The German Government has approved German participation in the International Space Station (ISS)programme.
According to Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa), the move amounts to national confirmation of a commitment made jointly by the participating nations in the original agreement to proceed with the ISS, signed earlier in Washington DC.
Germany is putting DM2.5 billion ($1.3 billion) into the European part of the programme. Assembly of the station in space is due to begin this year with the launch of the Russian Functional Cargo Block and the US Node 1.
Germany's 41% stake in the European part of the ISS makes it the leading European Space Agency (ESA) participant in the programme. Dasahas already received a contract from ESA for the construction of the Columbus module of the station.
The first Dasa component to be launched will be the data management system fitted to the Russian Service Module, due to be placed in orbit this year, although this part of the station is subject to delays .
The approval by the German Government comes against the background of new NASA deliberations over whether to keep Russia in the programme.
Source: Flight International
