Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is one of Europe’s most dynamic and livable cities. Known for its rich cultural scene, historic architecture, and green spaces, the city offers a unique mix of tradition and modern lifestyle. From its world-famous museums and theaters to its vibrant culinary and beer culture, Munich welcomes visitors with warmth and charm.
Munich’s Space Valley
The Munich area is a fundamental hub of the European space ecosystem, home to a wide variety of academic and research institutions, companies, and organisations that play a vital role in its development.
Firstly, Munich has top-notch universities and research institutions that work on space science and engineering, including the TUM for applied science, engineering, and technology; the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) for fundamental science; the Universität der Bundeswehr München (UniBW) for engineering and technology and the Hochschule München (HM) for applied and practical science. World-class scientific institutions such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have their headquarters in Munich. The German Space Agency (DLR), including the control centre for ESA’s Columbus module of the International Space Station, is also located in the area, in Oberpfaffenhofen.
From the industrial side, Munich has a long-standing space industry consisting of well-established companies, such as Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, OHB, IABG, or GMV, among others. Additionally, in the last decades, a series of small space companies have started and matured, including Isar Aerospace, OroraTech, Vyoma, Mynaric, Dcubed, The Exploration Company, and Rivada Space Networks. Moreover, several student teams under the WARR (Scientific Workgroup for Rocketry and Spaceflight) organisation perform space activities, for instance the WARR MOVE, WARR Rocketry, WARR Space Robotics, or WARR Space Labs student groups. Other groups such as Munich Aerospace or the Space Brewery bring together professionals working in the space sector and organise regular meetings and talks in formal and informal settings. Other association such as Women in Aerospace Europe or the Yuri’s Night Deutschland e.V. also have their local groups in Munich.