(Photo Credit: ESA/P.Sebirot)
Roger-Maurice Bonnet, born in Dourdan (Essonne, France) on December 23, 1937, passed away on January 19, 2026 in Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme). Roger was a pioneer in solar space physics, a giant of global space science, and an outstanding colleague, mentor, and friend.
After his PhD in 1968 at the Service d’Aéronomie, Roger became the founder and director of the Laboratory of Stellar and Planetary Physics (LPSP) in Verrières-le-Buisson – now the Institute of Space Astrophysics (IAS) in Orsay – from 1969 to 1983, then Director of Science of the European Space Agency (ESA) from 1983 to 2001, then President of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) from 2002 to 2010 and Executive Director of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI), from 2003 to 2012. An immense presence and an exceptional leader !!
As Director of Science of the European Space Agency, among many, many accomplishments, he contributed greatly to the success of SOHO–Cluster, cornerstone of Horizon 2000, from the coupling of the two missions and their selection to his unwavering support during the problems encountered by one (the “loss” of SOHO in 1998) and the other (the failure of the Cluster launch in 1996). It should also be noted that the two missions thus coupled were precursors of space weather.
There are many articles about his passing (see below), and this brief notice is intended only to remind us of this enormous and sad loss for the world’s space science research community and his many friends and colleagues.
A ceremony will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 3:15 p.m., at the Amable Tuisat crematorium (Clermont Ferrand).
Ad astra per aspera
Links: Air & Cosmos, IAS
And also: Wikipédia, ESA Special Publication, Futura
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John Leibacher and Jean-Claude Vial