On November 22 and 23, 2022, the ministers and government representatives of the 22 member states of the European Space Agency ESA met at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to set the course for joint space programs “made in Europe”. The Council of Ministers is the highest political decision-making body that determines the content and financial framework for the space programs of the ESA every three years on average.
At the head of the German delegation were Federal Ministers of Economics Dr. Robert Habeck and the coordinator for German aerospace, Dr. Anna Christmann (Member of the Bundestag), accompanied by representatives of theFederal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection(BMWK) and desFederal Ministry for Digital and Transport(BMDV). Also present at the negotiating table in Paris was Dr. Walther Pelzer, DLR board member and head of theGerman Space Agency at DLR, who and his team in Bonn prepared the German positions for the conference and coordinated them with the federal government.
Germany took over the chair of the ESA Council from France in Paris and will host the next conference in 2025.
“Be it the Ukraine war, the energy crisis or the climate crisis: space travel makes important strategic contributions to solving these global challenges. That’s why I’m glad that we managed to get 4 billion euros from Germany (ongoing economic conditions, that’s around 3.5 billion euros when calculating for mixed economic conditions) for the organization of European space activities in the coming years. Climate protection, competition and new space as well as the sovereignty of Europe are our focus,” says Dr. Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator for Aerospace. “A particular success for Germany is that we have achieved more competition for launch vehicles to have. As a result, the private providers of mini and micro launchers can participate in the ESA tenders in the future. This is a paradigm shift with which we are giving new impetus to new space and private activities.”
She emphasizes: “Space travel is more than science fiction. With our subscription, Germany – as agreed in the coalition agreement – is strengthening ESA and doing justice to its driving role for a strong European space industry and science landscape,” adds the space coordinator.
The fact that space travel only works in international cooperation is emphasized by DLR Executive Board member Dr. Walther Pelzer: “In addition to climate protection and competitiveness, particularly in the launcher sector and in the development of innovative technologies, our third key area of negotiation was exploration. At the same time, continuing this commitment means strengthening international cooperation. Large-scale space exploration projects require a European and global division of labor. Not only does this ensure success, such ‘space diplomacy’ also makes space travel itself an important area of international cooperation.”
In total, the ESA member states subscribed to a budget of 16.9 billion euros. Germany contributes 4 billion euros (ongoing economic conditions, around 3.5 billion euros mixed economic conditions) (20.8 percent) and is thus the strongest partner with France (18.9 percent) and Italy (18.2 percent). ESA.
Germany is providing 1.15 billion euros (ongoing economic conditions) for the so-called ESA mandatory programs: In addition to the general budget, this includes the science program and the European spaceport in Kourou. Around 2.37 billion euros of the German contribution is for the so-called optional programmes: around 669 million euros for earth observation, around 365 million euros for telecommunications, 50 million euros for technology programs, 155 million euros for space situation and space security, 368 million euros for space transport and operation as well as around 726 million euros for the area of astronautics, research in microgravity and exploration.
The main German drawings in detail:
carrier systems
From the end of 2023 theAriane 6bring payloads into space as a new European launcher. Industrial prime contractors are ArianeGroup, in Germany with sites in Bremen and Ottobrunn, and MT Aerospace in Augsburg and Bremen. Germany is contributing a total of around 162 million euros to the further development of Ariane 6 and its market launch. Germany is investing around 52 million euros in the optional accompanying program LEAP (Launchers Exploitation Accompaniment), which also includes the operation of the DLR rocket test center in Lampoldshausen. This is now – as previously only the European spaceport in Kourou – defined as an indispensable infrastructure.
Germany is contributing around 123 million euros to the technology and qualification program for future launchers (Future Launchers Preparatory Program, FLPP). The focus is on the development of a cost-effective lightweight upper stage (e.g. made of carbon fiber composite material), improving the performance of existing and new engines and implementing new processes and methods.
Germany is also a strong partner in the program for commercial space transport services – BOOST! for short, which focuses on promoting SMEs and start-ups. Thanks to the German initiative, it was also possible to include microlaunchers as launch vehicles for ESA payloads.
Earth observation and climate protection
Germany is the international leader inearth observation– both scientifically, technologically and in the use and processing of data for the analysis of the system earth. With around 185 million euros (30 percent), the Federal Republic of Germany retains its leading role in the operational European earth observation programCopernicus. This is specifically about the further development and expansion of the system to include new Sentinel satellites and services for climate monitoring and climate protection, agriculture, mobility, security and disaster prevention. The program provides essential data for the implementation of the “European Green Deal”, the Paris Climate Agreement and for climate adaptation measures. Germany has the largest group of Copernicus users.
In the new “Climate-Space” program, the focus is on satellite-based climate research, also on a regional and local level. With a focus on climate and atmosphere, the results from Climate-Space are to be incorporated into the Copernicus services, which are currently being located in Bonn at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. Together with the Digital Twin Earth program, which is also new, Germany is supporting the simulation of climate data with a total of around 23 million euros.
In addition, Germany is participating in the FutureEO program with around 347 million euros. In addition to the scientific Earth Explorer satellites, the weather satellites of the European Meteorological Satellite Organization (EUMETSAT) and most of their measuring instruments as well as the Sentinel satellites of the Copernicus program have their origins here. The program also opens the door to new markets by increasing the use of NewSpace approaches and innovative technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This also gives small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups the opportunity to address global markets with services.
