Space organisations in Germany

TUM spin-off in Munich — develops high-precision GNSS/RTK receivers and GNSS-inertial sensor-fusion positioning systems for vehicles and robots.

German space software firm — develops the ASTOS mission analysis and trajectory optimisation tools plus engineering services for launchers and spacecraft.

German space hardware company — develops, builds and tests small-satellite systems, reaction wheels, mechanisms, structures and payloads.

German small-satellite manufacturer — TU Berlin spin-off building microsatellite platforms, cameras and subsystems at Berlin-Adlershof.

German GFZ spin-off — designs and installs satellite laser ranging stations for geodesy, space debris tracking and agencies such as ESA and JAXA.

DLR subsidiary operating the Galileo Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen — handles satellite control and orbit determination for the Galileo constellation.

Bremen space electronics maker — builds satellite mass memory units, on-board computers, data processing and encryption units, plus radiation testing.

German Earth observation analytics firm — DLR spin-off providing satellite-derived bathymetry and water quality mapping; acquired by Fugro in 2025.

Leading satellite deployment and mission management company — deployed over 300 satellites on SpaceX and other launchers.

German space subsystem supplier — develops deployable reflector antennas, booms, deorbit sails and thermal multilayer insulation for spacecraft.

German technology and test company — operates the national space test centre in Ottobrunn for environmental testing and AIT of spacecraft.

German satellite navigation firm — builds multi-GNSS constellation simulators, software receivers and test ranges for Galileo and GPS users.

Braunschweig composites maker and DLR spin-off — builds CFRP satellite structures such as central tubes, panels, reflectors, booms and radiators.

Berlin radio technology company (formerly IQ wireless) — its IQ spacecom unit builds software-defined radio transceivers for small satellites.

German space engineering company — develops deployable and reconfigurable antenna reflectors of 0.5 to 30 m aperture for satellites.

Augsburg aerospace manufacturer in the OHB group — builds tanks and structural components for Ariane 6, the largest Ariane supplier outside France, plus satellite parts.

Produces laser communication terminals for aerospace and defense, enabling high-bandwidth optical links in space.

OHB group ground segment company — builds and upgrades satellite ground stations, antennas and SATCOM terminals for institutional and military customers.

Independent European space technology company developing satellites and space infrastructure.

German electronics group in Munich — supplies test and measurement, secure communications and SATCOM equipment, with a space unit expanded via Dresden acquisitions in 2026.

Space software and engineering firm headquartered in Darmstadt — builds ground segment, mission control and data processing software for ESA and others.

Berlin space engineering firm — designs and builds spacecraft and launcher structures such as sandwich panels, struts, adapters and housings.

Munich-based joint venture of DLR GfR and Telespazio — prime contractor running service operations of Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system.

German space subsystem supplier — builds solar generators, structures, mechanisms and laser-optical instruments for Earth observation and science satellites.

World leader in laser communication terminals for satellite and deep space applications.

Darmstadt space software company — develops ground data systems, mission control systems, simulators and independent software verification for ESOC.

German space instrument maker — develops and qualifies scientific payloads, mass spectrometers and space electronics for agency and commercial missions.

German spacecraft component maker — builds magnetic torquers and magnetometers for satellite attitude control, spun off from ZARM at the University of Bremen.

German space logistics startup — builds PHOENIX return capsules with inflatable heat shields to bring cargo and experiments back from orbit.

Operates a thermal infrared satellite constellation for precision agriculture — provides high-frequency land surface temperature data to help farmers optimise irrigation and mon…

German space hardware startup — makes shape-memory release actuators, deployable solar arrays and other deployable structures for satellites.

TUM space propulsion spin-off in Garching — develops a reignitable cryogenic methalox-propelled in-space transporter for orbital logistics.

Munich space component maker — builds valves, pressure regulators and pumps for spacecraft, launchers and landers, aiming at in-orbit refuelling.

Darmstadt geospatial AI startup — offers a no-code platform to detect, segment and track objects in satellite and drone imagery.

Develops hybrid propulsion launch vehicles for suborbital and orbital small satellite missions.

Develops the Spectrum launch vehicle for small and medium satellites — Europe's leading privately-funded launcher.

DLR spin-off developing cost-effective non-toxic green propulsion systems for nanosatellites and CubeSats — the HyNOx hypergolic propulsion module uses hydrogen peroxide for saf…

Provides AI-powered Earth observation analytics for infrastructure monitoring — uses satellite data to detect threats to power lines, pipelines, railways and forests for utiliti…

German Earth observation startup — building a very-high-resolution optical satellite constellation and analytics for defence and commercial users.

German electric propulsion startup — TU Dresden spin-off building liquid-metal field emission thrusters (GO-2) for small satellites, with a US office in El Segundo.

