ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez has completed the latest PANGAEA field-training stage in Lanzarote, where the programme used volcanic terrain to prepare astronauts for future lunar and Martian geology work. The final leg took place around Tinguatón and the Parque Natural de los Volcanes, with ESA project lead Loredana Bessone and local authorities joining the event.
The three-week course moved from Italy to Germany before ending in the Canary Islands, using lava fields, caves and volcanic tubes as analogues for off-world exploration. Participants trained to read terrain, collect samples and coordinate with science teams, a skill set ESA links to future surface operations on the Moon and Mars.
Álvarez, who joined ESA’s astronaut corps in 2022 and completed basic astronaut training in 2024, described the work as part of a longer preparation path rather than a mission selection. He also underlined that much more still needs to happen before a Spanish astronaut reaches the Moon. Lanzarote has become a recurring analogue site for ESA geology training, reflecting its value for studying lava chronology, volcanic morphology and possible water-volcanism interactions.