Death of Roger Maurice Bonnet
It is with deep sadness that the Académie de l’air et de l’espace announces the death of Professor Roger-Maurice Bonnet on January 19, 2026. An honorary member of our institution and an eminent figure in the scientific world, he will remain forever present in the collective memory of the international space community.
Born in Dourdan (France) on December 23, 1937, Roger-Maurice Bonnet has dedicated his life to astronomy and the scientific exploration of space. After studying physics and astronomy at the University of Paris, he obtained his doctorate in science in 1968 and embarked on an exceptional career at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), before taking on leading responsibilities at the European Space Agency (ESA).
His role as Director of ESA’s scientific program from 1983 to 2001 marked a turning point in the history of European space science. He was the architect of the long-term scientific program Horizon 2000, which put Europe firmly at the forefront of international scientific missions, from Giotto to Rosetta, including Hipparcos, ISO, XMM-Newton and major contributions to the Hubble Space Telescope mission.
In addition to his duties at ESA, Roger-Maurice Bonnet was Professor at the University of Liège and Executive Director of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Berne. He also chaired COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) from 2002 to 2010, helping to strengthen global scientific cooperation.
A corresponding and then full member of the Académie de l’air et de l’espace since 1989, he became an honorary member on December 31, 2012. Throughout his career, he has honoured our institution with his intellectual rigour, his commitment to science and his open-mindedness.
Author of over 150 scientific publications, books and reference articles, Roger-Maurice Bonnet has inspired generations of researchers and explorers of the cosmos. His contributions have earned him numerous international distinctions, including the CNES Silver Medal, the NASA Public Service Medal, the COSPAR Award, and the Von Karman Award from the International Academy of Astronautics.
The Académie de l’air et de l’espace shares the grief of his family, friends and the entire scientific community. We have lost a great scientist, a mentor and a friend, whose legacy will continue to enlighten the future of space research.
A tribute will be paid to his memory at a forthcoming meeting.
