German Aerospace Center

Institute of Space Research

The Institute of Optical Sensor Systems fosusses on research and development of active and passive optical sensor systems operating in the UV, visible, infrared and THz spectral range.

Welcome to the Institute of Space Research

On May 1rst 2025, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) established the Institute of Space Research in Berlin. The new institute emerged from the internationally renowned DLR Institutes of Optical Sensor Systems and Planetary Research. The new institute combines the expertise in the fields of space instruments and space research and sets up a leading center of excellence for optical sensor systems and their application in planetary research, Earth observation and security.

News

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High Impact Publications

Find here a compilation of our publications in journals with a high impact factor.

Space blog

People make science happen. The DLR Blogs portal features the researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) themselves – highly qualified experts who are passionate about their work. The blogs provide a glimpse 'behind the scenes' of their everyday scientific lives. They show how multifaceted DLR's research is.

Departments

Department Extrasolar Planets and Atmospheres

Our expertise is the detection and precise characterisation of extrasolar planets and in the modelling of planetary atmospheres, with a focus on the conditions that make planets habitable.

Department High-Speed Electronics

The department High-Speed Electronics comprises the Institute’s expertise in the development of focal plane units and detector electronics for VIS/NIR satellite cameras.

Department In-Situ Sensing

The department In-Situ Sensing researches and develops methods for in-situ measurements on planetary bodies such as Mars, the Moon and asteroids.

Department Planetary Geodesy

Department Planetary Geodesy studies fundamental properties of planets as global shape, topography, gravity field, rotation, and orbital motion are, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Department Planetary Geology

The key activities of the department Planetary Geophysics are the theoretical modeling of structure and evolution of planetary bodies…

Department Planetary Laboratories

complementary range of laboratory setups.

Department Planetary Physics

The goal of the department Planetary Gophysics is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the internal structure and thermochemical evolution of planetary bodies.

Department Planetary Sensor Systems

Department Planetary Sensor Systems is an engineering group specialized in the design and development of instruments for scientific planetary exploration missions.

Department Real-Time Data Processing

The department Real-Time Data Processing focusses on the development and evaluation of models, algorithms and data processing chains for optical sensors.

Department Security Research and Applications

The department Security Research and Application combines the Institute's activities in the field of civil security and defense.

Department Space Instruments

The department Space Instruments focusses mainly on the instrument development for ESA and NASA missions.

Department Terahertz and Laser Spectroscopy

The department of Terahertz and Laser Spectroscopy has a long track record in instrumentation development for and application of laser-based spectroscopic techniques..

Careers and education

Vacancies at the Institute of Space Research

Vacancies at the Institute of Optical Sensor Systems can be found here: DLR - Jobs & Career - Job offers.

Information for students

We offer students, doctoral candidates and interns the opportunity to work together with experienced scientists and engineers in an exciting and diverse environment.