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INNOSPACE & the German Space Agency at DLR

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HABITATION & WORK

Inexhaustible energy: the true “cell material” In the energy mix of the future, regenerative energies are supposed to take the lead. However, the sun and the wind won’t work at the touch of a button. Hydrogen complements the assortment of green energies. The fuel cell makes it an almost inexhaustible source of energy – and an ideal reservoir for other types of energy. At home and on the go.
Weather observation from space For decades, satellite images have assisted us in making reliable weather forecasts. Not only the image quality but also the quality of the forecast is constantly getting better.
Working with the “third arm” The latest generation of lightweight robots literally “lends humans a hand”. Humans and machines are working together. The foundations for it were laid in the 1990s at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
When the water rises ... or the Earth subsides Flood waters occur more and more frequently and get increasingly stronger. At what spots are the impacts particularly severe? Where are dams at risk of bursting or did already burst? Where should helpers tackle first, where are access roads to the place of action blocked? The German radar satellite TerraSAR-X keeps track of flood waters – and supports helpers and rescuers. But radar satellites can see even more …
Agriculture with the “view from above” If fields could “talk”, this would enable truly sustainable agriculture. Satellites make fields talk. One of the technologies making that possible keeps living rooms clean on Earth, or results in archaeological sensations.

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HEALTH & NUTRITION

From black holes to black spots Skin cancer is often fatal, especially if identified too late. Malignant melanomas can be identified more reliably and faster using software that has been programmed for the evaluation of X-ray sources in space.
Fighting peripheral artery occlusive disease This term is well known to heavy smokers: once they suffer from arteriosclerosis, walking gets difficult. During window shopping, frequent stops are less noticeable. To stop smoking would be best, of course. And what if it’s “too late”? Then technology from space flight might help.
From “seasick astronauts” to better vision In laser surgery on the eyes, the pupil has to be precisely located to perfectly control the laser. The eye-tracking technology was developed in Germany for space flight to get a better understanding of the sense of balance.
Do astronauts need a “muscle factory”? In microgravity, not even one’s own body has a “weight”. Muscles and bones in astronauts are unchallenged – and atrophy. The “remedy” helps on Earth as well.
From X-ray satellite to X-ray vision for wearers of glasses Varifocal glasses help against presbyopia. The best of them are produced using a technology with which the X-radiation of the entire outer space has been captured yet.
Taking a deep breath first! Grandpa has a “weak chest”. A tiny sensor that was initially developed to protect spacecraft from corrosion can identify the reasons and the severity of the condition.
“I have back pain” Back pain due to microgravity? Unfortunately a daily experience for astronauts. However, the technology helping them also goes down well with patients on Earth: sonoSens.
Optimal medical care for “preemies” Premature babies have to be constantly monitored to ensure proper care and treatment in the incubator. The technology for this application was partly developed by German space flight experts.
Disinfection with “cold plasma” – the end of “ouch” First injured, then disinfected – that mostly hurts twice. Not anymore! With ionised gas, wounds are cleaned sustainably and pain-free, and healing is speeded up.

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

And now: the diving forecast from space A diver’s dream coming true: high-resolution water quality maps of diving sites, updated daily. The data are provided by EOMAP, a DLR spin-off that uses Earth observation data from satellites. Not only for divers but also for water protection.
A danger foreseen … worldwide disaster warning and relief via satellite In case of disaster, Mother Nature shows no mercy. However, thanks to latest overview maps generated from satellite data, fast and effective help is possible. They are established by the DLR Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information and by the European Copernicus Emergency Management Service within the charter “Space and Major Disasters”.
Space flight on board Disoriented at the airport? How can I get to the gate? Online on board via broadband internet? Flying greener? DLR makes substantial contributions to researching and fostering indoor navigation (NavVis), optimisation of traffic flows at airports (TOMS and TAM), internet via satellite (SANTANA) and more economic aircraft engines.
Holiday planning with the “view from above” What does the brochure of the travel business actually reveal? Or better: what does it withhold? Those who rely on the view from above that satellites always have, receive a better impression of what is awaiting them at the holiday resort. Thanks to “MetOp” and “Copernicus”, for example.
The mountain calls, the satellite responds Lying on the beach while planning a tour to the heartland on the smartphone? Hiking in the mountains is fun if all conditions are just right: where are the most attractive routes? Will there be enough (optionally too much or too less) snow? Do we have to expect a sudden change in weather? And what about the situation on the road for approaching? Clever apps will help. And they are based on, for example, data of remote sensing satellites such as “WorldView” and “RapidEye”.

