German Exploration Activities
- Paper number
IAC-07-D3.1.02
- Author
Mr. Friedhelm Claasen, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Norbert Henn, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Carsten Henselowsky, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Space Exploration will stimulate the scientific, technological and cultural development of the world’s societies, thereby expanding human presence in our Solar System and beyond. At the ESA council meeting at ministerial level in 2005, Germany decided its support of the European efforts leading to Space Exploration, first concentrating mainly on the robotic ExoMars mission. We expect that in the forthcoming ministerial conference in 2008, the exploration issues will be further substantiated and may lead to suitable decisions for the next exploration steps. The German Space Agency DLR now establishes its position concerning future exploration activities in a European context, with global partners and on the basis of national preparatory activities. The actual status for the German exploration activities and future perspectives in an overall context will be presented. As ESA member state Germany participates in the ExoMars project with a special emphasis on the lander, payload integration and rover chassis and locomotion. In addition a broad variety of payload contributions and cooperations are foreseen. The participation in the Aurora Core Programme is concentrated at the beginning on planetary protection, exploration architecture studies, regenerative systems and soft precision landing. The CSTS participation is related to system engineering aspects. DLR supported the development process, undertaken by 14 global space agencies, to set up a Global Exploration Strategy Framework and acknowledges the stimulating effect of coordination and cooperation. DLR-granted industrial study work deals with the analysis of possible exploration destinations, criteria for selection of exploration goals and definition of scenarios. Results give a more detailed insight into reference missions and system definition for e.g. a comparative planetology mission, a technology demonstration mission or a sample return mission. A national exploration conference was related to relevant questions for exploration of our Solar System and how Germany can participate in excellent projects. The outcome was to initiate and further investigate a national Moon orbiter mission, based on excellent science and supported by leading edge technology. Within the current definition process of an exploration strategy, this national initiative could demonstrate and foster German capabilities. The general exploration approach in Germany is based on realistic and project related tasks. Among the possible destinations in the Solar System, our Moon is seen as the next natural step because of scientific and technological reasons as well as affordability, distance and schedule.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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