A new recreation of the Moon on Earth has sparked hopes of a “European renaissance” in space. Known as LUNA, the futuristic facility was inaugurated in Cologne, Germany, and features a 700-square-metre replica of the lunar surface and a Sun simulator that mimics the Moon’s phases.
Key Features of LUNA
Operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Agency, LUNA offers startups a chance to test their tech in a realistic environment. One of these startups is Spartan Space, which is developing a lunar base camp.
The camp is designed as a payload that spacecraft can robotically land on the Moon. Astronauts would then head towards the base from their initial landing spot, extending their adventures across the lunar surface. Peter Weiss, Spartan Space’s co-founder and CEO, believes that LUNA can underpin “a renaissance in European space exploration.”
In the new race to the Moon, Europe has fallen behind the US and China. LUNA provides a chance to catch up. The site will facilitate research, development, and integrated testing of lunar technologies. Space agencies, researchers, and businesses can all access the facilities.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director general, said that LUNA places Europe “at the forefront of lunar exploration and beyond.” Spacetech funders are also upbeat, with Lucas Bishop, an associate at investment firm Seraphim Space, calling the site’s inauguration “a significant milestone for Europe.”