Robert Lainé

My first job was in Finland as I received an offer to work on electronic light dimmers and thermostats while still at university. My first introduction to working in the space industry came when I began working for a company that made the magnetic recorders for satellites for ESRO, ESA’s predecessor.

I have held various positions in ESA, starting as an engineer in charge of the technological development of EXOSAT telescopes and X-ray detectors, and then going on to become the Head of the Systems Section of the GIOTTO project, the European spacecraft that encountered Halley’s comet in 1986.

However in 1984 I had a break in my career with ESA as I left to work for Alcatel. At that point in time I wanted to work in a different field and to learn more about the telecommunications satellites industry, which is a very competitive environment. At Alcatel I became known as a problem fixer and in 1992 I was asked to return to ESA to work on the XMM X-ray observatory facility, which at the time was experiencing some teething troubles.

I started my present job as the project manager for the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle in 2000. When this is launched in 2004 it will be used to take supplies to the International Space Station. The ESA ATV team works very closely with EADS, the prime contractor responsible for building the ATV satellite and as their factory is at ‘les Mureaux’ close to Paris, we are also based there.

I enjoy solving problems and all satellite projects have some problems; not because they are bad but because each project introduces something new which has to be worked on before the project can go ahead. As ATV is still in the design stage there is still much to do before it is launched in September 2004.

Working here is enjoyable because I like interacting with people from different nationalities and cultures, and from different work backgrounds like engineering (mechanical, electrical, computer…), human resources, contracts, finances, etc. I also like participating in the promotion of European science and technology with our public relation staff.

My advice to anyone wanting to work at ESA is that you should be an idealist if you want to work on a space project, as these are very long-term projects and it can take years to see results. It is also a big advantage to have worked in a production industry as this is far more hands on than ESA. In many ways ESA is a very elite community, but that can mean that you become detached from reality if you don’t have an industrial background. If you do have an industrial background and work at ESA then you have the best of both worlds.