A European lunar landscape: a 1:1 model of ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander at Europe’s Moon on Earth, LUNA.

Argonaut is ESA’s lunar lander programme and represents Europe’s future autonomous, versatile and reliable access to the Moon. Argonaut lunar landers, fully built by European industry, will transport 1.5 tonnes of cargo to anywhere on the lunar surface, supporting international robotic and crewed missions to the Moon. The cargo could include vital resources for astronauts such as food, water and air, as well as rovers, science instruments, infrastructures for communication and power generation and more. Together with the lander's ability to survive the harsh lunar night (unlike Apollo missions), these supplies will support long-term human presence on the Moon, helping to develop the capabilities needed to live and work on the lunar surface.

The model stands in LUNA, a cutting-edge lunar training ground that recreates some of the challenging conditions on the Moon, such as the harsh sunlight and dusty ground, to help researchers prepare for exploration on the lunar surface. At the heart of the facility is a 700-square metre testbed filled with simulated lunar dust, with a deep floor area that allows for sampling and drilling up to three metres below the surface. The facility is located near Cologne, Germany and is operated jointly by ESA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Here, engineers, scientists and astronauts can prepare for the next steps forward to the Moon.

Watch Matthias Maurer walking across the dusty terrain of LUNA.