Germany informs Trump: no moon landing without European technology.

      Germany’s space minister has informed Washington that American lunar missions rely on European-made equipment, specifically referencing the Orion spacecraft’s European Service Module constructed in Bremen. Her comments come amid a growing transatlantic technology conflict over AI export regulations and EU sovereignty initiatives.

      In an interview with Politico at the VivaTech trade fair in Paris, Dorothee Bär emphasized that Europe supplies “critical key technologies” essential for U.S. space programs, stating firmly: “Without us, it cannot be done.”

      This assertion is backed by facts, as NASA calls the European Service Module the “powerhouse” of the Orion spacecraft, which provides electricity, propulsion, thermal management, air, and water for the capsule that took astronauts around the moon during this year’s Artemis II mission.

      Constructed in Bremen by Airbus under a European Space Agency contract, the European Service Module incorporates parts from 13 ESA member nations and over 100 suppliers. Bär asserted to Politico, “Without the European Service Module, the United States would not be able to fly to the moon.”

      Additionally, the German company Jena-Optronik manufactures the star trackers that help Orion ascertain its orientation in space. These sensors analyze images of the star field against an onboard catalogue, enabling the spacecraft's navigation system to adjust its trajectory, as noted by NASA.

      Bär’s comments coincide with a widening dispute over technology control between the transatlantic partners. Last week, the U.S. directed Anthropic to deactivate its two most advanced AI models for all global users after national security concerns were raised by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, abruptly cutting off European clients.

      This action strengthened the European Commission’s efforts for technological sovereignty, which had already led to a comprehensive proposal on June 3 for new cloud restrictions, a revised Chips Act, and strategies to diminish the bloc's reliance on American companies. Currently, the EU depends on non-European nations for more than 80% of crucial digital products and services, according to the Commission.

      The geopolitical context adds urgency to the situation, as Bär cautioned that “a strong alliance is forming on the other side,” comprising Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. She expressed her desire not to see these nations prevail in the space race, though she did not elaborate on the specifics of this space alliance.

      On the U.S. front, major private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are leading advancements. Jeff Bezos shared with VivaTech attendees on Wednesday that there is an “insatiable” demand for launches, and Blue Origin already has a significant backlog, with CEO David Limp indicating plans for another flight by the end of 2026.

      Bär directed her most pointed criticism at the EU’s regulatory goals, questioning the necessity of the proposed EU Space Act introduced in June 2025 and asking: “Do we really need yet another Act?” Germany has opposed the proposal, and the U.S. administration has warned of retaliation if the regulations disproportionately affect American companies. FCC chair Brendan Carr has indicated potential new regulatory challenges for European firms if the act is enacted as is.

      “We want to reduce bureaucracy. Yet at the same time we continue creating new requirements,” Bär observed.

      The struggle between competitiveness and regulation has characterized European tech policy over the past year, and the space industry is now involved in this ongoing discussion. The German government is developing a national space law intended to facilitate quicker technology deployment, signaling Berlin's preference for domestic deregulation over Brussels-led policies.

      Europe has faced challenges in keeping up with the U.S. and China in the commercial space sector. Bär's remarks reframe the dialogue: While Europe may not have its own SpaceX, the equipment that transports Americans to the moon is still marked “Made in Germany.”