Experience

The company CosmicConsult ^® has been founded and is directed by Dr.-Ing. Klaus Damian. His interest in space activities started early and his professional life covers various functions within the international space community. Some milestones are shown below:

1950

First own ideas on manned spaceflight projects were inspired by books of Hermann Oberth and Wernher von Braun, which could be borrowed at the primary school at Diedesfeld an der Weinstrasse.

The picture on the right, created in secondary school in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse at the age of 10, shows an astronaut entering a rocket for launch. Barrels with liquid fuel produced in the factory in the background can be seen and a telescope is ready for tracking.

These theoretical studies were validated by experiments with small solid propellant rockets using black powder or a mixture of sugar and KClO₃ still available at the next drugstore during those peaceful times.

1960 -1966

Studies of communications engineering at University of Karlsruhe and Technical University of Berlin.

1966 - 1972

Assistant Professor at University of Karlsruhe and graduation to Dr.-Ing.

1972 - 1980

French-German Telecommunications Satellite Project SYMPHONIE . As Deputy Head of the French-German Utilisation Project Group in Bonn responsible for the utilisation of the 2 satellites launched in 1974 and 1975 for educational and humanitarian communication including support to disaster relief of the Red Cross and peace keeping missions of the United Nations.

The satellite network grew to around 50 ground stations in around 40 countries from Argentina over Africa, the Middle East and India to China.

1980 - 1982

Head of External Relations Office of German Aerospace Research Organisation DFVLR (now German Aerospace Center DLR)in Cologne. Responsible for the support to the Board of Directors in strategy and implementation of the cooperation with national entities and international partner organisations.

Support to the German Ministry for research and Technology in the scientific-technological cooperation with Argentina, Brazil and China.

1982 - 1989

German Ministry for Research and Technology:

Section for Multilateral Cooperation

Responsible for matters related to ESA and the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Head of German Delegation to UNCOPUOS and its legal subcommittee. German Delegate to ESA's International Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC). Participation in the early conceptional studies on the Columbus Programme as European contribution to the International Space Station.

Section for Orbital Systems, Space Transportation Systems and Research under Microgravity

Responsible for the programmes Spacelab and Columbus. Head of German Delegation to ESA Programme Board Columbus. Participation in the multilateral negotiations for the International Governmental Agreement concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station (IGA).

1989 - 2004

European Space Agency,
European Astronaut Centre, (EAC) Cologne:

Development of training programme for the Training of the astronauts of the International Space Station for tho operation of the European elements, the Columbus Laboratory and the cargo vehicle Jules Verne (ATV - Automated Transport Vehicle). Build up of the training system at EAC including development of training personnel, requirements, procurement and putting into operation of training facilities, curricula and training material as well as certification procedures. Basic Training of the ESA astronauts selected in 1992, Experiment Training for the EUROMIR missions to the Russian Space Station Mir in 1994/95 with Ulf Merbold and Thomas Reiter. Temporarily assigned with the same function from November 1996 to May 1999 to the European Space Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, where the development of the training facilities was managed. Preparation of training of the first international ISS-class with astronauts from USA, Japan and ESA, implemented at EAC in 2002. ESA-Representative in multilateral ISS-bodies (e.g. International Training Control Board).

Head of Management Support Office

Strategy and planning, representation of and support to the Head of EAC, organisation of events and official visits, development of a concept for a visitor centre.

Article:
"The European Astronaut Centre - A Look back at 15 Years of Astronautical Expertise", ESA Bulletin No 123, August 2005.

2004

Creation of CosmicConsult ^®