Berlin space robotics startup — develops modular CubeSat-based lunar rovers and flew its Tacheles CubeSat on NASA's Artemis II mission in 2026.

German electric propulsion startup — develops SUPREME, a superconductor-based magnetoplasmadynamic thruster for high-power spacecraft missions.

Makes space travel safer with automated collision avoidance software — the OKAPI platform provides autonomous manoeuvre planning, conjunction analysis and space traffic manageme…

Operates a thermal satellite constellation for early wildfire detection and monitoring from space.

German spaceplane startup — develops reusable rocket-powered spaceplanes and linear aerospike engines for satellite launch and defence applications.

Develops high-performance satellites for defence, security and government missions.

Develops the RFA ONE small satellite launcher with staged-combustion engines for low-cost access to orbit.

University of Stuttgart spin-off — develops SAT.OS, a modular ground software platform for multi-mission satellite and constellation operations.

German optics startup spun off from Fraunhofer IOF — designs and manufactures metal mirrors and optical systems for space instruments and astronomy.

Munich NewSpace startup — builds satellite-IoT animal trackers and the ICARUS 2.0 CubeSat receiver system with the Max Planck Society.

Builds reusable cargo spacecraft to service space stations and enable the in-space economy.

German space situational awareness startup — tracks space debris with ground and planned in-orbit sensors and provides collision and traffic management services.

German space biotech startup — flies automated mini-labs to the ISS and other microgravity platforms for pharma and research clients.

German microgravity research centre — University of Bremen institute operating the 146 m Bremen Drop Tower and researching fluid physics and space technology.

Bremen research centre of the German Research Center for AI (DFKI) — develops autonomous rovers and robots for planetary exploration and in-orbit tasks.

Germany's national aeronautics and space research centre — conducts research across aerospace, transport and energy.

Intergovernmental astronomy organisation — builds and operates ground-based telescopes in Chile, including the VLT, ALMA partnership and the ELT.

German Fraunhofer radar institute in Wachtberg — operates the TIRA space observation radar and developed the GESTRA space surveillance radar.

German Helmholtz geoscience research centre — leads science data and operations for gravity missions such as GRACE-FO and GRACE-C and runs satellite laser ranging.

German Max Planck research institute — studies the Sun, planets, moons and small bodies and builds instruments for ESA and NASA space missions.

Würzburg non-profit research centre — develops CubeSats, satellite formation flying, VLEO communications and attitude control test facilities.

Bremen aerospace cluster association — networks companies and research institutes, implements the state's aerospace strategy and co-runs ESA BIC Northern Germany.

Bavarian aerospace cluster — state-commissioned association networking aviation and space companies, universities and research institutes in Bavaria.

Aerospace trade association for the Berlin-Brandenburg region — represents around 100 aviation and space companies, research institutes and universities.

German aerospace industry association — represents aviation and space companies, including a dedicated space working group, and co-organises ILA Berlin.

Baden-Württemberg aerospace cluster association — networks the state's aviation and space companies, SMEs and research institutes in Stuttgart.

TU Berlin university chair — designs, builds and operates small satellites such as the BEESAT and TUBiX series, with its own ground stations and labs.

Kiel University space physics group — builds particle detectors for missions such as Solar Orbiter's Energetic Particle Detector and studies heliospheric physics.

TU Braunschweig university institute — researches space propulsion, satellite technology, space debris modelling and in-space manufacturing.

German university space institute — researches electric propulsion, re-entry and small satellites, with over 170 staff at the Space Center Baden-Württemberg.

Germany's space agency function within DLR — manages German space budget, ESA contributions and national space missions.

European intergovernmental organisation operating meteorological satellites — provides weather, climate and environmental data from Meteosat, MetOp and Sentinel satellites to 30…

German Air and Space Force command — plans and conducts military space operations and space situational awareness from the Uedem operations centre.

German space innovation centre — operates ESA BIC Bavaria and ESA BIC Northern Germany and runs the Galileo and Copernicus Masters competitions.

German space incubator and competence centre in Darmstadt — manages ESA BIC Hessen and ESA BIC Baden-Württemberg and acts as ESA technology broker.

ESA business incubation centre in Bremen — gives space startups from Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania funding and coaching.

German-language podcast — in-depth interviews on space missions and research, produced by Metaebene on behalf of ESA and DLR.

European space industry news outlet — publishes a digital magazine, newsletter and the Space Café podcast on space business and policy.

Aachen student rocketry association of RWTH and FH Aachen — develops hybrid and liquid rocket engines; its STAHR rocket reached 21 km in 2024.

German spaceport company — planned sea-based launch platform in the North Sea for small launchers, with preparation area in Bremerhaven; no launches yet.