In order to support the industry and to safe national upper stage competence in Germany, DLR decided to establish a cryo-lab at the Institute of Space Systems in Bremen. The aim of the cryo-lab is to investigate scientific and technical questions of space technology and to work out technical solutions particularly with regard to reignitable cryogenic upper stages. The intended investigations cover the field of fundamental and material research as well as functional and qualification tests; including experiments like pressure loss measurements of screens, tests of composite fibre tanks and propellant management devices, sloshing experiments and the investigation of subcooled propellants. Experiments with liquid Oxygen and liquid Hydrogen planed to be feasible. The cryo-lab participates in the “Research Cooperation Upper Stage”. Currently it cooperates with the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) and with the industrial partners Astrium-ST and MT Aerospace.
For safety reasons the planed tests in Bremen are limited with respect to the amount of liquid cryogenics. In order to serve the future scientific and industrial demand of middle-scale tests, a test facility at the DLR site Trauen is proposed. The vicinity to Bremen enables the performance of concerted and cost-effective test campaigns.