Media Briefing of Jan Woerner, ESA Director General, and Igor Komarov, Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), on 26 August 2015, at the ESA chalet, MAKS international aviation and space show, in Zhukovsky near Moscow. Image Credit: ESA/S. Corvaja, 2015

Media Briefing of Jan Woerner, ESA Director General, and Igor Komarov, Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), on 26 August 2015, at the ESA chalet, MAKS international aviation and space show, in Zhukovsky near Moscow. Image Credit: ESA, S. Corvaja.

While still enjoying the transition into the ESA structure, I have had to tackle several issues already.

Relations between ESA and the European Commission I mentioned in my previous blog post: There needs to be a clear common understanding with regard to who is doing what and who is responsible for what. I believe this is an easy task if all those involved want to find a solution. It is very good that the European Commission, after decades, is at last exploring the importance of space and is eager to be active in this field which, for Europe, has been developed through ESA since the Sixties. I therefore look forward to a sound solution being identified that fulfils the requirements of our common shareholders: the Member States and their citizens.

ESA DG Jan Woerner & Roscosmos Head Igor Komarov at MAKS 2015

ESA DG Jan Woerner meeting Roscosmos Head Igor Komarov at MAKS 2015. Credit: ESA, S. Corvaja.

Last week I had the pleasure to represent ESA at MAKS, the International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. As in the previous year when I went to MAKS as the Chairman of the Executive Board of DLR, the German Aerospace Center, various discussions with representatives of different institutions took place. Due to the Ukraine crisis there are now some additional clouds on the political horizon. Already back in 1975, space, with the rendezvous of Apollo and Soyuz in orbit, proved that it can have a bridging function that transcends earthly political problems. We should therefore work together to sustain and enhance international cooperation now and in the future; the global community expects that from us. This does not mean that one should forget about political constraints, human rights or societal values; it means that we should understand that cooperation, especially in science, research and space, becomes even more important in difficult times.

These days have also cast a shadow on me personally. My close co-worker Andrea Boese lost her battle with illness after months of fighting and hoping, and died on Saturday evening. She had already supported me at DLR and intended to do the same here with a focus on the culture at ESA. Andrea Boese had a worldwide network of professional relations and was respected for her very intensive work. Her passing led to numerous reactions from many different persons, expressing their respect and admiration.

Now I am faced with restructuring the organisation in my immediate environment even before the planned version could become effective. In such moments of mourning and sadness, all daily problems lose their weight. However, unfortunate as it may be, these feelings inevitably fade away as we head towards the next “urgent” matter.