Share this page :

RAMSES: ISAE-SUPAERO at the heart of a historic planetary defense mission

Publication Date

20 January 2026

Category

Research

Tag

DEOS

Research

Space

The SIA seismometer developed by ISAE-SUPAERO is a world first for exploring the asteroid Apophis.

Apophis 2029: an exceptional encounter with science

ISAE-SUPAERO is taking another major step forward in space exploration with its participation in the European Space Agency’s (ESA)RAMSES mission (Rapid Apophis Mission for SpacE Safety). At the heart of this Planetary Defence mission is the SIA (Seismic Instrument for Asteroids) seismometer, developed by the SSPA team in the DEOS department with the support of CNES and in collaboration with the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, which will achieve a world first by recording the seismic activity of a near-Earth asteroid.

On Friday 13 April 2029, the asteroid (99942) Apophis will pass just 31,600 km from Earth – less than a tenth of the distance between the Earth and the Moon. This exceptional close passage, visible to the naked eye from Europe, is not dangerous for our planet, but represents a unique scientific opportunity to understand the behaviour and properties of near-Earth asteroids.

Approved by the ESA Ministerial Council on 27 November 2025, the RAMSES mission will be launched in spring 2028 and will reach Apophis in February 2029, two months before its historic flyby of our planet.

SIA: the seismometer developed at ISAE-SUPAERO

A technological and scientific feat

The SIA seismometer is the culmination of several years of research and development by the SSPA (Space Systems for Planetology and Applications)team in the DEOS department at ISAE-SUPAERO. This instrument will be deployed on the surface of Apophis by one of the two CubeSats on the RAMSES mission, marking the first time a seismometer has been deployed on a small celestial body.

“This mission will represent a major advance in our understanding of asteroids,” explains Naomi Murdoch, Research Director at ISAE-SUPAERO and Scientific Manager of the SIA seismometer. “Since the beginning of planetary exploration, seismometers have been key instruments for probing the interior of planetary bodies. They have already been deployed on the surface of the Moon, Mars and Venus, but never before on an asteroid!”

An exceptional mobilisation of the SSPA team

“A large part of the SSPA team at ISAE-SUPAERO is involved in the RAMSES mission and in the development of this revolutionary instrument,” explains Alexandre Cadu, Researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO and Systems Engineer at the SIA. The team’s contributions cover all technical and scientific aspects:

Instrumental development: mechanical and electronic design of the seismometer, performance and space qualification tests under extreme conditions, integration with the CubeSat.
Scientific preparation: simulation of the effects of tidal forces on the Apophis asteroid, study of the propagation of seismic waves in asteroids, characterisation of mechanical properties.
Operations and analysis: operations planning, in-flight instrument acceptance, data analysis, geophysical interpretation of recordings.

Internationally recognised French expertise

ISAE-SUPAERO is part of a tradition of French excellence in the internal sounding of asteroids, as well as in planetary seismology with the InSightmission . The RAMSES mission’s low-frequency radar, developed at the Grenoble Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics (IPAG/UGA) and already used on the Hera mission, will complement the observations of the SIA seismometer to provide a complete picture of Apophis’ internal structure.

Major scientific objectives

The RAMSES mission aims to characterise Apophis precisely before, during and after its passage close to the Earth. The observations will enable us to measure :

the mass, density and porosity of the asteroid,

its internal cohesion and geological structure,

modifications induced by tidal forces: rotational variations, surface movements, internal rearrangements,

the seismic properties that reveal its composition and history.

“The SIA seismometer will enable us to probe the interior of Apophis and observe how its internal structure reacts to the Earth’s tidal forces,” explains Raphael Garcia, Professor at ISAE-SUPAERO and SIA Project Leader. “These data will feed directly into Planetary Defence strategies by allowing us to better predict the response of asteroids to external forces, whether natural or applied by a deflection device.

The RAMSES mission will be completed in August 2029, after six months of intensive observations. The data collected by the SIA seismometer and the other scientific instruments will be the subject of in-depth analyses for several years, enriching our knowledge of asteroids and strengthening our ability to protect our planet.

A constellation of missions around Apophis

RAMSES will not be alone in observing Apophis in 2029. The Japanese DESTINY+ mission, launched with RAMSES, will carry out a preliminary flyby of the asteroid, while the American OSIRIS-APEX mission will begin an extended visit after the close passage. “OSIRIS-APEX is planning a thruster-surface interaction experiment on the Apophis asteroid,” explains Cecily Sunday, researcher and member of the RAMSES science team. “Within the SSPA team, we are developing numerical simulations to study the surface movements generated during this experiment, as well as during the landing of the RAMSES CubeSat”.

ISAE-SUPAERO, a major player in space exploration

ISAE-SUPAERO’s participation in the RAMSES mission confirms its position as a recognised player in space exploration. The SSPA team in the DEOS department has already contributed to several major planetary missions.

Mars: from InSight to Perseverance

On the Red Planet, the SSPA team took part in NASA’s InSight mission with the SEIS seismometer, which revolutionised our understanding of the internal structure of Mars. The team also contributed to the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission with the SuperCamMars microphone , making it possible to record the sounds of Mars for the first time and to analyse the properties of its atmosphere. This research has been published in leading international scientific journals, including Nature and Science.

Moon: the return of seismology with Artemis IV

The SSPA team was recently selected by NASA to take part in the Artemis IV mission, scheduled for 2028. They are contributing to the development of the SPSS (South Pole Seismic Station) instrument, the most sensitive seismological station ever designed to study the Moon’s internal structure at the South Pole.

Current and future missions: expertise and ambition

Beyond Mars and the Moon, the DEOS department is participating in the Japanese JAXA MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission, which will visit the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos and deploy the Franco-German IDEFIX rover on Phobos. The SSPA team is also contributing to the JUICE (Jovian system), BepiColombo (Mercury) and ExoMars missions with PACIS, an instrument that will study the atmosphere of Mars during the probe’s entry and landing.

“This diversified expertise in space instrumentation, combined with an in-depth understanding of planetary geophysics, positions ISAE-SUPAERO as a recognised player in the exploration of the solar system,” comments David Mimoun, Professor at ISAE-SUPAERO and SSPA team leader.

The RAMSES mission thus represents a new stage in this scientific adventure, paving the way for future discoveries about the small bodies of the solar system.

Ramses mission

Related Content

View Other Pages

Pages

Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory - Airbus DS & ArianeGroup

Created in 2017 and renewed until 2027, this sponsorship partnership brings together Airbus Defense & Space and Ariane Group.

Aerospace

Chair

Company

Videos

ISAE-SUPAERO and Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology work on student space exploration projects

ISAE-SUPAERO received a visit from Professor Shine S R of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) on December 7 and 8. ISAE-SUPAERO signed a co #cooperation agreement with the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in 2020 and this visit was a perfect opportunity to discuss the deepening of #training and #research collaborations between our two institutions. ISAE-SUPAERO and IIST have already been cooperating for 4 years within the framework of Franco-Indian collaborative academic projects, involving students from ISAE-SUPAERO and IIST on subjects related to space exploration missions and with the participation of experts from CNES, IRAP and the Indian space agency (ISRO)!

