https://spacewatch.global/tag/germany/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:47:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/germany/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/spacewatchgl-opinion-pax-germanica/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73360
Written by Gilles Rabin
France strengthens its sovereign military model. Germany builds Europe's strongest conventional force inside NATO. The divergence couldn't be clearer - and it's reshaping the future of European defence space from FCAS to SatComBw 4.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/spacewatchgl-opinion-from-defensive-subsidy-to-offensive-sovereignty/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72658
Written by K.-P. Ludwig
Germany's €35 billion space investment offensive risks becoming industrial nostalgia unless Berlin demands tough selection over political distribution - and builds a European system that actually works when it matters.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/spacewatchgl-opinion-germanys-space-defense-ambitions-meet-natos-hard-lessons-on-transformation/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69189 Transformation is a word Germany repeats often - but rarely lives. In Brussels, Norfolk, Paris, or Berlin, the debates sound familiar: new threats, shrinking timelines, overstretched forces, and lagging technology adoption. But few have had a closer view of this challenge than General (ret.) Chris Badia, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation -the highest-ranking German officer in the Alliance.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/espi-ac25-austrias-defence-perspective-on-space-resilience-with-robert-pfaffenbauer/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68713 In this conversation, Torsten Kriening, Publisher of SpaceWatch.Global, speaks with Major Robert Pfaffenbauer from the Austrian Ministry of Defence about how Austria is building resilience, capability, and cooperation in the space domain.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/spacewatchgl-opinion-35-billion-e-for-german-space-defense-zeitenwende-reloaded/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68133
Written by Gilles Rabin
On September 25 in Berlin, the Weltraumkongress, organized by the BDI (the German employers' association, not the BDLI, the German aerospace industry association), promised to be an important event, given the questions raised by Germany's position in Europe. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/planet-awarded-e240-million-satellite-services-deal-by-german-government/ Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66074 Planet Labs Germany GmbH has announced a multi-year €240 million agreement, funded by the German government, in support of European peace and security. Through the agreement, Planet will provide dedicated capacity and direct downlink services on Pelican satellites over specific European regions. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/germany-joins-space-multinational-force-operation-olympic-defender/ Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61767 The U.S. Space Command has formally recognized Germany’s membership in Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender, starting October 11. The operation represents a growing commitment among the closest allies in space to jointly strengthen defenses and deter aggression, ensuring space remains a domain that benefits all of humanity.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/dr-walther-pelzer-on-geo-return-innovation/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61473 Dr. Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR, elaborates on key topics from his keynote speech.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/space-foundation-reports-7-4-global-space-economy-growth/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56165 Space Foundation has reported the size of the 2023 global space economy to be $570 billion in 2023, an increase of 7.4% from 2022’s revised sum of $531 billion, a total that represents the continued growth of the industry in the public and private sectors. This growth is consistent with the industry’s five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% and is nearly double the size of the space economy a decade ago.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/06/norway-and-germany-collaborate-on-space-launches/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:00:07 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55807 Norway and Germany have signed a joint declaration to facilitate German satellite launches from Andøya Spaceport. Andøya Spaceport entered into a multi-year agreement with German Isar Aerospace, which will use the base to launch satellites into space with the Spectrum launch vehicle. Isar Aerospace are preparing the launch pad for launch and expects to carry out its first launch during the second half of 2024.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/06/esa-and-vast-sign-mou-for-future-vast-space-stations/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:00:18 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55557 The European Space Agency (ESA) and Vast have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future Vast space stations during the Berlin International Airshow (ILA), Germany. The agreement outlines the parties’ intention to foster human spaceflight, science, technology and commercialization development and explore collaboration in low Earth orbit destinations other than the International Space Station (ISS).The signed MoU also reflects ESA’s ambition for a smooth and efficient transition from the International Space Station towards sustained exploitation of human and robotic infrastructures in low Earth orbit after 2030, including through commercial services]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/esa-and-twelve-countries-sign-the-zero-debris-charter/ Fri, 24 May 2024 06:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55332 Twelve nations have signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council, solidifying their commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in Earth orbit. In addition to the 12 countries, the European Space Agency also signed the Zero Debris Charter as an International Organization (IGO). The Zero Debris Charter is an effort to become debris-neutral in space by 2030 that was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville meeting in November 2023.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/10/rfa-yuri-and-atmos-launch-microgravity-service/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:00:49 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51828 Three German NewSpace companies, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Yuri, and ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS), have announced their new partnership and launch of their joint end-to-end service for microgravity life science research and product development. The companies disclosed the partnership at this year's edition of the Weltraumkongress in Berlin, Germany. This holistic solution consequently represents an unprecedented and flexible alternative to the ISS laboratory and initiates a new generation of microgravity research. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/09/germany-signs-artemis-accords/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51128 Germany became the 29th country to sign the Artemis Accords on the 14th of September, reports Reuters. The Artemis Accords are a US-led multilateral agreement to establish norms of behaviour in space and on the lunar surface. Germany became the latest signatory at the German ambassador’s residence in Washington. The event was attended by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Walther Pelzer, head of the Germany Space Agency. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/06/space-cafe-radio-prof-dr-uwe-cantner-chairman-of-efi/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=49462 In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Prof. Dr. Uwe Cantner, Chairman of the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation a few weeks after the commission handed over their 2023 annual report on research, innovation, and technological performance in Germany.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/02/airbus-integrates-multiple-esms-for-orion-program/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:00:13 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=46525 Three European Service Modules (ESMs) are currently undergoing integration in parallel in Airbus’ Bremen cleanrooms. Consequently, the integration of ESM-3 is almost complete, and ESM-4 is well underway. As a result, the newly arrived ESM-5 structure is undergoing initial integration. Each ESM requires the integration of more than 22,000 elements.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/02/hensoldt-and-fraunhofer-partner-on-space-surveillance-radar/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 07:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=46411 HENSOLDT has partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Frequency Physics and Radar Technology FHR to transform the technology demonstrator GESTRA (German Experimental Space Surveillance and Tracking Radar) into a series-production ready, operationally deployable system called Custodian. As a result, HENSOLDT has acquired the necessary licenses from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and concluded a cooperation agreement.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/11/italy-germany-and-france-sign-joint-statement-on-the-future-of-launcher-exploitation/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 07:00:48 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=45001 Minutes before the opening ceremony that inaugurated the 22nd ESA's Council Ministerial, this year held in Paris, Italy, Germany and France signed a joint statement regarding the future of launcher exploitation within the Union. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/10/spacewatchgl-opinion-italys-strategy-and-position-at-the-next-esas-cm-22/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:00:20 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=44146 The space sector has completely changed in the past few years. France is now the driving force behind the European space sector (albeit more for its purposes rather than for shared European goals), and Germany, apparently distracted by national rearmament, is still determined to defend its ambitions, so as not to completely leave the ground to Paris. In the face of all this, what is Italy’s position? Further apart, it appears.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/10/isar-contracts-share-my-space-to-protect-orbital-environment-during-launches/ Thu, 20 Oct 2022 06:00:08 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=44133 French startup Share My Space, won a contract to provide real-time space traffic mapping for the first three flights of Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle Spectrum, Share My Space said. The first test flight of the Spectrum launch vehicle is planned for 2023.  Isar Aerospace chose Share My Space over other solutions as its optical sensors allow for great flexibility and real autonomy.]]>