Laurent Gathier
Encyclopedia
Laurent Gathier is a French engineer and space pioneer born in 1953 in Friedrichshafen
, Germany
. He is married and the father of three boys and currently the director of space activities of Dassault Aviation
, in Saint-Cloud
.
He spent his adolescence in the Chambéry-Grenoble area, a period when he learnt how to build model planes and also became a pilot (gliders and planes). He first flew solo when he was 15.
His first passion for space came from the launch of the first French satellite A-1, nicknamed Astérix, in November 1965, when he was 12. He spent entire nights watching the sky at that time.
When he joined Supaéro
in Toulouse in 1973, he had already flown 1000 hours. He specialized in space and obtained his engineering degree in 1976.
Then he start working in CNES in Toulouse and Aerospatiale in Cannes. Afterwards he joined Dassault Aviation flight tests. He become head of the flight test program.
At the beginning of 2000, he joined the Space Directorate of Dassault.
With Jean-Pierre Haigneré
, and Alain Dupas, he has created the Astronaute Club Européen
(ACE), the first French association aimed at creating a European space tourism vehicle.
Friedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He is married and the father of three boys and currently the director of space activities of Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the...
, in Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Like other communes of the Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine or Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of the wealthiest cities in France, ranked 22nd out of the 36500 in...
.
He spent his adolescence in the Chambéry-Grenoble area, a period when he learnt how to build model planes and also became a pilot (gliders and planes). He first flew solo when he was 15.
His first passion for space came from the launch of the first French satellite A-1, nicknamed Astérix, in November 1965, when he was 12. He spent entire nights watching the sky at that time.
When he joined Supaéro
École Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace
The École Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace , founded in 1909, is one of the most prestigious and selective grandes écoles in France. It was the world's first dedicated aerospace engineering school and is considered to be one of the best in Europe in that field...
in Toulouse in 1973, he had already flown 1000 hours. He specialized in space and obtained his engineering degree in 1976.
Then he start working in CNES in Toulouse and Aerospatiale in Cannes. Afterwards he joined Dassault Aviation flight tests. He become head of the flight test program.
At the beginning of 2000, he joined the Space Directorate of Dassault.
With Jean-Pierre Haigneré
Jean-Pierre Haigneré
Jean-Pierre Haigneré is a French Air Force officer and a former CNES astronaut.Haigneré was born in Paris, France and joined the French Air Force, where he trained as a test pilot....
, and Alain Dupas, he has created the Astronaute Club Européen
Astronaute Club Européen
The Astronaute Club Européen or ACE, is a French association created on December 3rd 2005 , by Jean-Pierre Haigneré , Laurent Gathier and Alain Dupas ; and whose headquarters are located in the rooms of the Aéroclub de France...
(ACE), the first French association aimed at creating a European space tourism vehicle.