ESA-DLR LUNA regolith test bed area operations

The LUNA analogue facility, known as ESA-DLR LUNA, is a collaborative project between the European Space Agency ESA and the German Aerospace Centre DLR. It will provide a training ground for astronauts and a test centre for technology, equipping partners and users with the knowledge to go forward to the Moon. LUNA will soon be built opposite ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.

This image shows a virtual reality (VR) model of LUNA’s main hall containing the regolith testbed area with dust chamber visible.

VR is an essential tool to prepare for building layout, optimise rooms and visualise future outfitting choices. In a later stage LUNA VR will be crucial for LUNA stakeholders and users to prepare and rehearse their test campaigns weeks before actually entering the building, all just thanks to a high fidelity VR replica of the facility.