Space technologies - Benefits for acquiring information

Space technologies are the key to the modern information and industrial society. Communication and TV reporting around the world, the satellite navigation system in cars or precise climate and weather analyses through to emergency mapping all depend on space technologies.

The turnover of the industry with its high percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) was 1.46 billion euros in 2007. Under its High-Tech Strategy, the Federal Government is investing a total of 3.6 billion euros in space research over the years 2006 to 2009. This is the biggest single item.
Often, space projects can only be implemented within the framework of international cooperation because of their complexity and high costs. This is why Germany is one of the main partners in the European Space Agency ESA. ESA finances scientific missions to explore the universe and awards contracts to aerospace firms with the aim of realizing major projects such as Europe's participation in the International Space Station (ISS) or the Ariane launcher system.

German space technology - leading in climate protection, earth observation and navigation

Innovative space technologies help us to monitor environmental protection agreements, forecast the impact of climate change and deal with natural disasters more effectively.
Germany already has a leading position in Europe in terms of climate research and earth observation from space:
The ESA satellite GOCE, which is being constructed in Germany, will provide useful data for oceanography and geophysics and for the study of the sea level within the framework of basic and environmental research.

The German radio satellite TerraSAR-X provides high-resolution image data which is independent of the weather and the time of the day. Its twin satellite TanDEM-X will be launched in 2009 and will provide high-resolution stereo images of the earth's surface. The optical satellite system RapidEye transmits daily earth observation data and is opening up entirely new commercial possibilities for using this data in agriculture, by insurance companies as well as for disaster relief.

The new Satellite Data Security Act (SatDSiG) entered into force on 1 December 2007. This aims to create a suitable framework for the commercial success of innovative fields of business and products and to protect German security interests. It provides a legal framework enabling German companies to establish themselves on the international market and gives them legal planning certainty.

A new ESA Climate Change Monitoring Initiative (CCI) will facilitate the standardization of global climate data. The European Meteosat satellite system under Franco-German leadership is entering the third generation (Meteosat Third Generation, MTG) and will make decisive contributions to reliable weather forecasts and crisis prevention in the case of natural phenomena which it has not been possible to predict in the past.

With GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), the EU is continuing the establishment of a comprehensive space-based earth observation system. Germany is deeply involved in this project.

The Galileo global satellite navigation system will launch a total of 30 satellites into space by 2014. The EU's biggest technology project will then make it possible to determine any position on earth with absolute precision. The first two test satellites are already orbiting the earth. They are helping to test and develop the system. Two consortia under the leadership of German companies have applied for contracts to develop the Galileo satellite system.

New space programmes adopted at ESA Conference of Ministers in November 2008:

Germany assumes leadership position in satellite communication

Germany is providing unique high-tech technologies for optical high-speed communication between satellites within the framework of the European Data Relay Satellite System (EDRS) in geostationary orbit, which has been approved by ESA. It is the leading partner in this ESA programme.

Autonomous access to space ensured

Germany has a roughly 25% share in the "Ariane 5" programme and its further development. The aim of the development programme is to make the system more flexible by means of a German-built cryogenic upper stage that can be re-ignited and to increase the payload. Thus "Ariane" will still be able to launch two commercial satellites into space at the same time.

More science in space with German support

The ESA science programme is ensuring that space research will continue to be the flagship of European space activities in future. Germany is strongly involved in the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme, which focuses on the further study of the universe and our solar system, the study of planets and the origins of life as well as basic laws of nature. Germany also maintains its leadership position in conducting research under space conditions. At the 2008 ESA Ministerial Council Conference, Germany succeeded in enforcing a decision that the International Space Station ISS, the biggest scientific and technological collaborative project ever, will continue to be used for demanding projects. Scientific findings in human physiology, biology, materials sciences and physics will be enhanced by studying space conditions on board the ISS (European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences and Applications in Space, ELIPS). The percentage of German research in these experiments is helping Germany to assume a leadership position in Europe and claim one of the top ranks by international comparison.

Automatization and robotics secure the future

Automated systems and intelligent robots are not only the key to future space technologies but also a "springboard technology" for applications on earth. The Federal Government is setting a new priority in the field of robotics in its National Space Programme in order to further enhance Germany's recognized expertise in these fields.