In a groundbreaking move, the European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled its new lunar simulation facility at the European Astronaut Center near Cologne, Germany. The facility, named LUNA, replicates lunar conditions to prepare astronauts for future missions to the moon.
The facility features 900 tons of ground-up volcanic rock, similar to the moon's surface, spread over a space slightly larger than a basketball court. To simulate the moon's low-gravity environment, movable ceiling-mounted trolleys will track the movements of astronauts and rovers suspended in the facility.
