How Europe's creating the moon on Earth
Approaching a lunar mission requires incremental advancements, such as Europe's recent LUNA training facility setup. However, they're still short of the target. The subsequent step: installing a moon gravity simulator. If you were to replicate the moon on Earth, you would require three fundamental components: A soil-like substance with a chemical profile akin to lunar soil is present alongside special lighting that replicates the sun's angular placement. In addition, an apparatus is used to mimic the moon's gravitational pull, which is six times weaker than the Earth's gravitational force. A very large container to accommodate everything, much like an enormous metal hangar. By late September 2024, they obtained roughly two-thirds of the entire moon's distinctive landscape. One crucial component was still lacking. Darkness was suddenly illuminated by a spotlight directed at two astronauts clad in full suits - Germany's Matthias Maurer and ...