Space

Pages

Job offers

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Testimonials

Testimony from Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, elected member of the Air and Space Academy

DCAS

Space

Teacher researcher

Videos

Discover... the ISAE-SUPAERO radio anechoic chamber

ISAE-SUPAERO – as a centre for training through research, research training and innovation – has a wide range of research equipment used within its six research departments. Today, we present the radio anechoic chamber! Drones and nanosatellites have many applications in the media, industry, agriculture and telecommunications sectors. These two types of platforms share the common constraint of having to carry complex systems in a small space. One of the key elements of on-board communication systems is the antenna, which must also be compact and lightweight. ISAE-SUPAERO, in collaboration with ENAC and ANYWAVES, is currently developing dielectric antennas made by 3D printing ceramics that meet the demanding criteria for integration on drones and nanosatellites. Thanks to the anechoic chamber available at ISAE-SUPAERO, researchers involved in the development of these original antennas can accurately characterise their radiation properties and thus validate the new technological solutions proposed.

DCAS

DEOS

Videos

Discover... ISAE-SUPAERO's mobile ground robots

ISAE-SUPAERO - as a center for training through research, research training and innovation - has a wide range of research equipment used in its 6 research departments. Today, we'd like to introduce you to mobile ground robots! Whether robots, airplanes, cars or even telephones, all these technologies are equipped with perception systems. Depending on the application, these sources of information make it possible to perceive the environment in which a system is evolving, and also to measure its own characteristics, such as speed or acceleration. This multitude of data must then be used, cross-referenced and interpreted within the navigation system to obtain the vehicle's position, but also, in the case of mapping applications, that of surrounding objects. Within the DEOS NAVIRRES team, researchers are interested in navigation systems and their application in complex environments where sensor information may be degraded, erroneous or unavailable. Mobile acquisition platforms are being developed. These are equipped with cameras, lidars, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers, radars and inertial units, with the aim of obtaining the most efficient navigation system for the application in question. One of the team's research themes is the analysis of the degradation of sensor information, enabling the development of new robust and adaptive algorithms to compensate for environmental constraints. The aim is to make navigation systems more accurate and safer, for critical applications requiring strong reliability constraints, such as autonomous cars or exploration robotics.

DEOS

News

CASTOR Chair: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO, a win-win partnership

The official signing of the industrial chair, called CASTOR, between Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO took place on Tuesday 9 July at the institute's campus. This research partnership contributes to research into carbon-free aircraft.

Aeronautics

Chair

Company

Videos

Arnaud Prost, ESA reserve astronaut and ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus: “I was incredibly lucky to be here”

Fighter pilot and reserve astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), Arnaud Prost returned to his former school on Thursday March 28 to meet 200 secondary school students as part of the ISAE SUPAERO OSE program. It was an opportunity for him to recall the “great memories” of his student experience at ISAE-SUPAERO, his long-standing commitment to the student social outreach program and the “Aquanauts” scheme he set up with OSE l'ISAE-SUPAERO. And in passing, he offers a few words of advice to young people who might dream of following in his footsteps: “Don't let yourself be convinced that one of these paths isn't for you!” A 2017 graduate of ISAE-SUPAERO, Arnaud Prost is among those selected for the ESA Astronaut Class of 2022, alongside Sophie Adenot and Anthea Comellini, both also alumni of the school. They join other illustrious ESA astronauts who have already studied at the school: Thomas Pesquet, Luca Parmitano and Samantha Cristoforetti. Since 1970, ISAE-SUPAERO has contributed to the progress of the space age through its training, research and innovation activities. As the only organization in France to offer degree courses (engineering, master's, specialized master's, doctorate) covering all 22 space-related themes identified by CNES, the Institute offers a royal road to space careers. For Arnaud Prost's full profile: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/A

Alumni

Diversity program

Space

Videos

3 questions to Marie Delaroche, 3ᵉ year student and MDRS 293 crew commander

Since February 18, seven ISAE-SUPAERO engineering students have been living a simulated Martian life and carrying out experiments in collaboration with CNES and several research laboratories at The Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in UTAH (USA)! For the second time, the mission is led by a woman: Marie Delaroche, a passionate #spaceexplorer, who was already part of crew 275 departing in 2023. We asked her 3 questions to find out more about the challenges of this mission and her feelings as #flightcommander! Alongside her, three young women and three young men in their 2ᵉ year of #engineering studies have taken on the roles of astronomer, scientist, botanist, journalist, health worker and onboard engineer. They are all members of the Mars Club ISAE-SUPAERO, a student association for the popularization of science focused on the Red Planet and the missions dedicated to its exploration and study. They are currently experimenting with AI4U, the artificial intelligence that assists astronauts in their daily tasks (environmental measurements, voice recognition, emergency exercises). They are also conducting a science popularization experiment in collaboration with secondary school pupils. Inspired by the film The Martian, in which an astronaut grows potatoes on the Red Planet, the aim of this experiment is to compare plant growth in Martian soil with growth in terrestrial soil! To follow their adventure, click here: https://mars.bde-supaero.fr/

Space

Student club

Student life

News

Researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO contributed to the success of the first images from ESA's Sentinel 2c observation satellite.

The Sentinel 2c Earth observation satellite, launched on 5 September as part of ESA's Copernicus mission, has delivered its first images. This success is partly due to the image sensor research team (CIMI) at ISAE-SUPAERO, which designed and oversaw the manufacture of the visible image sensors.

DEOS

Space

News

Focus on... quantum physics at ISAE-SUPAERO: a student journey

ISAE-SUPAERO has been integrating quantum physics into its training and research activities uninterruptedly since 1980, and for the past two decades has been offering courses linked to the second quantum revolution.

DEOS

Doctoral student

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Pages

Connected Systems (SysCo) Scientific Group

The scientific dynamic of the “Connected Systems” (SysCo) scientific group focuses primarily on network-related issues in aerospace applications, i.e. space communications, embedded networks and certain types of connected systems.

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Spring Semester in Aeronautical Engineering

Immerse yourself in the world of aerospace in Toulouse, the European aerospace capital, with a semester taught in English combining excellent courses, cultural immersion, and proximity to major industrial players.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

Videos

The Dart mission has hit its target: explanations from Dr Naomi Murdoch, planetary scientist at ISAE-SUPAERO

Researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO are participating in this first planetary defence mission. Dr. Naomi Murdoch, a researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO and scientific member of the #DART and #HERA missions, comments on the objectives of DART and those of the European HERA mission, which will arrive in the area in 2026 to characterise the crater left by DART and study the internal structure of the asteroid #Dimorphos!

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

ISAE-SUPAERO acquires an innovative new additive manufacturing equipment

ISAE-SUPAERO and the Institut Clément Ader (ICA) have just acquired a new Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) machine. This cutting-edge equipment opens up new prospects for research, teaching and innovation in the aeronautical field.

