The new space centre in Germany will primarily monitor outer space and collect data on possible threats against satellites. It is also possible that in the future the space centre will become a command and control centre for defence
According to DW, citing the news agency dpa and the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, the defence ministers of the 30 NATO member states are preparing to announce plans for a new space centre at Ramstein Airbase in Rhineland-Palatinate.
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, he expects the plans for the space centre to be agreed upon by 21 October. At the same time, he once again warned against attempts to militarise space.
“Satellite systems are used in the world to a degree that many people can hardly imagine. Trade, weather forecasts, mobile communications and bank transfers – we rely on satellites in all these areas. Space is also an important area for NATO, given our ability to navigate, collect intelligence, communicate and track missile launches”, – Stoltenberg told DW. – “It is therefore important that the alliance has a good idea of what is happening in space, that we have reliable access to space services and that the alliance makes the most of its technical capabilities.”