ESA Director General receives NASA medal
ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service medal at a ceremony held at ESA headquarters in Paris on 23 January. The medal was presented by NASA's European representative Karen Feldstein in recognition of his advocacy of transatlantic cooperation with NASA. An accompanying letter from Daniel Goldin, who was NASA administrator at the time of writing, said: 'Through your dedication, ESA has assumed a major leadership role in the development and operation of the International Space Station.' The letter continues: 'Your dedication and hard work have produced significant ESA contributions to the advancement of knowledge in space and Earth sciences...The contributions of the European space agency to international cooperation in space exploration under your stewardship continue to flourish as NASA and ESA boldly explore the frontiers of space.' Mr Rodotà said he wanted to share his award with all of ESA's international staff. 'With many countries working together towards a common goal, ESA is an exemplary model of international cooperation within Europe, and I am also very proud of our success in fostering international cooperation beyond the boundaries of the Old Continent.'