Development of procedures for testing EVA tools in the LUNA analog facility

Kurzfassung

NASA and ESA have the ambition of returning humans to the Moon this decade. This makes it essential for Europe to prepare for lunar missions and future developments. Through the construction of the LUNA analog facility in a joint cooperation between ESA and DLR, which opened in 2024, this plan becomes a reality. LUNA enables astronauts and users to test and try out experiments, devices and tools on Earth before flying them into space. Since safety is critical in human spaceflight, it is decisive to establish procedures that can guarantee this for all future astronautical efforts involving such experiments, devices, and tools. One example of such a tool is the Pistol Grip Tool (PGT) on-board the ISS, which is used by astronauts during extravehicular activities (EVAs). This tool is expected to be utilized on potential lunar surface missions. In light of the challenges posed by EVA suits and the Moon's lighting conditions, it is essential to test tools on Earth prior to their use in space in order to improve efficiency and safety. Therefore, this article aims to demonstrate the lessons learned from developing test procedures for remote testing of physical tools, such as PGTs, in the LUNA analog facility during a remote LUNA operation.