A Wet Tradition Returns to European Launch Facility

KOUROU,French Guiana -- A tradition once thought relegated to the space industry'sadventuresome past was revived with gusto late Oct. 13 when French militaryofficials decided that everyone involved in the launch of the Syracuse 3telecommunications satellite would be thrown, fully clothed, into the poolduring a post-launch dinner.

The sightof satellite manufacturing officials and arms-procurement agency managers --even a rear admiral -- being carried from their dinner tables and tossed intothe water regardless of what they thought of the idea was one of the morememorable events of the evening following the successful launch of the Frenchmilitary telecommunications satellite and PanAmSat's Galaxy 15 cable-televisionbroadcast spacecraft.

As the intentionsof a group of uniformed French military officials became clear, prospectivetargets hurriedly shed glasses and wallets before being carted off and hurledinto the water. Only the lucky ones were able to remove their shoes in time.

AlcatelAlenia Space President Pascale Sourisse, whose straight-laced manner is one ofher signature traits, had dismissed the idea that she might be one of the victims,saying Alcatel Alenia -- which built the Syracuse 3A satellite -- was here onbehalf of its customer, the French arms procurement agency (DGA). Judging fromthe way she was dressed, Sourisse did not appear to think the pool-toss frenzywould reach all the way to her.

But it did.Francois Fayard, head of DGA's space division -- dripping wet in his uniform --apparently made Sourisse an offer she could not refuse. Soon enough she was inthe drink, alongside her customer, Fayard.

Oneofficial said the move was the kind of customer-relations initiative thatcannot be purchased. The DGA contract with Alcatel Alenia for the constructionand launch of up to three Syracuse 3 satellites -- the third has yet to beordered -- is valued at up to 1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion).

Alcatel isalso a principal subcontractor to Thales Group of France for the Syracuse 3ground network, including some 600 communications terminals for the French armyand navy.

Thepool-tossing of customers of the Arianespace commercial launch consortium was arespected ritual following successful launches at Europe's Guiana Space Centerhere in the 1980s and early 1990s. But it all but disappeared as the launchesbecame more business-like affairs.