A Chair to train tomorrow s space experts

lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nce--wysiwyg gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;Since 2019, the Chair in Space Science and Challenges has been held by Pascal Chabert, Director of Research at the CNRS within the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP*) and professor at École Polytechnique, and supported by prestigious sponsors, ArianeGroup since 2019 and Safran since 2024. lt;/p gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The Chair affirms École Polytechnique s strong commitment to training future space talent with a clear objective: to offer engineering students a high-level education based on a solid academic foundation as well as concrete projects in partnership with industry. lt;/p gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;h2 class= nce--heading text-left gt;An ambitious teaching programme lt;/h2 gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nce--wysiwyg gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The Chair combines: lt;/p gt; lt;ul gt; lt;li data-list-item-id= ed0e20d8d4a21128f4c009bcc8ea56f22 gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt; lt;strong gt;challenging scientific course lt;/strong gt;s in physics, mechanics and modelling, in conjunction with various École Polytechnique labora lt;/p gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li data-list-item-id= e39a5a93d75f35dba3ee0827e812b796e gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;teaching through lt;strong gt;space projects lt;/strong gt; led by the École Polytechnique Student Space Centre (CSEP), thanks to the support of industrial sponsors, directed by Nicolas Lequette (X2016). lt;/p gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;Thus, from the second year of the engineering programme onwards, students can get involved in the design of projects in a variety of fields, and in the third year, through an Advanced Course (PA), they can participate in the development of concrete space devices, such as lt;strong gt;the future IonSat satellite lt;/strong gt;, a 6U CubeSat, which is scheduled to be launched into low orbit in 2027. lt;/p gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The CSEP thus offers students the opportunity to work in the spirit of a real space mission. This educational framework enables them to acquire solid, versatile skills that are also highly sought-after in the aerospace industry in the areas of sovereignty, innovation, knowledge and the environment. lt;/p gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-5 col-md-5 col-lg-5 gt; lt;figure class= nce--image figure gt; lt;img src= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/styles/nc_editor_image/public/content/Chaires/JB_17122024_EP_chaire_Spatia%20%287%29%20%282%29.jpg?itok=b0JPMeN_ class= figure-img img-fluid alt= gt; lt;figcaption class= figure-caption gt;Pascal Chabert, professor at École Polytechnique and Chair holder. lt;/figcaption gt; lt;/figure gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6 col-lg-6 gt; lt;blockquote gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The Chair draws on advanced scientific courses taught at École Polytechnique to give students cutting-edge skills, but it also stimulates their curiosity and creativity through innovative projects. This dual skill set ideally prepares them for a specialised master s degree in space science and, more generally, for the major technological and societal challenges of tomorrow s space industry. lt;/p gt; lt;/blockquote gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;h2 class= nce--heading text-left gt;From teaching to industry links lt;/h2 gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nce--wysiwyg gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The Chair is not limited to academic teaching: it builds concrete bridges with industry. On 17 November, it organised lt;strong gt;a day of visits to two iconic sites in the sector: ArianeGroup and Safran in Vernon lt;/strong gt;. These visits gave students on the Advanced Space Science and Challenges course a close-up look at the facilities where key space propulsion technologies are designed and tested, from European launch vehicle engines to satellite propulsion systems. This immersion in two major players in the European space industry gave the Polytechnique students a concrete understanding of current technological challenges, while giving them the opportunity to talk to the engineers and managers present on site. lt;/p gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;figure class= nce--image figure gt; lt;img src= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/styles/nc_editor_image/public/content/Chaires/Visite.JPG?itok=YG_bpc1E class= figure-img img-fluid alt= gt; lt;figcaption class= figure-caption gt;Visits organised at ArianeGroup and Safran for students on 17 November. lt;/figcaption gt; lt;/figure gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nce--wysiwyg gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;A few days later, on 26 November, this momentum continued during the Chair s Education Sponsorship Day, organised at the X-Novation Centre in synergy with the X-Forum. Introduced by Pascal Chabert, the meeting brought together ArianeGroup, Safran and students for company presentations, lt;strong gt;a testimonial from Benoît Saint-Georges (X2018, MaiaSpace lt;/strong gt;), a discussion with the sponsors HR teams, and a cocktail reception highlighting the CSEP s projects. lt;/p gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;The career path of Benoît Saint-Georges, a graduate of the École Polytechnique who completed the Advanced Course in Space Science and Challenges and went on to become an engineer at a pioneering company in the field of reusable micro-launchers, is a concrete illustration of the professional opportunities opened up by the Chair. His testimony shows students that the training received at École Polytechnique, enriched by the projects and industrial immersions offered, can lead to entrepreneurial innovation as well as to established major players in the space industry. These two complementary events perfectly illustrate the Chair s mission: lt;strong gt;to create direct bridges between education, innovation and industry, and to open up a variety of career paths for the talented individuals who will shape the space industry of tomorrow. lt;/strong gt; lt;br gt; lt;/p gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nc-slider data-slick= { slidesToShow : 1, arrows :true, slidesToScroll : 1, autoplay : true} gt; lt;div class= slide gt; lt;a class= item-box href= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/content/Chaires/Benoit%20Saint%20Georges_26.11.25.jpg data-caption= Benoît Saint-Georges (X2018), space engineer at MaiaSpace. title= target= _blank gt; lt;img src= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/styles/nce_slider/public/content/Chaires/Benoit%20Saint%20Georges_26.11.25.jpg?itok=AyXP-57c alt= class= img-fluid gt; lt;/a gt; lt;small gt;Benoît Saint-Georges (X2018), space engineer at MaiaSpace. lt;/small gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= slide gt; lt;a class= item-box href= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/content/Chaires/ArianeGroup_26.11.25.jpg data-caption= François Jacquemart from ArianeGroup (X2004). title= target= _blank gt; lt;img src= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/styles/nce_slider/public/content/Chaires/ArianeGroup_26.11.25.jpg?itok=dAdXF3j8 alt= class= img-fluid gt; lt;/a gt; lt;small gt;François Jacquemart from ArianeGroup (X2004). lt;/small gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= slide gt; lt;a class= item-box href= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/content/Chaires/Safran_26.11.25.jpg data-caption= Noël Barreau from Safran. title= target= _blank gt; lt;img src= https://www.polytechnique.edu/sites/default/files/styles/nce_slider/public/content/Chaires/Safran_26.11.25.jpg?itok=JvF0B3sw alt= class= img-fluid gt; lt;/a gt; lt;small gt;Noël Barreau from Safran. lt;/small gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;div class= nce--row row gt; lt;div class= nce--column col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-12 gt; lt;div class= nce--wysiwyg gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt;With initiatives such as those of the CSEP, structured and recognised teaching, and strong links with industry, the Chair embodies École Polytechnique s vision for the aerospace industry of tomorrow, not only as a technical field, lt;strong gt;but as a collective and strategic project, training experts committed to serving society. lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p class= text-align-justify gt; lt;br gt;*LPP: a joint research unit of the CNRS, Paris Observatory-PSL, Sorbonne University, Paris-Saclay University, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France lt;br gt; lt;/p gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt; lt;/div gt;

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