Background
Courtois, Michel was born on August 16, 1946 in Argenteuil, France.
Courtois, Michel was born on August 16, 1946 in Argenteuil, France.
Degree in Aeronautic Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, 1966. Degree in Civil Engineering, Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Economique National School Aeronautics & Space, Toulouse, France, 1971.
Various positions of increasing responsibility Center National Space Studies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales), Paris, 1977—1986, vice director project activities and development studies for application programs, 1986—1989, director Hermes program, 1989—1990, director Toulouse Space Center, 1993—1996, deputy managing director technical affairs, projects & operations, 1996—1998, deputy director general, 1998—1999. Senior vice president, chief technical officer Alcatel Space, 1999—2004. Director technical and quality management European Space Agency, since 2004, director European Space Agency European Space Research & Technology Center (ESTEC) Noordwijk, Netherlands, since 2004.
Board directors Intespace Company, Collecte Localisation Satellite Company, Spot Image SA, Arianespace SA.
Member of French National Academy Air & Space (Grand Prix 1987), International Astronautics Federation (honorary).