German Aerospace Center

German Aerospace Center

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Agency overview
Abbreviation	DLR
Formed	1969(1969)
Type	Space agency
Headquarters	Cologne(Köln), Germany
Administrator	Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla
Employees	10,327
Annual budget	€1.348 billion (2021)
Website	dlr.de

An aerial view of DLR'sheadquartersatLind,Colognein 2010

TheGerman Aerospace Center(‹See Tfd›German:Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrte.V.,abbreviatedDLR,literallyGerman Center for Air- and Space-flight) is the national center for aerospace, energy and transportation research of Germany, founded in 1969. It is headquartered inColognewith 35 locations throughout Germany. The DLR is engaged in a wide range ofresearch and developmentprojects in national and international partnerships.

The DLR acts as the Germanspace agencyand is responsible for planning and implementing theGerman space programmeon behalf of theGerman federal government.As a project management agency, DLR coordinates and answers the technical and organisational implementation of projects funded by a number of German federal ministries. As of 2020, the German Aerospace Center had a national budget of €1.348 billion.

Overview

German Space Operations CenterinOberpfaffenhofennearMunich

DLR has approximately 10.000 employees at 30 locations in Germany.Institutes and facilities are spread over 13 sites, as well as offices inBrussels,ParisandWashington, D.C.DLR has a budget of €1 billion to cover its own research, development and operations. Approximately 49% of this sum comes from competitively allocatedthird-party funds(German:Drittmittel). In addition to this, DLR administers around €860 million in German funds for theEuropean Space Agency(ESA). In its capacity as project management agency, it manages €1.279 billion in research on behalf of German federal ministries. DLR is a full member of theConsultative Committee for Space Data Systemsand a member of theHelmholtz Association of German Research Centres.

In the context of DLR's initiatives to promote young research talent, 16 DLR School Labs were set up atUniversity of Augsburg,Brandenburg University of Technology,Technische Universität Darmstadt,Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg,RWTH Aachen,Technical University of Dortmund,Technische Universität Dresdenand in Berlin-Adlershof,Braunschweig,Bremen,Cologne-Porz,Göttingen,Jena,Lampoldshausen/Stuttgart,Neustrelitz,andOberpfaffenhofenover the past years.In the DLR School Labs, pupils can become acquainted with the practical aspects of natural and engineering sciences by conducting interesting experiments.

The members of the DLR executive board areAnke Kaysser-Pyzalla(chairman) since August 2015, Klaus Hamacher (vice chairman) since April 2006, Karsten Lemmer (member for Energy and Transport) since March 2017 and Walter Pelzer since 2021.

History

German space institutes

Years	Name
1907–1969	Aerodynamische Versuchsanstalt(AVA) "Aerodynamic Experimental Station"
1927	Verein für Raumschiffahrte.V.(VfR) "Association of Space-Flight Reg. Assoc."
1947–1948	Arbeitsgemeinschaft Weltraumfahrt "Consortium on Space Flight"
1948–1972	Gesellschaft für Weltraumforschung(GfW) "Society for Space Research"
1969–1989	Deutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DFVLR) "German Research and Test Institute for Aviation and Space Flight"
1989–1997	Deutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten(DARA) German Aerospace Agency
1989–1997	Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DLR) "German Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight"
1997–present	Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DLR) "German Center for Aviation and Space Flight" German Aerospace Center
1970–present	Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme(IRS) Institute for Space systems

The modern DLR was created in 1997, but was the culmination of over half a dozen space, aerospace, and research institutes from across the 20th century.

The oldest predecessor organization of DLR was established byLudwig Prandtlin Göttingen in 1907. ThisModellversuchsanstalt der Motorluftschiff-Studiengesellschaft(MLStG; German for "Institute for Testing of Aerodynamic Models of the Powered Airship Society" ) later became theAerodynamische Versuchsanstalt( "Aerodynamics Laboratory" or "Aerodynamic Experimental Station" ).

In the 1920sMax Valier,a student of rocket pioneerHermann Oberth,co-founded theVerein für Raumschiffahrt,VfR, or "Association of Space-Flight", withJohannes WinklerandWilly Ley.In parallel he was acting in collaboration withFritz von Opelas one of the heads ofOpel RAK,a private venture leading to the first manned rocket cars and rocket planes which paved the way for the Nazi era V2 program and US and Soviet activities from 1950 onwards. TheOpel RAKprogram and the spectacular public demonstrations of ground and air vehicles drew large crowds, as well as caused global public excitement, and had a large impact on later spaceflight pioneers.

