What Germany got right (and wrong) in its first ever space strategy

Germany’s first national space security strategy was unveiled last month to much fanfare. And who’s surprised? It was long overdue, and puts into plain language a simple but vital truth: space is now a theatre of power. With Russia and China long having treated orbit as contested territory, and the United States preparing daily for a potential conflict in space, Europe must get moving — and Germany seems willing to lead the way. The strategy sets a direction of travel, and that isn’t to be dismissed. But its success will depend on whether policy keeps pace with technology, whether industry is empowered to move with the speed that space demands and whether old habits are cast off, or die hard.