OHB Board Member Sabine von der Recke stated that Germany will invest 35 billion euros by 2030 to increase the security infrastructure in space and said, "Space is a growing and important area in terms of security in the future. We also need to make sure that we can defend ourselves, so it is a very necessary investment." he said.
The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), of which Anadolu Agency is the "Global Communication Partner", is being held at Antalya NEST Congress Center, under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and SAHA Istanbul.
Recke, Board Member of the space and technology company OHB, who is in the German pavilion within the scope of IAC 2026, said in his evaluation to the AA correspondent that the congress is important for the space ecosystem.
Noting that OHB is a European and German-based space company, Recke said, "We do everything, including the design and development of space programs, all kinds of satellites and spacecraft. We develop our own launchers. We have a company that produces parts for Ariane 6 rockets, but we also do operations, cyber security, downstream, that is, everything related to space." he said.
Emphasizing that they have been one of the companies that have been contributing to the German space ecosystem for 45 years, Recke stated that they have proven themselves as one of the key players of the German space ecosystem as they take part in many different missions in the national space program and in the European Space Agency (ESA) programs.
"During the next 5-10 years, the focus will be on military space infrastructure"
Recke stated that Germany will invest 35 billion euros by 2030 to increase its security infrastructure in space, and stated that this space investment is for Germany's military space infrastructure.
Pointing out that Germany had not invested much in the field of space in the past, Recke said, "To put it positively, now is a good time to start investing. Because we can now develop modern and new programs. From my perspective, it is necessary to do this because we must make sure that our armed forces are ready for everything in the future. Space is also a growing and important area in terms of security in the future. We also need to make sure that we can defend ourselves, so I think it is a very necessary investment." he said.
Drawing attention to the project they developed with the aim of establishing a port on the Moon, Recke said that humanity will return to the Moon and the Moon's surface.
Stating that humanity has shown that it can do this with the Apollo missions, Recke said, "Now is the time to go there again and stay, and for this reason, we think it is very important to have a basic infrastructure. If you go to a new place, if you discover a new land, the first thing people usually do is to build a port, so that you have a place to come back. This is something we need on the Moon, too, and that is why we think the 'Moon Port is something that can bring together all the stakeholders who want to go to the Moon. Building a logistics center and making it a reality for Europe." "We think it's very well positioned for that." he said.
Noting that the focus will be on military space infrastructure in the next 5-10 years, Recke said that what will come after the International Space Station (ISS) is something everyone is considering.
Pointing out that how space will remain a growing economic sector in the future and how values will be established are important points, Recke added that ensuring space is accessible to everyone and cooperation in space are very important for the future.
