This December, within the centuries-old halls of the Sasso San Gottardo fortress in Switzerland, the 5th student-led Asclepios mission is simulating a lunar base for aspiring space professionals.
Analog space missions replicate extraterrestrial conditions here on Earth, giving trainees a taste of isolation, resource constraints, and unexpected challenges.
At Asclepios V, nine aspirants from five continents will spend days in the fortress’s deep stone tunnels, identified as analogues to the Moon’s lava tubes. Over the course of the mission, they will:
- Test life-support routines in sealed habitats
- Perform geological sampling and analysis
- Develop emergency protocols under isolation
- Manage limited communication and resources
By immersing in simulated lunar conditions—limited communication, dim corridors, and resource constraints—participants learn to adapt workflows, conserve supplies, and maintain team cohesion under pressure.
As space agencies worldwide plan to return to the Moon and venture to Mars, analog missions like Asclepios V are critical for understanding human factors, habitat design, and operational strategies in alien environments. For these future scientists and engineers, the Sasso San Gottardo simulation is more than hands-on training—it’s a preview of life off Earth.
Reference(s):
RAZOR: The analog mission training the astronauts of tomorrow
cgtn.com