Aeronautics

News

Research

Videos

Perseverance collects first Martian sounds: explanation by Dr. Naomi Murdoch & Dr. Alexander Stott

Dr Naomi Murdoch, researcher in space instrumentation and planetary science, and Dr Alexander Stott, post-doctoral fellow, tell us more about the physical characteristics of Mars' atmosphere, in particular the speed of sound and its attenuation. These analyses were published in Nature on April 1, 2022 by an international team led by a teacher-researcher from Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University, and including scientists from CNRS and ISAE-SUPAERO.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

Videos

The sound of a Martian dust devil captured by the SuperCam microphone on Perseverance

This video and audio show the results obtained by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover and its SuperCam microphone when recording the sounds of a Martian dust devil passing overhead on 27 September 2021, the 215th Martian day or sol of the mission. The dust devil was 25 metres wide and at least 118 metres high, moving at a speed of approximately 19 km/h. This is the first time such a recording has been made, as capturing a dust devil requires a bit of luck. Indeed, it flew over the rover at a time when all of Perseverance's sensors measuring wind, pressure, temperature and dust, plus the NavigationXXX (Navcam) camera, were running. This allowed scientists to combine sounds, images and atmospheric data. The unique combination of this data, along with atmospheric modelling, enabled researchers to estimate the dimensions of the dust devil. Scientists cannot accurately predict when these vortices will occur. Rovers such as Perseverance and Curiosity monitor them regularly. When scientists notice that they are more frequent at a certain time of day or approaching from a certain direction, they focus their monitoring to try to capture a dust devil with all the sensors at their disposal. > To better understand the video, it shows three rows of images: - the row

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

MMX, Idefix® and cameras to understand Mars' moon

Studying the formation and origin of Mars' moons and bringing back samples: this is the extraordinary, ambitious international mission led by JAXA, in which ISAE-SUPAERO is participating alongside CNES.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

ISAE-SUPAERO's researchers are working on establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

While last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission, the last manned trip to the Moon, the development of ‘New Space’ has revived the space sector's interest in lunar exploration.

DCAS

Space

News

Ariane 6: at ISAE-SUPAERO, researchers are already working on the future

The European Ariane 6 launcher incorporates major technological innovations such as the Vinci engine, capable of reigniting in space. At ISAE-SUPAERO, researchers are tackling the challenges posed by the rocket engines of tomorrow.

Space

News

Henry DE PLINVAL, portrait of ISAE-SUPAERO's new Director of Research and Educational Resources

Henry de Plinval arrived on the ISAE-SUPAERO campus last August, and has taken up his new post as the school's Director of Research and Educational Resources. Portrait of Henry Plinval.

News

Portrait

Research

Videos

Discover... the ISAE-SUPAERO plasma bench

ISAE-SUPAERO – as a centre for training through research, research training and innovation – has a wide range of research equipment used within its six research departments. Today, we present white plasma! With the emergence of #NewSpace, more and more CubeSats are being launched. On these small platforms (CubeSats consist of one or more standard 10 cm cubes), several subsystems must coexist. While electric propulsion solutions save space and weight on board, their electromagnetic compatibility with on-board communication systems is still being questioned today. ISAE-SUPAERO, in collaboration with CNES and LAPLACE, is currently developing simulation tools and characterisation methods to provide engineers with tools for designing CubeSats and effective testing methods to address this issue. This experimental bench developed at ISAE-SUPAERO allows the characterisation of a plasma discharge representative of an electric thruster, as well as the measurement of its interactions with microwave signals generated by nearby communication antennas. Finally, the experimental data obtained will be used to calibrate the numerical analysis tools currently being developed by our teams.

DEOS

News

Focus on... quantum physics in ISAE-SUPAERO training courses

DEOS

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Teacher researcher

Pages

Prior Experience Accreditation

The validation of prior experience is an individual right enshrined in the French Labor Code and Education Code. It enables candidates to obtain all - or part - of a professional certification (Diploma, Professional Title, Certificate of Professional Qualification), based on their professional, salaried or non-salaried and/or voluntary experience. This scheme can be used if the candidate is seeking personal recognition, or more generally to support a professional project that he or she wishes to put into practice.

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Aerospace

News

3 questions to... Loïc Jecker, S-Cube member from 2011 to 2013

Meet Loïc Jecker, member of S-Cube - SUPAERO Space Section - ISAE-SUPAERO's experimental rocket club, from 2011 to 2013.

Space

Student club

Student life

News

DART: ISAE-SUPAERO students publish new scientific findings in Nature Communications

Naomi Murdoch, a planetary science researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, is actively involved in scientific analysis and data interpretation for NASA's DART mission.

DEOS

Space

Pages

Institute for Sustainable Aviation

Created in 2021 on the initiative of internationally renowned academic institutions with longstanding academic expertise in aeronautics and air transport, the ISA is an institute dedicated to the challenges of aviation's transition to sustainability.

Aeronautics

Aviation

Decarbonization

Videos

ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space organize an international training course on space systems

Twenty engineers from the Peruvian space agency CONIDA (Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacial) attended a training course in Toulouse designed jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space! The aim? To develop their skills in space systems and space missions. The entire program was placed under the academic responsibility of AnnaFederica Urbano, a lecturer and researcher in space systems and launchers at ISAE-SUPAERO. The engineers took part in a preliminary satellite design project. At the end of the five-week course, they all obtained the Certificate of Advanced Studies awarded by ISAE-SUPAERO. For ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space, this experience opens up prospects for future collaborations in training courses of this type for international customers and industrial and institutional partners. For more information: https://www.isae-supaero.fr/fr/actualites/airbus-defence-and-space-et-l-isae-supaero-forment-des-membres-de-l-agence/

Programme

Space

Events

"Les Entretiens de Toulouse - Training through debate”: April 9 & 10, 2025 on the ISAE-SUPAERO campus

"Les Entretiens de Toulouse" has become a must-attend event for the aerospace industry. A forum for the exchange and transmission of skills, this training through debate provides an opening onto subjects with high industrial stakes. The 2025 edition of the Entretiens de Toulouse will take place on April 9 & 10, 2025, in person, at ISAE-SUPAERO!

Aeronautics

Artificial intelligence

Defence

News

SILOE, an experimental drop tower project selected by ESA and an ESPACE grant for Alexia Duchêne

The SILOE experimental drop tower project aims to study the cohesion of planetary surfaces. This student project is supported by ESA as part of its European ‘Academy Experiments’ program. Alexia Duchêne, SILOE project leader, has been awarded a scholarship of excellence from the Fondation des Ailes de France.

DEOS

Space

Pages

Learning, Decision, Optimisation (ADO) Scientific Group

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Theory, Modelling, and Systems Engineering (ThéMIS) Scientific Group

The “Theory, Modeling and Systems Engineering” (ThéMIS) scientific group is dedicated to the study and development of advanced methods for the design, modeling and validation of complex systems.

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

News

Valentin LELOUP, quantum and optical telecommunications systems engineer: the quantum and space tandem

Valentin Leloup, R&D engineer at Thales, combines two fields of expertise: quantum physics and space. He holds an engineering degree from ISAE-SUPAERO 2022 and a Master 2 in fundamental physics and applications.

Alumni

News

Research

News

Training new skills for the future of space: COMETES is launched!

