DLRmagazine 177 (June 2025)

The latest trends in propeller technology

There are many variables that can make an aircraft more efficient, quieter and more climate-compatible. One of the most important is the engine – particularly the propulsion system. Today’s long-haul aircraft fly with shrouded jet engines, while propellers are used for short-haul routes. Although propellers are generally more efficient, they are not suitable for long distances. For 20 years, DLR has been developing innovative propulsion systems. Technologies such as the shrouded propfan (CRISP) shown here combine the best of both worlds: they are designed to be more efficient than jet engines while quieter than conventional propellers.

Coverstory

Quotes from the magazine

Jens Berdermann
Acting Head of the DLR Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Credit:
© DLR. All rights reserved

"Right now, we are once again experiencing a period of increased solar activity. We are monitoring the situation and providing data via our IMPC space weather service to help protect critical infrastructure."

Jessika Wichner
Head of the DLR Central Archive
Credit:
© DLR. All rights reserved

"Given the striking design, I was surprised to learn that the physics behind the rotor ship Buckau – the Magnus effect – is actually quite simple."

Read more in A voyage of rotating cylinders

Frank Sill Torres
Head of the DLR Institute for the Protection of Maritime Infrastructures
Credit:
© DLR. All rights reserved

"Offshore wind turbines generate nearly five percent of our energy. If they fail, the Impact is noticeable."

Secure at sea

DLR investigates how to protect remote maritime infrastructure

Frolicking fire foxes

In Neustrelitz, DLR researchers explore the effects of space weahter and how to forecast it

Out of the way!

The Hera mission is set to reveal fresh insights into small, potentially hazardous asteroids.

Heavy trucks need supercharging

DLR Projektträger is facilitating the race to find the right charging technology for electric trucks

"European aviation must stay competitive"

Ulrich Herrmann on the results of Europe's largest aviation programme

Revealing a hidden world

Meet Sarah Barnes, expert in muon tomography

Flying lighter

Intelligent load control saves fuel and protects the environment

Opening new doors to data spaces

How Base-X links data for sustainable mobility

Stars, galaxies and a touch of nostalgia

A day at the Bochum Planetarium

A voyage of rotating cylinders

How fluid dynamics research helped invent a new type of ship Propulsion

A great plan

Smart, demand-driven Transport planning at the push of a button

Moon dust in the spotlight

Clouds of fine dust shimmer in the beam of a spotlight. But this is no ordinary dust – it’s deceptively similar to lunar regolith, or Moon dust. This photo was taken during one of the first experiments in the LUNA hall, which DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA) opened in Cologne in September 2024. Apart from the temperature and vacuum, conditions here closely resemble those on the lunar surface, allowing astronauts and robots to prepare for future missions to the Moon. The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation has used LUNA to investigate how payload boxes, sensors, rovers and exploration crews can be connected together to form a network – exchanging signals that could be used for both communication and navigation. The swarm navigation System developed by the institute can assist in exploring the surface of the Moon or Mars, and can also help improve orientation in places on Earth, such as lava caves, where satellite navigation is unavailable.

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