Page 35 - The Insurance Times June 2020

INTERVIEW

“Our world is permanently

subject to difficult
challenges…there are multiple

benefits for the people to have
‘positive visions’… Space

projects are exceptional, in this
respect…”

Pierre-Eric Lys

Praveen Gupta (PG): Does the successful SpaceX
mission to the International Space Station (ISS)
by the USA gets it ahead of Russia, in the manned
launch capability?
Pierre Lys (PL): To answer this question, you would have to
look back into the entire history of manned spaceflights. It
Pierre-Eric Lys is both a space and telecom scientist who
all started back in the days of cold war between USA and
successfully dabbled in space insurance for many years. He
Soviet Union. Both parties have had their own path – with
started as the Director of Space Risks at Allianz.
USA flying to the moon in the late 60’s and Russia flying long
Subsequently founded Paris based Spaceco, later moving it
duration spaceflights using their Mir station in the late 80’s.
across to Dubai – where he founded another successful As of today, the longest duration flight record is still held by
space insurance venture Elesco. It eventually became a cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, who spent 438 consecutive days
world leader. An ace competitive sailor, Pierre is also a onboard Mir in 1994-1995. China later joined the club in
helicopter pilot. During the last five years he is involved in 2011. The ISS was then put together as a joint effort
aeronautical research on solar power stratospheric UAVs and between Russia and Western countries, at the end of the
other humanitarian projects. Pierre is a keen observer of 90’s.
anything and everything to do with space. In this
Talking about the manned rated launch vehicles – USA
conversation he highlights the race, rivalry, and
developed the Space Shuttle, which was operated between
collaboration within the exclusive space club. He recalls the 1981 and 2011, now replaced by SpaceX Falcon 9. Russia
magic of live launches from the launch pads and how they has used the Soyuz rocket and its evolutions and has flown
sent his adrenaline gushing. In his view space projects fuel nearly 2000 times since 1966. Russia remains today the most
‘positive visions’ thereby helping cope with the challenges
we face today. The International Space Station, he believes, Russia remains today the most
is the safest place to be in these times!
experienced country in launching and
Interview of Mr Pierre-Eric Lys with Mr Praveen Gupta
FCII, Chartered Insurer. Mr Gupta is the former MD and flying humans into space. Their
CEO of Raheja QBE. A recognised thought leader, Mr technology is getting old but has
Gupta currently pursues interests in Climate Change,
Diversity, Tech and Governance. The interview has been reached an unprecedented level of
reproduced from his blog www.thediversityblog.com with reliability
his Permission.

The Insurance Times, June 2020 35