Organisation

We operate in the legal form of a registered association. As such, we are a legally independent entity with our own charter and statutory bodies (boards).

Senate

Our highest body is the General Assembly. This has delegated essential tasks to the our Senate, which meets twice a year as a supervisory body. The Senate consists of up to 33 members, representing the scientific, business, industrial and state sectors equally. The Chair of the Senate is a State Secretary in the Federal Ministry, which is responsible to the Federal Government for us. In addition to its supervisory role, the Senate advises and provides support on important issues such as our strategic direction and setting the course for our further development.

Executive Board

Since October 2020, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla has been Chair of our Executive Board, while Klaus Hamacher is Vice Chairman. The Executive Board also includes Prof. Dr. Karsten Lemmer, responsible for the Executive Board department 'Innovation, Transfer and Research Infrastructure', and Dr. Walther Pelzer, responsible for the 'German Space Agency at DLR' based in Bonn.

General Assembly

According to our statutes, members of the Society are supporting members, scientific members, ex officio members and honorary members.

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board supervises the management. In particular it monitors the legality, expediency and economic efficiency of the activities conducted by the Executive Board. It is comprised of eleven members from government as well as the fields of science, business and industry. The Chair of the Supervisory Board is a State Secretary of the Federal Ministry responsible for us.

Space Committee

The Space Committee is independent of our other bodies and not bound by any directives issued by other bodies. The Committee consists of one representative each from the federal ministries involved with space matters and the Federal Chancellery.

Scientific-Technical Advisory Council