Marie-Anne Clair
Born 15 May 1959.
Education
Marie-Anne Clair is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique Féminine (1982) and the ESTA aerospace engineering school (1983).
Career
Marie-Anne Clair joined CNES in 1983 at the agency’s Launch Vehicles Directorate (DLA) in Evry.
1983-1988: In charge of studies for Ariane launcher stage separation and ballistic phases of satellite separation in orbit.
1988: Transferred to Toulouse.
1988-1991: In charge of satellite positioning operations for SPOT 2.
1992-1994: Responsible for Hermes/Ariane 5 interfaces for the European Hermes space shuttle project, and for engineering and programmatic aspects.
1995-2001: Project Manager for the SPI spectrometer on ESA’s Integral galactic and extra-galactic gamma-ray space observatory. Instrument developed in house by CNES.
2002-2005: Head of microsatellite division and then department, in charge of CNES’s Myriade series of science satellites: Demeter and Parasol in orbit, Picard and Microscope in development, Argosat, Taranis and Eclairs in preliminary study phase.
2006-2008: Head of Universe science satellites department, in charge of design, development and construction of Myriade-series satellites (Picard, Microscope, Taranis), formation flight (SimbolX, Prisma), planning of the French contribution to ESA’s Cosmic Vision project, and cooperation with China (SVOM).
2009-2013: Head of Balloons Sub-directorate, in charge of design, fabrication, verification, qualification and operation of stratospheric and tropospheric balloons for the European scientific community.
2013-2016: Deputy Director of Launch Vehicles, focused on strategic aspects and oversight of current and future launcher projects. In charge of preparing Ariane 6 brief.
2017-2019 : Director of Orbital Systems
Since November 1st 2019, Marie-Anne Clair is Director of the Guiana Space Centre.
Awards
2002: Knight of the National Order of Merit
2005: French air and space academy Silver Medal
2007: Knight of the Legion of Honour
