DLR - Institute of Space Systems

Exploration Systems

Within the Institute of Space Systems, the "Exploration Systems" department covers technologies and mission concepts related to planetary landing missions. This includes landing systems, robotic infrastructures, small body missions as well as surface and subsurface sampling.

Navigation and Control Systems

In order to fulfil their mission spacecraft need to have their orbit and attitude determined and actively controlled.

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.

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 transport and propulsion systems focus on research and development of technologies and concepts for future transport and propulsion systems of space transport systems. A cryo-lab on site and commercial CFD-software are used for research and technology development. Furthermore the department is responsible for the project management of the student program REXUS/BEXUS and MAPHEUS.

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.