TheGreat Depressionput an end to the program and briefly after its break-up, Valier eventually was killed while experimenting as part of VfR activities in collaboration with Heylandt-Werke on liquid-fueled rockets in April 1930. He is considered the first fatality of the early space age. Valier's protégéArthur Rudolphwent on to develop an improved and safer version of Valier's engine. Valier and von Opel had engaged in a program that led directly to use of jet-assisted takeoff for heavily laden aircraft. Their experiments had also a tremendous influence onAlexander Lippisch,whose experience with the rocket-poweredEnte( "Duck" ) eventually paved the way to theMesserschmitt Me-163,the first operational rocket fighter craft.

The private experiments of the late 1920s and early 1930s excited also the interest of the German military, which provided funding for further development of rockets as a replacement for artillery. This led to an array of military applications, among them Germany'sV-2terror weapon, the world's first ballistic missile, and also the first human-made object to surpass theKármán lineand thus leaving the Earth's atmosphere.

In the 1940s, the DVL (an AVA sister organization) fundedKonrad Zuse's work on theZ3andZ4computers. Another German aviation technology research facility, the 1935-founded, top-secretLuftfahrtforschungsanstaltatVölkenrodewhich conducted research – much of it for military aviation to suit the Luftwaffe's needs – in parallel to the then-existing forerunners of the DLR of today, would not be discovered by the Allies until after the war's end.

In 1947, theArbeitsgemeinschaft Weltraumfahrt( "Consortium on Space Flight" ) was formed, leading to theGesellschaft für Weltraumforschung(GfW; "Society for Space Research" ) being formed in 1948.

In 1954, the Research Institute of Jet Propulsion Physics (FPS) was established at the Stuttgart airport.

What was later called the DLR was formed in 1969 as theDeutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DFVLR; "German Test and Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight" ) through the merger of several institutions. These were theAerodynamische Versuchsanstalt(AVA), theDeutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt(DVL; "German Laboratory for Aviation" ), theDeutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luftfahrt(DFL; "German Research Institute for Aviation" ) and (in 1972) theGesellschaft für Weltraumforschung(GfW; "Society for Space Research" ).

In 1989, the DFVLR was renamedDeutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DLR; "German Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight" ). Also in 1989, theDeutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten(DARA; "German Agency for Space Flight Affairs" ) was created.

Following the merger with theDeutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten(DARA; German for "German Agency for Space Flight Affairs" ) on 1 October 1997, the name was changed toDeutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt(DLR), literally "German Center for Aviation and Space Flight". The shorter translation "German Aerospace Center" is used in English-language publications.

Other German space organizations include theInstitut für Raumfahrtsysteme(IRS;Institute for Space Systems), founded in 1970.This should not be confused with DLR'sInstitut für Raumfahrtsystemelocated in Bremen.Also, significant contributions are made to theEuropean Space Agency.

Research

The DLR Institute of Flight Systems operates this helicopter as part of theFlying Helicopter Simulator(FHS).

DLR's mission comprises the exploration of the Earth and the solar system, as well as research aimed at protecting the environment and developing environmentally compatible technologies, and at promoting mobility, communication and security. DLR's research portfolio, which covers the four focus areasAeronautics,Space,TransportationandEnergy,ranges frombasic researchto innovative applications. DLR operates large-scale research centres, both for the benefit of its own projects and as a service for its clients and partners from the worlds of business and science.

The objective of DLR'saeronauticsresearch is to strengthen the competitive advantage of the national and European aeronautical industry and aviation sector, and to meet political and social demands – for instance with regard to climate-friendly aviation. Germanspace researchactivities range from experiments under conditions of weightlessness to the exploration of other planets and environmental monitoring from space. In addition to these activities, DLR performs tasks of public authority pertaining to the planning and implementation of the German space programme, in its capacity as the official space agency of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The DLR's Project Management Agency (German:Projektträger im DLR) has also been entrusted with tasks of public authority pertaining to the administration of subsidies. In the field ofenergy research,DLR is working on highly efficient, low-CO₂power generation technologies based on gas turbines and fuel cells, on solar thermal power generation, and on the efficient use of heat, includingcogenerationbased on fossil and renewable energy sources. The topics covered by DLR'stransportation researchare maintaining mobility, protecting the environment and saving resources, and improving transportation safety.

