Homage to André Rémondière

Our colleague André Rémondière, correspondent of the Air and Space Academy (AAE) since 1985, passed away on 14 September 2019 at the age of 89. He was one of those present at the beginnings and early development of space in France.

Born on 26 November 1930, he studied science at the École spéciale de mécanique et d’électricité (ESME), then the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM), where he obtained an engineering degree in 1953.

He joined ONERA the following year to become head of a research group on subjects such as piloting and stabilising rockets and experimental equipment.

Fifteen years later, in 1969, he joined CNES and led various divisions such as Rocket probes, Aerospace techniques and Satellites, before becoming deputy director for Projects and technical research.

In early 1986, he was appointed director of the Guiana Space Centre (CGS). In this post. André Rémondière enabled the launch of 33 Ariane launchers, setting in orbit 50 satellites.

In 1992, he left CSG to take over as head of the CNES Central Quality department, where he stayed until his retirement in 1994.

Nevertheless, he continued his activities, as he became president of the Institute of Space Science and Applications in Toulouse (ISSAT) in 1995. an organisation to coordinate training and education activities in the space field. Then he also officiated as administrator in an association managing EHPAD care homes for dependent elderly people in the Toulouse area.

Then he also officiated as administrator in an association managing EHPAD care homes for dependent elderly people in the Toulouse area.

[ src : Air & Cosmos – Philippe Varnoteaux. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/andr-rmondire-grand-serviteur-des-activits-spatiales-franaises-21790# – Groupe d’expert Qualité CNAM : http://geqc.unicnam.net/spip.php?article187 ]