Wacken Open Air: Interstellar meeting place for space enthusiasts

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Space travel meets heavy metal: The Space Camp at Wacken Open Air 2025

In summer 2025, the legendary Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest heavy metal festival, will once again become the center of the festival scene, attracting 85,000 visitors from all over the world. This year, however, the festival will take its theme to new heights: with its own Space Camp, which will take space enthusiasts and the interested public on an exciting journey into the universe. HL, ArianeGroup, and other renowned partners, together with the German Aerospace Center (DGLR), are organizing this unique experience.

A top-class cooperation

Close collaboration between various players in the German aerospace industry and scientific institutions is at the heart of Space Camp. ArianeGroup, BDLI, Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE, OHB, POLARIS Spaceplanes, and institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the House of Astronomy offer a diverse program with scientific insights, innovative technologies, and interactive offerings.

In addition, prominent guests will enrich the event: Astronaut Alexander Gerst and astronaut Rabea Rogge will be present as guests of honor and will convey fascinating perspectives with their experiences from space.

Promotion of young talent and university presence

The DGLR promotes exchange between science, industry, and the public, particularly through the involvement of young student research groups. Six teams from leading universities – including the Technical University of Berlin with its Department of Aerospace Engineering (RFT) – will present their own projects and innovative space technology exhibits.

Prof. Dr. Enrico Stoll, Head of the Aerospace Engineering Department and DGLR Department Head, emphasizes: “This collaboration is an extraordinary opportunity to bring our research to a broad audience and inspire young people to study aerospace engineering. This plays a particularly important role in times of a shortage of skilled workers.”

Scientific program and interactive activities

The young talent groups from Berlin, Braunschweig, Stuttgart, Giessen, Munich, and Würzburg will demonstrate the diversity of student space projects. From satellites and rovers to homemade rockets, festivalgoers can get involved themselves. Launching water rockets, CanSat throwing games, and the Headbanger Contest – in which a specially designed helmet is set in motion – offer hands-on activities for all generations.

In addition, the RFT offers a satellite construction kit, allowing interested parties to learn the complex assembly of a CubeSat. This hands-on experience promotes understanding of space technology in a vivid way.

At the same time, high-profile lectures, panel discussions and presentations will take place, enabling dialogue between experts and the public and conveying the latest trends and perspectives in the space industry.

Focus on sustainability and future prospects

In addition to technical and scientific aspects, sustainability also plays an important role in the program design. Innovative approaches to resource optimization in space travel, potential contributions to environmental protection, and social implications are discussed.

Retail and tourism concepts centered around space will complement the experiences that festival guests can have on-site. A modern understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration will thus be tangible and will sustainably support future developments.

Sustainable impulses for the aerospace community

Roland Gerhards, President of the DGLR, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to enrich Wacken Open Air together with our partners and young talent groups. This platform allows us to make the fascination of space travel accessible to a wider audience while simultaneously paving the way for young people to enter the industry.”

The Space Camp is an outstanding example of how extraordinary collaborative formats can promote both technological innovation and social enthusiasm.

Wacken Open Air 2025 – more than a festival

From July 30 to August 2, 2025, the small village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein will once again become an international pilgrimage site for heavy metal fans – and a hotspot for space enthusiasts. The organizers and partners of Wacken Open Air will once again present creative and technological innovations that will revolutionize the festival experience.

With a diverse offering ranging from music to technology to science, Wacken Open Air sets standards for interdisciplinary events and creates innovative worlds of experience.

About the German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics (DGLR)

The DGLR – Lilienthal-Oberth e.V. is the oldest professional society in Germany, bringing together experts from science, industry, and the public. Its goal is to network knowledge, present current developments, and promote and reward innovative projects. In doing so, the DGLR makes an important contribution to progress in aerospace engineering and to strengthening Germany as a center of technology.

Conclusion

The Space Camp at Wacken Open Air 2025 demonstrates how different fields – heavy metal and space travel – can be successfully combined. With a diverse range of offerings, prominent guest speakers, and dedicated young talent groups, the festival brings scientific content to a broad audience and inspires enthusiasm for aerospace. This event opens up perspectives and showcases future trends that fascinate both the aerospace industry and dedicated laypeople alike.

For all those who are passionate about space travel, technology and interactive science, Wacken Open Air 2025 is an event not to be missed – a meeting place of cultures and innovations that elegantly blurs the boundaries between the universe and the festival stage.