Company

Job

Space

Pages

Navigation, Radar, and Remote Sensing (NAVIR² eS) Scientific Group

The “Navigation, Radar and Remonte Sensing” (NAVIR² eS) scientific group is interested in the theoretical study of information sources and hybridization approaches for autonomous vehicle navigation applications.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

News

3 questions to... Marie-Bertille Mosnier, S-Cube member from 2018 to 2022

Meet Marie-Bertille Mosnier, member of the S-Cube - SUPAERO Space Section - ISAE-SUPAERO's experimental rocket club, from 2018 to 2022.

Space

Student club

Student life

Videos

Discover... ISAE-SUPAERO's cryogenic equipment for electrical testing

ISAE-SUPAERO - as a center for training through research, research training and innovation - has a wide range of research equipment used by its 6 research departments. Today, we present our cryogenic equipment for electrical testing! ISAE-SUPAERO's image sensor research group (CIMI) studies sensors in the visible wavelength range, but also sensors in different spectral ranges such as infrared. Detection of these longer wavelengths requires materials other than silicon for detection, combined with a silicon readout circuit for information processing, all operating at cryogenic temperature. In this context, ISAE-SUPAERO has developed electrical and electro-optical characterization benches for low-temperature microelectronic circuits, in order to extract and model their behavior and performance. These characterization benches can address both very simple circuits, such as transistors, and complex components (complete sensors) with up to 120 inputs/outputs.

DEOS

Pages

French Space Defence Academy

In order to drive and implement the ambitions set out in the Space Defence Strategy, the creation of a space defence expertise sector offering attractive programmes is a major challenge. In this regard, the French Space Defence Academy (ASD) offers programmes available within the Armed Forces Ministry and leverages synergies between them to provide a personalised approach to space programmes.

Defence

Education

Partner

News

CIME 2025: Where Science Meets Adventure to Push the Limits of Exploration

At ISAE-SUPAERO, the 2025 Interdisciplinary Congress on Extreme Worlds (CIME) gathers researchers and adventurers determined to push human limits in the planet’s most extreme environments.

Exploration

Innovation

Space

Testimonials

Testimony of Giuseppe Cataldo, alumnus of the 2010 Engineer ISAE-SUPAERO programme

Alumni

Space

Testimonial

News

Mission Insight: the contribution of researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO

The InSight lander deployed by NASA recorded two earthquakes that occurred on Mars in 2021, providing scientists with exceptional data, the first direct observations ever made of a planet's core.

DEOS

Space

Testimonials

Testimonial of Baptiste Sigal, Advanced Master® TAS ASTRO student (class) 2025

Advanced Master

Aerospace

Space

Events

French-Korean workshop: “Cryogenic hydrogen for aviation”.

Event

Research

Science

News

Meteorite impact reveals new insights into Mars

In September 2021, NASA's InSight mission recorded a meteorite impact. Analysis of the data by scientists has revolutionised our understanding of the internal structure of Mars and its evolution. Its mantle is not homogeneous, as previously assumed, but composed of a layer of molten silicates overlying the core. Press release from the IPGP - Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris: ‘The InSight mission reveals a molten layer at the base of the Martian mantle’.

DEOS

Space

News

Unlocking the secrets of earthquakes with stratospheric balloons

A team of DEOS researchers has achieved a significant milestone in the use of infrasound data captured by stratospheric balloons to understand seismic signals. This breakthrough, published in Earth Planets Space*, opens up new perspectives for the study of earthquakes, both on Earth and on other planets.

DEOS

Researcher

Science

Pages

Integrated Image Sensors (CIMI) Scientific Group

The “Integrated Image Sensors” (CIMI) scientific group, develops and characterizes active-pixel image sensors (CMOS Image Sensors (CIS)) on silicon for visible and infrared radiation.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Our Semester & Short Programmes

Discover ISAE-SUPAERO's academic excellence through our semester and short programmes, open to international students.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

News

Mars hit by meteorites more often than previously thought

Two researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO contributed to new discoveries based on data from the seismometer sent to Mars during the InSight mission, one of whose main objectives was to measure seismic activity on the Red Planet.

Space

News

ISAE-SUPAERO and Spaceflight Institute join forces to train tomorrow's manned flight experts

On July 29, 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO and the Spaceflight Institute signed a partnership agreement for the joint creation of a “Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Spaceflight”. This new semester-long program aims to train a new generation of space professionals, combining academic excellence with operational expertise.

Certificates of advanced studies

Education

Space

News

The Jupiter system: a unique laboratory for a major scientific breakthrough

Nicolas André, teacher-researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, co-authors a major discovery in Nature Communications.

DEOS

Exploration

Space

Videos

Sylvestre Maurice, astrophysicist and ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus

Awarded a prize by the Académie des Sciences in 2020, Sylvestre Maurice #astrophysicist at the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (IRAP) in Toulouse witnessed the landing of the #Perseverance rover on Mars on February 18, 2021. A historic moment for this enthusiast, who is also the scientific manager of the onboard SuperCam instrument. A 1990 graduate of ISAE-SUPAERO, Sylvestre Maurice tells us about his career.

Alumni

Researcher

Space

Videos

Sophie Adenot: from ISAE-SUPAERO to space

Meet Sophie Adenot, astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA) and ISAE-SUPAERO alumna, who answers three questions! 🚀

Alumni

Diversity program

Space

Events

ISAE-SUPAERO will be at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget from June 16 to 22, 2025

ISAE-SUPAERO will be present at the 55ᵉ Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace at Le Bourget from June 16 to 22, 2025!

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Event

News

Apply today for a program at ISAE-SUPAERO or ENAC - École Nationale de l'Aviation Civile!

The TSAAE application platform is now open: discover our world-renowned programs and apply online for the 2026 academic year before November 28 at midnight (French time)!

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Aerospace

News

CASTOR Chair: ISAE-SUPAERO and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse celebrate 1 year of partnership

Aeronautics

Chair

Partnership

Videos

FRENCH SUPERCAM INSTRUMENT RECORDING THE SOUND OF INGENUITY'S 4th FLIGHT

Located 80 meters from the rover at the moment of take-off, the small helicopter rose to 5 meters above the ground before covering a distance of 133 meters before returning to land where it had taken off from. SuperCam's scientific microphone, developed by ISAE-SUPAERO, recorded the sound emitted by the rotation of the Martian drone's blades during its flight. This sound has a characteristic frequency of 84 Hz, equivalent to the low “E” of a piano or the bass voice of a human being. “This is a big surprise for the whole scientific team,” says Naomi Murdoch, a researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO who is studying the data from the microphone. "Tests carried out in a Martian atmosphere simulator to design this instrument, and our theories of sound propagation, indicated that the microphone would have great difficulty picking up the sounds of the helicopter. Indeed, Mars' thin atmosphere strongly attenuates sound transmission. We needed a bit of luck to record the helicopter from such a distance. We're very pleased to have succeeded in obtaining this recording, which is proving to be a goldmine for our understanding of the Martian atmosphere". Developed jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO and a consortium of CNRS laboratories and its partners, coordinated by CNES, SuperCam's microphone is derived from a consumer model adapted to withstand the Martian environment. It pursues 3 substantial scientific and technical objectives of the Mars 2020 mission: Study the sound associated with laser impacts on Martian rocks, to gain a better understanding of their mechanical properties. Improving our understanding of atmospheric phenomena (wind turbulence, dust eddies, wind interactions with the rover, and now with the helicopter). Understanding the sound signature of the rover's various movements (robotic arm and mast operations, driving on normal or uneven ground, pump monitoring, etc.). The microphone was first switched on a few hours after Perseverance landed. It recorded the first Martian sounds generated by turbulence in the atmosphere. It is used daily in conjunction with laser rock ablation for chemical analysis of Mars. ABOUT THE MARS 2020 MISSION: NASA is relying on Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the development of the Mars 2020 mission. SuperCam was developed jointly by LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA) and a consortium of laboratories attached to the CNRS, French universities and research establishments. Several Spanish universities, led by the University of Valladolid, are also contributing to the instrument. CNES is responsible to NASA for the French contribution to SuperCam. The instrument is operated alternately from LANL and the French Operations Center for Science and Exploration (FOCSE) at CNES in Toulouse.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

