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Space research in national and international collaboration

DFKI collaborates closely with leading national and international space agencies, research institutes, and major companies within the space industry. These partnerships allow us to tailor our research and development activities to the actual needs of the space industry. At the same time, new methods and systems can be tested in practice, and European standards for safety, transparency, and sustainability can be shaped from the outset.

© DFKI, Thomas Frank
In numerous research projects, DFKI collaborates successfully with national and international partners in the space sector. This photo was taken during field tests in the northern Sahara as part of an EU project.

Particularly noteworthy is our close cooperation with national agencies such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and European agencies such as the European Space Agency (ESA). A key part of this collaboration is ESA_Lab@DFKI, founded jointly by ESA and DFKI in Kaiserslautern, which benefits from its proximity to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. ESOC manages mission control for 22 ESA spacecraft and the agency's space safety programme.

At ESA_Lab@DFKI, technologies for analysing complex satellite data and avoiding collisions in orbit are researched and developed further in collaboration with partners. This transfer lab is thus an example of DFKI's innovative strength in the international space sector.

ESA_Lab@DFKI – AI for space

OPS-SAT der ESA, ein 2019 ins All geschickter Mini-Satellit© ESA

To develop new AI technologies and applications for civil spaceflight, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the DFKI established the ESA_Lab@DFKI.

At the transfer lab in Kaiserslautern, researchers from both institutions work together on:

  • AI systems for analyzing complex Earth observation data
  • Solutions for satellite collision avoidance

This collaboration fosters a close exchange between research and practical space operations.

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Further articles on space explorations

DFKI4Space
  1. © ESA

    Future concepts for autonomous, AI-supported space missions

    The Cyber-Physical Systems research department develops new concepts for autonomous and AI-enabled missions aimed at fundamentally transforming space exploration.
  2. © DFKI, Tobias Stark

    Autonomous robotics for space exploration

    The Robotics Innovation Center has been developing autonomous mobile systems for over two decades, capable of independently exploring other planets and performing complex tasks.
  3. Trümmer und defekte Raketenstufen im geostationären Ring.© ESA

    AI for collision avoidance in orbit

    The Smart Data & Knowledge Services research department has been focusing extensively on AI-based analysis of the orbits of active and inactive satellites as well as known space debris.
  1. © Novespace

    Intelligent technologies for astronaut training

    The Robotics Innovation Center and Cognitive Assistants research departments are exploring innovative training methods to prepare astronauts efficiently and realistically for future missions – already here on Earth.
  2. © ESA/ATG medialab

    AI for Earth observation

    The Smart Data & Knowledge Services research department focuses on developing AI-based methods that efficiently process raw satellite data and transform it into actionable knowledge.
  3. © THW/Yann Walsdorf

    From space to Earth – Technology transfer for societal progress

    The technologies developed at DFKI have an impact far beyond space. They create tangible societal benefits on Earth, for example through more precise climate and environmental monitoring or more effective disaster prevention.

Unique research and testing infrastructure for space robots

© DFKI, Annemarie Popp

The Robotics Innovation Center in Bremen features a highly specialized research and testing infrastructure that enables the practical development and evaluation of robotic systems under realistic conditions. Systems, modules, and control units are tested iteratively to systematically increase their technology readiness and gradually adapt them to the requirements of planetary and orbital missions.

Test facilities:

  • Crater landscape: Simulates Moon and Mars conditions, including slopes of up to 45°.
  • Maritime Exploration Hall: Underwater and microgravity experiments with motion tracking.
  • Virtual Reality Lab: Immersive environment for simulation, mission control, and teleoperation.
  • ISO-compliant cleanroom: Hardware and electronics integration and quality control.

Field tests worldwide:
Testing under space-analog conditions on Earth, e.g., deserts, lava caves, or ice-covered waters.

ESA_Lab@DFKI – AI for space

OPS-SAT der ESA, ein 2019 ins All geschickter Mini-Satellit© ESA

To develop new AI technologies and applications for civil spaceflight, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the DFKI established the ESA_Lab@DFKI.

At the transfer lab in Kaiserslautern, researchers from both institutions work together on:

  • AI systems for analyzing complex Earth observation data
  • Solutions for satellite collision avoidance

This collaboration fosters a close exchange between research and practical space operations.