Q: How does being an analog astronaut benefit my career or research?
A: By participating as an analog astronaut, you not only gain valuable real-world experience in an environment that simulates space conditions, but you also have the opportunity to collaborate with a network of professionals, researchers, and institutions. This can significantly enhance your skills, support your research objectives, and provide a competitive edge in your field.
Q: Can I opt in or opt out of external data gathering and collaboration?
A: Yes, you have the option to opt in or out of any external data gathering initiatives. While collecting data and fostering collaborations is usually a central purpose of participating in our analog missions—helping to achieve our collective research goals and enabling partnerships with other scientists and institutions—we fully respect your individual preferences regarding data sharing. If you choose to opt out, please note that it may limit the scope of your contribution to these collaborative efforts. However, we encourage open participation in data gathering as it enhances the scientific value of the mission for everyone involved.
Q: Can I propose a research project at LunAres?
A: Yes, LunAres welcomes research proposals! You can submit your proposal through our dedicated portal: Submit Research Proposal.
Q: How much does conducting research at LunAres cost?
A: The cost depends on the nature of the research:
- Crew Member Study – There are no additional costs for this kind of study if it is planned according to the Crew Member Study requirements.
- External Research – The costs of 1st mission that includes implementation and review service of LunAres Team starts from 1000 euro. Any other mission starts from 500 euro.
- Prime Research – The 1st mission costs start from 20 000 euro for a 14 day long mission.
- Find more information about different types of studies on our website.
Q: Why should I conduct research at LunAres Research Station?
A: LunAres offers a unique environment for conducting high-quality analog research:
- Experienced Research Coordination: Our professional research coordinator will guide you in preparing your study for an analog mission, ensuring its alignment with mission scenarios and objectives.
- Controlled Environment for Longitudinal Studies: LunAres is the only analog facility that supports multiple mission-long studies in a controlled environment with consistent mission scenarios. This enables researchers to collect data across multiple missions, allowing for the transition from qualitative research to robust statistical studies.
- Proven Track Record: We have hosted research from renowned universities, collaborated with space agencies, and supported studies that have been conducted on the International Space Station. Our extensive experience ensures your research will be in good hands.
Q: What is the “standard mission” at LunAres.
A: Standard mission conditions are the baseline framework within which Crew Member Studies and External Studies are conducted. Research requirements that fall outside this framework may be possible, but require additional assessment and may affect the study scope, cost, or research format. You can read more about the standard mission here.
Q: Is there a microgravity, vacuum or other space-like conditions in the LunAres station?
A: No. LunAres Research Station is an analog habitat, which means that it simulates selected aspects of a space mission here on Earth rather than recreating the physical environment of outer space.
LunAres focuses primarily on human factors, operational simulation, isolation, confinement, mission procedures, and immersion. The habitat does not recreate physical spaceflight conditions such as:
- microgravity,
- radiation exposure,
- vacuum,
- extreme temperatures,
- spacecraft acceleration, launch or landing forces,
- real extraterrestrial surface conditions.
Instead, LunAres simulates aspects of living and working during a space mission, such as isolation and confinement, mission operations, crew roles and responsibilities, communication procedures, resource limitations, EVA simulations, operational constraints, and other mission-specific conditions.
Some additional space-mission characteristics, such as communication delays or specific mission scenarios, can also be simulated when they are part of the mission design.
In short, LunAres recreates the operational and human experience of a space mission—not the physical environment of space itself.
Q: Where is the LunAres Research Station located?
A: Lunares Research Station is located in the city called Piła, in Poland. The station is attached to a aircraft hangar located at a postmilitary airport.
Q: What kind of research can be done?
A: LunAres supports a wide range of research conducted in an analog space mission environment. Depending on the research format and operational requirements, studies may address areas such as human factors, human performance, physiology and health, psychology, team dynamics, workload and stress, isolation and confinement, human–technology interaction, usability, operational procedures, mission systems, and other aspects of living and working in an analog space mission environment.
Research can range from small-scale pilot and feasibility studies to longitudinal and more complex mission-integrated projects. The appropriate research format depends on the study objectives, participants, procedures, required crew time, equipment, data, and level of mission integration.