An exceptional scholarship for an innovative project

Naomi Murdoch, a researcher in physics and planetology at ISAE-SUPAERO, has just been awarded the prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for her planetary body study project called GRAVITE. This ambitious scientific project aims to design a variable gravity machine that will enable the simulation and study of extraterrestrial soils.

DEOS

Scholarship

Space

Pages

Photonics Antenna Microwave PlasmaA (PAMPA) Scientific Group

The “Photonics Antenna Microwave PlasmaA” (PAMPA) scientific group is interested in electromagnetism in the fields of microwaves and photonics, as well as wave-plasma interactions.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

News

Alexandre Bouraoui Takes Gold at the 2025 International Astronautical Congress

Final-year engineering apprentice, specializing in Industrialisation and Methods for Aeronautics and Space, Alexandre Bouraoui was recently honored at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney, where he won the prestigious Hermann Oberth Gold Medal in the Graduate category. We spoke with him about his award and his studies at ISAE-SUPAERO.

Congress

DEOS

Event

News

ISAE-SUPAERO back on mission with Hera

The Hera mission, an international planetary defence mission, is on its way to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which will be struck by DART in 2022. ISAE-SUPAERO is actively collaborating in this international planetary defence programme through the research work of Naomi Murdoch and the SSPA team.

DEOS

Space

Videos

Orbit Your Thesis: ISAE-SUPAERO in zero gravity with the AIM experiment

Artery In Microgravity (#AIM), the first student scientific experiment designed and developed in collaboration since 2018 by ISAE-SUPAERO and Polytechnique Turin, was launched on 23 November 2022 by Space X's Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS)! Selected by the ESA as part of its ‘Orbit your thesis’ programme, AIM aims to study the behaviour of the heart and its arteries in space, in order to determine whether people with heart problems will one day be able to stay there.

Prize

Space

Pages

Innovating in a World of Transition - Safran

The challenges facing the aerospace industry (energy transition, New Space, digitalization) are driving a growing need for professionals with the ability to innovate. Against this backdrop, Safran and ISAE-SUPAERO are creating the Innovating in a World in Transition Chair.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Chair

News

Landing on Mars: a unique experience for seven students

Seven ISAE-SUPAERO students have been selected to join the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the United States. This replica of a Martian base will host the crew for four weeks, during which they will live in conditions similar to those found on Mars. The objective is to conduct experiments in situ in collaboration with research partners.

Space

Student club

Student life

News

ISAE-SUPAERO hosts the first in-person Inter-Agency GNC V&V Workshop

On July 9–10, 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO had the honor of hosting the very first in-person edition of the Inter-Agency GNC V&V Workshop, bringing together more than 150 participants from academia, industry, and major international space agencies.

Event

Research

Workshop

Videos

Training courses: space studies

Find out more about our courses and #information in the field of space! The space dimension is strongly developed within our various training courses, whether in specific streams or dedicated programs. French and international students alike are showing a keen interest in our educational programs in Earth observation and the sciences of the Universe, as well as in the design and operation of space systems. Space research and industry employ many ISAE-SUPAERO engineers. Explore the world of space!

Programme

Space

Videos

Visiting professors at ISAE-SUPAERO: DAN SCHEERES

ISAE-SUPAERO est un établissement d'enseignement supérieur axé sur la recherche et l'innovation, qui s'engage à concilier excellence scientifique, visibilité académique et proximité avec les objectifs industriels. Ses activités de recherche ont contribué à faire de l'école un leader international non seulement en termes de programme d'ingénierie aérospatiale, mais aussi de programmes de troisième cycle, notamment ses masters (MSc) et ses programmes de doctorat en sciences de l'ingénierie. C'est pourquoi de nombreux acteurs internationaux clés de la recherche rendent visite à leurs homologues de l'ISAE-SUPAERO. Nous avons rencontré Dan Sheeres, professeur émérite de l'université du Colorado et titulaire de la chaire A. Richard Seebass au département des sciences de l'ingénierie aérospatiale Ann et H.J. Smead de l'université du Colorado à Boulder. Les recherches de Dan Scheeres couvrent des sujets allant de l'astrodynamique et de la navigation spatiale à la science planétaire et à la mécanique céleste, et il a publié de nombreux articles dans ces domaines. L'astéroïde 8887 a été baptisé « Scheeres » en reconnaissance de ses contributions à la compréhension scientifique de l'environnement dynamique des astéroïdes. Pendant son séjour à l'ISAE-SUPAERO, le professeur Scheeres et l'équipe des systèmes spatiaux pour les applications planétaires ont collaboré à l'analyse des données DART et au développement de concepts visant à étudier la structure interne des astéroïdes lors de futures missions spatiales. De plus, Dan Scheeres et l'ISAE-SUPAERO ont publié conjointement plusieurs articles dans « Nature » sur les astéroïdes et la mission DART.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

ISAE-SUPAERO will be at the Paris Air Show from June 16 to 22, 2025!

Aeronautics

Event

Fair

Events

Les Assises du New Space 2025: discussions and debates on NewSpace!

The 2025 edition of the Assises du New Space will be held this year on July 8-9, 2025 at the Centre des congrès de la Villette - Cité des sciences et de l'industrie in Paris. Aimed at all players in the French space ecosystem, this event is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and debate around NewSpace, and to discover the latest technological innovations and project financing opportunities. Registration is now open!

Conference

Event

Round table

Testimonials

Testimony from Axel Coulon, student (class of 2024) of the TAS ASTRO Advanced Master®

Advanced Master

Space

Testimonial

Pages

Space Systems for Planetology and Applications (SSPA) Scientific Group

The “Space Systems for Planetology and Applications” (SSPA) scientific group focuses on one main area of research: The development of missions and associated technologies for geophysical exploration of the solar system.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Communication and Information Theory (ComiT) Scientific Group

The “Communication and Information Theory” (ComiT) scientific group is involved in the disciplines of digital communications, radar, and channel access techniques. Its fields of application include space systems, civil and military aviation, terrestrial cellular networks and the Internet of Things (IoT).

