The European lunar community gathered in Bremen yesterday. Around 40 representatives from universities, research institutes, and companies from various European countries, as well as from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA), took part in a workshop organized by OHB.
The event was driven by the vision of a permanent European presence on the Moon as a foundation for future scientific missions and commercial activities. The aim of the workshop was to bring together and further develop existing concepts, technological approaches, and collaborations among Europe’s various stakeholders.
The Moon as a geopolitically significant target
The Moon is increasingly becoming a geopolitically significant target for spacefaring nations such as the United States, China, and India. In light of this dynamic, it is essential for Europe to develop and consistently pursue its own strategy for a sustainable and economically viable presence on the Moon.
To open the workshop, OHB presented its concept for a centralized launch and landing facility on the lunar surface, developed jointly with Munich Airport International. Such a “Moonport” is intended to serve as a safe hub for logistics flights and astronaut missions and represents a key pillar in building a functioning economic ecosystem on the Moon.
Participants were then given the opportunity to present their ideas and technologies. Among the topics discussed were various approaches to using local lunar resources to produce habitats, landing pads, propellant, and other products.
The event concluded with a networking session in which the presented concepts were discussed in greater depth and potential starting points for joint projects with OHB experts were explored.
For decades, the Moon has been a fascinating and strategically important destination for OHB. To actively help shape Europe’s return to the Moon, the European Moonport Company was founded earlier this year. The new company consolidates activities related to future lunar missions. Collaboration with additional European partners is intended to create a robust industrial foundation for a sovereign European lunar infrastructure..
