CASIMAR
CASIMAR is a program led by the Federal Association of Student Space Travel (German abbreviation: BVSR). KSat is actively involved in CASIMAR as one of currently eight student spaceflight clubs. The program aims to provide student groups with access to the LUNA hall at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne to conduct experiments and gain experience in carrying out astronautical spaceflight operations.
Our participation in CASIMAR is therefore the first KSat project to focus on manned spaceflight.
Current topics at CASIMAR in which we are involved:
- A modular rover with a focus on human-robot interaction
- Astronaut tools for lunar walks
- VR simulation of the LUNA hall
- Ferrofluid seals against abrasive lunar dust
Contributions from KSat
Gripper
The so-called Gripper is a grasping tool that allows astronauts to pick up objects such as moon rocks from the ground without having to bend over in their heavy and bulky spacesuits. The gripper’s geometry has been perfected through numerous prototypes. Its key feature: instead of traditional joints, only compliant mechanisms are used for the moving parts, making the gripper completely immune to damage from lunar dust, unlike tools with joints.
Multitool
The Multitool is used to collect lunar soil samples (also called regolith). It features an adjustable shovel and an adjustable holder for sample bags, allowing samples to be collected directly from the surface. Both the multitool and the gripper have built-in holders for flashlights, enabling their use even in shaded areas. Both tools are largely 3D-printed, which reduces weight and makes them easier to handle. With the help of a 3D printer, the tools could potentially be manufactured, repaired, or modified directly on the Moon.
Regolith-Glovebox
With the generous support and funding of the Chair of Astronautics and Exploration at the Institute of Space Systems and the LUNA Analog Facility, a glovebox containing 70 liters of EAC-1A regolith simulant from the LUNA hall has been installed at the IRS. This box now allows experiments for CASIMAR and other projects to be conducted safely and cleanly without the need to travel to Cologne.
First LUNA-Campaign
From September 10th to 12th, our eleven-member team, CASIMAR, had the privilege of being the first student-organized group ever to conduct an experimental campaign in the LUNA Hall. During this campaign, we tested the EVA tools described above, as well as two additional experiments from BEARS e.V. and MoonAixperts e.V., in a total of three simulated lunar walks. In the first run, a member of KSat took on the role of an astronaut to carry out the meticulously prepared EVA procedure. In the second run, this procedure was performed by ESA staff wearing ATLAS lunar simulation suits. In both cases, the use of our tools was excellent. Besides testing the tools, a primary goal of the campaign was to familiarize team members with the preparation and execution of such campaigns, enabling them to conduct them more frequently and easily in the future. The next campaign (late 2026/early 2027) is already in the planning stages.
This campaign would not have been possible without the support of the DLR and the ESA. We are delighted to be able to contribute to the commissioning of the LUNA Analog Facility as part of the student spaceflight community in Germany!
LUNA hall
The LUNA Analog Facility is located opposite the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) on the DLR Campus in Cologne and was inaugurated in September 2024. The lunar surface, including all environmental conditions (except for the vacuum and extreme temperatures), is simulated here on 700 m².
The hall will be used, among other things, to train for future astronautical and robotic lunar landing missions. More information is available on the official website. The commissioning of the LUNA Analog Facility is co-financed by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.
© ESA/DLR
Timeline
Major project launch at the BSVR conference in Friedrichshafen
Start of concrete preparations for the first LUNA campaign
Development of EVA tools
Implementation of the first campaign in the LUNA hall
Construction of the glovebox
We want you!
Has CASIMAR sparked your interest? We are always looking for new members!
Whether you are just starting your first semester or are already an aerospace expert, and regardless of what you are studying, we can find an exciting position for everyone in our team. All of our projects are organized into subsystems that are responsible for different areas. If you already know what you are interested in, please contact us!
Gallery
Cooperating Partners
The outfitting of the LUNA facility, made available for CASIMAR’s use, is supported by:
