CHAPTER 11 - European Space Research Organization

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Hermann Bondi's experiences at the European Space Research Organization (ESRO). Bondi's job in ESRO involved a great deal of travel to ESRO's other locations, to capitals for discussion with governments, to visits to industries, and to contacts with the friends and colleagues in the United States. In the 3.5 years that Bondi was with ESRO, he never missed getting to his family on Friday night, unless he was in another continent. Bondi took over from a great man—Pierre Auger—the first Director General. Pierre Auger was a wonderful scientist and great internationalist, who had founded both CERN and ESRO, but with all his great qualities, management was not his strength, and in many ways Bondi was free to create his own post in his own image. After its first three satellites, all of modest size and complexity, ESRO had embarked on a pair of large ones, and those were accepted by the Council on a cost estimate that turned out to be grossly wrong.