Space @ TU Darmstadt

Space Technology - Space Missions - Interdisciplinary Topics

Open Lecture and Discussion for Members of TU Darmstadt and Guests

Is there space research at TU Darmstadt? The question is obvious, given that Darmstadt is known as "Europe’s Gateway to Space" thanks to being home to the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC) and the satellite operator EUMETSAT.

With the colloquium "Space @ TU Darmstadt," we organize an event series with a showcase character: on three to five evenings per semester, current and fundamental topics in space research are explored. In particular, the research conducted in Darmstadt will be highlighted here.

Winter Semester 2025 / 2026

đź“… Dates: 11.12.2025, 15.01.2026, 12.02.2026, 12.03.2026

🕕 Time: 18:00 – 20:00

đź“Ť Location: S105/122 "Maschinenhalle", MagdalenenstraĂźe 12, 64289 Darmstadt

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Lecture 1 - 11 December 2025 - 18:00

Game Changer – Gaming meets Space Safety

  • Speaker: Dr. Tim Flohrer
    Head of Space Safety Office, ESA-ESOC
  • Speaker: Prof. Stephan Jacob
    Professor for Game Design and Development at Hochschule Darmstadt
  • Abstract: The gaming world is an increasingly popular field driven by a creative and dedicated community that develops powerful technologies for user interaction, visualization, and simulation. For decades, video games and other media have given people the opportunity to experience spaceflight and the mysteries of the universe. Today, new initiatives, such as ESA-Shield, are being developed by ESA in collaboration with TU Darmstadt and Hochschule Darmstadt. This exciting project introduces the ESA Space Safety Program to a broader public and enables them to actively contribute to current research as citizen scientists. Come see how gaming meets Space Safety.

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Lecture 2 - 15 January 2025 - 18:00

Vulnerabilities that end your Space Mission

  • Speaker: Milenko Starcik
    Head of Cybersecurity at VisionSpace
  • Abstract: As space systems grow more interconnected, their exposure to cyber threats increases dramatically. From satellite operations and mission control to data links and critical infrastructure, even a single vulnerability can compromise an entire mission. In this talk, Milenko Starcik, the Head of Cybersecurity at VisionSpace, introduces the fundamentals of Cybersecurity for Space Systems and explains why conventional IT security measures are not enough to protect assets beyond Earth. Through practical examples and real-world scenarios, he illustrates how attackers can exploit weaknesses in space architectures—and how these risks can be mitigated.

cyber_security

Previous events:

SoSe 25