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MOBILITY & COMMUNICATION

Where is my parcel? Satellite-based positioning Those who order a new games console online possibly play computer games on it the next day. Its way to the local dispatch warehouse, however, was much longer, maybe over a month when coming from Asia. Completely satellite-supervised supply chains using “clever” software solutions are more transparent, safe, and significantly optimised.
As fast and sharp as can be: data transfer via satellite Fascinating details. High-resolution images! Being right in the middle of things instead of just watching them happen! This causes huge amounts of data. Those who want to be winners in online gaming or watch TV in highest resolution need stable and fast data transmission. The next generation of data transmission comes into play today: Laser. Transmission via satellite.
Galileo: navigation the European way Starting 2020, the next generation of satellite navigation systems will be fully operational with the European system Galileo. With a precision in the metre range – with additional technology on the ground even in the centimetre range – hitherto impossible applications are rendered possible. For example, the fully automated landing of ships or accident prevention systems for cars. These services of the future are being tested under real conditions in a Galileo test environment named GATE.
Making the postman ring earlier Almost 40 per cent of freight within the EU is transported at sea by ships. Customs bureaucracy gets ships stuck at the port for days before the cargo can be further transported. With “Space-based AIS for Blue Belt”, ships are tracked by satellite (e.g. with the German AISat-1) to enable customs officers to nod through cargo within Europe much faster in the future.
Optimised maritime freight Global supply chains are complex. From all over the world, parts arrive for final assembly. The finished product, in turn, is delivered a million times around the globe. Raw materials and products cover the largest distances by ship. Transport on the high seas can be significantly optimised: faster, safer, and more sustainable – with the help of space technologies.
Getting airborne safely Drones enable efficient and individual air transport for both cargo and passengers. However, the sky is getting increasingly crowded. Clever tracking systems create new open spaces – security included!

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KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION

Extraterrestrics Space. The final frontier. And large parts of it still unexplored. In our galaxy alone: 100 billions of stars. At least. Space flight – in particularly the launch of probes into our solar system and beyond – is still a young science. Room for plenty of pioneering work.
From the campus to the cosmos The aircraft of tomorrow, satellites and probes, environmental research, the cosmic neighbourhood, future traffic systems, renewable energies, robotics, new materials, and space medicine: those who are interested in the aerospace industry get many opportunities to deepen their own talents and interests during studies of natural sciences, engineering, or medicine, or to discover new worlds. The DLR is closely cooperating with students and universities, since the students of today will be the researchers of tomorrow. From the first semester to PhD fellowship, young talents can benefit from DLR’s offers during their studies.
Manned space flight Aerospace not only employs our imagination but also thousands of people that are working, among other places, at the institutes of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), to render manned space flight possible in the first place. Many insights and technical achievements emerge only from the difficulties a flight to or a sojourn in space are presenting.
School subject: home planet The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of the largest and most modern research institutions for European aerospace. We are glad to share our enthusiasm with young discoverers of all age groups in order to support their interest in natural sciences. In school and after school – from the paper glider to the self-built satellite.
We are the robots Too hard, too cold, too warm, or too dangerous – robots couldn’t care less about such warnings. Robots work under water, on land, in the air and in space as well – and all that under conditions that would be life-threatening for humans. That makes them ideal helpers for discoverers. Robotics is continuously perfected for aerospace as well as maritime research. For example, in the joint project ROBEX.
Space to Earth: solution found! So many good ideas, so much innovation! Space flight is anything but out of touch with the real world. DLR supports founders with clever ideas, builds launch pads for whizz-kids and ensures that, not least, we “earthlings” will benefit.