ESA - ESA history - ESRO Director Generals

Welcome to ESA History of Europe in space ELDO/ESRO/ESA:
Key dates 1960-2012

Key figures

European space pioneers Past Directors General of ESA

ESRO Directors General

ELDO Secretaries General Chairs of ELDO/ESRO/ESA Council

ESA History Project

The History of the European Space Agency Space history on the web Further reading on European space history

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ESA Bulletin: The ESA History Project History Study Reports A History of the European Space Agency, Volume I:
The story of ESRO and ELDO, 1958-1973 (pdf)A History of the European Space Agency, Volume II:
The story of ESA, 1973-1987 (pdf)

Overview

ESRO Director Generals

ESA was created from two different agencies set up in the 1960s, the European Launch Development Organisation (ELDO) and the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO).

Pierre Auger

Pierre Auger was the first Director General of ESRO, serving from 1964 until 1967. He passed away in 1993.

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Herman Bondi

Sir Hermann Bondi, an Austrian-born British mathematician and cosmologist, was the second Director General of ESRO, serving from 1967 until 1971. He passed away in 2005.

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Alexander Hocker

Alexander Hocker was the third Director General of ESRO, from 1971 to 1974, so being involved in one of the most turbulent periods in the European space effort. He passed away in 1996.

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Roy Gibson

Roy Gibson was a Director General of ESRO, and the first Director General of ESA, serving from 1975 until 1980.

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Last update: 16 July 2009

Past Directors General of ESA

Roy Gibson Erik Quistgaard Reimar Lüst Jean-Marie Luton Antonio Rodotà

ESRO Directors General

Pierre Auger Herman Bondi Alexander Hocker Roy Gibson

ELDO Secretaries General

Renzo Carrobio di Carrobio Robert Aubinière George Van Reeth