The world’s largest space simulation program, The World’s Biggest Analog Mission (WBA), has been launched, becoming the most extensive simulation of life and work on the Moon and Mars in history.

The World’s Biggest Analog Mission (WBA) is a groundbreaking global campaign designed to simulate what life and work will be like for future astronauts on the Moon and Mars. Coordinated by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), it unites 17 institutions across five continents and connects 16 analog habitats operating simultaneously around the world. This makes WBA the most extensive, internationally integrated planetary simulation ever conducted.

At the core of the mission is GMV’s Operations Support Tools (OST) system, installed at the Mission Coordination Center in Vienna. This advanced platform enables seamless communication, coordination, and scheduling among all participating habitats. It synchronizes time zones, manages simulated communication delays, and oversees complex daily operations—capabilities essential for running a cohesive mission spread across the globe. Originally developed for real space operations at the Columbus Control Centre of the International Space Station, the OST suite has been adapted specifically for the demands of planetary analog research.

The mission aims to generate valuable insights into human behavior, logistics, decision-making, and operational strategies for future off-Earth settlements. By recreating the challenges of remote, autonomous operations, WBA will help shape technologies, procedures, and safety frameworks needed for upcoming crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.