If you are unsure whether your research can be conducted at LunAres, you can submit a Research Consultation Form and describe your research idea and requirements.
We also recommend reviewing past research on our Publications site.
Q: Does LunAres help researcher obtain research grants or finding?
A: LunAres can support researchers in preparing the information needed to describe the planned research environment and its implementation at the station. Depending on the project, this may include information about the mission conditions, available infrastructure, planned research activities, or the expected role of LunAres in the project.
LunAres may also provide letters of intent, letters of support, or similar documentation when appropriate and agreed for a specific research or funding application.
However, LunAres does not search for grants on behalf of researchers, apply for funding on their behalf, or write grant applications for them. Researchers remain responsible for identifying suitable funding opportunities and preparing and submitting their funding applications.
LunAres can also participate as a project partner in suitable research grant proposals. If you are developing a larger research project or funding application in which LunAres could contribute as an analog mission research facility, research infrastructure provider, or project partner, you are welcome to contact us to discuss the proposed collaboration.
Q: Can I conduct my research remotely, without personally participating in the mission?
A: Yes. Researchers do not need to participate in the mission in person to conduct a study at LunAres.
An External Study (EX Research) can be designed so that research procedures are conducted by participating crew members while the researcher remains off-site.
Q: Can invasice research or biological sample collection, such as blood or saliva sampling, be conducted at the habitat?
A: Potentially, yes. Research involving biological sample collection or other invasive procedures may be possible, depending on the procedure, the participants, the required equipment, and the applicable safety and ethical requirements.
Where research involves human participants or the collection and analysis of biological samples, the researcher is responsible for obtaining the appropriate ethical approvals and permissions before the study is conducted. The required documentation depends on the nature of the study and the procedures involved.
All invasive procedures and biological sample collection are subject to review by LunAres for operational feasibility and safety. LunAres does not replace the relevant ethical review or regulatory approval process.
Q: Does my research project need to be reviewed by an ethics committee and does LunAres support this process?
A: The need for ethical review depends on what the study involves, who participates, what data or biological samples are collected, and how the data will be used. Researchers are responsible for determining and obtaining any ethical approvals, permissions, or other authorizations required for their research.
LunAres does not provide ethical approval for research projects conducted at the station. Depending on the research, LunAres might request that such ethical approval should be obtained by the researcher. In that case, the ethical approval should be presented to LunAres at an agreed time.
Data collected by LunAres during missions may be collected for operational, safety, or mission-management purposes. If a researcher intends to use personal, medical, operational, or other identifiable data for research purposes, the appropriate legal, ethical, and data-protection requirements must be considered and fulfilled before such use.
LunAres can provide information about the planned research conditions, available data, and operational environment to support researchers in preparing their documentation, but the responsibility for obtaining the required approvals remains with the research team.
Q: How many crew members can be accommodated in the habitat at the same time?
A: The standard LunAres mission configuration accommodates 4–8 crew members.
The exact crew composition and assignment of roles depend on the mission. Researchers should therefore not assume that specific participant characteristics or crew roles will be available unless this has been specifically agreed as part of the research project.
Q: What laboratory and research equipment is permanently available at the habitat?
A: The equipment available in the habitat may change, get replaced – therefore researchers should describe the equipment and capabilities required for their study. The LunAres team can then assess what is currently available, what can be provided, and what would need to be brought to the station or arranged separately.
Submit a Research Consultation Form with your equipment requirements and we will assess the available options.
Q: Can I bring and connect my own equipment, instruments or prototype?
A: Potentially, yes. Researchers may be able to bring specialized research equipment, measurement devices, laboratory equipment, software, or prototypes to LunAres.
Any external equipment must be reviewed before the mission. The assessment may include dimensions, weight, power requirements, network or communication requirements, installation, workspace, storage, operation, safety, and removal after the study.
Temporary and reversible installations may be possible where they are compatible with the habitat and mission operations. More substantial modifications require additional review and may be more appropriate for an External Study or Prime Study, depending on the extent of the required integration.
Submit a Research Consultation Form describing your equipment and its requirements so that the LunAres team can assess feasibility.