Labs and Test Facilities
ZARM brings together a variety of scientific laboratories and test facilities under one roof, covering test stands for fundamental research as well as the qualification of aerospace components. With us you can test your products in vacuum, in extreme thermal environments, under vibration, as well as in hyper-, partial, and microgravity. Through collaborations with our research groups, you can benefit from specialized labs such as: Fluids Lab & Particle Image Velocimetry, the Laboratory for Applied Space Microbiology (LASM) and the Moon and Mars Base Analog (MaMBA). Throughout your testing campaign, our highly qualified ZARM experts, with extensive experience in aerospace engineering and scientific projects, will provide competent guidance and support.
Bremen Drop Tower
The main facility of ZARM is the Bremen Drop Tower, a worlwide unique research laboratory for short-term experiments under microgravity conditions. For more than 30 years, the drop tower provides an exceptional platform for experiments by researchers from all over the world due to its high quality of weightlessness (<10-6 g), the excellent reproducibility of the experimental environment, and the extensive expertise of the ZARM team.
The Bremen Drop Tower achieves an experiment duration of 4.7 seconds (drop mode) and up to 9.3 seconds (catapult mode) – no other drop tower facility in the world can match this. Based on its easy accessibility, ZARM's drop tower represents an attractive and cost-effective alternative to research in space condition for a large variety of scientific fields or conduct hardware tests for upcoming space missions.
The ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company will support you in all phases of your experiment preparation and make sure that you will receive the relevant data of your space-related research project as soon as possible.
Our "Payload User's Guide" gives you a general introduction to ZARM's facilities, the Bremen Drop Tower and the GraviTower Bremen, as well as a detailed description of all mechanical and electrical interfaces that you need to know before starting to design your drop tower experiment.
An experienced team of ZARM engineers will take care of you and your experiment - as for example the analysis of first ideas and potential funding, a general technical consulting, production and provision of special components, the integration of your experiment into the drop tower capsule, up to the validation of the scientific results.
The ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company will
- guide the development, project management, and funding of your experiment
- support with technical drawings and experiment components
- supply technical equipment (high-speed cameras and lenses, illumination systems, additional sensors, etc.)
- mechanically and electronically implement your setup into the experiment capsule
- do the programming of your experiment sequence (automation process)
- perform qualification tests of the experimental setup before each operation
- carry out the drop, catapult, or GraviTower operation in strong cooperation with you
- provide capsule data after every experiment
In order to make the most of your stay at the Bremen Drop Tower, we offer the possibility to rent an apartment on the premises or assist you in booking an accommodation in nearby hotels.
ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company (ZARM FAB mbH)
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen, Germany
Dr. Thorben Könemann, Head of Science and Operation
+49 (0)421 218 - 57785
thorben.koenemann
Dr. Merle Cornelius, Dep. Head of Science and Operation
+49 (0)421 218 - 57958
merle.cornelius
GraviTower Bremen
The Bremen Drop Tower has been complemented by the GraviTower Bremen as its second microgravity laboratory. The GraviTower is ZARM's next-generation drop tower system which allows 20 experiment runs per hour with a duration of up to 2.5 seconds each under the condition of weightlessness. In addition to its microgravity operation mode, the GraviTower Bremen offers the feasibility to carry out experiments under partial gravity, e.g. the gravity conditions on the Moon or Mars.
All drop tower experiment capsules are fully compatible with the GraviTower and an easy change between all operation modes (drop, catapult, or GraviTower) is possible. After each experiment run in the GraviTower, scientists may immediately have access to their experimental setup, in order to inspect or vary it. The GraviTower represents an attractive and cost-effective alternative to research in space for a wide range of disciplines.
The ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company will support you in all phases of your experiment preparation and make sure that you will receive the relevant data of your space-related research project as soon as possible.
Our Payload User's Guide gives you a general introduction to ZARM's facilities, the Bremen Drop Tower and the GraviTower, and a detailed description of all mechanical and electrical interfaces that you need to know before starting to design your drop tower experiment.
An experienced team of ZARM engineers will take care of you and your experiment - as for example the analysis of first ideas and potential funding, a general technical consulting, production and provision of special components, the integration of your experiment into the drop tower capsule, up to the validation of the scientific results.
The ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company will
- guide the development, project management, and funding of your experiment
- support with technical drawings and experiment components
- supply technical equipment (high-speed cameras and lenses, illumination systems, additional sensors, etc.)
- mechanically and electronically implement your setup into the experiment capsule
- do the programming of your experiment sequence (automation process)
- perform qualification tests of the experimental setup before each operation
- carry out the drop, catapult, or GraviTower operation in strong cooperation with you
- provide capsule data after every experiment
In order to make the most of your stay at the Bremen Drop Tower, we offer the possibility to rent an apartment on the premises or assist you in booking an accommodation in nearby hotels.
ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company (ZARM FAB mbH)
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen, Germany
Dr. Thorben Könemann, Head of Science and Operation
+49 (0)421 218 - 57785
thorben.koenemann
Dr. Merle Cornelius, Dep. Head of Science and Operation
+49 (0)421 218 - 57958
merle.cornelius
Large-Scale Centrifuge
The ZARM centrifuge is Europe’s only large-scale hyper-gravity facility able to test and certify objects of up to 1.5 tons in weight. Its primary role is to test prototypes of aerospace components and subsystems, and offers the unique capability of being able to expose test units or even scientific experiments (e.g. accommodated in the drop tower capsule) to a hyper-gravity environment up to 30 times the Earth's gravity while they are fully operational.
