German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Germany's national aeronautics and space research centre is headquartered in Cologne-Porz — and its European Astronaut Centre is where ESA's astronauts train.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is Germany's national research institution for aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security. Its headquarters sit in Cologne-Porz on the Linder Höhe — the largest and oldest DLR site.
Source: Wikipedia
At a glance
- Type
- National aeronautics and space research centre
- Headquarters
- Cologne-Porz (Linder Höhe)
- Famous for
- ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC)
- Access
- Active research campus, not a regular visitor attraction – glimpses mainly on the periodic "Day of Aerospace"
Where Europe's astronauts train
The Cologne campus is home to the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) of the European Space Agency (ESA). This is where Europe's astronauts – among them Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer – prepare for their missions to the International Space Station. Training includes a large water tank in which weightlessness is practised underwater.
From aviation to space medicine
Cologne is DLR's headquarters and one of more than 30 sites across Germany. Beyond aeronautics and space, researchers here also study how the human body copes with long stays in space – at the ":envihab" medical research facility.
Visiting
The campus is a working research site and normally not open to the public. The best chance for a look behind the scenes is the periodic "Day of Aerospace", when DLR opens its gates to visitors.
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Sources & links
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
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