Since March 1st Prof. Dr. Marc Avila holds the Chair in Fluid Dynamics at the Faculty of Production Engineering – Mechanical Engineering & Process Engineering – of the University of Bremen. He succeeds Hans Rath who had held the Chair for 31 years. By taking over the professorship in fluid dynamics he is also appointed head of the ZARM.

A new ZARM management structure is temporarily established. The institute is now under the leadership of the three directors heading the major research branches at ZARM: space sciences (Prof. Claus Lämmerzahl), space technology (Prof. Claus Braxmaier) and fluid mechanics (Prof. Michael Dreyer). Prof. Claus Lämmerzahl is appointed Executive Director and Prof. Claus Braxmaier Deputy Executive Director of ZARM.

ZARM mourns Director General Hans Rath who passed away following a short but severe illness at the age of 65. Prof. Claus Lämmerzahl is appointed Acting Director of ZARM and Director of ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company.

Prof. Claus Braxmaier is appointed Professor for Space Technologies at the University of Bremen. The Chair sponsored by Christa and Manfred Fuchs is located at the ZARM in the Department of Production Engineering.

Inauguration and initial operation of the 30g centrifuge.

Inauguration of the catapult system of the Drop Tower. First catapult flight was initiated by the Federal Minister of Education and Research Edelgard Bulmahn.

Inauguration of the combustion laboratory building and initial operation of the Hot Wind Tunnel.

Foundation of ZARM-Technik GmbH, a spin-off from ZARM for the commercialisation of space technology products and scientific and technical services. ZARM-Technik GmbH becomes the corporation ZARM-Technik AG in 2005.

Foundation of the ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company and inauguration of the Drop Tower by Hans J. Rath. Release of the first drop experiment by the Federal Minister of Education and Research Dr. Heinz Riesenhuber.

Foundation of the „ZARM-Förderverein e.V.“ for the support of young scientists and students.

Foundation of the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) as a scientific unit (institute) of the Department of Production Engineering at the University of Bremen by Hans J. Rath.