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Lunar

Training

The power of AI in space exploration

Posted on Friday December 20th, 2024 by Laura

What if artificial intelligence (AI) could make the impossible possible in space exploration? ESA’s Artificial Intelligence Lab for Human and Robotic Space Missions,  is dedicated to doing just that since the beginning of 2024. By combining cutting-edge AI solutions with ESA’s ambitions for the Moon, Mars and beyond, the Lab is redefining how humans and machines collaborate to explore the cosmos. 

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Moon

As the dust settles – first sandbag tapping at LUNA

Posted on Friday July 19th, 2024 by Laura

Exciting developments are unfolding in Cologne, Germany, where ESA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are establishing a worldwide unique lunar analogue facility – LUNA. This week, the first lunar sandbag tapping —opening the bags to distribute the sand— marked an important step in preparing the hall for future Moon mission testing.

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Spaceship EAC

EAC experiments take off in hypogravity

Posted on Thursday June 15th, 2023 by Laura

Have you ever wondered how researchers test space equipment or conduct experiments in low gravity conditions before going to space? One way to achieve this is through parabolic flights, which offer short periods of reduced gravity. These flights started as a way to train astronauts, but now are mainly used for scientific experiments and testing new technologies.

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Spaceship EAC

Mining lunar minerals with terrestrial fungi

Posted on Wednesday June 15th, 2022 by Ally

Filamentous fungi may not be the first thing most people think of when it comes to mining, but they could be the answer to construction on the Moon. João Figueira, a Master’s student with the University of Porto, Portugal, has been working with ESA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, to uncover how a unique biomining method could mould Europe’s next steps in space.

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Moon

LUNA: Moon on Earth

Posted on Tuesday December 21st, 2021 by Laura

Humankind's ambition to explore our steady orbital companion, the Moon, sustainably is accelerating around the globe. Many agencies are preparing for or already operating new robotic and human missions to the Moon, most prominently NASA’s Artemis programme that will fly astronauts to the Moon again about 50 years after Apollo. All international partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), must prepare for upcoming lunar missions and a facility planned next to ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, will recreate Moon conditions on Earth like never before.  

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Spaceship EAC

Home of ESA astronauts to host piece of the Moon

Posted on Wednesday September 15th, 2021 by Ally

A piece of the Moon, escorted by astronaut to ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, will soon serve as a public symbol of Europe’s next off-Earth adventure.

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Spaceship EAC

Spaceship EAC: turning up the heat on lunar dust

Posted on Thursday August 12th, 2021 by Laura

“Heat for one minute. Then, remove from the microwave and leave to rest before constructing your lunar habitat.” This, or something similar, could be part of an astronaut’s instructions in the future, as microwaves are used to process lunar regolith on the Moon.

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Spaceship EAC

Spaceship friendship: forward to the Moon together

Posted on Thursday May 20th, 2021 by Laura

At ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, the Spaceship EAC initiative brings a team of young professionals and researchers together to advance the future of human and robotic space exploration. It is a lofty challenge that is gathering momentum, with new Spaceship sites in Toulouse, France and the UK.

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