In addition to the already existing projectsMars Express,global navigation satellite systemGalileo,andShuttle Radar Topography Mission,the Institute of Space Systems (German:Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme) was founded in Bremen in January 2007. In the future, 80 scientists and engineers will be doing research into topics such as space mission concepts, satellite development and propulsion technology.

Planetary research

Mars Express

Martian volcano Ceraunius Tholus in perspective by the HRSC aboard Mars Express

The High Resolution Stereo CameraHRSCis the most important German contribution to the European Space Agency'sMars Expressmission. It is the first digital stereo camera that also generates multispectral data and that has a very high resolution lens. The camera records images of the Martian surface which formed the basis for a large number of scientific studies. With the HRSC, which was developed at the German Aerospace Center's Institute of Planetary Research (German:Institut für Planetenforschung), it is possible to analyse details no larger than 10 to 30 meters in three dimensions.

Rosetta and Philae

Depiction ofPhilaeonChuryumov-Gerasimenko

ThecometorbiterRosettais controlled from theEuropean Space Operations Centre(ESOC), inDarmstadt,Germany.The DLR has provided the structure, thermal subsystem, flywheel, the Active Descent System (procured by DLR but made in Switzerland),ROLIS, downward-looking camera, SESAME, acoustic sounding and seismic instrument forPhilae,the orbiter's landing unit. It has also managed the project and did the level product assurance. TheUniversity of Münsterbuilt MUPUS (it was designed and built in Space Research Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences) and theBraunschweig University of Technologythe ROMAP instrument. TheMax Planck Institute for Solar System Researchmade the payload engineering, eject mechanism, landing gear, anchoring harpoon, central computer, COSAC, APXS and other subsystems.

Dawn

The framing cameras, provided by theMax Planck Institute for Solar System Researchand the DLR, are the main imaging instruments of Dawn, a multi-destination space probe to theprotoplanets4 Vestaand1 Cereslaunched in 2007.The cameras offer resolutions of 17 m/pixel for Vesta and 66 m/pixel for Ceres.Because the framing cameras are vital for both science and navigation, the payload has two identical and physically separate cameras (FC1 & FC2) for redundancy, each with its own optics, electronics, and structure.

Human spaceflight

Columbus

TheColumbus Moduleon theInternational Space Stationorbiting the Earth in 2008

DLR operates theColumbus Control CentreinOberpfaffenhofen,Germany. It is responsible for the coordination of scientific activities as well as for systems operations and life support on board the orbiting Columbus laboratory.

In February 2008, theColumbus laboratory,Europe's core contribution to the International Space StationISS,was brought into space by the Space Shuttle and docked to the ISS. The cylindrical module, which has a diameter of 4.5 metres (14 ft 9 in), contains state-of-the-art scientific equipment. It is planned to enable researchers on Earth to conduct thousands of experiments in biology, materials science, fluid physics and many other fields under conditions of weightlessness in space.

TheDeutschland-1orbital space plane flight, funded by West Germany, included over 6.4 tonnes (7 short tons) of German science research equipment

Spacelab, Shuttle, Mir, Soyuz

Germany has near ten astronauts and participates in ESA human space programs including flights of German astronauts aboard USSpace Shuttlesand Russian spacecraft. Besides missions under ESA and flights onSoyuzandMir,two Space Shuttle missions with the European builtSpacelabwere fully funded and organizationally and scientifically controlled by Germany (like a separate few byESAand one by Japan) with German astronauts on board as hosts and not guests. The first West German missionDeutschland 1(Spacelab-D1, DLR-1, NASA designationSTS-61-A) took place in 1985.

The second similar mission,Deutschland 2(Spacelab-D2, DLR-2, NASA designationSTS-55), was first planned for 1988, but then due to theSpace Shuttle Challenger disasterwas delayed until 1993 when it became the first German human space mission afterGerman reunification.

