German Aerospace Center

DLR conducts space research at the highest level and develops innovative energy and mobility concepts. In doing so, the Helmholtz Center focuses on issues of security and digitalization. DLR's headquarters are in Cologne. A total of around 10,000 employees are active at 30 other locations. Together, they tackle complex issues in aerospace and mobility: The experts explore space, develop low-emission aircraft, test new propulsion technologies and send satellites into orbit for Earth observation. On behalf of the German federal government, DLR is also home to the German Space Agency, whose tasks include designing and implementing the national aerospace program and managing Germany's contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

11.539

employees (2023)

1.324

PhD students in 2023

292

visiting scientists from 88 countries in 2023

Research programs

Aeronautics

Space

Transport

Materials and technologies for the energy transition

Aeronautics, Space and Transport
Making a clean takeoff with electric engines

In order to achieve our climate targets, we can leave no stone unturned – and aviation is no exception. Experts at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Electrified Aero Engines are now…
Earth & Environment
An AI model of the global carbon cycle

A new basic AI model will help to better understand the global carbon cycle and make predictions about future changes. The project needs one thing above all else: Lots of high-quality data from…
Aeronautics, Space and Transport
Heavy metal in outer space

Asteroids are cosmic piles of debris, an agglomeration of rocks, or at least they usually are. The asteroid "Psyche", which is now to be examined by a space probe, could be an exception. Researchers…
Aeronautics, Space and Transport
Joint research for the aircraft of tomorrow

In order to make future commercial aircraft even more efficient, a research project that has so far been carried out in Germany is testing aerodynamic limits. But the phenomena are so complex that…
Aeronautics, Space and Transport
Launch to Jupiter's icy moons

The European Space Agency ESA is sending the largest mission of the decade on its way. The JUICE space probe will search for indications of life on Jupiter's icy moons. That is conceivable, but it is…
Aeronautics, Space and Transport, Earth & Environment
Autonomous robots rehearse for Mars and the deep sea

Autonomous research robots play a crucial role in deep-sea research as well as in the exploration of distant planets. Helmholtz researchers from both fields have joined forces and together are…