Space Symposium 2025 | Dr. Walther Pelzer on Germany’s Space Power Move скачать в хорошем качестве

Space Symposium 2025 | Dr. Walther Pelzer on Germany’s Space Power Move

On the final day of the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Torsten Kriening had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR, directly from the DLR booth. Our discussion touched on some of the most critical developments shaping space policy, cooperation, and industry momentum — both globally and back home in Germany. Takeaways from the Symposium: Despite uncertainties around programs like Artemis and NASA’s Moon-to-Mars architecture, the U.S. messaging this year strongly reaffirmed international cooperation and teamwork — a refreshing and encouraging tone that resonates well with Germany’s continued role as a reliable transatlantic partner. Germany’s Artemis Commitment: “We are fully committed to our obligations and will ensure that our contributions to international programs like Artemis are guaranteed.” On Inspiring the Next Generation: Dr. Pelzer emphasized the importance of Artemis in motivating youth to pursue STEM fields — a sentiment he captured perfectly: “We can’t crash — because we would crash the Artemis Generation.” A Political Milestone in Germany: Back home, we witnessed a major step: the formation of a new government coalition — and the creation of a ministry with space in its name. “It’s a symbolic and strategic win — space is now visibly anchored at the ministerial level. That puts us ahead of even countries like France, Japan, and Italy.” Looking ahead, the hope is that this political recognition will be matched with real tools to: • Accelerate the German space ecosystem • Empower both startups and established players • Deepen international cooperation in science and industry As the world moves fast, Germany is stepping up — with a clearer voice, stronger commitment, and new opportunities ahead.