DEOS

Doctoral program

Doctoral student

News

The 2025 Edmond Brun Prize from the French Academy of Sciences awarded to Annafederica Urbano, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO

On October 28, 2025, the Academy of Sciences awarded the Edmond Brun Prize to Annafederica Urbano, professor of space launch vehicles at ISAE-SUPAERO. This biennial physics award recognizes her entire body of work in the field of space propulsion.

DCAS

News

Prize

Videos

Discover... CMOS image sensors at ISAE-SUPAERO

ISAE-SUPAERO - as a center for training through research, research training and innovation - has a wide range of research equipment used in its 6 research departments. Today, we present CMOS image sensors! CMOS image sensors are playing an increasingly important role in our everyday lives. For several years now, our team at ISAE-SUPAERO has been developing CMOS image sensors with a number of players in the field, and innovating by proposing new architectures and conditions of use requiring studies of both elementary components and more complex structures. Measurements are carried out on transistors and diodes with the help of an under-tip tester and a parametric analyzer enabling very low current measurements (10 aA). Similarly, simple structures containing innovative pixels can be operated with the tester using spike cards coupled to a word generator specially designed for image sensors. All these studies not only contribute to our understanding of the physics of photodetection, but also provide models for our simulators. They are also used to monitor manufacturing processes during the various production phases.

DEOS

News

Mars mission simulation: a scientific experiment, a human adventure

Like nine other ISAE-SUPAERO crews before them, seven students took part in a simulation of life on Mars in the Utah desert in the United States this winter.

Space

Student club

News

Meeting with Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, elected member of the Air and Space Academy

At ISAE-SUPAERO, Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez heads SaCLaB, a research laboratory focusing on future space systems. A professor of space systems engineering, she has just been elected to the French Air and Space Academy.

Award

Space

Teacher researcher

Pages

Scientific and research integrity

ISAE-SUPAERO is one of the signatories of the National Charter of Ethics for Research Professions, adopted in January 2015 by the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) and all national research organizations, and incorporated into the Institute's internal regulations.

DAEP

DCAS

DEOS

News

3 questions to... Ervan Kassarian, S-Cube member from 2015 to 2017

Meet Ervan Kassarian, member of S-Cube - SUPAERO Space Section - ISAE-SUPAERO's experimental rocket club, from 2015 to 2017.

Space

Student club

Student life

News

Listening to the Martian past: ISAE-SUPAERO at the heart of the ExoMars mission

ESA's ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission to explore Mars will carry a unique instrument for recording sound and atmospheric data from the planet. The Institute has been selected by ESA and CNES for this major scientific collaboration.

DEOS

Researcher

Science

Testimonials

Testimony from Alexandre Bouraoui, engineering student by apprenticeship and IAC 2025 Award Winner

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Congress

Pages

Research

At ISAE-SUPAERO, we conduct cutting-edge research in the service of innovation, technological sovereignty and the ecological transition of the aerospace sector, thereby affirming our role as a leading player in the scientific and industrial community.

DAEP

DCAS

DEOS

Pages

Applied Mathematics (MA) Scientific Group

The “Applied Mathematics” (MA) scientific group covers a wide range of topics: Stochastic processes (especially Markov processes), numerical optimization (especially multidisciplinary optimization) and parallel computing, stabilization, control and numerical solution of partial differential equations, and financial engineering.

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Design and Analysis of Critical Systems (CASC) Scientific Group

The “Design and Analysis of Critical Systems” (CASC) scientific group focuses on methods, processes and tools to support System Engineering and Systems Engineering.

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Videos

Sylvestre Maurice presents the SUPERCAM / Martian Exploration educational kit

The ‘SUPERCAM - Martian Exploration’ educational kit project was initiated by five partners: ISAE-SUPAERO, the Toulouse Academy, CNRS, CNES and Cité de l'espace. Under the guidance and supervision of astrophysicist Sylvestre Maurice, first-year students at ISAE-SUPAERO developed this educational tool to raise awareness of space exploration in classrooms, from sixth form to final year. This kit is available to middle and high school teachers and can be adapted to offer educational lessons related to this theme.

Diversity program

Equal opportunities

Researcher

Events

Interdisciplinary Congress on Extreme Worlds - CIME

Do you work in or on extreme environments? Come and take part in the first edition of the Interdisciplinary Congress on Extreme Worlds (CIME)!

Congress

Research

Science

Pages

Our Short Modules

Derived from the Institute's Advanced Master programmes, our short modules are aimed at professionals wishing to develop specific skills in Aeronautics, Space, Project Management, Systems Engineering, or Digital Systems.

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Pages

Support for the Development of the ISAE Group - GIFAS

GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales - French Aerospace Industries Group) supports the development of high-level academic and professional education in aerospace systems at the 6 Grandes Écoles that make up the ISAE Group (ISAE-ENSMA, ISAE-SUPMECA, ESTACA, Ecole de l'Air et de l'Espace, ENAC, ISAE-SUPAERO).

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Chair

Pages

Lasbordes Air Operations Center (COAL)

The Department of Design and Operation of Aeronautical and Space Vehicles (DCAS) is part of the Lasbordes Air Operations Center (COAL), located on an airfield a few kilometers from the ISAE-SUPAERO campus. As part of its aeronautical training and research activities, COAL operates a fleet of 8 light aircraft.

DCAS

Doctoral student

PhD

Testimonials

Testimony of Juan-Carlos DOLADO-PEREZ, alumni of the 2008 Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Alumni

Space

Testimonial

News

Airbus Defence and Space and ISAE-SUPAERO train members of the Peruvian space agency

Twenty engineers from the Peruvian space agency attended a training course in Toulouse, jointly designed by ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space, to develop their skills in the field of space systems and space missions.

DCAS

Short internship

Space

News

Seven ISAE-SUPAERO students set out to conquer Mars in the Utah desert

For four weeks, seven engineering students will experience a simulation of life on Mars in the Utah desert in the United States. From 18th February to 16th March, they will conduct experiments in collaboration with CNES and several research laboratories at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS).

Space

Student club

News

ISAE-SUPAERO announces new partnership with ESA Academy to support future Master in Aerospace Engineering students

Aerospace

Master in Aerospace Engineering

Scholarship

News

“My summer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory”: Axel’s account, a student on the TAS Astro Advanced Master’s programme

Since May, Axel Coulon has been interning at NASA's famous JPL in Los Angeles. He is working on detecting helicopter landing sites on Mars. A student in the MS TAS Astro programme, he recounts this incredible space adventure that took him from his native Lorraine to California.

Internship

Programme

Space

Videos

A surprise from elsewhere... from the ISS...?

Hello earth? Thomas Pesquet speaking! Thomas Pesquet, French astronaut and famous ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus (class of 2001), is currently in the ISS as part of his new Alpha mission. He sent our students a personalized message from the European laboratory Columbus...

Alumni

Diversity program

Space

Videos

SUPERCAM Educational Kits / Martian Exploration: Students at the controls of the kits

Follow ISAE-SUPAERO students as they create educational kits, a digital educational tool designed to raise awareness of space exploration that can be used in classrooms from Year 7 to Year 13.

