Every three years, the representatives of the 20 or so ESA member countries meet to discuss the financing of the European space agency. In the run-up to these Council of Ministers conferences, countries like to tact about the possible payments: budgets are sometimes set low so as not to heat up competition within ESA and then to show off with a higher subscription. This was the case in 2019, when Germany suddenly became Esa’s main contributor with 3.3 billion euros. And this time, too, Berlin is surprising the space industry – at least a little. While the draft budget talked of 500 million euros less than three years ago, Economics Minister Robert Habeck traveled to Paris with around 200 million euros more, even if this is in principle less than inflation compensation. Nevertheless, Germany is again the main contributor – ahead of France, even if the neighboring country pays a good 500 million more than in 2019.
The fact that ESA negotiations sometimes involve gambling is also due to the fact that ESA awards its orders according to the so-called geo-return principle. The respective ESA contribution of a country flows back there in the form of orders to the industry. This creates jobs and brings innovation and know-how to the domestic industry. In this respect, it is logical that Germany, contrary to earlier fears, is still heavily involved in space travel despite the global crises, also to explicitly promote start-ups.
After all, Germany should also have a long-term interest in assuming a leading role in European space travel. This is the only way for Berlin to help shape an industry that helps Europe expand its independent access to space and thus also to key technologies. Earth observation, navigation and secure broadband internet from space are increasingly indispensable, as the Ukraine war clearly shows. Europe should be autonomous in these areas for strategic reasons.
Who wants to depend on a lone billionaire named Musk?
On the other hand, space travel must not be an end in itself, after all, Esa spends billions of euros in tax money every year. However, if the Greens prefer to retreat to climate protection goals in order to legitimize space travel, then this is not thinking enough. In order to get such satellites into space, Europe needs reliable launch vehicles. The new small rockets from the start-ups are not sufficient for this because many satellites are too heavy for them. Germany should therefore continue to participate in the development of a large, reusable rocket – whether it is now Ariane 7 or something else. This is also in line with the sustainability goal in space.
Sure it would be cheaper just one Falcon 9 to be booked with Elon Musk’s company Space-X. But who wants to make themselves dependent on a single billionaire whose economic decisions – to put it politely – can sometimes seem very erratic. Especially not in such a sensitive area, in which the security of Europe is also at stake.
But Berlin shouldn’t ignore the moon either. It’s not even primarily about the fact that German astronauts can go for a walk there at some point for a lot of tax money. There is much more at stake, namely not missing the boat, scientifically and economically. Mankind is on the eve of a new era in which the moon can even become an economic area worth billions, as financial analysts predict. Then it’s no longer just about research, but also about natural resources, for example. Despite all international cooperation: Europe should not leave this to the Americans, Russians or Chinese. Europe needs more sovereignty in space. In this respect, it is correct that Germany is now contributing to this despite many crises and, exceptionally, is not waiting a few more years.
And if ESA wants to build its own astronaut capsule at some point, which was not on the agenda this time, but is favored by ESA boss Aschbacher, then – in addition to purely strategic considerations – the advantages and disadvantages should be carefully weighed up in order to gain the confidence of the citizens not to be squandered. If Esa only wants to send two astronauts to the ISS space station every year, then NASA’s much cheaper flight option will probably suffice for the time being. However, if Europe also wants to undertake independent astronautical missions to the moon and develops a capsule that can also be used for pure cargo flights, then such a concept could even become competitive and interest other nations that are striving for space.