Earth-bound research and aeronautics

Remote sensing of the Earth

Inremote sensingof the Earth,satellitesprovide comprehensive and continually updated information on "System Earth". This remote sensing data is used to investigate the Earth's atmosphere, land and ocean surfaces, and ice sheets. Practical applications of this technology include environmental monitoring and disaster relief.

Following theIndian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004,for instance, up-to-date maps could be compiled very quickly using Earth observation satellites. These maps could then be used for orientation during relief missions. DLR conducts these research activities at the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) (German:Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum), a DLR institute based in Oberpfaffenhofen. Nowadays, satellite data is also important forclimate research:it is used to measure temperatures, CO₂levels,particulate matterlevels, rainforest deforestation and theradiation conditionsof the Earth's surface (land, oceans, polar ice).

TerraSAR-X

The new German Earth observation satelliteTerraSAR-Xwas launched in June 2007. The objective of this five-year mission is to provide radar remote sensing data to scientific and commercial users. The satellite's design is based on the technology and expertise developed in the X-SAR and SRTM SAR missions (Synthetic Aperture Radar). The sensor has a number of different modes of operation, with a maximum resolution of one meter, and is capable of generating elevation profiles.

TerraSAR-X is the first satellite that was jointly paid for by government and industry. DLR contributed about 80 percent of the total expenses, with the remainder being covered byEADS Astrium.The satellite's core component is a radar sensor operating in the X band and capable of recording the Earth's surface using a range of different modes of operation, capturing an area of 10 to 100 kilometers in size with a resolution of 1 to 16 meters.

Astronomical surveys

TheUppsala–DLR Trojan Survey(UDTS) was a search for asteroids nearJupiterin the 1990s, in collaboration with the SwedishUppsala Astronomical Observatory.When it concluded there was another survey, theUppsala–DLR Asteroid Survey,this time with a focus onNear Earth asteroidsand both surveys discovered numerous objects.

Reusable launch systems

Suborbital Spaceplane

Studying asuborbital spaceplane,DLR conductedFalkeprototype forHermesspaceplane program, participates in non-realizedSanger IIproject and since 2005 work under the concept making fast intercontinental passenger transport possible. TheSpaceLineris a reusable vehicle lifting-off vertically and landing like a glider.

RETALT

DLR is a partner forRETALT(RETro Propulsion Assisted Landing Technologies), a program aiming to developtwo-stage-to-orbitandsingle-stage to orbitreusable launch systems.

Aircraft design

DLR is involved in different EuropeanH2020projects (AGILE, AGILE4.0) concerning aircraft design with the objective to improve multidisciplinary optimization using distributed analysis frameworks.

Research aircraft

ATTAS

SOFIA's maiden flight on 26 April 2007

DLR operates Europe's largest fleet of research aircraft. The aircraft are used both as research objects and as research tools. DLR's research aircraft provide platforms for all kinds of research missions. Scientists and engineers can use them for practical, application-oriented purposes: Earth observation, atmospheric research or testing new aircraft components. DLR is for instance investigating wingflutterand possible ways of eliminating it, which would also help to reduce aircraft noise. So-called "flying simulators" can be used to simulate the flight performance of aircraft that have not been built yet. This method was for instance used to test theAirbus A380in the early stages of its development. TheVFW 614ATTASwas used to test several systems.

The high-altitude research aircraft HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft) will be used for atmospheric research and Earth observation from 2009. With a cruising altitude of more than 15 kilometers and a range of over 8,000 kilometers, HALO will provide for the first time the capability to gather data on a continental scale, at all latitudes, from the tropics to the poles, and at altitudes as high as the lower stratosphere.

The Airbus A320-232D-ATRA,the latest and largest addition to the fleet, has been in use by the German Aerospace Center since late 2008. ATRA (Advanced Technology Research Aircraft) is a modern and flexible flight test platform which sets a new benchmark for flying test beds in European aerospace research – and not just because of its size.

DLR andNASAjointly operate the flying infrared telescope SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). ABoeing 747SPwith a modified fuselage enabling it to carry a reflecting telescope developed in Germany is used as an airborne research platform. The aircraft is operated by theDryden Flight Research Centerat Site 9 (USAF Plant 42) in Palmdale, California. Observation flights will be flown 3 or 4 nights a week, for up to eight hours at a time and at an altitude of 12 to 14 kilometers. SOFIA has been designed to remain operational for a period of 20 years. It is the successor to theKuiper Airborne Observatory(KAO), which was deployed from 1974 to 1995.

