LUNA Candelabra

As part of a larger global vision for human-lunar exploration, DLR and ESA are jointly constructing a lunar analogue facility, named LUNA. This facility shall provide capabilities for astronaut training, engineering, and scientific research to a wide range of users. As such, the facility is not limited to human factors research but shall also support the development of robotic and lunar infrastructure systems for the exploration of the moon. The LUNA facility will support the simulation of lunar extravehicular activities (EVAs) at the highest possible fidelity. Therefore, all systems developed for such EVA simulations, including the Sunlight Simulator system, shall be designed to operate to a high fidelity and in support of end-to-end EVAs and robotic surface operations. The purpose of the LUNA Sun Simulator, project name (and following referred to as) “Candelabra”, is to provide the LUNA facility with a unique lighting system, capable of recreating sunlight conditions as they would appear on the lunar surface. The facility contains a 700m2 regolith-filled lunar surface simulation-area. Within this area, high-fidelity simulated sunlight shall be provided by the Candelabra for human and robotic surface operations.