ALICIA

The ALICIA project (Aviation Life Cycle and Impact Assessment) is developing a digital assessment platform to systematically and comparatively analyse the climate, environmental and economic impacts of new aircraft technologies and aviation procedures across their entire life cycle. Its aim is to provide industry and policymakers with a well-founded basis for decision-making on climate-compatible and sustainable aviation, including an interactive dashboard for scenario comparisons and simulations.^[45]

EXACT

The EXACT project ("Exploration of Electric Aircraft Concepts and Technologies") is one of the most comprehensive studies addressing the development of climate-friendly and economically viable aircraft concepts. It systematically compares technologies such as hydrogen, batteries and sustainable aviation fuels and aims to develop and evaluate realistic aircraft designs for deployment from 2040 onwards. The project involves up to 20 DLR institutes and numerous external partners.^[46]

HAP-alpha

The HAP-alpha project is developing a solar-powered, unmanned stratospheric platform with a wingspan of 27 metres and a weight of under 140 kg. Designed as a technological demonstrator in the lower stratosphere, it is intended to perform tasks for earth observation and communications as a flexible, serviceable alternative to satellites, enabling long-duration missions with a wide variety of payloads. A first low-altitude flight is planned for 2026.^[47]

Emissions research

DLR conducts research into CO₂ and noise emissions in air traffic. In addition to exploring ways to reduce carbon dioxide input into the atmosphere, DLR also researches non-CO₂ emissions such as contrails, which are likewise harmful to the climate. To this end, DLR conducted a 100-flight measurement programme together with DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung and selected airlines.^[48]

DLR is also involved in research into sustainable fuels – without a fossil basis – in aviation.^[49]

To avoid an increase in noise pollution from air traffic despite rising traffic volumes, DLR conducts dedicated research projects on noise reduction.^[50]

German Space Operations Center

The German Space Operations Center (GSOC) of DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen has been conducting spaceflight missions with a wide range of applications since 1969 – from commanding earth observation satellites to operating the Columbus module on the International Space Station. In addition, the "Human Exploration Control Center" (HECC) is being developed at GSOC to support European crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.^[51]

DLR joined the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters in 2010. The Center for Satellite-Based Crisis Information (ZKI) provides satellite imagery from its earth observation satellites for disaster coordination – including in the case of tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and other natural disasters.^[52]

TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X

The Earth observation satellite TerraSAR-X entered service in 2008. The mission's aim is to supply users in research and industry with radar-based remote sensing data. The satellite can image the earth's surface in areas of 10 to 100 km with a resolution of up to 16 m. Since the launch of the twin satellite TanDEM-X in 2010, both have been orbiting the Earth in close formation, providing data for high-resolution digital elevation models of land structures. The radar images serve diverse applications, including topographic mapping, defence and security applications, crisis response planning and environmental monitoring.^[53]

Research under space conditions

In February 2008, the Columbus laboratory, Europe's central contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), was launched and docked to the ISS. The cylindrical module, with a diameter of 4.5 m, is equipped with modern research facilities,^[54] including a biology laboratory, a facility for fluid investigations and experimental units for materials science. Hundreds of experiments have already been conducted, serving research in materials sciences, medicine, biology and physics.^[55] DLR operates the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen on behalf of ESA and is responsible for coordinating research activities as well as system operations and life support aboard the Columbus laboratory in orbit.^[56]

Robotics

DLR develops robots at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics intended to help humans interact more effectively and safely with their environment. Research spans system analysis and design, mechanical construction, electronics development, control engineering and dynamic simulation. In the field of space robotics, DLR develops robotic systems particularly for the exploration of distant celestial bodies that are inaccessible to humans due to distance or hostile conditions.^[57]

HRSC on Mars Express

The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) is Germany's most important contribution to the Mars Express mission of the European Space Agency ESA. Originally developed for Mars 96 at DLR's Institute of Planetary Research, the camera images the Martian surface at resolutions of 10 to 30 m and enables three-dimensional analysis.^[58]

Martian Moons Exploration (MMX)

The launch of the Japanese spacecraft Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) is planned for 2026. It will orbit Phobos and Deimos and bring back samples from Phobos for the first time. The mission aims to clarify the origin of the Martian moons. Led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), DLR is collaborating with a number of international partners. The mission is scheduled to last until 2031.^[59]

