Roger-Maurice Bonnet

Born in Dourdan on 23 December 1937, Bonnet graduated from the University of Paris, completing his doctoral thesis in 1968.^[2] From 1969 to 1983, he founded and directed the Laboratoire de physique stellaire et planétaire [fr], where he developed the ultraviolet imaging spectrometer for the NASA heliophysics satellite OSO-8, launched on 21 June 1975.^[2] He also developed a Transition Region Camera for Black Brant rockets in 1979, 1980, and 1982.^[2] He also contributed to the development of the Halley Multicolour Camera with the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research for the Giotto.^[2] From 1978 to 1980, he was head of the Committee of the Scientific Council of the European Space Agency (ESA).^[2] He would later play a key role in the development of replicas for lost satellites^[3] and the creation of the Living Space Programme.^[2] From 2001 to 2006, he headed the ESA's Aurora program, which gave way to the ExoMars program.^[4]

Bonnet died on 19 January 2026, at the age of 88.^[5]

• Officer of the Legion of Honour (1990)^[6]