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Space Applications

Short Description

In 2012, Boeing marketed a telecommunication satellite equipped with all-electric propulsion. This was hailed as a technological revolution. Its success is based on the concept of satellites spiralling up from a lower orbit to the target orbit by means of electric propulsion, cutting launch costs immensely. The technological transformation requires that the system structure of satellites also needs to be adapted. Electric power demand on satellites will increase, as a consequence solar panels for converting energy and batteries for storing electricity will have to become more efficient. More electronic equipment is required and the compatibility of the electric propulsion system and the satellite must be guaranteed. Optimal solutions can only be obtained if expertise from physics, electrical engineering, materials science and energy technologies is combined. Scientists from the Campus Research Focus “Space Applications” are addressing various challenges in the field of electric propulsion. The inter-institutional Laboratory for Space Applications (LaRa) of JLU and THM provides test-facilities for operating electric thrusters under space conditions. Thruster tests are conducted in close cooperation with industrial partners such as Ariane Group and the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology of the German Aerospace Center in Goettingen. The expertise offered ranges from thruster diagnostics and modelling, the development of specialized electronics, to investigations of radiation hardness of electronic components or their electromagnetic compatibility. In the field of space materials and peripheral energy technologies such as batteries or solar panels, LaRa cooperates with scientists from the Campus Research Focus of “Material, Molecule, and Energy”, consisting of the Material Sciences Center (WZMW) at the University of Marburg and the Center for Materials Research (LaMa) at the University of Giessen.

Successful Joint Research

Research Infrastructure

Research Environment

Participating Researchers

At Justus Liebig University Giessen

  • Prof. Dr. Kai-Th. Brinkmann
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography 07, II. Physics Institute
  • Prof. Dr. Sangam Chatterjee
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Prof. Dr. Christian Heiliger
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, Institute of Theoretical Physics
  • Prof. Dr. Peter J. Klar
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Prof. Dr. Hans Leiter
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Prof. Dr. Stefan Schippers
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Prof. Dr. André Schirmeisen
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, Institute of Applied Physics
  • Prof. Dr. Markus Thoma
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Dr. Torsten Henning
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Dr. Kristof Holste
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, I. Physics Institute
  • Dr. Hans-Georg Zaunick
    Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, II. Physics Institute

 

At Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences

  • Prof. Dr. Jochen Frey
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Prof. Dr. Uwe Probst
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Dr. Jens Simon
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Prof. Dr. Rainer Thüringer
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

  • Prof. Dr. Chris Volkmar

    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

 

Associated Researchers

  • Prof. Dr. Jürgen Janek
    Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, JLU
  • Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner
    Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, JLU
  • Prof. Dr. Swen Graubner
    Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Technology, THM
  • Prof. Dr. Kerstin Volz
    Department of Physics, UMR