BERLIN/BRUXELLES – Berlin demands “reorganisation of the European space program”, which will make it available for raising German-European ambitions to world power status, particularly with respect to defence. With the “reorganisation” of space programs, Berlin, with the approval of Paris and in spite of delays created by Great Britain’s resistance, seeks access to the resources of all EU member states.
The USA and Russia dominate military aerospace technology. In Europe, France and Great Britain have substantial budgets for the purpose of military aerospace programs, while
Italian and Spanish activities are rather limited. Up until now military satellite systems have not been at Germany’s disposal. Consequently, Germany must rent the necessary capacity, for military deployment of its troops, from the civilian satellite industry or NATO partners. This should be changed now.
European space programs for German interests.
The chief executive of the “German Aerospace Center” (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) or DLR which, on behalf of the federal government, carries out German space programmes and represents German aerospace interests within the international framework, demands a “new aerospace structure for Europe”. According to the head of the DLR, Wittig, “only a Europe with the strategic capabilities offered by space flight will have a global role in the future”. Obviously, the EU must obtain a greater voice and authority in policies concerning space.
Thus, German influence should be increased at the expense of the other members. According to the German head of the space program, the currently principle “One nation, one voice” cannot be maintained. (So much for “European Partners” – ed) “German aerospace science and technology have international standing and considerable influence on European missions”, according to the federal ministry for culture and science. It is imperative “that German interests be integrated into European space flight strategy and thus gain acceptance in the global framework.”
Space program for war – “just like the other great powers”
The “reorganisation of the European aerospace program”, advanced by Berlin goes hand in hand with increasing militarisation. The EU commission and the European space agency ESA, which draw up and provide a “green book” (“Grünbuch”) for “Europe’s role in space”, ask: “Shall (EU space programs) serve civilian and military purposes equally in the future as is done by other great powers?” The war against Iraq has illustrated that in the future the EU must also pursue its own defence policy in space. Until then, the EU commissioner in charge of research demands the co-ordination of civilian and military projects be combined in a single aerospace agency: For example, the satellite Helius I, has already the capacity to spot not only wheat fields or coastal shipping but also troop movements; this applies as well to the optical sensors on board the environmental satellite Envisat.
With Russia and without the USA
The militarised EU aerospace program should be able to act independently of the global rival, the USA, as much as possible. The French manufacturer, Alcatel, has built the first satellite, Apstar 6, which is “independent of America”. Even the biggest satellite venture ever undertaken in Europe, the navigation net Galileo, will manage without US components. The director of the ESA, in charge, declares: “For us it is completely out of the question that we should build a satellite net and then depend on US laws which would dictate where the satellites could start, who would be allowed to link up with them, and where in outer space we would be authorised to position them.”
Instead, Berlin and the European Union pursue closer co-operation with Russia. Negotiations between the EU commission and the Russian space agency Rosawiakosmos about a “space partnership” in the utilisation of booster rockets and launching pads are nearing conclusion. In April, a delegation from the DLR held talks in Moscow about closer co-operation with Rosawiakosmos. The chief of the DLR, Wittig, explains that Russia’s
research potential should be “utilised globally”. This also specifically includes military components: Russia participates in the development of the EU’s “green book” for the
militarising of space flight and contributes to corresponding research projects of the EU as well.
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