Catherine Granell was in Kourou on 6 February 2014 for Ariane 5’s first launch of the year.
Ms Granell, Director of CG Traduction, was the guest of Arianespace for the launch and press conference for flight VA217. The Ariane 5 launcher orbited two telecommunications satellites: ABS-2 for the operator ABS and Athena-Fidus for Telespazio, on behalf of the French and Italian space agencies.
While on site, Catherine Granell caught up with her team of assigned interpreters as they translated the launch readiness review into French and English for the first launch of 2014.
CG interpreters quick on their feet
The guests and the general public in the observation areas collectively held their breath as the countdown began onthe evening of 6 February. Then at 22:30 (Paris time) that changed into an eruption of applause as the Ariane streaked through the sky. But the show wasn’t over yet. A huge screen broadcast the spacecraft’s flight until the two satellites were in orbit.
CG’s interpreters, meanwhile, were in the packed Jupiter Control Room alongside the many representatives from the Italian Space Agency. As luck would have it, one of them was an Italophile, and was able to step in andtranslate into English and French for the Italian Director at a moment’s notice. It was just another demonstration of CG’s expertise in even the most specialised aspects of aerospace, and its ability to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
The Space Centre: 33% of French Guiana’s tourism industry
Speaking at the press conference, Stéphane Israël, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, congratulated the company on Ariane 5’s 98th consecutive successful launch.
Before the launch, Catherine Granell and the other guests were given a tour of the Guiana Space Centre, including where all the action takes place and the secure bunker. It was here that the Launch Site Operations Manager, assisted by the co-pilots and 60 technicians, gave the OK to start the crucial countdown stage in the Jupiter Control Room, where each parameter is checked and approved before proceeding to blast off.
The guests were also treated to a visit to the Space Museum, which retraces mankind’s history in space including the first steps on the moon and the European space programmes.
The visit ended with a VIP reception organised by Arianespace at the Hôtel des Roches, and drinks outside the Space Centre for the spectators.
The Guiana Space Centre‘s facilities, set on 690km² of protected natural parklands, each year attract almost 35,000 visitors and 10,000 launch guests. It alone makes up 33% of tourism in French Guiana.
CG Traduction, a trusted Arianespace partner
Arianespace has been placing its trust in CG for even its most demanding technical translations since 1991. Other big clients in the aerospace industry – where even the smallest mistake could have devastating consequences – include Airlinair, Dassault, Snecma and Thales.