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Lunar lodging
TIGNES, FRANCE
Generally, you’re more likely to see people wearing skis and goggles than spacesuits in this part of the French Alps. But, for one week this January, the frozen lake of Tignes effectively became the Moon. The scientists here simulated a lunar surface exercise to test the EUROHAB space dwelling.
That’s the unit you see here. It has been designed by French start-up Spartan Space to act as a remote outpost for permanent lunar habitation, and extend the range of potential exploration during Moon missions. Able to host two astronauts for up to two weeks, EUROHAB could be a refuge in unexpected circumstances and a station for scientific experiments, since remote control allows for sample analysis even when no astronauts are present.