DLR receives funding for the new construction of the Human Exploration Control Center (HECC) at the Oberpfaffenhofen site

Moon and Mars in sight: New control center planned for astronautic spaceflight

– The Human Exploration Control Center (HECC) will enable the operation of astronautic and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars in the future.
– For the construction of the Moon control center HECC, Bavaria's Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder presents a funding notice of 58 million euros to the DLR.
– F…

Loading the PLATO container: On August 22, 2025, the container with the PLATO satellite was loaded onto a cargo ship in Mannheim to transport it via the Rhine to ESTEC in the Netherlands. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

On the way to the clean room: PLATO is unloaded from the container onto a trolley and brought into the clean room. The satellite is covered with a protective film. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

PLATO on a trolley with protective film: Here, the instrument with its service module can be seen from the side. The cameras are directed to the left. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Satellite in the tent: The satellite is inserted into a tent-like enclosure that provides the cleanroom conditions required for the sensitive optical instrument. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

Rotating the satellite: The satellite is rotated from its horizontal to an upright position. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

The 26 cameras point upwards: PLATO in an upright position at ESTEC. You can see the cameras, all wrapped in black film. (Credit: ESA-SJM Photography)

13.10.2025
‌
Science

PLATO space telescope journeys to test centre by sea and road

In June 2025, the PLATO space telescope's scientific instrument was integrated with its service module in the clean room of prime contractor OHB in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. PLATO – short for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars – will scan the heavens for Earth-like exoplanets orbiting…

PLATO Mission: Starting from the year 2026, the space telescope PLATO will search for Earth-sized exoplanets in orbit around neighboring stars. (Credit: OHB Systems AG) / The PLATO space telescope will search for Earth-sized planets: PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is a European mission that will search for Earth-sized exoplanets in orbit around neighboring stars from 2026 onwards. For these observations, each of the 26 PLATO telescopes will be equipped with a set of CCD sensors (artist’s impression). (Credit: OHB-System-AG)

In the clean room – PLATO in OHB's integration facility: The 'optical bench' with its 26 cameras is lifted onto the service module of the spacecraft. The service module contains all the components necessary for spaceflight, control, operation of the space telescope, and the transmission of scientific data to Earth. (Credit: ESA – M. Pédoussaut)

Flight model of the readout electronics for one of PLATO's 'fast' cameras: One of two flight models of the readout electronics for the 'fast' PLATO cameras, which were developed and built at the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Berlin-Adlershof and are now being sent to Belgium for further integration. The four camera sensors are connected at the top, while the connections for data transmission and electrical power are located at the bottom. (Credit: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0))

Milestone in mission preparation: Engineers at OHB in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, inspect 24 of the 26 PLATO cameras on the spacecraft's

04.07.2025
‌
Science

Search for exoplanets

ESA's PLATO space telescope integrated

– ESA's PLATO space telescope is scheduled to launch at the end of 2026 and begin its search for Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars in 2027.
– The telescope's optical bench, with its 26 cameras, has now been integrated into the spacecraft's service module – only the solar panels remain to…

A look at the NEWSLETTER

Better informed: With YEARBOOK, NEWSLETTER, NEWSFLASH, NEWSEXTRA and EXPERT DIRECTORY

Stay up to date and subscribe to our monthly eMail-NEWSLETTER and our NEWSFLASH and NEWSEXTRA. Get additional information about what is happening in the world of cleanrooms with our printed YEARBOOK. And find out who the cleanroom EXPERTS are with our directory.