Get ready for liftoff! 🚀 Europe is making waves in space exploration with the launch of LUNA, a brand-new moon simulator in Germany. French astronaut Thomas Pesquet couldn't contain his excitement as he tested out the facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne.
\"It's a dream come true and could be the highlight of my career,\" exclaimed the 46-year-old astronaut, known for his missions to the International Space Station (ISS). \"The Moon is 1,000 times farther away than the ISS. This adventure takes things to a whole new level!\" 🌕
LUNA is designed to train astronauts and test equipment for future missions to the Moon. With international interest in lunar exploration skyrocketing, Europe doesn't want to be left behind.
NASA's Artemis program is aiming to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2026, over five decades since the last Apollo mission in 1972. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency (ESA) is teaming up with NASA, and LUNA is Europe's big step forward. \"It's a key moment for Europe because we're truly jumping into lunar exploration,\" Pesquet said. \"LUNA is the first highly visible sign that we've embarked on plans to return to the Moon.\"
Pesquet also shared his surprising experience at LUNA. He and fellow astronaut Matthias Maurer practiced walking on the lunar surface, wearing special suits weighing 25 kilograms and carrying gear. \"I was surprised by the piercing light, especially at the south pole,\" he noted. \"It's not like Earth; you're a lot less coordinated. It reminded me of my spacewalks at the ISS.\" 🌟
International interest in the Moon is soaring! 🌖 Earlier this year, China made headlines by sending a probe that collected the first samples from the far side of the Moon. The country aims to send a crewed mission by 2030 and hopes to build a base on the lunar surface. Not to be outdone, Japan and India are planning a joint mission to hunt for water near the Moon's south pole in 2025.
Europe's involvement in providing the service module for NASA's Orion capsule has earned the ESA spots for its astronauts on the Artemis missions around the Moon. But to land on the lunar surface, Europe needs to bring something to the table. \"NASA has told us, 'To land on the Moon, you need to propose something to do on the lunar surface,'\" Pesquet explained. \"LUNA allows us to show we're serious.\" 🌍
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Europe en route for moon with new simulator, says French astronaut
cgtn.com
