Goals and Roles

Mobility, communication and information are essential elementsof a modern economy. They are examples of the social challenges tackled by scientists working in the Research Field Transport, Space and Transport. In times of increasing environmentalpollution, capacity squeezes and tighter safety and securitystandards, our researchers are working to produce new concepts and technical solutions, and to give advice to policy makers. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR) is the only Helmholtz centre in the Research Field Transport, Space and Transport. Parallel to this it is the German national aerospace research agency. As the German aerospace agency, the DLR is responsible for conception and implementation of research within the national space programme and for contributions to the European Space Agency ESA on behalf of the Federal Government.

The DLR’s 13 sites are located in various federal states and work closely with a network of universities and other research institutions. The DLR also cooperates with other Helmholtz research centres, especially in the Research Fields Energy and Earth and Environment. In the Research Field Transport, Space and Transport, cooperations with various partners have been extended and new research infrastructures put in place during the past year: e.g. a high-performance computer, the heart of the Center for Computer Applications in AeroSpace Science and Engineering (C²A²S²E), was able to begin operating in May 2008 after only seven months’ preparation. C²A²S²E, at the DLR’s Brunswick location, has been set up as a research environment with a campus-like character, where research, development and industrial application can be directly integrated.

In the Helmholtz Alliance “Planetary Evolution and Life”, six DLR institutes work with twelve partners, mostly universities. In addition, the Institute of Air Transport Concepts and Technology Valuation was founded with the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). The fundamental task of the institute is to assess new concepts in aviation and flight control. The founding of the Institute of Aerospace Systems in Bremen last year completed the range of issues covered in the DLR’s space department. This institute has the task of assessing and analysing complex space systems from technical, economic, social and political standpoints.

Programme Structure

DLR scientists collaborate in three programmes:

• Aeronautics
• Space
• Transport

In uniting the programmes Aeronautics, Space und Transport in a single Research Centre, Germany has gained a unique position in the European scientific community which it will be able to build on in the years to come. The Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt does not work in isolation but is an active part of the national, European and international scientific community. The DLR collaborates with other Helmholtz centres in the Research Fields Energy, Earth and Environment,Health and Key Technologies. The goal for the next programme-oriented funding period is to make significant research contributions which bring the ambitious aims of Aeronautics, Space und Transport in closer reach.

The Research Field Transport, Space and Transport was evaluated in spring 2008 within the scope of the Helmholtz Association’s programme-oriented funding. The Research Field changed its name to “Aeronautics, Space and Transport” on 1 January 2009.