N° 51–2001: Two ESA Directors get renewed terms

Jörg Feustel-Büechl, 61, of German nationality, has been Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity since April 1994 and with ESA since 1986, when he started as Director for Space Transportation Systems. His contract was renewed for the two years from 1 November 2002 to 31 October 2004.

Mr Feustel-Büechl remains in charge of organising the European contribution to the International Space Station and related programmes, including the Columbus orbital laboratory, the automated transfer vehicle, the European Astronaut Centre and the microgravity (life and material sciences) programmes.

Claudio Mastracci, 61, of Italian nationality, took up duty as ESA Director of Applications in 1998. His contract has now been renewed for the two years from 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2004.

In the field of telecommunications, Mr Mastracci remains responsible for the ARTES programme covering technology development, feasibility studies and system development for future space telecommunication programmes such as multimedia systems, mobile communication and large platform missions. In satellite navigation, he is responsible for EGNOS, which makes significant improvements to the present GPS and GLONASS systems and for GalileoSat - ESA's contribution to the European Union's Galileo initiative - the first worldwide civil satellite navigation system.

For further information, please contact :

ESA Communication Department

Media Relations Office

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

 

For further information:

Media Relations Office

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690