N° 50–2024: Media invitation: Inauguration of lunar analogue facility LUNA

The ESA/DLR facility, which is designed to recreate the lunar surface, will be used to prepare astronauts, scientists, engineers and mission experts for living and working on the Moon.

It will facilitate research, development and integrated testing of space technology under realistic conditions, providing valuable insights for upcoming lunar missions, such as NASA's Artemis programme which will send astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Guests from the space sector and governmental officials are expected to attend the inauguration of Europe’s cutting-edge space research facility, including ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, Chair of the DLR Executive Board Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst, alongside Deputy Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia Mona Neubaur and the Federal Government Coordinator for German Aerospace Anna Christmann, as well as representatives of NASA.

Programme (times in CEST)

12:00    Arrival at DLR :envihab

14:00    Inauguration of LUNA

16:00    End of event

16:00 – 18:00 Media opportunities

(Arrival time subject to change)

Media registration

Please express your interest in attending this event by Friday, 20 September by 14:00 CEST, by selecting and completing the relevant form at https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form.

Please note that the number of places is limited because of logistical restrictions linked to the location of the ceremony. For this reason, ESA cannot guarantee all interested media will be able to join this event. Registration to the event is mandatory. 

Further logistical information will be provided to media who will attend the event.

For further information, please contact Lorraine Conroy, ESA Media Relations via media@esa.int

For more information

https://luna-analog-facility.de/en/

For media enquiries please contact media@esa.int . 

Images 

ESA's Photo Library for Professionals: 
https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/ 

Terms and conditions for using ESA images: 
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int. 

Videos 

ESA's Video Library for Professionals: 

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos: 
https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions

Social Media 

Follow ESA on: 

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Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency 

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space. 

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world 

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are Associate Members. 

ESA has established formal cooperation with four other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement. 

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. 

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int