Space research

As part of the RMC key research subjects planetary exploration and on-orbit servicing, significant contributions in simulation, design optimization, verification and control of space systems and their individual subsystems are being made. Our research focuses on the planetary rovers’ wheel-soil interaction, landers’ mobility on asteroids, satellite man oeuvres including docking contact dynamics, and the assessment of conventional and reusable launcher systems.

	On-orbit servicing The Institute of System Dynamics and Control develops models and technologies for robotic servicing, repair and disposal of satellites
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	Planetary exploration The SR institute provides simulation expertise for applications dedicated to the field of robotic planetary exploration.
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	InSight – beneath the surface of Mars For NASA’s InSight mission to Mars, DLR provides the HP3 instrument. Its main “thermal sensor”, a self-impelling nail nicknamed the “Mole” will hammer itself 5 meters beneath the Martian surface to measure the heat flux.
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	MASCOT - Locomotion on Asteroids The asteroid lander MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout) was built by DLR in cooperation with the French space agency CNES and was launched on its journey onboard the Japanese space probe Hayabusa2 in December 2014.
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	Satellite systems For current and future space missions involving on-orbit servicing and Earth observation, multidisciplinary modelling environments are developed to assist the specification, design, and assessment of satellite systems and their dynamics.
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	Scout Rover The traversal of rough terrain is still a very demanding task for mobile robotics.
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	Launcher systems The European launcher systems Ariane and Vega are being continuously improved.
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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johann Bals
Director
German Aerospace Center
Institute of System Dynamics and Control, -
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2433
Fax: +49 8153 28-44-3883