Description

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, digitalisation and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany’s spaceagency, DLR has been given responsibility by the federal government for the planning and implementation of the German space programme. DLR is also the umbrella organisation for the nation’s largest project management agency. 

Currently, the DLR has approximately 8000 employees at 20 locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Dresden, Goettingen, Hamburg, Jena, Juelich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Oldenburg, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen, and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.

The Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics of DLR deals with the state and dynamics of the Ionosphere-Thermosphere-Magnetosphere System (ITM) and it´s driving by the Sun and by the lower and middle atmosphere. Within this research field, the Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics is focus on the study of Space Weather and its impact on technological systems, services and infrastructure. Space Weather refers to conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and endanger human life. Space Weather is known to possibly lead to significant perturbations of modern communication and navigation systems and hence to increased risks on safety, economical loss, and reduced life quality. The Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics covers both basic and applied research on space weather. The aim is to protect national infrastructures and support affected industries through timely, accurate and reliable observations and forecasts. The Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics currently employs approx. 35 people from which in total 30 employees are scientists. It was founded in June 2019 and is located in Neustrelitz. The new Institute is based on the successful ionospheric group of the DLR institute of Communications and Navigation.