The Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) announces the publication of an interview with Hermann Bondi in its collection dedicated to the Oral History of Europe in Space.
An important figure in the history of the European space programme, Hermann Bondi (1919–2005) was Director General of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) from 1967 to 1971. He was notable for his scientific achievements as well as for his capacity to administer and shape high-level international science policy.
Born in Vienna, Sir Hermann Bondi left Austria for England to study at Cambridge, where he became a research fellow at Trinity College in 1943 and an Assistant Lecturer in Mathematics at Cambridge University in 1945. In addition to his academic career, which eventually took him to King’s College London, he served the United Kingdom at high levels as chief scientist or scientific advisor in the areas of defence, energy and the environment. He took up his role at ESRO after having been nominated for the post by the government of the United Kingdom.
As a scientist, Bondi was especially known for his discoveries in general relativity. Together with two other colleagues, Bondi introduced the steady-state theory of the expanding universe in 1948. The steady-state theory was an alternative to Big Bang cosmology and presented the view that the universe has no beginning or end in time.
The oral history interview with Bondi was conducted by Professor John Krige and took place in Palermo on November 5, 1992. It is part of the first set of interviews conducted in the 1990s by senior historians John Krige, Arturo Russo, and Lorenza Sebesta in the framework of the European Space Agency History Project. The interview covers Bondi’s educational background and early career; his appointment as Director General of ESRO in 1967; the Large Astronomical Satellite (LAS) Debate; TD-1 and TD-2; and the principle of juste retour. Moreover, other significant space scientists including Pierre Auger, Umberto Montalenti, and Luigi Broglio were mentioned over the course of the interview.
About the ESA holdings at the HAEU
The HAEU has hosted the historical archives of the ESA since the signature of a first deposit agreement between the ESA and European University Institute on 12 May 1989. The two organisations have signed further agreements, the most recent being in December 2020.
The ESA-related holdings comprise the European Preparatory Commission for Space Research (COPERS), the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), the European Conference on Satellite Communications (CETS), the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), the European Space Conference (ESC), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Moreover, ESA funds up to two archival grants annually though the European Space Agency Post-graduate Research Grant Programme.
Photo credit: Professor Hermann Bondi, Director General of ESRO, 1969, by H. Burer © ESA ECSR.