The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

The centre studies the complex interactions between humans and the environment in cultivated and damaged landscapes. The scientists develop concepts and processes to help secure the natural foundations of human life for future generations. 

It was established in 1991 and has more than 1,000 employees in Leipzig, Halle/S. and Magdeburg.

The main locations are in Leipzig, Halle and Magdeburg.

Spektr-R (or RadioAstron) is a Russian orbital radio telescope, and is the largest space telescope in orbit. It was launched on 18 July 2011.

The main scientific goal of the mission is the study of astronomical objects with an angular resolution up to a few millionths of an arc second. This is accomplished by using the satellite in conjunction with ground-based observatories and interferometry techniques.

Spektr-R is one of the instruments in the RadioAstron program, an international network of observatories led by the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute. 

The telescope is intended for radio-astrophysical observations of extragalactic objects with ultra-high resolution, as well as researching of characteristics of near-Earth and interplanetary plasma. The very high angular resolving power will be achieved when used in conjunction with a ground-based system of radio-telescopes and interferometrical methods, operating at wavelengths of 1.35–6.0, 18.0 and 92.0 cm.[8] Once in space, the flower-like main dish was to open its 27 'petals' within 30 minutes.

PPTS (Prospective Piloted Transport System), unofficially called Rus, is a project being undertaken by the Russian Federal Space Agency to develop a new-generation partially reusable capsule manned spacecraft.

Its official name is Pilotiruemyi Transportny Korabl Novogo Pokoleniya or PTK NP meaning New Generation Piloted Transport Ship.

The goal of the project is to develop a new-generation spacecraft to replace the current Soyuz which was developed by the Soviet Union, and is similar to US Orion spacecraft. 

The Soyuz spacecraft (not to be mixed with the Soyuz rocket) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme. 

The Soyuz spacecraft is launched by the Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable Russian launch vehicle to date. Soyuz spacecraft were used to carry cosmonauts to and from Salyut and later Mir Soviet space stations, and are now used for transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

At least one Soyuz spacecraft is docked to ISS at all times for use as an escape craft in the event of an emergency.

The Elwing Company conceives, designs, develops, manufactures and markets advanced propulsion systems for satellites.

It designs and commercializes Electric Propulsion (EP) systems for satellites and spacecraft.
Based on an innovative electrodeless plasma thruster technology – The E-IMPAcT technology (Electrodeless-Ionization Magnetized-Ponderomotive Acceleration Thruster), our propulsion systems are designed to fulfill the propulsion needs of most spacecraft operators & manufacturers in the United States and throughout the world.

Established in 2002, The Elwing Company is privately held and has offices, affiliates and subsidiaries throughout the U.S. and in Europe. It developed and holds exclusive rights on the electrodeless plasma thruster technology.

CLARREO (Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory) is a proposed satellite mission led by NASA and partner organizations to better understand climate change on Earth.

CLARREO's measurements could be used to detect climate trends and to test, validate, and improve climate prediction models. This may lay the groundwork for informed decisions on mitigation and adaptation policies that address the effects of climate change on society. The mission, led and developed by NASA and partner organizations, will monitor the pulse of the Earth to better understand climate change.

CLARREO is a climate-focused mission that will become a key element of the climate observing system. The foundation for CLARREO is the ability to produce highly accurate and trusted climate records. Measurements derived from CLARREO will be used to detect climate trends and to test, validate, and improve climate prediction models.

The CLARREO mission will provide accurate, credible, and tested climate records that lay the groundwork for informed decisions on mitigation and adaptation policies that address the effects of climate change on society.

CLARREO is recommended as a joint NASA/NOAA mission. NOAA will contribute the total and spectral solar irradiance measurements and the Earth energy budget climate data records by flying the Total Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS) and the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) sensors. The NASA portion involves the measurement of spectrally resolved thermal IR and reflected solar radiation at high absolute accuracy.

The Association of Space Explorers (ASE) is a non-profit organization with a membership composed of people who have completed at least one Earth orbit in space (above 100 km -ie 62 mi -, as defined by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale).

It was founded in 1985, and the current membership (Nov. 2013) stands at 320 from 34 different countries. The organization provides a forum for the promotion of space exploration, as well as space science and engineering and environmental awareness.

ECAPS, founded in 2000, is a Swedish company with focus on Green Propulsion based products for space applications.

ECAPS aims to simplify the access to space for satellite and launcher systems. ECAPS holds a number of patents worldwide for a family of ADN (Ammonium DiNitramide) based propellants, catalyst, thruster design and manufacturing methods.

ECAPS is part of the SSC Group.

The key resource of ECAPS is its highly skilled team of engineers and researchers with a proven track record to develop, manufacture and deliver propulsion components and systems. ECAPS has its development and hardware manufacturing facilities in Solna in the greater Stockholm area. The propellant is manufactured at EURENCO Bofors in Karlskoga and ECAPS hot firing test facility used for rocket engine development is located at the Swedish Defence Research Agency's (FOI) premises in Tumba just south of Stockholm.

The National Remote Sensing Center of China (NRSCC) is the Chinese organisation in charge of Earth Observation.  

Its main functions:

• to provide recommendations and solutions to the development strategy, planning and overall policy decision of remote sensing technology and its industrialization for MOST by studying the status, trends and challenges;
• to operate the remote sensing services to the General Office of State Council (GOSC) on information about disasters, agriculture, ecology and environment etc.;
• to implement projects on remote sensing and space information technology under various national R&D programs of China, such as National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program), National Key Technology R&D Program and Mega-Projects of Science Research, as trusted by of MOST, and to promote industrialization of relevant results;
• to organize and coordinate the implementation of China-Europe Cooperation Project on Galileo;
• to participate in the formulation, assessment and accreditation of related national standards, norms and regulations in earth observation and navigation technology;
• to promote and organize multilateral and bilateral international cooperation projects, and to organize related training and personnel exchange activities; to act as the contacting point of the China-European GNSS Technology Training and Cooperation Center;
• to host the China Secretariat of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) , China Secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and act as the national focal point of the United Nations Regional Space Applications Program for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (RESAP);
• to liaise with remote sensing institutes in China, to provide technical training and consultancy services.

The technical fields of NRSCC have been extended from remote sensing and geographic information system to the domain of earth observation and navigation technology, including remote sensing, geographic information system, satellite navigation and positioning, and deep space exploration. Its overall function is to organize and implement national scientific and technological plans in the field of earth observation and navigation technology. It aims at developing innovation capacity of China and fostering the strategic new industry in remote sensing, geographic information system and navigation and positioning. It is characterized by the international cooperation and the national strengths by mode of "condensed kernel, wide network". NRSCC also provides the technical support to major strategic decisions for the national economic construction, social sustainable development by exerting the advantages of remote sensing science and technology.

The Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) is an independent laboratory of Stanford University, USA.

It aims to to serve as a bridge between the disciplines of astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics. KIPAC's members work in the Physics and Applied Physics Departments on the Stanford campus and at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Its mission is to bring the resources of modern computational, experimental, observational and theoretical science to bear on our understanding of the universe at large.

KIPAC was founded in 2003 by a gift by Fred Kavli and The Kavli Foundation. It is housed on the grounds of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, as well as on the main Stanford campus.