Director, Technology and Digital
Born 1959, 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
2019-2023: Director of Guiana Space Centre (CSG). During this four-year period, extensive refurbishments were undertaken at the CSG encompassing operations, digitization, greening of the launch base’s energy supply, accommodation of new launch operators, boosting of competitiveness and improvement of working methods.
On 1 December 2023, Marie-Anne Clair was appointed Director, Technology and Digital
Awards
2002: National Order of Merit
2005: French air and space academy Silver Medal
2007: Knight of the Legion of Honour