Labour Minister at NASA - Heil warned against the power of individual corporations in space
In the race for the future of space travel, German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has warned against the possible dominance of commercial companies. "There should be no dominance of individual companies," Heil says in a dpa-Video interview at NASA in Houston. During a visit to the US space agency, Heil explored trends and risks. The German labor minister's conclusion: The economy needs rules - even when it "is global or goes beyond the globe."
Elon Musk is to retrieve the ISS
"We're seeing more and more that large tech corporations are getting involved in space travel - of course, to make a profit," Heil said in his own words. In order to reduce costs, state space agencies have been working closely with private companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX for several years. NASA has contracted SpaceX to retrieve the International Space Station (ISS) from space in 2030. After more than 30 years of operation, the space station is then expected to shut down. With the help of the tech billionaire, the ISS will be controlled and guided to Earth.
Heil emphasizes cooperation
Heil himself has nothing against cooperation between the state and business in this area - this is even important. However, only international cooperation between states can provide - as the SPD politician puts it - the necessary balance of public and private interests. "You learn at NASA that the big questions of our time can only be solved in international cooperation." The ISS has been operated by NASA and the space agencies of Europe, Canada, Japan, and Russia since 1998.
NASA under pressure
"Companies are also engaged in this field for the long term to make money," says Heil. "But it's clear that there must be rules in place here." In general, the states must ensure that progress "does not become progress for a few, but progress for many." Research and potential applications on Earth should also benefit everyone.
Heil received insightful glimpses during his visit to NASA. Time and again, he had to bow his head, such as when the visitor from Berlin was led through modules of the ISS. In the NASA hall, an image of the ISS stands, where astronauts train. Besides endless control panels, monitors, and devices of all kinds, there are also plants in small boxes under yellow light, growing for research. It was particularly cramped when Heil looked into a Soyuz spacecraft. The German guest had to bend deeply to stick his head through a round hatch. Only after several minutes of intense observation did Heil reappear. He murmured, acknowledging the frugality of the astronauts: "That's bathroom and kitchen and so on."
- Despite the growing involvement of commercial companies like SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, in space travel for profit, Heil advocates for balanced cooperation between states and businesses.
- Heil commends the collaborative efforts between state space agencies and private companies, such as SpaceX, to reduce costs in space exploration.
- NASA has entrusted SpaceX with the mission to retrieve the International Space Station (ISS) from space in 2030, signifying the increasing role of private companies in space travel.
- Hubertus Heil emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in regulating the space travel industry and ensuring that progress benefits the entire world, not just a few.
- After more than 30 years of operation, the International Space Station is expected to shut down in 2030, with Elon Musk's SpaceX assisting in controlling and guiding the ISS back to Earth.
- Heil's visit to NASA provided him with valuable insights into the intricacies of space travel, including observing the cramped living conditions in Soyuz spacecrafts.
- The future of space travel is under pressure to strike a balance between the interests of commercial companies, like SpaceX, and the need for international cooperation and regulations, as advocated by Heil.