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)

JUICE is ESA's current flagship mission to Jupiter and its three largest ice-covered moons: Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. The orbiter was launched on 14 April 2023 and is expected to reach the Jupiter system in 2031. The mission's goal is to investigate the internal structure, oceans and potential habitability of these moons, and to gather evidence of subsurface oceans and their geodynamics. DLR is a project partner, contributing measuring instruments, a specialised camera and data analysis.^[60][61]

Artemis II

Artemis II was the first crewed lunar fly-by mission of NASA’s Artemis program and was completed in April 2026.^[62] The crew flew around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft and returned safely to Earth after about ten days. During the mission, Orion’s life-support and other critical systems were tested under real spaceflight conditions with astronauts on board for the first time.^[63][64] The mission provided experience for future crewed lunar missions and planned lunar landings.^[65] DLR contributed radiation detectors.^[66] Artemis II also carried the small satellite TACHELES,^[67] which tested electronic components for a future lunar rover on its journey toward the Moon.^[68]

Wind energy

At Krummendeich, DLR is developing the Wind Energy Research Park (WiValdi) together with research partners, testing new technologies and rotor blades under real conditions. The aim is to develop efficient wind turbines that are climate-compatible and sustainable.^[69]

Solar energy

In 2007, the world's first commercially operated solar tower power plant, the PS10, went into operation near Sanlúcar la Mayor (Spain). DLR was involved in the technology development for this type of power plant.^[70]

The Jülich solar tower power plant, in operation since 2008, concentrates the light of more than 2,000 computer-controlled mirrors (heliostats), generating air heated to up to 700 °C. Research focuses on the further development and testing of receivers, storage technologies and processes for the energy transition, including the production of climate-neutral fuels (e.g. hydrogen, synthetic kerosene) and high-temperature industrial processes.^[71][72]

DLR uses test facilities at sites in Cologne, Stuttgart and Jülich for its own research, as well as the Plataforma Solar de Almería, the European test centre for concentrating solar technologies operated by the Spanish research organisation CIEMAT.^[73]

Power to Liquid (TPP Leuna)

In Leuna, Europe's largest research and demonstration plant for the production of electricity-based, synthetic fuels (power-to-liquid; PtL) is currently being built. DLR is constructing the "Technology Platform for Power-to-Liquid Fuels" (TPP), which can produce up to 2,500 tonnes of CO₂-neutral aviation fuel and other e-fuels per year. The aim is the industrial scaling and optimisation of processes for the production of synthetic kerosene and other e-fuels from renewable electricity, CO₂ and hydrogen.^[74]

Hydrogen

As part of its wide-ranging hydrogen research, DLR also investigates the possibilities and conditions for converting the world's aircraft fleet to hydrogen propulsion.^[75] DLR scientists have worked on hydrosol projects, through which it was first possible to thermally split water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy, without CO₂ emissions. For this, the team was awarded the Descartes Prize of the European Commission for research in 2007, together with other working groups.^[76]

Transport systems

The DLR MovingLab is a data collection system for transport research that automatically records mobility data via smartphone apps and sensors. The platform enables longitudinal studies on journeys, modes of transport used and their combination^[77] – going beyond the capabilities of traditional surveys. It provides well-founded data on real mobility behaviour in order to analyse new mobility concepts, public offerings (carsharing, autonomous driving) and their social use in detail.^[78]

Road transport

The DLR Next Generation Car (NGC) family bundles research on the development of future road vehicles. Focus areas include new mobility concepts, lightweight construction, digitalisation, automated driving and climate-friendly propulsion technologies – in particular electric mobility, hydrogen and hybrid systems. The NGC family encompasses various vehicle types, including the autonomous, driverless, electric U-Shift vehicle concept, the Safe Light Regional Vehicle (SLRV) for regional mobility, the Urban Modular Vehicle (UMV) for urban areas and the Interurban Vehicle for longer distances.^[79]

Rail transport

The Next Generation Train project at DLR, running since 2007, is a comprehensive research programme for the development of novel trains. Areas of focus include lightweight construction, energy savings, noise reduction, drive modularity, passenger comfort, the design and optimisation of life cycles and improved accident prevention. The concept addresses new high-speed trains with speeds of up to 400 km/h, regional feeder trains and freight trains.^[80]