Melting lunar rock

Melting lunar rock
Melting lunar rock
For the experiment conducted by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, a device has been developed that can melt lunar regolith under vacuum using laser radiation over an area approximately ten millimetres in diameter. During the parabolic flights, researchers are investigating how vacuum conditions and varying gravitational forces affect the melting process. The experiment is part of the 46th parabolic flight campaign organised by the German Space Agency at DLR from 11 to 22 May 2026.