Move over, sci-fi movies—Europe is bringing moonwalking closer to reality! 🌍 French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, known for his epic spacewalks aboard the ISS, just tested a cutting-edge lunar simulator in Germany. Meet LUNA: a high-tech playground mimicking the moon’s dusty surface and extreme lighting. 🚀
Why the Moon, and Why Now?
Pesquet, grinning like a kid at a space camp, told AFP that stepping into LUNA was \"a whole different kettle of fish.\" Picture this: 25kg suits, blinding sunlight, and dust so thick it feels like walking through quicksand. \"It’s *way* harder than TikTok dance challenges,\" he joked (maybe).
Global Moon Craze Heats Up 🌏
NASA’s Artemis program aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2026, while China’s 2030 crewed mission plans and India-Japan’s water-hunting probe add to the cosmic race. ESA is teaming up with NASA, providing gear for Artemis—but Pesquet says LUNA is Europe’s flex. \"We’re proving we’re serious about moon bases,\" he said.
Astronaut Diaries: Slow-Mo Moonwalking
Pesquet and fellow astronaut Matthias Maurer practiced lunar tasks in LUNA’s 1,500m² arena. Spoiler: Moonwalking isn’t a Michael Jackson routine. \"You’re slow, uncoordinated, and constantly second-guessing your steps,\" Pesquet shared. Still, he called it \"the high point of my career\" if he gets to go.
With ESA astronauts scoring seats on Artemis missions, LUNA could be Europe’s golden ticket to the moon’s surface. As Pesquet put it: \"The adventure just leveled up.\" 🌟
