Offshore launch site for rockets ?: Federal government is examining space plans for the North Sea

The plans for a German spaceport in the North Sea are taking on more and more concrete forms. The Federal Ministry of Economics is examining a corresponding concept that provides for the launching of mini-missiles. The first launch may already take place at the end of 2021.

Small, light launch vehicles could soon take off in the North Sea. No Cape Canaveral, no Kourou and no Baikonur – but it should be a special ship with a launch pad. Starting position: about 460 kilometers from Bremerhaven. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is examining a concept from the Federation of German Industries (BDI). "These are not short-term ideas that emerged from the green table. This paper contains a well thought-out and implementable plan," Matthias Wachter is certain. The BDI department head for security, raw materials and space travel refers to the foreseeable demand for start opportunities.

In Germany, three companies are working meticulously on their own microlaunchers that are supposed to send smaller satellites into space the size of a fridge or even a shoebox: the Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace and Hylmpulse, which belongs to the OHB Group. All three gave input for the "concept study and cost analysis for a mobile launching platform in the German foreign trade zone (EEZ)" in the North Sea.

The plans are likely to result in a converted ship on which the 20 to 30 meter long rockets will be brought from the planned base and logistics port of Bremerhaven to the starting position in the far west of the German foreign trade zone. It is about enabling seamless mobile Internet via small satellite constellations. The transit route is around 460 kilometers long. On-site water depth: 30 to 60 meters.

"Starting places at sea have the great advantage that they mean fewer risks for people and material," said OHB boss Marco Fuchs. "But there are also challenges on the North Sea: air traffic, shipping, environmental and nature protection, other commercial users such as offshore wind farms."

The satellites are getting smaller and smaller due to miniaturization. According to the BDI paper, this also changes the need for launch vehicles. And further: "Consulting firms estimate that 9,938 satellites (approx. 1104 per year) will be launched into space by 2028, of which 86 percent will be small satellites." For many commercial applications, even the smallest satellites weighing between one and ten kilograms are sufficient.

Ministry of Economic Affairs checks launch platform

The Federal Ministry of Economics is examining the proposal with the involvement of other departments concerned, it said in Berlin on the state of affairs. "The BMWi is also in close contact with the German space industry and the associations. We are therefore not yet able to give an exact schedule for the test." Participation by the federal government is essential for the implementation and approval of the launch platform.

"For the federal government, the risk would be very low in the event of support. It is not about a gold-rimmed solution. We calculate very conservatively. The federal government should neither buy nor operate or convert the platform," said Wachter. However, it is about a grant from the federal government in the start-up phase. This would be between 22.2 and 29.7 million euros over six years, which would amount to between 3.7 and around 5 million per year.

Start possibly at the end of 2021

Platform operators would not be the rocket manufacturers, but one or more companies with maritime expertise. The plans are specific. The rockets would be loaded onto the ship in the port and brought to the launch position lying down in 21 to 26 hours. There the ramp would be in position, the rocket would be refueled, and everyone would leave the platform. The launch and control were carried out from a second ship three kilometers away. Then lead the ship back. Price per start: around 600,000 euros. The start cycle – loading, transit, start, return trip – is initially estimated at 15 days.

The BDI has no preference for the base port, but Bremerhaven has good chances. "Technically, 25 starts per year are possible. We hope, however, that there will be more in the future. If politicians give the go-ahead, the first start could take place at the end of 2021," said Wachter.

The OHB headquarters are not quite as optimistic. OHB boss Fuchs expects there to be "a few dozen starts" each year for the Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and its microlauncher in the one-tonne payload class alone. They are also very interested in a platform in the North Sea. But OHB is planning the first launch of the "RFA ONE" at the end of 2022 on the island of Andøya in northern Norway. Fuchs: "We are now starting in Norway for the first time and, of course, our aim is to get that out of Germany. Everyone who builds rockets needs launch pads."

. (tagsToTranslate) economy (t) offshore launch site (t) rockets (t) federal government (t) space plans (t) North Sea