Lunaris payload from AGH University prepares for the Moon with ESA
The Lunar Technologies AGH student team from AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland, has successfully completed environmental testing of their lunar payload, Lunaris, at the ESA’s CubeSat Support Facility (CSF) in Belgium.
This milestone was achieved within the ESA Education Office’s “Fly Your Satellite! – Test Opportunities” programme, which offers university students from across Europe and Canada access to professional testing facility for space systems.
The student team was selected following a call for proposals issued in February 2025. Their goal? To test Lunaris, a compact, active payload designed to analyse lunar dust adhesion, and assess its ability to withstand the extreme conditions of launch, cruise, and the lunar environment.
What is Lunaris?
Lunaris is a lightweight (~200 g), micro-deployable payload developed by AGH University students to explore how lunar dust sticks to different materials. Due to its abrasive nature and tendency to cling to surfaces, lunar dust, known as regolith, poses significant challenges to rovers, landers, and future lunar exploration technologies.
Inside the Test Campaign
During a two-week test window in July 2025, the Lunaris team performed two key environmental tests to qualify their payload for launch and operations.
1. Vibration Test, simulating the rocket launch and lunar landing
During launch, space systems are shaken intensely in all directions due to engine vibrations, acoustic pressure, and aerodynamic forces. At CSF, Lunaris was mounted on an adaptor flange and integrated on an electrodynamic shaker to simulate harsh launch conditions and the stresses expected during lunar landing.
The test confirmed that Lunaris can withstand launch, cruise and landing phases without structural or electronic damage.
2. Thermal Vacuum Test, recreating space temperature variation and vacuum
Lunaris was also subjected to thermal vacuum testing to replicate the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature fluctuations that occur in orbit and on the lunar surface. The temperature cycles were carefully designed to mimic key mission phases – launch, cruise and Moon operations.
Finally, the team ran a functional test inside the Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC), verifying the experiment's operability under representative environmental conditions.
Learning beyond the classroom
The Lunaris test campaign was much more than a technical validation, it was an educational experience. Guided by ESA’s CSF engineers, the Lunar Technologies AGH students were directly involved in:
- Preparing test specifications and procedures
- Mounting the payload and connecting sensors
- Monitoring data and analysing results
- Documenting processes and ensuring quality assurance
This opportunity gave the team hands-on training and the students learned not just how to design for space but how to verify and validate for mission success.
What’s Next?
With the successful completion of the test campaign, the Lunaris payload has reached a new level of technical readiness. Following integration of the lessons learned and potential design refinements, Lunaris will be ready for flight.
The Lunaris team’s work demonstrates how student-led initiatives, supported by ESA’s educational and technical programmes, can make meaningful contributions to space research.
Beyond satellite projects, ESA's Test Opportunities also support a broader audience, including sounding rocket teams and participants in ESA Academy experiments, fostering innovation across a wide range of disciplines.