Objectives of the core facility

The focus of the funding program for core facilities is the implementation of an administrative service and management structure for large-scale research equipment.

The Hannover Center for Microgravity Research organizes the operation of the Einstein-Elevator - a globally unique, 40 m high, third-generation drop tower that enables precise microgravity experiments (≈10-6 g) with payloads of up to 1,000 kg and up to 300 experiments per day. Originally developed in the Cluster of Excellence Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research (QUEST), the Einstein-Elevator was set up at HITec as a "large-scale research facility in accordance with Article 91b of the German Constitution". Its operation is coordinated by the Institute of Transport and Automation Technology (ITA).

As the facility has unique properties worldwide and is therefore of interest for a variety of different research topics, it is made available to other user groups. The equipment center described here organizes the administration and implementation of external projects.

The experimental facility provided at the center covers the following fields of research, among others:

• Additive manufacturing under space conditions, materials science
• physics, medicine, biology, biotechnology 
• production sciences