Diversity program

Equal opportunities

Space

Pages

Semester Research Projects

Take your studies to the next level by participating in a semester-long research project at ISAE-SUPAERO: immerse yourself in cutting-edge laboratories alongside international experts and contribute to advances in aeronautics and space technology.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

News

Les Assises du New Space: update of the “Ambition NewSpace 2027” report

In 2022, the Assises du NewSpace collective - a group of players representing the French space industry - published the report “Ambition NewSpace 2027”. Today, the collective is launching another major national consultation to update this report and shape the future of French space!

Conference

Round table

Space

Pages

Electronics, Optronics, and Signal Processing Department (DEOS)

At ISAE SUPAERO, the Department of Electronics, Optronics and Signal Processing (DEOS) studies, designs and produces scientific instruments for aeronautics, space and defense applications, with a strong focus on advanced systems and planetary exploration missions.

DEOS

News

BROMO: the joint venture project involving major European space industry players presented to ISAE-SUPAERO students

In December 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO welcomed major players in the European space industry (Airbus, Thales and Leonardo) for an exceptional conference on the BROMO project.

Conference

Space

News

Capturing the seismic activity of an asteroid: our Apophis rendezvous

DEOS

Research

Space

Pages

Our Specialised Studies Certificates

Our specialised studies certificates are designed for professionals. They enable you to develop skills and expertise in the fields of digital, aeronautics, space, project management, systems engineering, and artificial intelligence.

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Pages

Aerospace Summer Programme

Enjoy a unique experience at the heart of aeronautics and space technology with intensive courses, exclusive industrial visits, and an international immersion in Paris, Poitiers and Toulouse.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

News

Hera probe captures exceptional images of Mars and its moon Deimos

DEOS

Researcher

Science

News

ISAE-SUPAERO contributes to the Artemis IV mission with the SPSS seismology instrument

NASA selects the JPL/CNES instrument suite for the Artemis IV mission, paving the way for unprecedented exploration of the Moon’s internal structure at the South Pole.

DEOS

Exploration

Space

Videos

Discover... the ISAE-SUPAERO irradiator

ISAE-SUPAERO – as a centre for training through research, research training and innovation – has a wide range of research equipment used within its six research departments. Today, we present the irradiator! As part of its research activities, ISAE-SUPAERO develops electronic components and systems for scientific and space applications. Space is a very aggressive environment, particularly because high-energy particles emitted by the sun or trapped in radiation belts threaten the health of astronauts, the properties of materials and the proper functioning of electronic chips. In order to reproduce the effects of this ionising radiation on electronic technologies in the laboratory, ISAE-SUPAERO has acquired an X-ray irradiation chamber with an energy of up to 320 keV. This video shows a typical use of this equipment: an electronic component to be tested is placed in the irradiation chamber, the X-ray tube is switched on, and the effects on the component's operation (in this case, an image sensor) are observed and measured in real time.

DEOS

Home
ISAE-SUPAERO
Our Newsroom
News
Content Related To'Research'

The Jupiter system: a unique laboratory for a major scientific breakthrough

Publication Date

09 December 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DEOS

Exploration

Space

Nicolas André, a teacher-researcher on secondment to the Department of Electronics, Optronics and Signal at ISAE-SUPAERO and CNRS research director at the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (IRAP), has co-authored a major discovery on the functioning of Jupiter's magnetosphere.

This work, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals how Jupiter's disc of magnetised plasma manages to maintain its equilibrium despite constant disturbances.

A decades-old enigma finally solved

Jupiter is surrounded by a spectacular structure: a disc of magnetised plasma, the magnetodisc, formed from the matter ejected by Io, its closest volcanic moon. This disc converts Jupiter’s rotational energy into plasma energy, but is constantly subject to turbulence, from small local instabilities to global magnetic reconfigurations. For decades, scientists have been wondering how this system manages to remain stable.

Data from the Juno mission reveals the secret

Thanks to data from NASA’s Juno mission, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, an international research team coordinated by Zhi-Yang Liu, a post-doctoral fellow with Nicolas André and Michel Blanc from IRAP, has unravelled this mystery. The researchers systematically measured the plasma’s pressure anisotropy, i.e. the difference between pressure perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field, using Juno’s JADE and JEDI instruments.

What we discovered was that the plasma in the magnetodisc has its own natural regulators. As soon as it accumulates too much energy by moving away from its stable equilibrium zone, instabilities are triggered spontaneously - like automatic safety valves. These instabilities generate waves that redistribute the excess energy and return the system to a stable state.

Nicolas André ISAE-SUPAERO Teacher-researcher

Three types of instability act as regulators

Three types of instability – mirror, cyclotron and firehose – act as regulating mechanisms. The firehose instability plays a particularly important role by dissipating the free energy produced during sudden magnetic reconfigurations, particularly Fermi acceleration, where particles gain energy by bouncing between moving magnetic structures.

“Juno even detected these fluctuations in action, confirming that the plasma regulates itself by emitting waves,” explains the researcher. “It’s like observing the autonomic nervous system of a living organism that automatically maintains its homeostasis.”

Prospects for future Jovian missions

“These regulatory mechanisms could be at work in other rapidly rotating magnetospheres, such as Saturn’s, or even in astrophysical disks,” points out Nicolas André. “Our results open up new perspectives for interpreting the future observations of the JUICE mission, which will arrive in the Jovian system in 2031. We will then have even more sophisticated instruments with which to study these fundamental processes.

Schéma du disque magnétique de plasma, le magnétodisque (zone bleue), dans le système de Jupiter. Cette illustration inclut également Jupiter, Io, le tore d'Io (zone orange entourant Io), l'ionosphère jovienne (zone verte entourant Jupiter), les lignes de champ magnétique (courbes noires) et la trajectoire de Juno par rapport au magnétodisque. / Diagram of the plasma magnetic disk, the magnetodisk (blue region), in the Jovian system. This illustration also includes Jupiter, Io, the Io torus (orange region surrounding Io), the Jovian ionosphere (green region surrounding Jupiter), the magnetic field lines (black curves), and Juno’s trajectory relative to the magnetodisk.

A major boost to planetary expertise at ISAE-SUPAERO

This work is fully in line with the activities of the Space Systems for Planetology and Applications (SSPA) research group in the Electronics, Optronics and Signal Department at ISAE-SUPAERO. The SSPA group focuses on the development of missions and associated technologies for the geophysical exploration of the solar system, with a particular emphasis on the internal structure of telluric planets and the coupling between surfaces, atmospheres and plasmas.

Nicolas André, who joined ISAE-SUPAERO in March 2024, is a major addition to this centre of excellence. A recognised specialist in planetary space plasmas and comparative magnetospheric physics, he brings his expertise to major current and future space missions, including JUICE (which will study the Jovian system from 2031), BepiColombo (en route to Mercury), and Comet Interceptor (in development).

ISAE-SUPAERO, a key player in space exploration

The Institute has also made other major contributions to space exploration. Naomi Murdoch, a researcher in planetology at DEOS, was recently awarded an ERC Consolidator grant for her GRAVITE project, which aims to design a variable-gravity machine to study extraterrestrial soils.

Students from ISAE-SUPAERO have also published scientific results in Nature Communications concerning NASA’s DART mission.

Beyond Jupiter, this fundamental research is contributing to our understanding of planetary space environments, energy transport mechanisms and the complex interactions between magnetic fields and plasmas - essential knowledge for future exploration of the solar system.

