DLR is also operator of a bilingual Internet site (www.dlr.de/iss), where visitors can obtain information about the ISS, the astrolab mission and Columbus. The basis of the DLR ISS website is the Business Content Management System (CMS) contentXXL, which is also used for the DLR main site (www.dlr.de) and for over 40 other institute and project portals.
The ESA Space Laboratory Columbus docked onto the International Space Station (ISS) and began work a few daysago, ending the STS-122 space mission. The space laboratory will be controlled and operated by the European Columbus Control Center, a part of the German Aerospace Control Center which is located in the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. DLR is also operator of a bilingual Internet site (www.dlr.de/iss), where visitors can obtain information about the ISS, the astrolab mission and Columbus. The basis of the DLR ISS website is the Business Content Management System (CMS) contentXXL, which is also used for the DLR main site (www.dlr.de) and for over 40 other institute and project portals.The launch of Atlantis on February 7, 2008 finally took place without problems. For weeks those responsible for the Columbus project, especially Astronaut Hans Schlegel, prepared for this day. Now, Columbus has already become a part of the ISS, securing Europe’s constant presence in space. To provide the members of the public with up-to-date information, DLR runs an ISS project portal, where news, background information, and Interviews via video and audio casts about the ISS and Columbus are continually published. The ISS portal is one of over 40 institute and project portals, which, together with the DLR main site, builds a system of interconnected websites.
Fig: The ISS-Portal shows always the current information on ISS and Columbus project
This portal system is based on the Microsoft .NET based CMS contentXXL. Due to the CMS contentXXL’s special ability is to logically make connections between individual content; being the perfect solution for the operation of such a complex portal system.
contentXXL enables networked actions across the portals by locating referenced or similar content, even in separate portals, and connecting this content comprehensively across all relevant portals (Content Sharing). In this way webmasters for the ISS project portal are, for example, also able to publish specific articles on the main website as well. Each members contact information is also centrally managed and administered according to need and where necessary published on the individual topic sites and/or on the main portal or even other linked portals based on content. This saves time and administration costs and guarantees an up-to-date and consistent data bank. Despite the numerous portals and sub portals, strict adherence to the DLR corporate design is ensured by being central administration through a master portal. This central access point supplies the design templates for all portals and ensures that all websites have a unified look (Template Sharing).
Mission STS-122 ended after 12 days. But for DLR and Columbus Control Center the work has just begun, especially in regards to the permanent posting of information on the Internet. The first European space laboratory Columbus should operate for 10 years. During this time an enormous amount of round-the-clock information about the mission must be edited, published, and distributed to readers via newsletters and RSS feeds. Facts, background information, interviews, press releases, and videos will be posted on the ISS portal as well as linked to one another and based on demand posted on additional subportals. In doing so, the CMS contentXXL will be able to put its full range of advantages to work.
About the German Aerospace Center
DLR is the research center of the Federal Republic of Germany for aerospace, energy, and transport. Its extensive research and development work is involved in national and international cooperations. In addition to its own research, DLR as an aerospace agency is, on behalf of the German government, responsible for the planning and implementation of German aerospace activities.