’s space exploration efforts,” said Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA). “We are proud to lead this project, which positions Europe at the forefront of lunar exploration and beyond, while also fostering international collaboration in space research.”

LUNA houses a 700-square-metre area designed to…