Europe's Astronauts Practice Lunar Missions in New German Facility

European astronauts are training at the newly opened LUNA facility in Germany, which replicates lunar conditions with 900 tons of volcanic rock and movable ceiling-mounted trolleys to simulate low gravity. The European Space Agency (ESA) aims to prepare astronauts for future moon missions under NASA's Artemis program.

European astronauts, including Thomas Pesquet of France and Matthias Maurer of Germany, are now training at the LUNA facility, a new German-based site that replicates lunar conditions. The State-of-the-art facility in Cologne features 900 tons of ground-up volcanic rock, designed to mimic the moon's surface.

The facility uses movable ceiling-mounted trolleys to simulate the moon's low-gravity environment, allowing astronauts to experience the challenges of maneuvering in space suits. ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst stated that the facility offers comprehensive training elements such as lunar dust, rocks, and lighting conditions.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher hailed the LUNA facility as a milestone in Europe's space exploration. The facility, delayed due to the pandemic and the discovery of protected lizards, will also be used to test lunar rovers. The ESA aims to secure three spots for its astronauts on NASA-led Artemis missions by 2030.

(With inputs from agencies.)