Sustainability and Environment

Sustainability and Environment

04 March 2026

Clearing the skies: why space debris demands action now

As the number of satellites in orbit grows, so does the challenge of keeping space safe and sustainable. What was once a vast and largely empty domain is rapidly becoming congested with hazardous debris. Without coordinated action, the very infrastructure that underpins modern society is at risk. The growing debris problem requires collective efforts — including the Zero Debris Charter — aimed at securing the future of space.

18 November 2025

NLR People: Kylie Knepper, Right at the forefront of innovations in aviation

In the series ‘NLR People’, we show you who the experts at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre are, what drives them, and what they are working on behind the scenes. In this episode: Kylie Knepper, R&D Engineer Aeroacoustics at the Vertical Flight and Aeroacoustics department.

Sustainable aviation in the Netherlands
Sustainability and Environment

15 October 2025

NLR and DLR publish framework for assessing aviation’s environmental footprint

Presented at the EASN International Conference in Madrid, the two aerospace research centres NLR and DLR published a joint guidance for Life Cycle Assessment in the Air Transport System. This uncovers the fundamental gap between in-flight emissions and a comprehensive view of the environmental impact of flying.

Sustainability and Environment

03 September 2025

Maiden flight of a drone on liquid hydrogen, a Dutch first

The HYDRA II, an innovative hydrogen-powered drone of Royal NLR, has made its first successful flights using liquid hydrogen as a fuel carrier. This marks an important step towards developing more sustainable aviation by making hydrogen technology suitable for commercial applications.