From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3969920.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 30.9.2009

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 001207 
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/MDSP DICK BUENNEKE NSC FOR PETER MARQUEZ 
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 09/30/2034
TAGS: ETTC, PGOV, PINR, MCAP, PREL, TSPA, GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN SPACE AGENCY SEEKING USG SUPPORT ON OPTICAL
SATELLITE COOPERATION 
REF: 
A. BERLIN 1116 B. BERLIN 1080 C. BERLIN 1049 D. BERLIN 765 E. BERLIN 601
F. BERLIN 561 G. BERLIN 181 H. 08 BERLIN 1575 
Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don L. Brown
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 

1. (U)
THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 9. 

2. (C)
SUMMARY: Officials from the German Space Agency (DLR)
informally requested feedback regarding USG support for a
US/German commercial partnership on Germanys High Resolution
Optical Satellite (HiROS) imaging reconnaissance system.
Assuming funding for HiROS will be approved this November, DLR
is planning to begin construction of three HiROS satellites in
January. DLR, a strong advocate for a HiROS partnership with
US industry, said it could add an X-band transceiver dedicated
for a US customer (ensuring secure and private tasking).
However, DLR noted that Germany first needs some kind of
near-term indication of support from the USG. They said that
if provisions for an X-band antenna are not made within the
next couple of months, this option would likely not be
possible due to the systems aggressive project development
plan. END SUMMARY

3. (C)
On September 23, ISN/MDSP Deputy Director for Space Policy and
EconOff met with DLR Program Director for Space, Dr. Hubert
Reile, and Dr. Andreas Eckardt, Head of Optical Sensors and
Electronics, to discuss opportunities for US/German
cooperation on satellite programs. The meeting was organized
by officials from the Friedrichshafen branch of EADS Astrium
and DLR. DLRs two primary objectives for this meeting were to
float the idea of combining the military aspects of the GPS
and Galileo Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems
under the framework of NATO (reporting SEPTEL) and to solicit
USG support for cooperation on HiROS.

GERMAN ELECTION RESULTS A GOOD SIGN FOR HIROS 
--------------------------------------------- 

4. (C)
Eckardt anticipated that an official decision by the German
government to fund HiROS would be made by mid-November and
that its "primary customer" is adamant that construction begin
in January 2010 with a planned deployment in 2013. (COMMENT:
With the German general elections now in the rear view mirror,
the new CDU/CSU coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP)
will likely solidify political support for HiROS. The "primary
customer" referred to by Eckardt is the German intelligence
service (BND). END COMMENT) Eckardt predicted that the only
thing that could derail HiROS at this point is if the German
government is unable to finance the project due to constraints
imposed by the financial crisis, adding his opinion that this
is not likely.

DLRS VIEW OF HOW HIROS COOPERATION WOULD WORK 
----------------------------------------------

5. (C)
Eckardt hoped that US and German interests would each purchase
a set of three HiROS satellites, creating a combined
six-satellite constellation. Each party would have primary
tasking on its own set, and that excess capacity would be made
available to the other party. Astrium plans on selling unused
capacity in the German set commercially via its data provider
InfoTerra. Eckardt said the BND only anticipates needing about
30 percent of the German systems capacity and explained that
the remaining 70 percent could be available for US customers.
With a six-satellite constellation, Eckardt estimated the
revisit time would be about every 5-8

BERLIN 00001207 002 OF 002

hours, depending on the constellation geometry and the
location of the imaged area.

DLR TO THE USG - DONT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 

6. (C)
Eckardt emphasized the importance of early feedback from the
USG regarding its interest in commercial cooperation on HiROS
if DLR is to incorporate the specialized tasking/downlink
hooks that would be needed for US customers. Germany will use
a separate L-band receiver to accommodate its own needs.
Eckardt said DLR is not inclined to invest resources into an
X-band capability unless assurance of support is given by the
USG.

7. (C)
Eckardt noted the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on HiROS
that DLR has with Digital Globe (DG) and that DLR would sign
an MOU with Lockheed Martin on September 30. He downplayed any
conflict of interest working with two US firms concurrently,
noting that DG is focused on the optical capabilities of
HiROS, while Lockheed Martin is primarily interested in HiROSs
infrared capabilities.

BUT WAIT, THERES MORE -- REAL TIME 3D DATA PROCESSING 
------------------------------------------------------ 

8. (C)
Eckardt said that DLR is making considerable progress in
processing optical satellite data into three-dimensional (3D)
models, with a goal of doing this in real time (RT) within the
next 3-5 years. He described DLR,s rapid technical progress in
reducing processing time, from about an hour six-months ago to
30 minutes today. According to Eckardt, the next steps will be
to create RT-3D models using radar, infrared and
multi-spectral data sources. Once this is mastered, DLR will
seek to fuse all imagery data together into one master 3D
model.

ACTION REQUEST
-------------- 

9. (SBU)
Post requests Department guidance in responding to the German
request in paragraph 6
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