Feature

Daniel Sacotte


Daniel Sacotte
 
Daniel Sacotte, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes
 
 
In November 2004 Daniel Sacotte became Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes (D/HME) after having been Director of Administration at ESA from June 1997 until March 2004 and Director of Exploration from April to October 2004.
 
After graduating he obtained a scholarship to study at the CNRS Stellar and Planetary Physics Laboratory in France. After completing his studies, his first post was as an engineer with the Space Programmes Directorate of the French National Space Centre (CNES) in 1973.

He went on to hold a number of positions with CNES in the fields of astronomy, microgravity and human spaceflight before becoming technical advisor to the then French Minister of Research and Technology, M. Curien, in 1984. In 1988 he was asked to become Deputy Director of M. Curien’s Cabinet.

On his return to CNES in 1989 Daniel Sacotte held a variety of posts before finally leaving to join ESA. These included Director of International and Industrial Affairs, Deputy Director General responsible for Strategy and Advisor to the Chairman, and finally Deputy Director General at CNES for Personnel, Administration and Establishments.

Even before joining ESA as Director of Administration Daniel Sacotte was familiar with the Agency as he had been the French Representative on the Science Programme Committee, Chairman of the Columbus Programme Board, Chairman of the Industrial Policy Committee, Council Delegate and member of ESA’s Long-term Policy Committee.

Daniel Sacotte is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Academy of Astronautics and President of REMIFOR (Réseau euro-méditerranéen d’information et de formation à la gestion des risques). He has also been awarded the French Légion d’Honneur and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.
 
 
 
Last update: 22 February 2007