Germany and Japan: space alliance for the future!

Germany and Japan: space alliance for the future!

What's going on in space travel? An exciting step for Germany and Japan takes place these days. Space Minister Bär recently announced that Germany wants to intensify its activities in the area of ​​space travel. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, she makes it clear: "We strive to take a leadership role internationally." A large part of this strategy lies in strengthening the partnership with Japan, a country that has proven to be an important ally. Bär accompany Federal President Steinmeier on his three-day trip to Japan to further advance this cooperation, such as [Deutschlandfunk] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/forschungsminmintin-baer-Deutschland-will-Führungsrolle-aufen-auf-auf-partnerschaft-mit-100.html). The focus of the meetings is the planned rocket experiment Dust-II. Dr. Walther Pelzer, General Director of the German Space Agency, already informed about the signing of an agreement in Tokyo in November 2023. Dust-II is intended to experimentally re-enact cosmic dust formation and thus gain new knowledge about planet formation in the early solar system. This project represents a continuation and expansion of the previous Dust I project and is part of the "Maser-16/Suborbital Express-4" mission, which is expected to start by Esrange in Northern Sweden in March 2024 [DLR] (https://www.dlr.de/de/aktuelles/nachrichten/2023/04/staerkung-der-deutsch-japanischen-s-

partnership for innovation and progress

The cooperation between Germany and Japan extends over many areas of space travel. According to the DLR, the signing of a "implementation agreement on the use of automotive components in space travel" is also expected. This is intended to serve research on the use of automotive components in space and could help accelerate the construction of space -driving infrastructures and reduce costs.

As part of the conversations with Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa from the Japanese space agency Jaxa have also been discussed joint projects such as the Destiny+ space mission to the 3200 Phaeton Asteroid Mission and the reusable demonstrator "Callisto". Here, too, the two countries pursue the goal of deepening cooperation in research and science, what the German ambassador in Tokyo, Dr. Hans Carl von Werthern emphasizes: "This partnership is characterized by high excellence and competence", according to the assessment of Cooperation International.

A look into the future

The aim of this strategic partnership is clearly outlined. The development and use of new technologies in aerospace should help to overcome global challenges. The extensive cooperation in research projects and missions is also expanded to open up synergies in German-Japanese cooperation. In over 30 projects, 18 scientific institutions from Germany and Japan are now connected, including in the areas of earth observation and disaster management.

The era of space travel changes, also by the influence of the private sector and the new emerging countries. Bär's initiative to strengthen German engagement shows that our country is more willing to break new ground than ever and to look for partners around the world. The exciting developments in the partnership with Japan are only the beginning.