DLR - Space Operations and Astronaut Training - Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC)

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Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC)

MUSC (Microgravity User Support Center), the German user support center for space science, supports scientists in the fields of materials physics and aerospace medicine as well as astrophysics with the preparation, execution and evaluation of experiments in space. This is achieved with the scientific/technical know-how accumulated at MUSC and the according infrastructure. Tasks of the MUSC comprise the preliminary research on functionally identical ground models of the flight hardware, on-orbit operation of the flight hardware and finally the experiment analysis along with the archiving of science data.

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Parabolic Flights

In the MUSC, space experiments are qualified for their certification of flight readiness, their operation during flight is supported with the necessary infrastructure (e.g. with science reference models on ground, and ground support computing systems) and post successful mission, data is publicised in European archives. In parallel, future mission targets are being investigated and development of new experimental and measurement processes takes place. Concerning data systems, user-oriented data acquisition and command systems for experiments in space are provided.

Experiments on the International Space Station

Responsibility for the payload- and experiment-related mission planning, mission execution and data management is administered in decentralised scientific centers across Europe known as European User Support Centers. In this network, the MUSC is integrated as the leading European User Support center. MUSC operates the space station facilities Biolab, Expose, Matroshka and in the future the Materials Science Lab (MSL) by order of ESA.

Rosetta Lander

A cornerstone mission of the European space program (ESA Cornerstone Mission, Horizon 2000) is the Rosetta mission. The Rosetta probe will be the first spacecraft to examine a comet over an extended period of time at close range with a considerable amount of scientific payloads.

Rosetta Lander Control Center

The MUSC in Cologne houses the Lander Control Center (LCC). Supported by their scientific partner (SONC) at CNES in Toulouse, the PHILAE team at LCC is responsible for the control and operation of the Lander.

Virtual Control Room

The „Virtual Control Room“ is a new feature on the DLR Website, where you will have access to current telemetry data for the Missions EXPOSE (ISS), MATROSHKA (ISS) and ROSETTA, coming straight from the control rooms of the Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC). This allows you to promptly follow these missions.


Virtual Control Room