Experience space in person at Wacken Open Air 2025

Experience space in person at Wacken Open Air 2025

At the end of July, Wacken will be reaching for the stars: Wacken Open Air will be bringing numerous players from the German space and astronomy sectors to the field – including astronauts.

As part of a special collaboration, visitors can look forward to a space camp with an exciting and informative program on the topic of space. Partners include ArianeGroup, the Astronomical Society (represented by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn; the House of Astronomy, Heidelberg; the Institute of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Potsdam), the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), CRAF, the German Aerospace Society (DGLR), Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE, HPS, Hylmpulse, NEUROSPACE, OHB, and POLARIS Spaceplanes. A special highlight is the visit of astronaut Alexander Gerst and astronaut Rabea Rogge to Wacken Open Air.

Rockets, rovers, stars, and satellites: In addition to large-scale exhibits such as a replica of the European Ariane 6 launcher, a suborbital rocket from HyImpulse, a moon balloon from OHB, and a prototype of the MIRA 1 space plane from POLARIS Spaceplanes, there is much to discover at the Space Camp at Wacken Open Air. These include the HiveR moon rover from NEUROSPACE, a model of the Fraunhofer Earth observation satellite ERNST, and a mock-up of the ADEO deorbit sail for preventing space debris from HPS. Two-time ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and the first German woman in space, Rabea Rogge, will land on the stage at Wacken Open Air on July 30, 2025, and August 1, respectively.

W:O:A festival co-founder and organizer Thomas Jensen on the collaboration:

“With Space Camp, we are creating a place where innovation can be experienced and shaped first-hand. This collaboration with our partners opens up completely new possibilities – we are really looking forward to the joint mission – it’s going to be loud and legendary!”

Holger Hübner, W:O:A festival co-founder and organizer, adds:

“The cooperation around Space Camp is a milestone for everyone involved. It stands for innovation, inspiration, and a genuine spirit of optimism across all boundaries – a feeling that is also reflected in the music. It’s great to be part of this ambitious project and to set new standards together.”

But there’s even more in store for metalheads between July 27 and August 2, 2025. In the exhibition tent, visitors can learn about a wide range of topics such as astronomy, light pollution, and space technology. Here, they will find stands from the BDLI, the DGLR, Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE, HPS, the Astronomical Society, and OHB. Interactive elements invite metalheads to try their hand at moon rovers to drive themselves, interactive games for Earth observation, and water rockets, which are being implemented by six student research groups and the Department of Space Technology (RFT) at the Technical University of Berlin (made possible by the DGLR).

In the lecture tent, Space Camp offers a top-class program of exciting lectures compiled by experts from the industry. Participants can get a taste of astronomical topics, satellite missions, and current challenges such as sustainability in space: “Heavy Metals in Space – How Gold is Formed,” “Saving the Night – How Important Darkness is for Humans, the Environment, and Astronomy,” and much more. Those who want to get involved after gaining these exciting impressions can also learn more about a career in space travel at Space Camp. Daily highlights include an Ask the Scientist or Ask the Industry format, as well as an evening Space Pub Quiz.

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About Wacken Open Air:
Wacken Open Air is the largest heavy metal festival in the world. Starting with 800 visitors in 1990, today 85,000 fans from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein every year, turning the community of 2,000 souls into the center of the festival scene for several days. The organizing company, WOA Festival GmbH, has a broad network at its disposal, including band management, the Wacken Foundation, tour booking, music publishing, travel & stay, merchandising distribution, and ticketing. In cooperation with partners, this results in creative solutions and ideas that revolutionize the festival experience, enable technical innovations, and produce extraordinary event concepts. Wacken Open Air 2025 will take place from July 30 to August 2, 2025.