Launch of the MAPHEUS 14 research rocket in January 2024
In January 2024, with over 14 experiments onboard, the MAPHEUS rocket reached an altitude of approximately 260 kilometres, providing over six minutes under microgravity conditions for its passengers. The payload was safely recovered just a few hours after launch, enabling studies into, for example, the formation of structures in soft matter with nanoparticles, the influence of gravity on processes in living neural networks and current encryption techniques for data transmission from orbit.
Credit:
Mathias Forsberg, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)
MAPHEUS (Materialphysikalische Experimente unter Schwerelosigkeit; materials physics experiments under microgravity) is a sounding rocket programme of DLR, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt). It serves as a central platform for conducting experiments in the materials and life sciences, as well as for technology testing in microgravity conditions. To provide fast and regular access to space, a research rocket is annually launched to an altitude of approximately 260 kilometres, providing about six minutes of microgravity conditions for the various experiments onboard. The development, construction, flight qualification, campaign execution and scientific monitoring of experiments are all carried out by participating DLR institutes and facilities, as well as internationally involved organisations – all 'under one roof'. This allows MAPHEUS to offer a high degree of flexibility for new technical developments and ensures a short turnaround from concept to flight experiment. MAPHEUS is therefore a standout feature of research at DLR, further strengthening its technological leadership in the field of sounding rockets. It also serves as a catalyst for the research community and the programmes led by the German Space Agency at DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA).
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The MAPHEUS project – Materials physics experiments under microgravity
