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New call for TEMPUS experiments: Proposals due by 25 April 2025

With this joint call, DLR and ESA are opening up new opportunities for materials research in microgravity during the 45th DLR Parabolic Flight Campaign. The focus lies on experiments related to solidification and thermophysical properties of metallic melts under the specific conditions of weightlessness​.

The campaign is scheduled to take place from 20 to 31 October 2025 and includes three flight days, each offering 31 parabolas. The TEMPUS facility allows containerless processing of electrically conductive samples, enabling controlled solidification studies and in-flight measurement of properties such as surface tension, viscosity, and electrical conductivity.​

What kind of proposals are expected?

The call seeks proposals for novel sample compositions and research approaches, clearly distinct from previous TEMPUS or EML experiments. Teams without prior TEMPUS experience are explicitly welcome. First-time Principal Investigators are strongly encouraged to apply​. Collaborations and shared sample use between projects are also supported.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be affiliated with scientific institutions in Germany (DLR) or in ESA member states participating in the Exploration Science Programme. International collaborations within existing agreements with DLR or ESA are also eligible​.

Submission and process

Proposals must be submitted by 25 April 2025 at 24:00 CEST. Submissions will be reviewed by independent experts, focusing on scientific quality, methodological soundness, relevance to TEMPUS, and the potential to generate knowledge for space or societal benefit​.

The experiments will take place on board the Airbus A310 Zero G, which provides around 20 seconds of microgravity per parabola. After the flights, samples will be returned for metallographic analysis, and data evaluation will take place in coordination with DLR and ESA in spring 2026.

Further information about the call can be found on the ESA website or in the document below.