Since August 2018, the ESA satellite “Aeolus” is the first satellite to use its double LiDAR instrument to measure and record wind fields and their movement worldwide at different altitudes throughout the atmosphere. With Aeolus 2, this test satellite is now to become a program. Two satellites are scheduled to routinely measure global 3D wind fields over the period 2030 to 2040 to significantly refine our weather forecast. In the preparatory program for Aeolus 2, Germany is involved in the development of the laser transmitter with national funds from the BMDV.
The “InCubed-2” program is aimed at short-term private-sector commercial earth observation activities – the Federal Republic of Germany is contributing around 10 million euros. InCubed-2 (Investing in Industrial Innovation 2) sets a framework to work flexibly and agilely with the European earth observation industry. InCubed-2 is intended to increase the competitiveness of European industry in component manufacturing, mission operations, platform and ground segment technologies and data access, so that innovative approaches from European providers can compete on the world market. Program content will be selected based on industry suggestions.
satellite communication
In satellite communications (ARTES programs) it is all about supporting innovative technologies and products for the globally growing, commercial market for telecommunications satellites. A central focus in Germany is on the framework program for competitiveness (Core Competitiveness, 50 million euros), and thus on supporting industry and suppliers in a rapidly changing market environment. Other German priorities are in the strategically relevant key technology (laser) communication (around 41 million euros) and in developments for the future market of satellite-based security solutions including quantum key distribution (QKD) with around 39 million euros.
Germany earmarked around 19 million euros (WB 22) for the promotion of commercial applications both in space travel itself and in non-space sectors (BASS 4.0), and Germany is providing around 21 million euros for the support of satellites in the mobile communications network of the future.
EU connectivity initiative
Secure and reliable communication is essential, especially in times of crisis, to ensure that the state is able to act. Germany supports the EU initiative for secure connectivity and the accompanying ESA program with 189 million euros.
space security
When it comes to space weather, observation of near-Earth objects and the avoidance and reduction of space debris, Germany is contributing around 24 million euros (WB 22) to the COSMIC element of the program, in which these topics are further researched and instruments are developed, for example for observing space weather will.
In addition, the Federal Republic takes part in missions that are implemented in the program. The German subscription of around 72 million euros for the asteroid defense mission HERA enables the launch of the probe built in Bremen to the asteroid Didymos, which is planned for autumn 2024. NASA’s DART probe struck its small companion Dimorphos on September 27, 2022 to investigate whether it is possible to change the course of an asteroid. Upon arrival in 2026, HERA will conduct observations and analysis of the impact of DART impacts on Dimorphos. The findings serve both basic research and the preparation of possible defense missions from asteroids.
Germany is also contributing a total of around 28 million euros to the Clearspace 1 mission to actively remove space debris and the program for servicing satellites in space (“in-orbit servicing”).
With “Vigil”, ESA wants to deliver operational observation data of the sun from the so-called Lagrange point L5 and contribute to improved forecasting of space weather events. With the German contribution of 30 million euros (WB 22) to the Vigil mission, a scientific instrument is being developed, the so-called Photospheric Magnetic Field Imager (PMI) for observing the magnetic field on the sun’s surface.
technology development
The German participation in the so-called General Technology Support Program (GSTP) aims to maintain, expand and strengthen the industrial competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially start-ups. They get the chance to strengthen the technological maturity level of their developments – a very expensive and lengthy process without help. Companies that don’t originally come from aerospace and have recognized the opportunity to gain a foothold here also benefit. As a further optional technology program, the focus was on digitization, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing technologies and NewSpace approaches. The development of electrical
Germany has subscribed 50 million euros in the GSTP program.
Improving market opportunities for start-ups
In addition, Germany made a contribution of 22 million euros to the new “Scale-Up” program. In this program, which is explicitly intended to promote commercialization in space travel, Germany is continuing its commitment to the ESA Business Incubation Center (BIC). In addition, Germany supports new activities for start-ups through its participation in order to improve their market opportunities. Last but not least, the Federal Government actively promotes the “Market Place” for start-up financing of commercial services for test and demonstration missions in space.
exploration
All robotic and astronautical activities for exploration are summarized in the framework program “European Exploration Envelope Program” (E3P). This bundles the European research and technology program for the use of the near-Earth orbit including the exploration of the moon and Mars. Subprograms here are the operation of theInternational Space Stationand their use (German share: around 529 million euros). Germany assumes the leading role here and is also the main producer and sponsor of the European Service Module, the supply capsules for the US spacecraft Orion, an indispensable part of NASA’s Artemis moon program. In addition, the Federal Republic of Germany plays a leading role in the SciSpace research program. Germany is supporting moon activities with 110 million euros, primarily as part of the European lander “Argonaut”. The Federal Republic of Germany subscribed 60 million euros for the Mars exploration.
Science
The compulsory science program is the backbone of ESA. It thus makes a significant contribution to building and maintaining Europe’s role in international space research. It finances the research satellites, their launch and operation. The member states are developing the scientific instruments themselves. By the end of the 2030s, twelve new missions are to be launched to explore and analyze our solar system and other galaxies. Germany is the largest contributor to this program with 21.13 percent, which means a total contribution of around 684 million euros over five years. Large and medium-sized missions with significant German participation are:JUICE(Jupiter mission, planned launch April 2023),EUCLID(Dark Energy/Dark Matter, planned launch 2024),PLATO(Exoplanets Mission, 2027) and LISA (Gravitational Wave Observatory, 2037).