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German Aerospace Center (DLR)

@dlr-en.bsky.social

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We're the German Aerospace Center & are passionate about our research in #Energy #Transport #Aeronautics #Digitalisation #Space dlr.de/en dlr.de/imprint

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · May 1

Scotty, beam me up! 🖖 The LUNA hall has a new addition: the FLEXhab space habitat. 🌒 This mobile home in a container will be used for oxygen supply testing, rock analysis, psychological experiments & more – greatly expanding LUNA's capabilities. ℹ️: www.dlr.de/en/blog/arch... 🔭

The FLEXhab container next to the LUNA hall in Cologne.

A cosy dining area inside FLEXhab with blue seats, table and cupboard.

The FLEXhab container provides a compact workspace for tasks like analyzing rock samples and preparing them for return to Earth.

The sleeping area in FLEXhab includes four small padded sleeping berths.

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

European Space Agency @esa.int · 1d

🌎 🛰️ Check out the first data from the METimage instrument on board EUMETSAT's MetOp-SG-A1 satellite!

This advanced instrument observes clouds, land, sea and ice, providing key insights into weather forecasting, nowcasting, and climate monitoring. eumetsat.int/metimage-del...

📸 @eumetsat.int

Captured between 10:43 and 10:59 CEST on 24 September, METimage’s very first image shows clouds connected with a cold weather front sweeping across central Europe and signs of convective storm activity developing over the Adriatic and central Mediterranean seas. High altitude, wispy cirrus clouds hint to potential turbulence over the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, while thin aircraft contrails are clearly visible over cloud-free western Denmark.

Where skies are clear, the Earth’s surface is revealed in fine detail: shimmering lakes can be seen in Türkiye, including the bright white salt flats of Lake Tuz, as well as the green landscapes of the Carpathians and Balkans, and Libya’s Waw an Namus volcanic caldera. Compared with AVHRR’s ~1 km resolution, METimage’s 500-metre view delivers about four times more detail, making it possible to pick out narrow cloud streets, thin valley fog and subtle coastal colour changes with far greater clarity.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 6d

ℹ️Read more: www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

Xanthe Terra on Mars – a journey across the 'golden-yellow land'

A new video takes Mars fans on a flight from the highland region of Xanthe Terra, down onto the Chryse Planitia lowland plain and back up to the mysterious 'chaos terrain' The film was created using d...

www.dlr.de

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 6d

💛 Explore Mars’ golden-yellow highlands!

This month, our #HRSC 📸 aboard @esa.int’s #MarsExpress takes us on a stunning flight over Xanthe Terra – from the deep Shalbatana Vallis to the rugged Hydraotes Chaos, revealing Mars in all its golden-yellow glory. 🔴✨

📽️: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 7d

🆕 The discovery of new complex organic molecules at Saturn's #Enceladus enhances the likelihood that the moon is habitable 🪐

On Earth, these molecules are involved in chemical reaction chains that lead to the more complex molecules essential for life.

Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭 🧪 ☄️

Scientific illustration showing a cross-section of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. It features three labelled layers: An ice shell at the top, with visible cracks releasing jets of water vapour into space; an ocean in the middle, depicted as a large body of water beneath the ice; a rocky core at the bottom, shown emitting heat that may drive the jets. In the background, Saturn and its rings are visible in space.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 7d

As we move to more sustainable and reusable space transport♻️, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds is one of the biggest challenges. With ATHEAt, we’re approaching these re-entry speeds to better understand the forces at play – and how to protect future spacecraft from them. 🚀

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 7d

DLR is going hypersonic! 🚀

For 170 seconds our ATHEAt experimental flight will soar at 50 km altitude – reaching speeds between Mach 8 & 10 (around 12,000km/h!).

Launching from Norway this autumn, ATHEAt will give us insights into the forces 💥 affecting hypersonic craft at low altitudes.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 13d

ℹ️ www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

DLR 5G drone delivers live emergency scene images before rescuers arrive

Every second counts for emergency services and rescue personnel in the event of a forest fire, traffic accident or natural disaster. Yet at the start of an operation, precise information about the sit...

www.dlr.de

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 13d

🚁 Every second counts in emergencies!🚨

With our #ADELE drone, responders get live images even before arriving – boosting speed, coordination & saving lives.

🤝Partnered with Vodafone & Frequentis, we just completed a successful test with Rostock Fire Brigade. The future is looking up!📡

The ADELE drone equipped with a round camera flying over trees with a blue sky behind it.

Two firefighters surrounded by smoke. They are looking at a an image on a handheld tablet computer.

The ADELE drone stationary in the grass. The image is zoomed in on the under side of the drone showing a large round camera attached to it.

A person in the drone control room, looking over several monitors displaying the drones location and other relevant data.

