posted 01-08-2008 12:03 AM               

by Niklas Reinke, translated by Barry Smerin and Barbara Wilson
ISBN: 9-782-7010-1512-5
Nb of Pages: 562
Year: 2008

The history of German space policy is also to a large extent the history of European activities in space. Niklas Reinke's book describes for the first time the concepts, the influencing factors and the interdependencies that had an impact on Germany's post-war programme in space.

The author describes very clearly why Germany had such difficulty in establishing a coherent space policy, compared for instance with France or other European countries, not to mention the USA. There was the historical background with Peenemünde, there was the political obligation of the transatlantic partnership, and there was the drive for European cooperation, in particular with France.

The book provides a fascinating in-depth look into the different phases of space activities in Germany over the years, and to a large extent also those in Europe, at the personalities involved and at the numerous projects carried out within the national programme or as bilateral programmes with the US and France, or of course, through European cooperation.