Deep beneath the Swiss Alps, nine students are living like lunar pioneers this week – and it’s not a sci-fi movie plot! 🎬 The 5th Asclepios analog mission, running inside the Sasso San Gottardo fortress bunker, mimics moon exploration using stone tunnels that mirror the Moon’s lava tubes. These underground channels could one day shelter astronauts from radiation and extreme temperatures. 🔥❄️
Reya El-Salahi from RAZOR reports the crew is tackling ‘space-grade’ challenges: isolation, teamwork drills, and experiments that could shape real lunar bases. 🧪💡 With NASA’s Artemis program aiming to return humans to the Moon by late 2025, missions like Asclepios are crucial training grounds for tomorrow’s space workforce. 🌍→🌑
🚨 Why it matters: Analog astronauts test tech and psychology in extreme environments – think Mars-ready veggie farms or AI-assisted navigation. As one participant told RAZOR: "It’s like a space internship… but with more rock climbing!" ⛑️🧗♂️
