Europe as a Leader in the New Space Age – Germany’s pivotal role in transforming Space
- Paper number
IAC-17,E6,IP,5,x39783
- Author
Mr. Daniel Sagath, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Kilian Siara, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Dr. Elco van Burg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Dr. Christina Giannopapa, European Space Agency (ESA), France
- Year
2017
- Abstract
The space sector has been undergoing a transformation as new companies have entered the scene to make space endeavors a business case, where recently commercial space products and services as well as commercial infrastructures and support industries grew from around 155 Billion US Dollar in 2013, then 50% of global space activities, to 246 Billion US Dollar in 2015, representing 76% of Global Space Activity. With the famous examples of SpaceX, Blue Origin, Bigelow Aerospace, OneWeb, Virgin Galactic of Planetary resources, this development is largely considered a US trend. Nevertheless, governments in Europe have noticed the changing landscape and have put forward a series of initiatives to bring about New Space or Space 4.0 as the European Space Agency names it. In the recent ESA Council at Ministerial Level in Lucerne 2016 the Member States mandated the Director General to align space activities closer with citizen needs. Thus the European Space Agency is bandwagoning and aims at championing the trend of commercialization and New Space to lead Europe into the new Space Age. With such visibility at European Level, New Space will gain momentum through ESA’s efforts, but some of its Member States have already been very active and ESA’s position can be seen as a direct consequence of Member States changing priorities in space. This paper seeks to describe the efforts that are going on within Europe, which will have a profound impact on global space activities. It will describe some of the crucial changing patterns of administrative responsibilities within the Member States as well as the strategic aims of the main European space nations (Germany, France, Italy, and United Kingdom). To better understand, how Europe seeks to change its space landscape, Germany’s initiatives at national and European level are going to be analyzed to show the basic transformation that nation’s trigger in Europe’s efforts for Space 4.0.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-17,E6,IP,5,x39783.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.