Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier has expressed interest in the desire of German industry for a spaceport in Germany. "Aerospace excites many people and secures thousands of jobs in Germany.We are the leader in satellite technology.Therefore, I will gladly consider the proposal of the BDI for a spaceport," said the CDU politician of the "Bild" newspaper.
The Federation of German Industries (BDI) has suggested to build its own spaceport in Germany. There should then launch small rockets, so-called micro launcher, with satellites into space. Locations would be the Rostock-Laage airports in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or Nordholz in Lower Saxony.
At its "Space Congress", the BDI called on the federal government to create the necessary conditions. "The strength of the high-tech location Germany is not reflected in the state space investment," said BDI President Dieter Kempf. "Space is central to Germany and its industry in the digital age."
Fitness of Germany unclear
Whether Germany as a location for a spaceport ever comes into question, however, is controversial. Typically, less-populated locations are preferred that provide good conditions for launch into equatorial or polar orbits. For example, France has built a spaceport in Kourou in the Overseas Territory of French Guiana, close to the Equator. Departures from remote locations require significantly more fuel. If the region is densely populated, there is also a risk of damage caused by parts that fall down during scheduled starts or by scheduled removal.
So far, there is no spaceport on the continental part of the EU, but that could change soon: Scotland plans to launch rockets into space from the A'Mhoine peninsula in County Sutherland over the next decade. The space company Virgin Galactic is currently planning a spaceport in Grottaglie in the south of Italy.
Altmaier wants to develop "space law"
In its "Berlin Space Declaration" the BDI makes next to the spaceport seven other proposals. So should be achieved that 2024 a German astronaut with the US flies to the moon. So far that was not planned.
The association also calls for a more investment-friendly legal framework and an international regime for possible space mining. In addition, the € 285 million national space and innovation program should be increased to the level of the French space budget of more than € 700 million.
Minister Altmaier announced in early 2020 the presentation of key points for a "space law". According to BDI, Germany ranks eighth in international space investment, with 0.05 percent of economic output.