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Germany and Japan: Space alliance for the future!
Germany is striving for a leadership role in space travel and is intensifying cooperation with Japan under Space Minister Bär.
Germany and Japan: Space alliance for the future!
What's going on in space travel right now? An exciting step for Germany and Japan is taking place these days. Space Minister Bär recently announced that Germany would like to intensify its space activities. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk she makes it clear: “We strive to take on 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, as Deutschlandfunk describes it.
The focus of the discussions is, among other things, the planned DUST-II rocket experiment. Dr. Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency, announced the signing of an agreement in Tokyo in November 2023. DUST-II is intended to experimentally recreate cosmic dust formation and thus gain new insights into 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 launch from Esrange in northern Sweden in March 2024, reports DLR.
Partnership for innovation and progress
The cooperation between Germany and Japan extends to many areas of space travel. According to the DLR, the signing of an “implementation agreement on the use of automotive components in space travel” is also expected. This is intended to support research into the application of automotive components in space and could help to accelerate the construction of space infrastructure and reduce costs.
During the discussions with Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa from the Japanese Space Agency JAXA also discussed joint projects such as the DESTINY+ space mission to the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and the reusable demonstrator “CALLISTO”. Here too, the two countries are pursuing the goal of deepening cooperation in research and science, which is what the German Ambassador in Tokyo, Dr. Hans Carl von Werthern, emphasizes: “This partnership is characterized by a high level of excellence and competence,” is the assessment of Kooperation-international.
A look into the future
The desired goals of this strategic partnership are clearly defined. The development and use of new technologies in aerospace are intended to help overcome global challenges. Comprehensive cooperation in research projects and missions will also be expanded in order to exploit synergies in German-Japanese cooperation. 18 scientific institutions from Germany and Japan are now connected in over 30 projects, including in the areas of earth observation and disaster management.
The era of space travel is changing, also due to the influence of the private sector and new emerging countries. Bär's initiative to strengthen German commitment shows that our country is more willing than ever to break new ground and seek partners around the world. The exciting developments in the partnership with Japan are just the beginning.