The verification and validation of new aerospace components, structures, and aircraft subsystems are essential to ensure their suitability, reliability, and functional safety under extreme static loads. Full-scale tests show immediate results and are suitable to complement and substantiate the numerical analysis of new materials and design features. ZARM‘s test facility is Europe‘s largest centrifuge capable of testing and certifying aerospace structures and samples under hyper-gravity conditions. It has a diameter of 12.5 meters, can accelerate test items of up to 1.5 tons to a speed of 160 km/h and is also the only facility in Europe capable of exposing test objects or even drop tower capsules with scientific experiments to a hyper-gravity environment up to 30 times the Earth's gravity while they are fully operational.
Test Procedures (in accordance with international criteria):
- RTCA DO 160
- MIL-STD 810
- ISO 2669
Large-Scale Centrifuge:
- centrifuge diameter: 12.5 m
- centrifugal acceleration: up to 30 g
- test unit weight: up to 1.5 tons
- standard test volume: H100 x W100 x D100 cm
- adapted test configuration volume: H260 x W180 x D120 cm
Features and Services:
- test units can be fully operated and monitored during testing
- individual power supply configuration available:
e.g. three phase current 380 V / 220 V or 115 V / 400 Hz - individual configuration of signal lines
- full video coverage of the test process
- technical support and test reporting
ZARM - University of Bremen
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen, Germany
Holger W. Oelze, Head of Large-Scale Centrifuge
+49 (0)421 218 - 57770
holger.oelze
Henrik Kassai, Test Engineer
+49 (0)421 218 - 57881
henrik.kassai
Vibration Test Lab
The ZARM vibration test lab enables fatigue testing for a variety of technical applications. We are specialists in the testing of aerospace components and scientific test setups. Our test lab makes it possible to test devices not only while they are in full operation but also under exposure to additional endurance test loads such as temperature cycling, icing, pressure surge, etc..
The vibration test facility consists of a V875 shaker and a HBT 600 slip table, mounted on a common base structure. This arrangement allows the use of the shaker in vertical axis or rotated to horizontal axis, in the so-called slip table mode.
Payload Size & Handling:
- maximum suitable payload mass is 180 kg (in accordance with typical international aerospace vibration test standards), although heavier objects can still be tested when using lower test loads
- maximum payload size is 600 x 600 millimeter (size of the mounting platform area), we will find a solution for larger test units to securely attach them to the shaker (by various adapters we have in stock or by designing and manufacturing a dedicated adapter in our ZARM workshop)
- portal crane for easy and safe handling of heavy components
Measuring:
- measurement amplifiers close to the shaker for short sensor lines resulting in a very high signal quality
- continuously calibrated high-quality test and measurement equipment to meet international standards
Environment & Control Room:
- air-conditioned shaker operating room
- additional class 100,000 clean room for preparation, inspection, system checks, etc. of sensitive test units
- control room with bulletproof window to observe shaker tests
- cushioned shaker system by air isolation mounts to avoid vibration damage to the building
- entire vibration test lab equipped with noise absorbing walls and double door gates
Long Stroke Shaker / LDS V875 HBT 600 Vibration Test Combination:
- frequency range: 5 - 3000 Hz
- max. useful payload mass: 180 kg
- max. force vector: 35.6 kN (sine, random), 106.8 kN (shock)
- max. acceleration: 110 g (sine), 73.5 g rms (random), 220 g (shock)
- max. velocity: 1.8 m/s (sine, random), 2.5 m/s (shock)
- max. stroke: 50.8 mm (peak-peak)
- mounting interfaces:
- horizontal slip table 600 mm x 700 mm, grid = 100 mm, M8
- horizontal base plate: 600 mm x 600 mm, grid = 40 mm, M8
- vertical base plate: Ø 450 mm, grid = 50 mm, M8
- vertical base plate: octagon, width 544 mm, grid = 40 mm, M8
- vertical head expander: 600 mm x 600 mm, grid = 50 mm, M8
- control and measurement system m+p VibControl / VcpNT - VibRunner24
Features and Services:
- 16 differential measurement channels
- voltage, ICP, and TEDS support
- various protection / shutdown functions
- channel number update (on request)
- provision of suitable interface adapters (if available)
- designing and manufacturing of dedicated interface adapters (on request)
- technical support and test reporting
Standard Test Loads:
- sine, random, and classical shock
- transient capture
- additional test loads on request
ZARM Drop Tower Operation and Service Company (ZARM FAB mbH)
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen, Germany
Andreas Greif, Head of Vibration Test Lab
+49 (0)421 218 - 57782
andreas.greif
Dr. Thorben Könemann, Head of Science and Operation
+49 (0)421 218 - 57785
thorben.koenemann
Thermal Vacuum Lab
In space, satellite components and materials are exposed to extreme conditions. Extensive tests are required to verify their functional capability and suitability in terms of temperature and atmospheric pressure. A thermal vacuum chamber allows the qualification and acceptance testing of space and as well aircraft products under high vacuum and well-defined temperature scenarios. The ZARM thermal vacuum chambers and the ZARM thermal shock chamber are frequently used to simulate aerospace environment in order to test flight hardware as well as components designed for space missions. With our test chambers and our convenient infrastructure on site, we can offer you a maximum of flexibility to meet your requirements.
ZARM Technik AG
Am Fallturm 2
28359 Bremen, Germany
Bernd Carsten Sander, Head of Thermal Vacuum Lab
+49 (0)421 218 - 57781
bernd-carsten.sander
Marcel Vornholt, Test Engineer
+49 (0)421 218 - 57999
marcel.vornholt