Institute of Space Systems

The Institute of Space Systems - DLR Bremen

The Institute of Space Systems analyzes and evaluates complex systems of space flight with regard to technical, economical and socio-political aspects. Furthermore, it develops concepts for innovative space missions with high visibility on the national and international level. For scientific, commercial and safety-relevant demands the Institute develops and implements space based applications in cooperative projects with research partners and industry.
With these benefits, the institute supports the Federal Republic of Germany’s political decisions on national and international space strategies.
Educating system technology engineers is strengthened by independent research of space system technology and collaboration with universities.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the Eurpoean Union.

Director of the Institute:

Dr. Bernd Biering
Robert-Hooke-Str. 7
28359 Bremen
Germany

Phone: (+49) 421/24420-1101

Departments of DLR Bremen

Exploration Systems

The Exploration Systems department deals with technologies and mission concepts linked to planetary landing missions. In particular, this includes the subject areas of: Landing systems; mobility on planetary surfaces; taking samples on and under planetary surfaces.

Navigation and Control Systems

To fulfil their mission, the course and position of spacecraft must be regulated precisely and actively. For this purpose, there are on board sensors and actuators as well as computers with software for data-processing, used to set the required course and position movement. The navigation and regulating systems department deals with research and development of promising and/or strategically relevant technologies in the field of course and position regulation of spacecraft and their required electronic systems.

Orbital Systems and Safety

Within the Institute of Space Systems, the department of Orbital Systems and Safety (OR) is focussed on the following activities: design, development and operations of small satellite missions, as well as the development of standard technologies for propelling new space missions. The work is focussed on safety-oriented and commercial applications. Furthermore, it integrates and manages the entire relevant space expertise of all DLR-Institutes. Short project durations assure a high innovation capacity.

Space Segments

The System Analysis division is composed of the "Systems Analysis Space Transport" (SART) group and the "Systems Analysis Space Segment" (SARA), which means that SARA is integrated into one of the three focal points of the DLR Institute of Space Systems. The chief task of the department is analysing and evaluating existing and future aerospace systems.

Space Transport

The SART (Space Launcher Systems Analysis) group has the task of examining all types of future space launch systems and the thereof required engines by means of modern, computer-aided methods. One of the fundamental aims is to reduce the cost of access to space through the identification of viable technologies. Activities range from stand-alone preliminary studies to critical analysis and assessment of foreign concepts. Thanks to integrated vehicle and engine analysis performed within a single group, SART fills a unique position within the German space sector.

System Conditioning

Environmental simulation and verification continues to play an important role in the development of spacecraft systems and small satellites. To perform environmental testing under real and complex conditions it is necessary to have modern test facilities that provide essential test data to verify the development technology and the design concerning the mathematical models (e.g. structure and thermal model).

Transport and Propulsion Systems

The department of Transport and Propulsion Systems focuses primarily on research and development of technologies and concepts for spacecraft transport and propulsion systems.

Central Avionics

The requirements for dependability and reliability of data management systems for spacecraft are very high. In addition, there are increasing requirements for greater computing power, lower power consumption and less bulk. The development of such highly reliable components is associated with enormous costs and, if all components of a system are extremely reliable, there is still a residual risk for the overall system. An alternative for the development of highly reliable data management systems is to implement a reliable overall system which may comprise unreliable components.


Neues Laborgebäude am 25.08.2011 eingeweiht


DLR - Bremen: How to find us


Job Offers

Landesysteme der Zukunft