Social at Hotel Sputnik

On Saturday 23/01 we had a formal diner where almost all the parties involved in the CryoSat-2 launch campaign were present:

• Rosckosmos (Russian Space Agency)
  
• Baikonur Cosmodrome representatives
• Kosmotrac (Dniepr rocket dealer)
• Yuzhnoe (Dniepr rocket development and manufacturing)
• Cenki (Engineering services)
• European Space Agency
• Astrium (Prime contractor for Cryosat-2)
• Alcatel-Alenia Space (Siral-2 instrument manufacturer)
• CNES (French Space Agency)
• Europ Assistance (medical support during the campaign)

Evening started at the bar around 20h30


A large table to accommodate the 44 of us was set up in the dining room.
Richard, ESA Project Manager, gave the first "toast". Opposite to him, Irina our interpreter. At the right bottom corner, Laura one of the restaurant waitress.


Same table seen from the other end


Bill makes a toast, next to Irina


Then, in the pure Russian tradition, people stand up and raise their glasses:


The meal itself was excellent as shown on the table by this short movie


We all have to thank Hassan, the Lebanese Chef of the Sputnik restaurant and his team for the great evening they prepared for us.



Kirill B. seated in the "Russian corner"


I learned from my neighbors that the "Baikonur spirit" has played a tremendous unifying role in the former CCCP (Soviet Union). This was due to the fact that a wide range of of experts coming from all parts of the country were federated by the same endeavor aiming at getting successful space missions (and this, particularly in the cold war context).

The "Baikonur spirit is still alive and present within us yesterday evening at the Sputnik.
Kirill B.
24/01/2010