Moon astronauts will soon be specially trained in Cologne
Created: 03/22/2022, 17:19
By: Mick Oberbusch
Astronauts could soon be trained in Cologne – in a hall that replicates the moon.
© Poolfoto/Imago & imagebroker/Imago
Will astronauts only pass through Cologne in the future?
As the German Aviation Center explains, training is to take place in the cathedral city in the future.
Cologne – From Cologne Cathedral to the moon: astronauts who fly to the moon are to be trained in Cologne in the future.
In the next few months, construction of the LUNA test and training facility will begin on the site of the German Aerospace Center DLR (Porz district), explains the center itself. LUNA is a joint project between DLR and the European Space Agency ESA, which is based in Cologne operates the European Astronaut Center (EAC), reports 24RHEIN.
German Aerospace Center | |
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address | Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne |
Flights to the moon: Astronauts will soon be trained at DLR in Cologne
"The return of humans to our satellite is a declared goal of international space travel," explains DLR.
In contrast to the short visits by the Apollo astronauts, however, the future presence on the moon is intended to be permanent.
Gradually, infrastructure will be placed on the lunar surface to allow repeated and longer stays, until finally a lunar station will serve as a research base and living space for the astronauts.
Cologne gets Halle, which maps the lunar environment - including dust and craters
In future, astronauts will be made fit for the flight to the moon at the DLR in Cologne.
© Hermann J. Knippertz/Imago
“The lunar simulation facility LUNA will make an important contribution to preparing the space missions of the coming decades.
In a 700 square meter hall, nine meters high, the special environmental conditions of the moon are realistically simulated.
Among other things, lunar-like dust, so-called regolith, will cover the entire floor of the hall, lunar-like craters will be reproduced and rocks will be present, and there will be a suspension system with which astronauts will be cushioned to a sixth of their earthly weight and thus reduced Experience the gravity of the moon,” explains DLR.
700 square meters
lunar-like dust (regolith)
become lunar-like craters
rock
Suspension system that cushions astronauts to a sixth of their weight (simulation of reduced gravity)
DLR: Astronauts will soon be prepared in Cologne - for a trip to the moon
On the one hand, the simulations serve to research and develop technologies that are optimized for use under lunar conditions.
On the other hand, astronauts and the support teams in the control centers can train as realistically as possible for their mission on the lunar surface.
In addition, LUNA is a research environment that is just as open to university research as it is to industry, start-ups and small and medium-sized companies.
Moon facility on DLR territory in Cologne is to be built in 2022 - for over 25 million euros
The start of construction of the lunar analog system is scheduled for 2022.
The ESA is financing the construction of the hall, while the DLR, with the support of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia of up to 25 million euros, is taking on the technical equipment of the hall and the connected lunar technology center.
A large part of the technical infrastructure as well as preparation rooms, laboratories and visitor rooms will be accommodated here.
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