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| The History of German Space Policy. Ideas, Influences, and Interdependence 1923–2002 | Buy a book...
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| Author(s): | N. Reinke (translated by B. Smerin and B. Wilson) |
| Publisher: | Beauchesne Éditeur |
| ISBN: | 9782701015125 |
| Format: | softback |
| 562pp | |
| Price: | €93 |
| Review Date: | 25 March 2008 |
| Review: | Here Niklas Reinke identifies and systematically analyses the political players and decision-making processes involved in the management of German space activities, the international context of those activities, and the specific German projects undertaken, from 1923 to 2002. The book is arranged chronologically in five chapters. Chapter 1 goes up to 1955, looking at the pioneering era of German rocketry and how it was hijacked by the Nazi regime. Chapter 2, looks at 1955–1968, when the basis was laid for the foundation of the first European space organisations and the first German national space programme was adopted. From 1969 to 1982 the European space institutions had problems and the countries of Western Europe combined programmes, the Germans increasingly integrating their national space programmes into this unified space organisation. From 1982 to 1990 the Cold War brought increasing tensions, with the US pushing for tighter bonds with Europe. The last chapter looks at 1990–2002: following German reunification the whole international space environment abruptly changed, with budgetry obligations to the new Länder, as well as the integration of the GDR into the research programme. There were also new opportunities within the EU. |