ArianeGroup X WSW: back to school

This is the time of year when hundreds of ArianeGroup staff members become “Arionauts” on a mission that is exhilarating, possibly daunting – and vital.

To celebrate and support World Space Week (held on 4–10 October annually), every year our Arionauts head into education establishments, from nurseries to high schools, equipped with entertaining, informative presentations, stunning videos, fascinating experiments and above all their burning passion for our industry, to whet youngsters’ appetite for space, and – who knows? – spark the imaginations and the intellects of the next generation of rocket scientists.

Their visits give tinies and teens alike lots of explanations and facts about space and space technologies, how space provides many fundamental benefits for our daily lives, what it’s like to actually work as a rocket maker and how keeping access to space open with launchers like Ariane is essential.

This year’s World Space Week theme is ‘Space and Climate Change’: lively exchanges are guaranteed. In recent decades, data provided by satellites – many launched by Ariane – has revolutionised how we see our planet, its eco-systems and its fragilities. At ArianeGroup, we are so proud that our launchers have played an important role in helping to further environmental understanding by placing these precious research tools in orbit, and will continue to do so.

Last year, more than 230 ArianeGroup Arionauts visited around 260 classes in France, Germany and French Guiana, enthusing over 11,500 pupils and students of all ages (and their teachers!). Every year their outreach grows – 2024 looks likely to continue the trend.