Germany and Norway are planning to intensify cooperation to help make European space travel more independent, the two countries’ leaders affirmed during a visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday.
“We have relied on other launch systems and other nations in the world for far too long,” Merz said during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on a visit to the Norwegian spaceport on the island of Andøya, 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
“Now is Europe’s moment.”
The two leaders announced the formation of a strategic working group consisting of government and industry representatives to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation.
“The group will work on proposals for specific projects, with timetables and possible links to the EU and NATO frameworks,” Støre said.
The Norwegian leader stressed that space exploration is an increasingly important field in which the two countries complement one another.
“Germany has a broad industrial base – and here in Norway we have the technology, established research fields and a unique strategic geographical location,” he said.
Merz arrived in Norway on Thursday for a two-day visit, including to the Andøya Spaceport in Andenes, from where more than 700 research rockets and balloons have been launched since 1962.
In the coming days, the Spectrum rocket, which is designed by German startup company Isar Aerospace to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit, is due to undergo testing there.