The Moon is in sight at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, where a facility designed to recreate the lunar surface will soon be built. Known as ESA-DLR LUNA, the collaborative project between the European Space Agency ESA and the German Aerospace Centre DLR 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.

This video shows a VR model of the future LUNA analogue facility, that will be located opposite ESA’s EAC, and takes us on a tour through its premises featuring the planned entrance hall, regolith testbed area, mission preparations room, preparation room, dust chamber, meeting and visitor’s room.

Find out more on the ESA Webportal: ESA - LUNA is taking shape

And on ESA’s Exploration blog: LUNA: Moon on Earth – ESA – Exploration