Germany is preparing to increase its contribution to the European Space Agency, with officials (via Reuters) indicating that Berlin could pledge as much as €5 billion at next week's ESA conference in Bremen. The figure would represent a significant jump from the roughly €3.5 billion committed three years ago.
The move fits into a wider national strategy on space security unveiled this week, which outlines plans for up to €35 billion in long-term investment to strengthen Germany's capabilities in orbit and support new defence initiatives.
Ahead of the conference, the government is also calling for a more flexible approach within ESA, combining large flagship programmes such as the Ariane rocket with a stronger role for smaller, startup-driven projects. Berlin argues that Europe will need both scale and agility as competition intensifies, especially with renewed focus on lunar missions.