On 31 January 2020, the DLR put its newest aircraft into service, a Falcon 2000LX ISTAR (In-flight Systems & Technology Airborne Research).

Emissions research

ALNA Advanced Low Noise Aircraft model atILA Berlin Air Show2018

DLR conducts research into CO₂and noise emissions caused by air transport. In order to ensure that increasing traffic volumes do not lead to an increase in the noise pollution caused by air transport, DLR is investigating options for noise reduction. The "Low-noise Approach and Departure Procedures" research project (German:Lärmoptimierte An- und Abflugverfahren), for instance, forms part of the national research project "Quiet Traffic" (German:Leiser Verkehr).

The objective of this project is to find flight procedures that can reduce the amount of noise generated during takeoff and landing. One approach is to analyse noise propagation at ground level during takeoff using a large number of microphones. Researchers are also trying to reduce the noise at source, focusing for instance on airframe and engine noise. They hope to minimise noise generated in the engines using so-called "antinoise".

The German Aerospace Center's research work on CO₂emissions caused by air transport focuses for instance on model calculations concerning the effects of converting the global aircraft fleet tohydrogen propulsion.The growth rates of aviation are above average. This raises the question if CO₂emission-free hydrogen propulsion could perhaps limit the effects of growing air traffic volumes on the environment and the climate.

Hydrogen as an energy carrier

TheHydrosolandHydrosol-2is one of the energy research projects in which DLR scientists are engaged. For the first time, scientists have achieved thermal water splitting using solar energy, generating hydrogen and oxygen without CO₂emissions. For this achievement, the DLR team and several other research groups received theDescartes Prize,a research award created by the European Commission. The FP6 Hydrosol II pilot reactor (around 100 kW) for solarthermochemicalhydrogen productionat thePlataforma Solar de Almeríain Spain started in November 2005and is in operation since 2008.

Traffic Congestion

Zeppelin NTcarrying the DLR logo

During the 2006 FIFA World Cup football championship, DLR implemented the Soccer project aimed at preventing traffic congestion. In this transportation research project, traffic data was obtained from the air in Berlin, Stuttgart and Cologne and used as input for traffic forecasting. A sensor system combining a conventional and a thermographic camera was used to obtain the data. A zeppelin, an aeroplane and a helicopter served as flying research platforms. An image analysis software package generated aerial photos showing the current traffic parameters as well as traffic forecasts. In this way, traffic control centres could be provided with almost-real-time traffic information, and road users could be diverted whenever necessary.

Solar tower power plant

The 11 MWPS10near Seville in Spain

In 2007, the first commercially operatedsolar tower power plant,thePS10 solar power tower,was commissioned. It has a capacity of eleven megawatt and it is located near Sevilla, inSanlúcar la Mayor(Spain). DLR is prominently involved in developing the technology for this type of power plant.In solar tower power plants, sun-tracking mirrors (heliostats) redirect the solar radiation onto a central heat exchanger (receiver) on top of a tower. This generates high-temperature process heat, which can then be used in gas or steam turbine power plants to generate electrical power for the public electricity grid. In the future, solar thermal tower plant technology could also be used to generate solar fuels, such as hydrogen, without CO₂emissions.

Locations

Augsburg

Berlin

Bonn

Braunschweig

Bremen

Bremerhaven

Cochstedt

Cologne

Dresden

Göttingen

Hamburg

Hanover

Jena

Lampoldshausen

Neustrelitz

Oberpfaffenhofen

Stade

Stuttgart

Trauen

Ulm

Weilheim

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Locations of some of the DLR branches in Germany

As of 2022, the DLR had 35 sites in Germany:

Aachenand Aachen-Merzbrück

• Small Aircraft Technology

Augsburg

• Augsburg-Universitätsviertel
  • Center for Lightweight Production Technology (Zentrum für Leichtbauproduktionstechnik)

