The Federal Government intends to grant the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) extensive access rights to private space activities through a new Space Act. This is outlined in a draft proposal from the Federal Ministry of Research, as reported by Politico.
According to the draft, the Bundeswehr will be permitted to request services from private space actors, provided that such requests are necessary for defense purposes-particularly for averting a danger that threatens the integrity of the Federal state from outside. The draft stipulates that this access must be restricted to the “absolutely essential measure.” If such access is utilized, private companies are entitled to “market-appropriate compensation, but at least compensation covering costs plus a reasonable profit margin.” This scope includes data and reconnaissance imagery supplied by satellites.
The draft legislation is based on the main principles published by the “traffic light” coalition government in September 2024. Although the initial planning included a similar access claim for civil defense and other security agencies, the current draft limits this scope exclusively to the Bundeswehr administration.
Furthermore, the proposal details how a single responsible authority would supervise space activities and launch facilities. This authority would possess powers such as temporarily taking control of an object in space, or prohibiting the operation of a launch facility or the execution of a space activity. Satellites, for instance, are classified as objects in space under this purview. However, the identification of which specific body will be responsible for the approval, monitoring, and enforcement of non-state activities remains undecided.
The Space Act is intended to establish the first binding legal framework for private space endeavors in Germany, though it will not apply to state-run space activities. The legislation is currently undergoing inter-departmental consultation and is scheduled, according to current plans, for Cabinet approval in October.
