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Meeting	ACGS Committee Meeting 105 - Lake Tahoe - March 2010
Agenda Location	8 SUBCOMMITTEE B -- MISSILES AND SPACE 8.3 Perspectives of German Space Research and Space Activities in the Next Decade
Title	Perspectives of German Space Research and Space Activities in the Next Decade
Presenter	Jurgen Drescher
Affiliation	DLR
Available Downloads*	presentation
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Abstract	For the last ten years, German space activities have experienced a remarkable boost in both scientific and commercial missions. Politics backed German space ambitions by a constantly rising budget. This applies to the national space program as well as to Germany’s contributions to the programs of the European Space Agency. With the completion of the RapidEye constellation in 2008 and the launch of TerraSAR-X in 2007, Germany underlined its ambitions in space applications while allowing German companies to enter the growing world market for earth observation services. With highly sophisticated scientific missions such as HERSCHEL, PLANCK, Rosetta or Mars Express Germany followed its premise in view of science playing a dominant role in the German space program. With the development and launch of Europe’s Columbus laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV two major milestones, i. e. the technological as well as financial marks were accomplished and proved our commitment within European and international partnerships regarding the ISS. Finally, Germany’s armed forces found their way into space. With the constellation of 5 high resolution SARLupe satellites and the two SatComBW communication satellites, the German Bundeswehr now owns its own satellite based infrastructure. It is obvious that German space politics are and will be decided in the triangle of national, European and international interests and their political framework conditions. During the next decade, some major challenges will face future German space ambitions. Due to the financial crisis there is the need to consolidate the national budget. Concerning Europe’s ISS participation, it is Germany who took the main financial burden and got the main scientific and industrial impact out of Europe’s ISS share in the past. A probable life time extension of the ISS has to be arranged in a new and fair share between the partners including a possible role for the EU in this area. Hence, we do have the highest interest in using the ISS as a laboratory for best science and as a destination for the next four to six ATVs developed and produced in Germany. Regarding the major global challenges that affect humanity, space applications will play the vital part in leading to new strategic alliances and cooperations. Germany is keen to pool existing strengths in climate research, earth observation, or emergency response. Best science and international cooperation are the keys to tackle these global challenges effectively. However, the commercial space business is the domain of strong international competition and Germany intends to widen its industrial share. Setting new and innovative standards such as the Laser Communication Terminal LCT or a new communication platform such as the SmallGeo satellite bus has been the objective and its achievement was supported by the German space program. On the European level, it is the new strengthened role of the European Union in space which creates further challenges. With the Lisbon Treaty which entered into force December 1st 2009, the European Union gained a parallel responsibility for space. Although the EU already leads the two application driven infrastructure programs GALILEO and GMES, the EU does neither have an adequate budget nor specific instruments for the institutional space arena. However, its self-conception and its power will influence space politics in Europe and the role of ESA to a larger extent than we expect today. The growing focus of space applications and application driven space technology as well as further requirements by our military are not meant to diminish Germany’s leading role in space science. Since the first formulation of a national space program, it has been space science which is one of the major pillars of German space efforts. New national and international demand for further investments in other space areas should not lead to less science. Satisfying all these demands with a constant budget is a major challenge for space politics in the decade to come.