The World's Biggest Analog Mission (WBA) - the most extensive Moon and Mars simulation campaign ever conducted - has officially launched. Coordinated by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), the project unites 17 institutions across five continents to replicate the daily life and research operations of future off-Earth settlements. Central to this planetary-scale experiment is GMV's advanced Operatio by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Oct 22, 2025
The World's Biggest Analog Mission (WBA) - the most extensive Moon and Mars simulation campaign ever conducted - has officially launched. Coordinated by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), the project unites 17 institutions across five continents to replicate the daily life and research operations of future off-Earth settlements. Central to this planetary-scale experiment is GMV's advanced Operations Support Tools (OST) system, which enables seamless communication, coordination, and planning between analog habitats worldwide.
Installed at OeWF's Mission Coordination Center in Vienna, the OST platform serves as the mission's operational hub, connecting analog astronauts stationed in 16 habitats throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. It manages time zone synchronization, handles simulated communication delays, and oversees the execution of complex daily schedules - a critical capability for maintaining cohesion across a globally distributed mission.
"Running a mission that connects analog habitats on five continents requires a powerful, reliable, and flexible support system. OST ensures that every habitat, no matter where it is on Earth, can operate as part of a single, cohesive mission," said Mattia Moscardino, General Manager of GMV in Germany.
GMV's OST suite is a modular platform already operational at the Columbus Control Centre for the International Space Station. For the WBA campaign, it has been adapted to the unique demands of planetary analog research, providing mission planners with the same level of precision and reliability expected in real space operations.
By supporting complex simulations of human presence and logistics on the Moon and Mars, GMV is helping prepare the ground for future crewed missions beyond Earth orbit. The insights gained from WBA will inform procedures, decision-making frameworks, and mission technologies designed to ensure astronaut safety and autonomy far from Earth.
"The World's Biggest Analog Mission shows how global collaboration and advanced technology can come together to simulate the challenges of living and working beyond Earth," said Dr. Gernot Gromer, Director of the Austrian Space Forum. "Thanks to partners like GMV, we are building the foundations for real human exploration."
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