Russia Developing ‘Lunar Test Site’ to Train Astronauts for Surface Operations on the Moon

Russia’s Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) is constructing a special ground-based analog complex designed to simulate the lunar surface for astronaut training. An FMBA official shared details with the Russian news agency TASS, explaining that the FMBA’s Center for Space Medicine and Biology is spearheading the development of this facility as a strategic priority within Russia’s space sector. The official noted that the ‘Lunar Test Site’ will replicate the Moon’s surface environment to provide astronauts with practical training for surface work.

Astronauts will practice extravehicular activities (EVA) at this center, including exiting and re-entering spacecraft, operating locking mechanisms, performing equipment maintenance and repairs, and cleaning lunar dust upon return to the habitation modules. A dedicated unit within the center will focus on developing countermeasures against the effects of the Moon’s fine dust, creating emergency protocols, and evaluating human health under prolonged stress conditions. Psychological aspects and crew teamwork assessments will also be conducted.

Furthermore, FMBA is developing specialized simulators to adapt astronauts’ sensory and vestibular systems during flight. Methods to assess crew readiness for full-scale lunar operations are also being refined. Addressing the project’s complexity, the official emphasized that it represents a convergence of medicine, physiology, and engineering, and that Russia’s FMBA possesses unique capabilities domestically to manage these challenges.