Posted: Fri, Sep 20, 2002, 10:44 AM ET (1444 GMT)
The director-general of the French space agency CNES announced his resignation Thursday in order to pursue another post. Gerard Brachet will step down from the position, which overlaps with the post of president of CNES, in a bid to become the director of a new organization that will oversee the Galileo satellite navigation program. Brachet, who was appointed to the director-general position in 1997 by a previous government, had been expected to leave for some time, Space News reported, because of strained relations with CNES president Alain Bensoussan and because of a new government elected in May.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  French Research Ministry press release (in French)