DLR at Adlershof, Berlin in 2007

Berlin

• Berlin-Adlershof
  • Institute of Planetary Research (Institut für Planetenforschung)
  • Institute of Transport Research (Institut für Verkehrsforschung)
  • Institute of Optical Sensor Systems (Institut für Optische Sensorsysteme)
  • Applied Remote Sensing Cluster
  • Project Management Agency - Information Technology
  • Institute of Space Systems, Department of System Conditioning (Abt. Systemkonditionierung)
  • DLR School Lab
• Located atTU Berlin
  • Institute of Propulsion Technology, Department of Engine Acoustics (Abt. Triebwerksakustik)
• Berlin-Charlottenburg
• Berlin-Carnot-Strasse
• Berlin-Zentrum
  • Project Management Agencies at DLR
  • Simulation and Software Technology

Bonn

• Bonn-Oberkassel
  • Space Agency (Raumfahrt-Agentur)
  • Project management for aerospace research and technology (Projektträger Luftfahrtforschung und -technologie)
  • DLR Project Management Agency (DLR-Projektträger)
  • International Office of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - pursues the goal of expanding the international connections of German universities, research institutions and companies
  • EUREKA/COSTOffice
  • EU Office of theBMBF
• Bonn-Bad Godesberg
  • DLR Project Management Agency (DLR-Projektträger)

Braunschweig

• Flight operations
• Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology
• Institute of Lightweight Systems
• Institute of Flight Guidance
• Institute of Flight Systems
• Institute of Transportation Systems
• Institute of Software Technology
• German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW)
• DLR School Lab

Bremen

• Institute of Space Systems
• Maritime Security Centre
• DLR School Lab

Bremerhaven

• Institut for the Protection of Maritime Infrastructures

Cologne

• Executive Board (Vorstand)
• Institute of Airport Operations and Air Traffic
• Institute of Propulsion Technology
• Institute of Aerospace Medicine
• Institute of Material Physics in Space
• Institute of Materials Research
• Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Köln Wind Tunnel Department
• Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research Department
• Space flight and astronaut training
• Simulation and Software Engineering
• Center for Solidification of Supercooled Melts (ZEUS)(Zentrum für Erstarrung Unterkühlter Schmelzen)
• DLR School Lab
• German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW)

Cochstedt

• National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

CottbusandZittau

• Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes

Dresden

• Institute of Software Methods for Product Virtualization

Geesthacht

• Institute of Maritime Energy Systems

Göttingen

• Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
• Institute of Aeroelasticity
• Institute of Drive Systems
• German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW)
• DLR School Lab
• DLR Systems Engineering (Systemhaus Technik)
• DLR Technology Marketing
• DLR Central Archive

Hannover

• Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing

Hamburg

• Department of Aerospace Psychology (besides research, also involved in the selection of astronauts andLufthansapilots)
• Institute of Aerospace Medicine
• Research Center for Air Transport Systems
• DLR School Lab

Jena

• Institute of Data Science

Jülich

• Institute for Solar Research
• Institute for Future Fuels

Lampoldshausen

• Institute of Space Propulsion
• Institute of Technical Physics

Neustrelitz

• Institute of Communications and Navigation: GNSS Validation and Completion Techniques (Validierungs- und Ergänzungstechniken)
• Institute of Communications and Navigation: Ionospheric Effects and Corrections
• Remote Sensing Technology Institute: Atmospheric Processes (Atmosphärenprozessoren)
• German Remote Sensing Data Centre - National Ground Segment
• Technology Marketing
• DLR School Lab

Oberpfaffenhofen airport with the adjacent DLR Oberpfaffenhofen site on the West

Oberpfaffenhofen

• Applied Remote Sensing Cluster
• Space Operations and Astronaut Training
• German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD)
• Flight Operations
• Institute of Microwaves and Radar Systems (Institut für Hochfrequenztechnik und Radarsysteme)
• Institute of Communications and Navigation (Institut für Kommunikation und Navigation)
• Institute of Remote Sensing Technology
• Institute of Atmospheric Physics (Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre)
• Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics (Institut für Robotik und Mechatronik)
• Institute of System Dynamics and Control (Institut für Systemdynamik und Regelungstechnik)
• German Space Operations Center (Deutsches Raumfahrt-Kontrollzentrum)
• DLR School Lab

Oldenburg

• Institute of Networked Energy Systems (Institut für Vernetzte Energiesysteme)

