I am still convinced that a market exists

What are the major challenges of the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency which opens tomorrow

The challenge for the European space is to maintain its position in the world. What is the conclusion For ten years, the space budgets are stable in Europe and compensate that, more or less inflation. Therefore, not they increase in real terms, countries: in the US, growth is very significant, in China or India, it is explosive. For ten years, the relative share of Europe has therefore ceased to deteriorate. As it cannot work that marginally to foreign Governments, industry European space therefore was forced to find relays of growth on the market of commercial satellites, that she was perfectly able to do. Or, with respect to Astrium, to develop new services activities. But what we can do more if the institutional budgets are not increasing I remember that all of the success of today is the result of decisions taken fifteen or twenty years ago. It was for Europe to find an ambitious trajectory to a rate of spending growth, including deciding to launch new programs.

It carries

In the field of launchers, for example, the Council will not finance major development providing the relay of Ariane. It was moving towards a change in the rocket a minimum to put 12 tons into orbit in 2017, or 3 tons less than the Chinese. And most importantly, there is nothing for the estate of the ATV space cargo ship that refuels the International Space Station. Even if compliance, science, or telecommunications, there will be progress, strangely for both headlights of French know-how, whose development has been largely funded by the France, the proposals are more timid.

Due to insufficient political will of the Government

I do not understand why the France is not more engine on these two topics. Is - this due to budget constraints We have contributed to raising awareness to the French Government the importance of the space military, whose budgets are expected to double. We have failed however to trigger the same phenomenon in civil.

The risk for the France to surrender to the leadership within the European Space Agency Germany, as some predicted

The figures speak for themselves. If one takes all civil and military spending, the France is the European country that spends the most money in space, far ahead of the Germany and the Italy. If, on the other hand, we look at the contributions to the budget of the European Space Agency and Eumetsat (International Organization for the exploitation of meteorological data, Editor's note), then, indeed, the Germany should be slightly before the France at the end of the Council of this week, and take the leadership. For reasons of geographical returns including, Berlin chose to invest his money via ESA, while the France chose a mixed approach: half through ESA, the other via the CNES. Paris prefers to invest in programmes national or bilateral, while Berlin favours a more European line...

What is the approach that made the most sense, according to you

The tool at the service of the European space strategy remains the Agency. So, what is important is to strengthen its influence. It is the position of the Germany. This is not the France or the Italy, which leaves more freedom.

In view of the lack of European ambition, always defend yourselves a large manned space program

I've never proposed a manned, independent European strategy which is unrealistic. I have just highlighted the fact that Europe has technological bricks absolutely essential result of significant investment, and it seems useful to share in an international framework. From the ATC, may be considered to build a cargo ship that returned to Earth and a manned capsule. If not quickly new development for the TVA projects, then the French teams of studies at les Mureaux offices will be dismantled. We have integrated the predictable results of the Ministerial Council in the management of our workforce.

For the moment, it is consistent with our plans, which expect to 250 to 300 posts in less than two years here. After that, everything will depend on the decisions of the Ministers, who will call for a major Conference on the exploration.

Will Galileo, the European GPS project, be ready in 2013, as expected

I observed that the timetable for selection of the industrial, and therefore of signing of contracts, is shifted significantly. It cannot be a miracle, the implementation of Galileo will suffer the same offset, at least one year, or even more.

Was all the lessons of the challenges for this project

Need to look at our door. The delays were due to industrial rivalries which have not been governed enough quickly by the customer and the Governments. The difficulty was caused by the issue of achieving an equitable sharing in which each country can find its interest. Since then, the European Commission and the European Space Agency made work in co-maîtrise of work rules, which is an innovation. I think that these lessons have been integrated for future programs.

That can wait for the Europe of the Obama administration to its space policy

Hopefully an improvement of the collaboration in the inhabited universe exploration. The policy of the Bush administration was based on a desire for autonomy with regard to the transport component. To compete with Boeing, Lockheed Martin was near Astrium to benefit from the know-how of ATV. But the cooperation was interrupted by a US political decision. Opening of the United States could be positive for Europe.

Which stance to take with regard to China, which, she sent men into space

China knows very well that it will be the world's second economic power in a close horizon. It is the world's second economic power space ambitions. And its ambitions rely on outstanding know-how. The speed with which Beijing catch technology is quite impressive. The Chinese have so very little to learn from us. It must therefore take action and see if there are areas of cooperation. What seems difficult because of the restrictions on transfer of technology.

Can the market of commercial satellites escape from the crisis

Two factors play in opposite directions and balance. On the one hand, the difficulties of funding are not favourable to the investment of the major satellite operators, despite their good economic health. On the other, the rise of the dollar means that the competitiveness of European industry improves the Americans, who are our only real competitors. At this point, I did not found of slowdown in the prospects of orders for satellites. Perhaps a sizing down of projects with less risky and less heavy satellites in terms of resource mobilization.

For how many satellites ordered in 2009

This year, there is probably less than 20 satellites ordered in the world, against 23 in 2007 which was a good vintage. Medium term, it is still too early to decide, even if we should benefit from the dollar effect.

If it is tightened, the crisis could foster the reconciliation of EADS Astrium with Thales Alenia Space in "Airbus of the satellites"

The real question is whether Europe is willing to have as an industrial player in the field of institutional satellites. In which case, it should be the merge. But I am afraid that the answer to this question is "no". Indeed, some Governments promote the emergence of smaller players, sometimes absurd conditions, simply to instil competition.

Previously very hesitant to outsourcing, the French Defence Ministry plans to transfer its communications satellites Syracuse in exchange for a contract for the rental of long-term capacity. Is - this significant of a true change of State of mind

The decision to move in this direction was reviewed by the President of the Republic. But, today, I note that we are dealing with any request for information for the preparation of a any tender. I have rather the impression that it nothing happens.

Have you abandoned any hope of lifting the EUR 2 billion for your space tourism project

We have initiated a dialogue with investors at the close and Middle East, but one must be realistic, with the financial crisis, the steps are frozen. Our technology is mature, and we are very sure of our concept. I am still convinced that a market exists. But now, the question is when. In any event, we have largely recovered our invested 15 million, not by the mobilization of our teams.