Faces of Ariane 6: André

It takes thousands of people to design, develop, build and operate a complete space launch system. Here we highlight the people from all over Europe working on space transportation to ensure that Europe has independent access to space, to enjoy the benefits from space activities and share them with people of the world.

What is your name and role?

My name is André da Silva and I am a mechanical engineer and part of the Ariane 6 “embedded team” for ESA so spend most of my time at ArianeGroup’s Les Mureaux site in France.

My job is to follow the development of the structures for Ariane 6, working in the embedded team as the technical interface between the rocket’s prime contractor, Ariane Group, and ESA that is the procuring entity for the development of the Ariane launcher. I lead technical risk analyses for ESA, and provide technical support to the development process when needed.

How long have you been involved in space transport and what are your tasks?

I started working in the space transportation industry in 2011, at Air Liquide Advanced Technologies. I spent four years as a structural engineer working on the sizing of cryogenic propellant tanks and equipment for Ariane 5 mostly. I then moved in 2015 to EuroCryospace, a joint venture of Air Liquide and Ariane Group that produced cryogenic tanks and equipment for Ariane 5 rockets. I was head of engineering, focusing on the production of the “big” Ariane 5 cryogenic tanks: the tanks used by its main stage (known as Ariane 5 EPC) and also the liquid hydrogen tank for the upper stage (known as ESC-A). I joined ESA seven years ago in the Ariane 6 embedded team, a role I still hold today.

What is your educational background and prior work experience? How did you come to work on space transportation?

I have Master’s degrees from Ecole Centrale de Lille in France and the University of Texas at Austin, USA, in aerospace engineering as well as a PhD in Structural Engineering from INSA in Lyon, France. As you might guess from my education, working on space transportation is something that I had wanted for many years! After finishing my studies, I focused my job search on space transportation companies in France and this is how I landed at Air Liquide Advanced Technologies.

What is the most notable or memorable moment during your time working on space transport?

There were many notable moments, in particular technical challenges to be faced that required a strong cooperation between many people from several entities, industry and agencies. The most memorable for me will be my trip to French Guiana to participate in the Ariane 6 combined test campaign. This was the first time the new rocket’s central core was assembled, moved to the launch pad for verticalization and then connected to four boosters. It is an impressive and inspiring sight to see, especially after working many years on the launcher. During that trip I also had the chance to witness the first launch of Europe’s single-body rocket Vega-C. There was a lot of tension, in particular due to two last-minute launch delays. Liftoff finally happened at the very end of the launch window. Even if it was quite cloudy and we could not see much of the rocket trajectory through the sky, the excitement was palpable and after the successful launch it was really wonderful to see the team’s happiness and celebration.

What does it mean to you to be part of the larger team of rocket scientists and engineers?

It’s a dream come true! Working on the development of a new rocket, with people from all over Europe, and with one goal in mind: get Ariane 6 soaring to the skies!

What is one thing you’d like the European public to know about your job?

The role of the mechanical engineers is to design structures and equipment in order to be as lightweight as possible but still withstand the entire flight without breaking. It is not always an easy task. The launch is not so long, but the environment is very harsh: extreme temperatures (cold and hot), strong vibrations, acceleration etc...Making a launcher work is really an impressive feat and we can be proud of such an European cooperation. The Ariane 6 project has faced some difficulties and delays – working through the covid lockdown I will not forget quickly – but the new rocket will be a formidable tool for European autonomous access to space. I see highly qualified and motivated people putting in hard work every day, committed to make this launcher fly as quickly as possible. We need to maintain this European effort to face today’s competition.

What’s the best thing about your job?

For me it is the variety of technical challenges that I see every day. A rocket is a complex system, probably one of the most complex humans have ever built. In my area of expertise, structures, we have interactions with propulsion, control, aerodynamics, avionics… you change one thing somewhere and it can have major impacts on the whole launcher. Making all of this work together is fascinating.

What do you do outside of your job to unwind, what are your hobbies, what do you do for fun?

I love music (especially rock music), and I am really keen on vinyl records. I am starting to have quite a bulky collection! In fact I just received Khruangbin’s latest album A la sala that needs a spin. I go to a lot of concerts, even sometimes abroad to see my favourite bands: next in line are King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in Amsterdam and Pearl Jam in Barcelona.

I also spend time playing table tennis competitively, and hiking when I can.

Do you have any advice for future generations interested in space exploration?

Luckily there are more and more work opportunities in the space exploration field. So, show you’re motivated and I’m sure there will be something interesting for you to do. Don’t give up on your dreams, just take your chances! I honestly never thought I’d have the chance to work at ESA but here I am. We need talented people to build the next generation of space exploration systems.