I am an engineering graduate of the Munich University of Applied Sciences and I have been working for Astrium since 1996.
This is my third launch campaign. After the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) launched with STS-99 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA in 2000 and MetOp (Meteorological Operational Satellite) launched from Baikonur, Kazahkstan, in 2006, I have now been with the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory since February this year at the European Spaceport (Centre Spatial Guyanais) in Kourou, French Guiana. So I'm familiar with all three 'big' launch sites in the world.
I am what's known as the 'Floor Manager' for Herschel. My responsibility is the coordination of the AIT (Assembly, Integration & Test) activities for the satellite. I have to organise and optimise the work through a 'near-term planning' on a weekly basis. I'm the focal point of all operations for safety reasons. I have to prepare and check the skin-connector configuration in accordance with procedures with my team. With the Operational Constraints Sheet, I will give the go-ahead for the Check-Out Team to operate the spacecraft.
