MOONRISE at ILA 2026
The exhibit featured the payload demonstrator, the integration of the laser unit within the lander, and a regolith simulant. Visitors from the industry were able to learn about the results achieved to date in melting lunar dust using laser light. The response showed: the utilization of local resources on the Moon is becoming increasingly important to the space industry.
The goal of the MOONRISE project is to use laser radiation to melt so-called regolith - the fine dust covering the lunar surface. Once cooled, this material solidifies into rigid structures. The aim is to use this process in the future to construct infrastructure directly on-site, such as landing pads or roads on the Moon. The presentation at the DLR booth was held in collaboration with the Technische Universität Berlin.