Rheinbach

• Institute for the Protection of Terrestrial Infrastructures

St. Augustin

• Institute for the Protection of Terrestrial Infrastructures
• Institute for AI Safety and Security

Stade

• Institute of Lightweight Systems
• Center for Lightweight Production Technology

Stuttgart

• Institute of Structures and Design
• Institute of Vehicle Concepts
• Institute of Technical Physics
• Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics
• Institute of Combustion Technology
• Institute of Networked Energy Systems (Institut für Vernetzte Energiesysteme)
• DLR School Lab

Trauen

• Institute of Propulsion Technology, Engine / Fire Safety department

Ulm

• Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics
• Institute of Quantum Technologies
• Institute for AI Safety and Security

Weilheim(Oberbayern)

• Space Operations and Astronaut Training

Human spaceflight

Examples of DLR or parent institution human spaceflight missions:

• FSLP (1983), withUlf Merboldusing Spaceman onSTS-9
• D1 (1985), withReinhard FurrerandErnst Messerschmid( with Netherlands'Wubbo Ockelson STS-61-A)
• D2 (1993), withHans SchlegelandUlrich Walter
• Mir 92/92E (1992), withKlaus-Dietrich Flade
• Euromir94, with Ulf Merbold
• Euromir 95, withThomas Reiter
• MIR '97, withReinhold Ewald
• X-SAR/SRTM (2000), withGerhard Thiele
• Blue dot (2014), withAlexander Gerst,on theISS
• Horizons (2018), with Alexander Gerst, on the ISS

Research aircraft

DLR's A320 D-ATRA

Examples of research aircraft:

• Bo 105(for ATTHeS In-Flight Simulator)
• EC 135(for Flying Helicopter Simulator (FHS))
• VFW 614(for ATTAS)
• Boeing 747SP(DLR/NASA project forSOFIA)
• Airbus A320-232( "D-ATRA" )
• Zeppelin NT(for traffic analysis)
• Cessna 208B Grand Caravan( "D-FDLR" )
• Dassault Falcon 20E( "D-CMET" )
• DG 300 Elan-17(glider)
• Dornier 228-101( "D-CODE" )
• Dornier 228-212 ( "D-CFFU" )
• DR 400/200R Remorqueur( "D-EDVE" )
• Gulfstream G550( "D-ADLR", for HALO)
• LFU 205( "D-ELFU", since 1985)
• Grob Strato 2C( "D-CDLR", retired)

Space missions

The DLR produced this digitally processed image of the Moon.

Examples of DLR (or parent institution) space missions.Many of these are also joint or international missions.

Future

• IDEFIX rover- collaboration with CNES

Current

• TanDEM-X- TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement
• Prisma
• SATCOMBw
• TerraSAR-X
• Columbus
• SAR-Lupe
• DESIS, the DLR Earth Sensing Imaging Spectrometer, a VIS/NIRhyperspectral imageron theInternational Space Stationdeveloped together withTeledyne Brown Engineering
• EnMAP

Past

• BIRD- Bispectral InfraRed Detector
• FIREBIRD, the BIRD successor mission consisting ofTET-1(Technology Experiment Carrier) and BIROS (Bispectral InfraRed Optical Satellite, formerly Berlin InfraRed Optical Satellite)
• GRACE- Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment
• EuCROPIS(Euglena and Combined Regenerative Organic-Food Production in Space)
• CHAMP- CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload
• AZUR
• AEROS
• Dawn (spacecraft)
• HELIOS
• AMPTE
• GALILEO
• ROSAT
• EXPRESS
• Equator-S
• MOMS-2P
• ABRIXAS
• SYMPHONIE A+B
• TV-Sat 1 & 2
• DFS Kopernikus 1,2,3
• EUTELSAT II (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6)
• EUTELSAT W (W2, W3, W4, W1R, HB6, W5)
• Rosetta
• Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
• MASCOTlander onboardHayabusa2

DLR Magazine

DLR Magazine is the institute's flagship publication, also published in English as of June 2010.Subject matter includes science, editorials and images.

See also

• Open access in Germany
• Die Astronautin
• List of aerospace flight test centres
• List of government space agencies

External links

• Homepage of the DLR
  • DLR Homepage English
• DLR School LabSchülerlabor
• Website of the Washington DC DLR Office
• Helmholtz Community (HGF)