ESA and DLR's LUNA Facility: VR Training for Future Lunar Missions

The ESA and DLR's LUNA Analog Facility utilizes virtual reality (VR) to prepare astronauts for lunar missions. Located at ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, the facility spans 700 square meters and contains 900 tons of basalt-based simulated regolith.

This setup allows teams to practice drilling, sampling, and navigation under realistic lighting conditions. VR and extended reality (XR) technologies enhance training by improving orientation and movement in unfamiliar environments.

These technologies facilitate tasks such as lunar surface navigation and robotic tool deployment. The facility aims to provide cost-effective and realistic training scenarios for astronauts, scientists, and engineers preparing for lunar exploration.