Statement by Ambassador Rüdiger Lüdeking, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Office of the United Nations and to other International Organizations, Vienna
Germany 6 February 2012
Statement
by Ambassador Rüdiger Lüdeking
at the 49th Session of the Copuos Scientific-Technical Subcommittee
Vienna,6 - 17 February 2012
Item 4: General exchange of views
Mr. Chairman,
All of us are aware that nowadays life is barely conceivable without space technologies. They are amongst the key technologies of our modern knowledge-based society. In line with this, the particular significance of space for Germany has been reflected in an increase in the fiscal budget in this area. In 2012, there will be 1.2 billion euros available, of which 724 million euros have been allocated to ESA for the programmes Germany has signed.
Building on the German space strategy of 2010, one of our top priorities is to develop operational services that are based on space activities. In this respect, the two EU-flagship programmes, Galileo and the Global Monitoring on Environment and Security (GMES), are of special importance to us. We believe that GMES, in particular, could also be of high interest to the United Nations. GMES Services are designed to support major UN programmes, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, to name just three. Moreover, the GMES Emergency Management Service has already contributed to the activities of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Germany is the largest contributor to the GMES programme. We consider GMES a major contribution to the Global Earth Observing System of Systems, GEOSS. Even in times of financial constraint, the provision of adequate funds for GMES should not be put at risk, meaning GMES can be fully operational, as initially foreseen. In this context, we should mention that UN SPIDER with its offices in Bonn, Beijing and its project headquarter here in Vienna plays a vital role in disaster management.
This brings me to the European Union and the Galileo system. We were pleased to note that on October 21 2011, two Galileo satellites were successfully launched from the European space port Kourou in French Guiana. This was the first flight of the adapted Russial Soyuz carrier from Kourou. And we welcome that the next two satellites which are to be built by the German company OHB are to follow this year.
Mr. Chairman,
The proper functioning of the ISS is another area of great importance for Germany. One major task concerns the logistics – the basis for the outstanding scientific work done by the astronauts. The ATV-2, “Johannes Kepler”, was successfully launched with an Ariane rocket last year and carried supplies for the station and the astronauts. These Automated Transfer Vehicles are mainly built in Germany. With the autonomous docking, ATV-2 again proved manoeuvrability of exceptionally brilliant precison. The third ATV has already arrived in Kourou to be prepared for a launch with Ariane towards the end of this month.
Although we are glad that ATVs will secure the supply for the ISS, the end of the Shuttle flights to the ISS marked a turning point. Germany appreciates the excellent results of 20 years of Space Shuttle operation. ISS would not exist without the Space Shuttle missions. We are very grateful to the United States of America for the long standing co-operation in Human Spaceflight - especially the German Missions D1 and D2 utilising US Shuttles - and also for their work in the building up of the ISS. The ISS is not only an orbital experimental laboratory; the ISS also is a symbol for worldwide international co-operation and the endeavours of human beings to pioneer new frontiers of knowledge.
Mr. Chairman,
Germany remains committed to strengthening international co-operation. On this 1 November last year represents a special date for Germany and as well for the People’s Republic of China. Germany would like to congratulate China for the succesful launch of Shenzhou-8. On board was the German SIMBOX experimental facility containing 17 biomedical experiments, which were conducted by German and Chinese scientists. This was the first time that China had co-operated with another nation when using Shenzhou - the core of its human spaceflight programme. Germany greatly appreciates this partnership.
In November 1971, Germany and Brazil signed a governmental co-operation agreement. This was the basis for establishing successful and sustained co-operation in space and aeronautic research. Sounding rocket campaigns represent one of the greatest fields of co-operation and provided many scientists with opportunities to conduct experiments in different research areas. Today, after 40 years of successful co-operation, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our Brazilian partners. We are confident that we will be able to jointly tackle future challenges using space technologies.
Mr. Chairman,
Space-based research remains at the core of the German space programme. Space projects create opportunities for basic research that are entirely new. We are finding answers to questions about our existence and position in the universe. We are reviewing basic laws and theories in natural science, and we are even discovering completely new phenomena. Space flight is the gateway to understanding the universe. And it is an area where global cooperation is functioning and is doing so effectively. It is a reminder that mankind must join forces to meet the challenges confronting us. This holds true not only for space. As we have learnt in other areas of international relations national solo efforts only lead into dead and streets.