Research Platforms

Airbus Defence and Space

In research under space conditions, experiments are carried out in microgravity, among other things. Various platforms with different scientific requirements are available for this purpose. Periods of microgravity can last from around nine seconds (using the drop tower), 22 seconds (during parabolic flight) up to several minutes (with research rockets) and even several weeks (on the International Space Station).

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International Space Station

The International Space Station ISS is humankind's largest technical and scientific project. It involves the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe. The contractual basis for the cooperation is an agreement between the parties' governments, which was signed in Washington on 29 January 1998. Germany is the main ISS contributor in Europe. The German Space Agency at DLR coordinates the German contributions to ESA's ISS programmes in terms of the expansion, operation and use of the space station.