Back to the Moon – Europe's next big Step in Space
June 16, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Haus der Bildung (Mülheimer Platz 1, 53111 Bonn – room change
The Moon is once again taking the center stage in international space exploration ambitions – as a scientific testing ground and a test environment for future Mars missions. The new LUNA lunar analog facility in Cologne expands Europe’s capabilities for preparing these lunar activities. This ESA-DLR project provides a simulation environment for lunar missions, where procedures, equipment, and collaborations can be tested under realistic conditions.
But what conditions actually prevail on the Moon? What must one prepare for, and how can this be best achieved? And what exactly is to be researched on Earth’s satellite? These and other questions will be answered during the session.
The facility itself will be presented, explaining exactly how lunar surface conditions are simulated there, what types of robotic and crewed missions are being tested in Cologne, and what insights have been gained from the first 1½ years of operation. Additionally, the session will explain the objectives of lunar research activities and what life on our moon is actually envisioned to be like. The session makes it clear: The Moon is no longer a distant place of longing – but an integral part of European space activities.
The event is organized in cooperation with the German Space Agency, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Space Command of the German Armed Forces, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the Society for Security Policy (GSP), the research network “Security and Technology in Space” (SichTRaum), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Bonn/Rhein-Sieg), the Bonn Adult Education Center (Volkshochschule Bonn), and the student association ASTRA.
Ablauf
Welcome:
Dr. Enrico Fels
Managing Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS)
Lecture followed by discussion:
Maria Hallinger
Research assistant for the LUNA project at the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
In close cooperation with:
