https://spacewatch.global/tag/germany/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:55:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/germany/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/11/spacewatchgl-opinion-europes-window-on-the-world-is-wide-open-thats-the-problem/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79453
Written by Torsten Kriening .
At IABG’s 3rd Space Symposium in Ottobrunn, Nicolaus Hanowski, ESA’s incoming Director of Space Operations, nailed ten theses to the church door: ten on the strengths of Europe’s Earth observation, ten on its vulnerabilities. Torsten Kriening was in the room. The diagnosis is right; the cure is too gentle.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-recap-germany-stops-whispering-about-space-defence/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:30:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79493
Written by Torsten Kriening.
At IABG’s 3rd Space Symposium in Ottobrunn, Germany stopped whispering about space defence. The Chief of the German Air and Space Force said Germany will strike back if attacked, announced a Luftwaffe space unit and admitted that the €35 billion, earmarked for military space, is already largely spoken for. Torsten Kriening was in the room: the doctrine is public, the red lines are not.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-e35-billion-for-space-is-germany-entering-a-new-space-era-klaus-peter-willsch/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79277 Germany is investing billions in space. Klaus-Peter Willsch joins Torsten Kriening to discuss defence, European independence, parliamentary oversight and whether today’s investment could transform Germany’s space industry.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-opinion-europes-space-shield-has-lost-its-name-it-must-not-lose-its-purpose/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78662 Seven EU capitals, led by Paris and Berlin, have told Brussels what the European Space Shield cannot be. They are right on competence and right on the name. But a Europe that only knows what it doesn't want in space is still a Europe without a shield.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/germanys-new-drone-security-centre-runs-on-space-even-if-nobody-says-so/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76738 Germany opened its Technology Centre for Drone Security at Cochstedt on 18 August, backed by a first-ever institutional funding line from the interior ministry. Beneath the counter-drone architecture sits an unacknowledged dependency: without satellite georeferencing, none of the situational awareness works - which is also where it is most exposed.]]> 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.]]>