DLR Establishes Human Exploration Control Center

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) announces establishment of a Human Exploration Control Center (HECC) at Oberpfaffenhofen, with funding pledged 58 million euros from Bavaria and 20 million euros from DLR, presented 4 February 2026. The HECC, slated to begin construction in 2028 and operational by 2030, will manage Gateway modules I-HAB, HLCS and ESPRIT for Artemis and develop AI autonomy tools like METIS to support Moon and Mars missions.