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

ESA Technology @technology.esa.int · 15d

📍🌕 Landing a spacecraft on the Moon with pinpoint precision while relying on ground-based tracking systems is complex and costly. A recent PhD project, co-funded by @esa.int, @dlr-en.bsky.social and OHB explored how we could teach spacecraft to find their own way 🧭🛰️ 👉 www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 20d

Curious to get into the details? Check out a summary article and and the full report on the DLR website: www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

DLR looks to 2070 – significant carbon dioxide reductions possible despite doubling of air traffic

DLR has presented a comprehensive analysis of future development trajectories in aviation with its DEPA 2070 study. The project sought to systematically evaluate the technological, economic and societal impacts of prospective aviation developments over a period of 50 years.

www.dlr.de

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 20d

The study also looked at the economic and societal effects of aviation. It found that the global gross added value of aviation could double by 2070, and the number of people employed in the sector would increase to 37 million, from 17 million today.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 20d

Despite expected growth in global air traffic, reductions in emissions are possible – of approximately 23% per passenger kilometre under a conservative scenario and up to 89% under a more progressive scenario, where early use of hydrogen-based and battery-electric propulsion systems is prioritised.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 20d

What will aviation look like in 2070?
Our new DEvelopment Pathways for Aviation (DEPA) 2070 study sheds light on the opportunities and challenges expected in the next fifty years. What did we find out? 🧵

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

tropos-de.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social · 20d

#HALO: 1st #HALOsouth science flight on 11 Sep: preparations began at 5:00 AM, with take-off at 9:00 AM & landing at 16:45. / Ausschnitte aus dem ersten wiss. Flug von #HALO-South am 11.9.: Die Vorbereitungen begannen um 5:00 Uhr morgens, der Start erfolgte um 9:00 Uhr & die Landung um 16:45 Uhr.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 23d

Earthquakes, extreme weather, accidents – how do we prepare for such devastating events?

We participated in NATO's civil disaster exercise last week to test technologies that help keep people, property and rescue workers safe during emergency situations: www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

Two women in a control room during an exercise. The screens showing in front of them show satellite maps and analysis.

A shoe with an orange box and wire attached to it, with two women working on laptops in the background.

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

tropos-de.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social · 26d

Do you know how we measure #cloud #droplets from inside the #clouds using the #HALO #aircraft? The #HALOsouth mission is equipped with a unique set of instruments ... / @dlr-en.bsky.social @unileipzig.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social @leibniz-gemeinschaft.de @dfg.de #BMFTR @mpic.de @kit.edu

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

ESA Exploration @exploration.esa.int · 26d

Today, @esa.int's Columbus lab on the International Space Station circled Earth for the 100,000th time🎉

During that time, we’ve seen:
🧳4.26 billion km travelled
🧪250+ experiments
👩‍🚀16 ESA astronauts
🥼75 m³ of lab space
🕣19,280 shifts run by the Columbus Control Centre

🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

Columbus: 100 000 orbits and counting

Today, the Columbus laboratory aboard the International Space Station completes its 100 000th orbit around Earth—a remarkable achievement for Europe’s science module in space. Since its...

www.esa.int

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · 27d

🥳PLATO, @esa.int's planet-hunting space telescope, has arrived at their ESTEC facility in the Netherlands, after its successful integration in Germany in June.

We're looking forward to the next steps, when its solar panels and sunshield are fitted ahead of the planned launch in 2026! 🔭 #Exoplanets

PLATO loaded onto ship for transport to ESTEC

A lorry delivers PLATO to ESTEC after unloading from the ship

PLATO being moved after being unloaded at ESTEC

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

tropos-de.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social · 29d

#HALOsouth: #survival suit fit #check, an essential step before #HALO #South #flights over the remote #SouthernOcean.
1st science flight from #Christchurch is scheduled for 10 Sep (local time)! / @dlr-de.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social @unileipzig.bsky.social / #TwoNationsOneClimate #NewZealand

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Reposted by German Aerospace Center (DLR)

tropos-de.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social · Sep 8

Prof. Mira L. Pöhlker, principal investigator of the #HALOSouth project, takes us inside the vision of this #HALO mission across the #SouthernHemisphere's skies to uncover how #aerosols, #clouds, and #climate are interconnected. @dlr-en.bsky.social @tropos-de.bsky.social @unileipzig.bsky.social

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · Sep 4

The ⚡power⚡ of clean energy!

Our BALIS project hit a major milestone: both the electric motor and fuel cell system surpassed a 1 MEGAWATT output! 🔋 Powered by green hydrogen, this tech could mean CO₂-free mobility for ships, trucks & planes. We’re on our way to climate compatible transport! ✈️🌱

A fuel cell system located inside the BALIS test field facility.

An outside view of the BALIS test facility in Empfingen: a one-story building with 5 large doors on its front, and an arrangement of pipes and vents on top.

Schematic depiction of the BALIS test field, and how it would theoretically function inside an aeroplane.

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · Sep 2

ℹ️: www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · Sep 2

Atomic oxygen is key to atmospheric chemistry 🧪 and affects satellite lifespans by corroding materials like aluminium and plastic. 🛰️ OSAS-B’s high-precision data will aid climate research, space weather forecasting, and future satellite mission planning!

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · Sep 2

Big news from the edge of space! ✨🎈

Our OSAS-B instrument just made the first-ever high-precision measurements of atomic oxygen at 31 km altitude – from a balloon! In collaboration with @cnes.fr and CSA, the balloon was successfully launched from Canada as part of the #StratoScience2025 campaign!

The OSAS-B in the gondola of the balloon in the stratosphere, with the Earth behind it. (Credit: Dorothy project)

The gondola of the stratospheric balloon carrying the OSAS-B on the ground.

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German Aerospace Center (DLR) @dlr-en.bsky.social · Aug 28

✈️✨ Big milestone for DLR’s D328® #UpLift! Our flying test lab for #sustainableaviation just successfully completed a ground vibration test. This helps us predict flight behaviour and fast-track eco-friendly upgrades. One step closer to climate-compatible skies! 🌱🛫

ℹ️: www.dlr.de/en/latest/ne...

The UpLift airplane during testing. Visible are the plane, shaker legs and staff running the tests.