Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS901
2005-02-14 10:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC PLEASED WITH U.S.-
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000901
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EUR/WE, EUR/RPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA PREL FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC PLEASED WITH U.S.-
EUROPEAN SPACE COOPERATION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000901
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EUR/WE, EUR/RPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA PREL FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC PLEASED WITH U.S.-
EUROPEAN SPACE COOPERATION
1. (U) Summary: On February 9, 2005, the USEP
Space Attache/NASA European Representative (NER)
joined a European Space Agency (ESA) delegation to
brief French President Jacques Chirac on the
successful deployment of the European Huygens
probe on the surface of the Saturn moon, Titan.
Chirac warmly received the delegation and thanked
NASA for its contributions to the mission. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) On February 9, 2005, the USEP Space
Attache/NASA European Representative (NER) joined
a European Space Agency (ESA) delegation which met
with French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee
Palace. Chirac requested a briefing on the
successful deployment of the ESA Huygens probe on
the surface of Saturn's moon, Titan. The
delegation was headed by Jean-Jacques Dordain,
Director General, ESA, and included: David
Southwood, Director, Science Program, ESA; Jean-
Pierre Lebreton, Mission Scientist; Pascale
Sourisse, President and CEO, Alcatel Space; Daniel
Gautier, Head of Research, Center for Scientific
Research, Astronomer, Observatory of Paris-Meudon,
developer of the Huygens Mission; Roger-Maurice
Bonnet, former Head of the Science Program, ESA,
President of COSPAR; Marcello Fulchignoni, Paris-
Meudon Observatory; Guy Israel, Atmospheric
Research; and, Franois Raulin, University of
Paris. Francois d'Aubert, Minister of Research,
joined the meeting.
3. (U) The Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn is
a cooperation between NASA, the European Space
Agency, and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL),designed, developed
and assembled the Cassini orbiter. Cassini was
launched October 15, 1997, on a Titan 4 rocket
from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Cassini entered
Saturn orbit July 1, 2004, and the Huygens probe,
developed by ESA, was successfully deployed on the
surface of Titan on January 14, 2005.
4. (U) Chirac was gracious, interested, and
engaged; he stayed with the delegation and
listened attentively for an hour and a half.
Dordain, speaking on behalf of the delegation,
described in broad terms the mission and its
significance for Europe and European space. He
was generous and straightforward in his praise for
the cooperation with NASA, thanking the U.S. for
the ride to Saturn and the ensuing tracking
support during the Huygens probe descent.
5. (U) Chirac evidenced keen interest, and
inquired of both Dordain and NER if it was correct
to say that the mission was truly a successful
joint international endeavor. All concurred.
Members of the del were unanimous in their praise
for the support provided by NASA, and cited the
Cassini-Huygens cooperation as an example for the
future. ESA ended the presentation with a chart
that encouraged "exploration together," and
emphasized the importance of international
cooperation for future space exploration
initiatives.
6. (U) Dordain concluded by noting that
President Bush had set forth "The Vision for U.S.
Space Exploration" and that ESA was already
engaged in exploration of the solar system,
pointing to Rosetta, Mars Express, and Huygens,
as examples. Chirac did not appear to be familiar
with the details of the President's Vision, but
listened with interest as the broad outlines of
The Vision were explained.
7. (U) In conclusion, Chirac thanked the del for
taking time from their important work to brief
him. In his follow-up remarks to the press,
Chirac noted the importance of the Huygens success
for Europe's space endeavors, expressed his hope
that this and similar successes in space would
help to stimulate interest among young people in
Europe for science and engineering careers, and
highlighted the importance of international
cooperation in space exploration.
8. (U) In a personal aside to NER, Chirac
expressed his pleasure for the successful
international space cooperation, and thanked NASA
for its efforts on behalf of international
cooperation and understanding. NER presented
Chirac with a NASA pin emblematic of continuing
cooperation in space.
Leach
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EUR/WE, EUR/RPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA PREL FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC PLEASED WITH U.S.-
EUROPEAN SPACE COOPERATION
1. (U) Summary: On February 9, 2005, the USEP
Space Attache/NASA European Representative (NER)
joined a European Space Agency (ESA) delegation to
brief French President Jacques Chirac on the
successful deployment of the European Huygens
probe on the surface of the Saturn moon, Titan.
Chirac warmly received the delegation and thanked
NASA for its contributions to the mission. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) On February 9, 2005, the USEP Space
Attache/NASA European Representative (NER) joined
a European Space Agency (ESA) delegation which met
with French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee
Palace. Chirac requested a briefing on the
successful deployment of the ESA Huygens probe on
the surface of Saturn's moon, Titan. The
delegation was headed by Jean-Jacques Dordain,
Director General, ESA, and included: David
Southwood, Director, Science Program, ESA; Jean-
Pierre Lebreton, Mission Scientist; Pascale
Sourisse, President and CEO, Alcatel Space; Daniel
Gautier, Head of Research, Center for Scientific
Research, Astronomer, Observatory of Paris-Meudon,
developer of the Huygens Mission; Roger-Maurice
Bonnet, former Head of the Science Program, ESA,
President of COSPAR; Marcello Fulchignoni, Paris-
Meudon Observatory; Guy Israel, Atmospheric
Research; and, Franois Raulin, University of
Paris. Francois d'Aubert, Minister of Research,
joined the meeting.
3. (U) The Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn is
a cooperation between NASA, the European Space
Agency, and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL),designed, developed
and assembled the Cassini orbiter. Cassini was
launched October 15, 1997, on a Titan 4 rocket
from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Cassini entered
Saturn orbit July 1, 2004, and the Huygens probe,
developed by ESA, was successfully deployed on the
surface of Titan on January 14, 2005.
4. (U) Chirac was gracious, interested, and
engaged; he stayed with the delegation and
listened attentively for an hour and a half.
Dordain, speaking on behalf of the delegation,
described in broad terms the mission and its
significance for Europe and European space. He
was generous and straightforward in his praise for
the cooperation with NASA, thanking the U.S. for
the ride to Saturn and the ensuing tracking
support during the Huygens probe descent.
5. (U) Chirac evidenced keen interest, and
inquired of both Dordain and NER if it was correct
to say that the mission was truly a successful
joint international endeavor. All concurred.
Members of the del were unanimous in their praise
for the support provided by NASA, and cited the
Cassini-Huygens cooperation as an example for the
future. ESA ended the presentation with a chart
that encouraged "exploration together," and
emphasized the importance of international
cooperation for future space exploration
initiatives.
6. (U) Dordain concluded by noting that
President Bush had set forth "The Vision for U.S.
Space Exploration" and that ESA was already
engaged in exploration of the solar system,
pointing to Rosetta, Mars Express, and Huygens,
as examples. Chirac did not appear to be familiar
with the details of the President's Vision, but
listened with interest as the broad outlines of
The Vision were explained.
7. (U) In conclusion, Chirac thanked the del for
taking time from their important work to brief
him. In his follow-up remarks to the press,
Chirac noted the importance of the Huygens success
for Europe's space endeavors, expressed his hope
that this and similar successes in space would
help to stimulate interest among young people in
Europe for science and engineering careers, and
highlighted the importance of international
cooperation in space exploration.
8. (U) In a personal aside to NER, Chirac
expressed his pleasure for the successful
international space cooperation, and thanked NASA
for its efforts on behalf of international
cooperation and understanding. NER presented
Chirac with a NASA pin emblematic of continuing
cooperation in space.
Leach