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New solar cells for space

August 13, 2020
Almost all satellites are powered by solar cells – but solar cells are heavy. While conventional high-performance cells reach up to three watts of electricity per gram, perovskite and organic hybrid cells could provide up to 10 times that amount. A research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has now tested this type of cell in space for the first time.
DLR and MTU Aero Engines study fuel cell propulsion system for aviation

August 5, 2020
Emission-free flight is a central goal of civil aviation. Emission-free air transport could be achieved in the long term by converting hydrogen into electricity. This would enable the environment-friendly electrification of propulsion systems. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and MTU Aero Engines are focusing on a fuel cell propulsion system, which they will jointly develop and validate
DLR’s High Resolution Stereo Camera ‘flies’ over a future Mars landing site – Jezero Crater

July 29, 2020
Jezero is not just any impact crater on Mars. An ancient river delta near the western rim of the crater is evidence that it contained a lake more than 3.5 billion years ago. Numerous aqueous minerals prove that liquid water must have been present in it for a very long time – one of the most important prerequisites for life. This is why Jezero Crater is the destination of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, which is scheduled to launch on 30 July 2020 at 13:50 CEST and which will begin searching for traces of life in the former crater lake in February 2021.
NASA’s Mars 2020 mission will search for traces of past microbial life with the Perseverance rover

July 24, 2020
With Perseverance, its most complex Mars rover to date, NASA is opening a new chapter in the search for traces of ancient life on Mars. The launch of the new rover is scheduled to take place on 30 July 2020 at 13:50 CEST on board an Atlas V launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Germany's largest ever stony meteorite found in Blaubeuren

July 15, 2020
Even in science, chance sometimes produces more thrilling discoveries that the most ambitious plans. In 1989, a homeowner was digging a cable trench on his property in Blaubeuren, in the German region of Swabia, when his spade hit a rock measuring 28 by 25 by 20 centimetres.
A slightly younger Moon

July 10, 2020
The Moon formed a little later than previously assumed. When a Mars-sized protoplanet was destroyed in a collision with the young Earth, a new body was created from the debris ejected during this catastrophe – the Moon.
Glacial retreat in the Alps – first comprehensive documentation

July 8, 2020
A research team from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) conducted the first study of area and elevation changes for all Alpine glaciers over a period of 14 years.
New DLR institutes will investigate solar-chemical fuels and the future of air transport

July 3, 2020
In the future, mobility needs to become more environmentally friendly – whether synthetic fuels from renewable sources, electricity or hydrogen, innovative and low-emission engines, unmanned and electric aircraft, or concepts for their integration into the air transport system.
Flight over Korolev Crater on Mars

July 2, 2020
The video shows a simulated flight over Korolev Crater on Mars. This crater is permanently filled with water ice; it is located in the northern lowlands, near the permanent ice cap at the planet's North Pole. The images used to create the video were acquired by DLR’s HRSC instrument on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft.
Six new missions for the European Copernicus Earth observation programme

July 1, 2020
Sentinel satellites are at the heart of Copernicus, Europe's largest Earth observation programme. Sentinels are already reliably and continuously providing large amounts of data on the state of the climate, vegetation and oceans.
DLR and Mozilla are researching technologies for voice control of robots

July 1, 2020
There is no room for error when controlling satellites or operating the Columbus Laboratory on the International Space Station. Every single working step and command follows an established procedure and is documented.
DLR – Strategy for an international future

June 26, 2020
International cooperation is a key element of scientific success and the development of effective solutions to global challenges such as climate change. For this reason, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has formulated its first internationalisation strategy.
Congratulations, TanDEM-X – 10 years of 3D mapping from space

June 25, 2020
A new era in radar remote sensing began 10 years ago, on 21 June 2010, when the radar satellite TanDEM-X was launched. Since then, it has been orbiting Earth in close formation flight with TerraSAR-X, its three-year-older 'twin'.
DLR analyses noise properties of the new high-speed helicopter RACER

June 24, 2020
The Rapid And Cost-Effective Rotorcraft (RACER) is a demonstrator that flies faster, farther and more efficiently than previous helicopters. Airbus first presented the concept for the new high-speed helicopter, featuring a box-wing design, back in 2017.
New DLR institutes to research maritime energy systems and future mobility

June 23, 2020
On 23 June 2020, the Senate of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) gave the green light for the establishment of two new institutes. These will conduct research on innovative technologies for the mobility and energy transition.
Working remotely at the German Space Operations Center – new plasma crystal experiments on the ISS

June 23, 2020
Under normal circumstances, the researchers would have gone to Toulouse, as only from there can they control the PK-4 plasma crystal laboratory, which has been on board the International Space Station (ISS) since 2015.
LNAS pilot assistance system enables quieter and more fuel-efficient landing approaches

June 22, 2020
During more than 90 approaches to Zurich Airport conducted under the leadership of the Swiss SkyLab Foundation, researchers from Empa and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) tested an assistance system that supports pilots via a display during quiet and, at the same time, fuel-efficient approaches.
Interaction between pilot and helicopter – detection, evaluation and avoidance of pilot induced oscillations

June 11, 2020
Helicopters have a very sophisticated and complex flight control system. This results in special requirements for the interaction between pilot and helicopter.
Using light signals for safe communication in future road transport

June 10, 2020
Whether with turn signals, hazard warning lights or flashing blue lights, vehicles often use light signals to communicate with other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Research into flexible wing surfaces at DLR

June 4, 2020
Part of the noise from aircraft is generated by the wing. Where high-lift devices and control surfaces meet the wing, there is an abrupt transition between these aerofoils and the air flowing around them to the fixed part of the wing.
All news

DLR at a glance

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Trailer: DLR at a glance

DLR is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures.

Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0)

Facts and figures

8,13

21

Institute of Test and Simulation for Gas Turbines: number of employees (2019)
8,13

8

Female
8,13

13

Male

Facts / Transport

19,42,17

78

Transport – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
19,42,17

19

Transport systems – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
19,42,17

42

Rail transport – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
19,42,17

17

Road traffic – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)

Facts / Aeronautics

162,47,48,20

277

Aeronautics – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
162,47,48,20

162

Fixed-wing aircraft research – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
162,47,48,20

47

Propulsion systems – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
162,47,48,20

48

Air Traffic Management and Flight Experiments – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)
162,47,48,20

20

Rotary-wing aircraft research – Revenues 2018 (Data in million euro)

Facts / Space

106,100

206

Institute of Aerospace Medicine: number of employees (2019)
106,100

106

Female
106,100

100

Male

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