Family picture

A ‘family photograph’ of the principal dignitaries who attended the celebrations marking 50 years of European cooperation in space, at ESAC, ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre, Madrid, Spain. 

In the front row, from left: Carmen Vela, Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation; Alvaro Giménez, ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration and Head of ESAC; Pedro Duque, ESA astronaut; Jean-Jaques Dordain, Director General of ESA; Mariano Rajoy, President of the Government of Spain; José Manuel Soria, Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism; Luis Partida, Mayor of Villanueva de la Cañada; Jorge Moragas, Director of the Cabinet for the Governmental Presidency; Pedro Argüelles, Secretary of State for Defence. 

In the back row, from left: Antón Cuadrado, Director General of Airbus Space Systems España; María Luisa Poncela, Secretary General of Science, Technology and Innovation; Begoña Cristeto, Secretary General of Industry and SMEs; Adolfo Menéndez, President of the Spanish Industry Association; Andrés Sendagorta, Vice-President of SENER.