Antonio Rodotà
Encyclopedia
Antonio Rodotà was the fifth Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), serving from 1997 until 2003. He died in Rome
on February 23, 2006, aged 70.
, Italy
. After graduating from University of Rome in 1959 as an electronics engineer, he began his career with ISPRE SpA, Italy.
, then joined Italian company Selenia from 1966 to 1980, followed by three years as head of the Compagnia Nazionale Satelliti. He then moved on to Alenia-Spazio in 1983 where he held a series of senior positions before becoming chief executive in 1995. Under his leadership, Alenia became one of Europe's leading suppliers of space hardware for the ISS.
(Italy) and a member of the boards of several international companies, as well as Arianespace
.
During his term of office at ESA, Rodotà played a key role in many fields and was highly valued in the space communities of Europe and beyond. His fervent advocacy of international cooperation was widely recognized and he will be remembered for his fostering of the European dimension of space activities and as one of the founding fathers of Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system.
paid tribute by saying,
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on February 23, 2006, aged 70.
Early years
Mr Rodotà was born on 24 December 1935 in CosenzaCosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. After graduating from University of Rome in 1959 as an electronics engineer, he began his career with ISPRE SpA, Italy.
Career
In 1965 he served as Italian delegate to NATO in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, then joined Italian company Selenia from 1966 to 1980, followed by three years as head of the Compagnia Nazionale Satelliti. He then moved on to Alenia-Spazio in 1983 where he held a series of senior positions before becoming chief executive in 1995. Under his leadership, Alenia became one of Europe's leading suppliers of space hardware for the ISS.
European Space Agency
Before joining ESA, he was director of the Space Division of FinmeccanicaFinmeccanica
Finmeccanica S.p.A. is an Italian conglomerate. Finmeccanica is the second largest industrial group and the largest of the hi-tech industrial groups based in Italy. It works in the fields of defence, aerospace, security, automation, transport and energy...
(Italy) and a member of the boards of several international companies, as well as Arianespace
Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....
.
During his term of office at ESA, Rodotà played a key role in many fields and was highly valued in the space communities of Europe and beyond. His fervent advocacy of international cooperation was widely recognized and he will be remembered for his fostering of the European dimension of space activities and as one of the founding fathers of Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system.
Tribute
ESA’s present Director General Jean-Jacques DordainJean-Jacques Dordain
Jean-Jacques Dordain is the current Director General of the European Space Agency and has held the position since 2003....
paid tribute by saying,