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DLR is Germany's national research center for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and development work is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. As Germany's Space Agency, DLR has been given responsibility for the forward planning and the implementation of the German space program by the German federal government as well as for the international representation of German interests.

Approximately 5,100 people are employed in DLR's 31 institutes and facilities at eight locations in Germany: Koeln-Porz (headquarters), Berlin-Adlershof, Bonn-Oberkassel, Braunschweig, Goettingen, Lampoldshausen, Oberpfaffenhofen and Stuttgart. DLR also operates offices in Brussels, Paris and Washington D.C.

DLR’s mission comprises the exploration of the Earth and the Universe, research for protecting the environment, for environmentally-compatible technologies for promoting mobility, communication and security. DLR’s research portfolio ranges from basic research to innovative applications and products of tomorrow. In that way DLR contributes the scientific and technical know-how that it has gained to enhancing Germany’s industrial and technological reputation. DLR operates large-scale research facilities for DLR’s own projects and as a service provider for its clients and partners. It also promotes the next generation of scientists, provides competent advisory services to government and is a driving force in the local regions of its field centers.

DLR has gained long experience in satellite-based navigation and location systems for several decades. Research on GPS was started in 1978. A proposal for an augmentation system based on the use of geostationary satellite transponders was made in 1984 and first research activities on GNSS-2 (by ICAO called longer-term GNSS, now Galileo) were started in 1994.

As well, DLR has a long-track experience in satellite communications, especially for mobile users. Research on mobile satellite communications was started in the seventies, investigating the maritime satellite channel for Inmarsat. Since then a large number of ESA and EU projects in the area of satellite communications have been performed. In more recent years, aeronautical satellite communications became one of the major research areas of the institute. In 1998, aeronautical telemedicine and in-flight office applications have been demonstrated, using the Ka-band Italsat satellite and a specifically equipped DLR aircraft. During the years 2002 – 2004, DLR led the EU project Wireless Cabin, which developed and implemented an on-board equipment architecture, interconnected with ground networks via satellite, for passenger communications; this architecture was demonstrated on ground and in-flight with an Airbus test aircraft.

Since January 2000, satellite navigation and communications activities within DLR are merged within the Institute of Communications and Navigation. Many of its tasks are integrated into contracts or cooperation agreements for international projects. It is collaborating with a large number of research institutions, organisations, and companies in industrial nations and developing countries. In particular, the Institute participated in several ESA funded projects (e.g. Galileo Signal Design Study, Intersatellite Links, Critical Environments) as well as in EU funded projects (e.g. ATLAS, CoDiT, DVBird and dTTb, GUST, Wireless Cabin, GALA, GALILEI). Moreover, it is involved in Galileo Joint Undertaking funded project (GEM).

Scientific staff of the Institute takes part in advisory groups like ICAO FANS (II) as well as GNSS and AMSS panels, Galileo Architecture Support Team, EUROCONTROL Research and Development Subgroup.

Further topics of the DLR heritage closely related to this ANASTASIA are:

- Research and investigations on satellite navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS) by  monitoring, differential applications, and various other activities

- Research and investigations on satellite communication systems for aeronautical applications

- Definition of architectural elements for Galileo system, including preparations for a groundbased Galileo testbed

- Performance of flight trials for various research activities (e.g. earth observation, atmospheric sounding, communications links, navigation and air traffic management)

- Development of tools (e.g. end-to-end navigation simulators, test facilities,
timing and synchronization equipment, propagation channel models)