Faces of Ariane 6: Fabienne

It takes thousands of people to design, develop, build and operate a complete launch system to the stars. Here we highlight the people from all over Europe working on space transportation to ensure access to benefits of the wider Universe.

What is your name and role?

My name is Fabienne Ramiandrasoa and I am part of the Ariane 6 Launch System Architect team, as assembly, integration and verification manager.

How long have you been involved in space transport and what are your tasks?

I started at Space Transportation at ESA in 2018. In the Ariane 6 launch system architect team I have a few roles and responsibilities, like many of the team at Ariane 6 we are polyvalent!

I am in charge of what is called the Launcher System / Launch Base Interface Control Document. This document supplies proof that the Ariane 6 launch base and the Ariane 6 launcher system interact properly when they are put together. As a reminder the launchpad is designed and built by France’s space agency CNES, while the rocket itself is designed and built by ArianeGroup, it is our task, as ESA Launch System Architect to ensure the two enormous projects in their own right, work together perfectly. The work is a lot of formalisation of standards to guarantee the interfaces work coherently as one for launch. The document is around 6000 pages and we started in 2018 from with a blank word document.

So, my job is to steer the completion of this document that is used for both testing and actual launches. I am assisted by colleagues in our team and in particular the specialists in their specific domains. I prepare the formal board with the launch base and launcher representatives.

I am also in charge of synthetising the Ariane 6 launch system verification and validation logic based mainly on the results from our combined test campaigns. Every test contributes to verify requirements and to validate a specific function. For each test, we have hundreds of objectives. It is a part of my job to collect and keep the status of all those test objectives.

What is your educational background and prior work experience? How did you come to work on space transportation?

I am a mechanical engineer with a speciality in accoustics and vibrations. I also have a PhD , my research project was to propose new ways  to predict helicopter engine noise using numerical methods. I implemented specific tests on engine test benches to compare the accoustic levels with predictions.

I spent five years working at Safran Helicopter Engines as engineer in accoustics. Then I worked for 22 years at ArianeGroup where I had different positions ranging from lead engineer, system engineer, head of section and also project manager. I was involved in the development of both Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 but also in research projects using concurrent design to develop future launchers.

I started working for space just after the first Ariane 5 flight V501, preparing V502 and at that time in 1996, Aerospatiale was seeking a specialist capable of implementing and processing wind tunnel tests. I enjoyed the work and I stayed.

What is the most notable or memorable moment during your time working on space transport?

When I started my career in space transportation, Ariane 5 was already developed, and I spent years working on improving specific missions. With Ariane 6, I am here at “the right moment”, to take part in development and tests.

My most memorable moments so far are of the Ariane 6 combined tests that happened at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Before we actually fly Ariane 6, the combined test campaign is a concrete realisation of elements of my jobs: a lot of paper is needed to justify that the rocket is flight worthy!

I will list two. First was seeing the assembled launcher for the first time, even though it is the test model it was still a “wow” moment seeing it in the huge mobile gantry. Second is the long hot-firing test we conducted in November 2023 whereby the main stage fired for over seven minutes. Seeing Ariane roar and its power come to life was amazing!

Tough moments are always here especially as the workload for making a completely new rocket a reality is, as you can imagine, not a light undertaking. But as time goes on, we have seen that we can overcome the challenges, and we are all part of this huge adventure, we are ready, even at the very last minute, but we are ready, and we deliver.

What does it mean to you to be part of the larger team of rocket scientists and engineers?

It is incredible. I love my job! I love sharing my knowledge, my problems with other rocket scientists. We are on the same page, the same boat, and the same rocket!

This spirit, the connection between all the people involved in the Ariane 6 programme is very strong: ESA, CNES and ArianeGroup.

What is one thing you’d like the European public to know about your job?

I would like to encourage women to join me and us in science, technology and engineering fields.

First and foremost, choose a job you like, you will spend so much time on the job, better make it something you enjoy doing.

What’s the best thing about your job?

There are so many things I like, I can summarise as such: the complexity, the variety, the team we have, the job keeps us humble, and space remains inspiring. The vastness of space, and the fact that humans exist in this Universe despite being such a small part of it, as humankind we can achieve great things. I sometimes think of the people who worked on Europe’s majestic cathedrals, the workers who laid bricks, worked stone, wood and glass to create these astounding buildings that are far greater than the sum of each individual working on them. Often taking more than a lifetime to complete, they worked tirelessly to achieve more than any of them alone could, each focussing on their part of the enormous project. The result defies belief still centuries later, and seeing Ariane 6 on the launch pad evokes the same feeling as standing at the foot of any cathedral and looking up. So many details, so much work, the pinnacle of humankind of its time, and it is awe inspiring. I am humbled to be able to contribute to such a vast project.

What do you do outside of your job to unwind, what are your hobbies, what do you do for fun?

I row on Saturday and Sunday morning doing my favourite course almost every week, even in winter,.

Boat rowing is a perfect form of exercise because as it works out the entire body, using the muscles in the legs, shoulders, arms, and abdomen. It takes coordination, strength and endurance, but it also demands mental concentration. I enjoy nature and calm very much. I love being on the water surrounded by the trees, birds, sky, clouds or sun. When I am out, on the water, time passes so quickly. I find rowing to be the best way for me to eliminate workload pressure, but I also learn from it and apply my hobby to work life: rowing is also a team sport. We need to push together to be efficient, connection with all the crew is necessary.

Do you have any advice for future generations interested in space exploration?

Keep focussed and dare to choose the path you want to go down. There is much more to working in space than science or engineering, think of other careers such as space law, biology, human resources, management, logistics and basically everything to keep a huge team running!

There are many opportunities to get started, consult the graduate trainee positions that open every year at ESA, and we also have trainee periods available for young people at our Space Transportation department.