[3][4] In the early 1960s, after she had graduated from her secondary school, her father moved to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in the US.

[4] Von Hoerner completed an electronics education in the United States and worked as a research assistant at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

[4][5] In 1965, von Hoerner returned to West Germany to study experimental physics at Heidelberg University.

[6] In 1980 von Hoerner & Sulger developed the first mass spectrometer that worked in space[6] In 1979 van Hoerner's company was commissioned by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research to design a cosmic dust detector for use in the Vega program missions to Venus.

[8] The interstellar dust collector is one of the prime examples of space measuring instruments with which the Baden-based small company Hoerner & Sulger (vH & S) has made a name for itself.