ISAE-SUPAERO contributes to the Artemis IV mission with the SPSS seismology instrument

Publication Date

04 December 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DEOS

Exploration

Space

CNES has announced that NASA has selected the SPSS (South Pole Seismic Station) instrument as part of the Artemis IV mission, scheduled for launch in 2028. ISAE-SUPAERO is fully committed to this new international space adventure, contributing our scientific and technical expertise to the development of this seismic station, which will be deployed by astronauts at the lunar South Pole.

Toulouse's expertise at the service of scientific exploration of the Moon

This selection represents a major step forward in the exploration of our natural satellite: SPSS will be the most sensitive seismology instrument ever built to study earthquakes at the Moon's South Pole.

Recognised expertise in instrumental characterisation

At the heart of this project, our Institute’s SSPA team is mobilising its skills in advanced sensor characterisation.

The team plays a key role in characterising the properties of the geophone sensors that will be embedded in SPSS. In our performance test laboratory, we analyse the noise levels and instrumental response of the sensors. This stage is crucial for selecting the best devices and ensuring that they remain fully operational after the rigours of space qualification - intense vibrations, extreme temperatures, etc.

Raphaël F. Garcia ISAE-SUPAERO teacher-researcher and co-investigator of the instrument

Our Institute is also contributing to the design of the mechanical support that will house these sensors on the lunar surface, and will provide its expertise in training astronauts to deploy the instrument suite.

From Mars to the Moon: international scientific continuity

ISAE-SUPAERO’s participation is part of a prestigious international collaboration initiated with the InSight mission to Mars in 2018.

Developed under the direction of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL ), SPSS benefits from major contributions from CNES,IPGP, JAXA and the University of Tokyo. The three geophones integrated into the instrument are the result of a partnership between IPGP and SLB, with ISAE-SUPAERO contributing its expertise in space qualification of these sensors, originally designed for terrestrial applications.

Unlocking the secrets of the Moon’s internal structure

In addition to our technical role, ISAE-SUPAERO will play a key scientific role. As SPSS Co-Investigator, Raphaël F. Garcia will analyse the seismic data recorded to study the Moon’s interior.

“The methods we recently used to obtain the structure of the crust under the Apollo 16 station can be adapted to the South Pole”, he explains.
“SPSS will give us a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Moon’s internal structure, in a region that has so far remained unexplored seismologically.”

A major French contribution to preparing for future explorations

By combining instrumental innovation, operational expertise and scientific excellence, ISAE-SUPAERO, alongside CNES and IPGP, is strengthening France's position as a leader in the seismological exploration of planets. ISAE-SUPAERO, in collaboration with CNES and IPGP, will also supply the first seismometer deployed on an asteroid (SIA, Seismometer Instrument for Asteroids) as part of the ESA RAMSES mission to the Apophis asteroid, funding for which was confirmed at the ESA ministerial conference on 27 November 2025.

ISAE-SUPAERO enters the Shanghai Ranking’s Top 50 worldwide in aerospace engineering

Publication Date

19 November 2025

Category

Institute, Research

Tag

Ranking

Our Institute has made a remarkable entry into the 2025 Shanghai Ranking (ARWU), placing 49th worldwide in the Aerospace Engineering category. This outstanding result rewards the academic excellence and research quality of ISAE-SUPAERO.

A unique school, recognised worldwide

This ranking underlines the strength of our integrated model, combining excellent training, cutting-edge multidisciplinary research and innovation. This success demonstrates the coherence and effectiveness of our educational and scientific project, as well as the power of our expertise, which is recognised the world over.

Research and innovation to meet technological challenges

This result is the fruit of an ongoing commitment to research excellence and innovation in the aerospace sector. Our laboratories, in collaboration with major industrial players, agencies and institutional bodies and the French Ministry of Defence, contribute directly to major technological advances, which are key to both progress and sovereignty.

Our research departments work with major industrial players, start-ups and SMEs, as well as with the major laboratories in our ecosystem. Our expertise covers the design and operation of aerospace vehicles, electronics, optronics and signals, complex systems engineering, aerodynamics, energy and propulsion, and the mechanics of structures and materials.

Henry de Plinval Director of Research and Educational Resources

Outstanding successes

Our successes include :

a laboratory with such mastery of optical space sensors that they are used in flight by the leading manufacturers in the field;
a neuroergonomics laboratory whose equipment and excellence are unique in the world;
skills and resources that are the national benchmark for aeronautical composites through our participation in the Institut Clément Ader;
exceptional technical and human resources in aerodynamics and aeroacoustics;
top-level developments in artificial intelligence, whether for decision support, learning, systems engineering or software verification and certification;
major contributions to exceptional space missions, such as the first-ever measurement of sound on Mars.

Shared pride

This ranking is a great recognition for the entire ISAE-SUPAERO community: staff, lecturers, students, alumni, industrial and institutional partners. It rewards our daily commitment to training the best talent and pushing back the frontiers of knowledge in a sector that is as demanding as it is inspiring.

Marie-Hélène Baroux President of ISAE-SUPAERO

A reaffirmed ambition

By being listed in the ARWU Top 50 worldwide for Aerospace Engineering, our Institute has confirmed its status as a major player in research and innovation in a high-tech sector. On the strength of this result, our School is reaffirming its ambition to remain one of the world's leading aerospace engineering schools, while remaining true to our values of high standards, openness and innovation.

CIME 2025: Where Science Meets Adventure to Push the Limits of Exploration

Publication Date

06 November 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Exploration

Innovation

Space

In October 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO hosted the first edition of the Interdisciplinary Congress on Extreme Worlds (CIME) — an event designed to bring together explorers, researchers, and professionals around a shared ambition: understanding humans and technology when facing the planet’s most hostile environments — and beyond.

Led by Vsevolod Peysakhovich (faculty member in Human Factors), Maëlis Lefebvre (postdoctoral researcher in Human Factors), and Safouane Hamdi (endocrinologist specialized in reproductive medicine, Toulouse University Hospital), this congress promotes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of extreme environments, bridging scientific disciplines and real-world exploration.

Experts share their challenges and knowledge

The CIME programme featured personalities whose unique experiences shed light on the scientific and technological challenges of extreme environments.

Gaëlle Giesen, a champion in relative flight parachuting and diving, would like to see greater collaboration between science and extreme sport: “I’d like science to be involved in my disciplines to help me understand physiology”.

Géraldine Parodi, a diver – one of the most dangerous jobs in the world – underlines the similarities between underwater and space exploration: “We can bring our experience to bear on joint innovations.

Alban Michon, polar explorer and founder of the School of Explorers, stresses the importance of passing on knowledge to train future generations.

Jessica Studer (Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology) presents the results of her research at the Concordia station in Antarctica, a unique laboratory for studying human behaviour in prolonged isolation.

Stephen Alamo, a specialist in space medicine (ESA), discusses the medical challenges of long-duration manned flights and the development of future missions to Mars. For Christian Clot (Human Adaptation Institute), who explores human adaptation to destabilising environments, from caves to deserts, to population migrations, “providing solutions to enable society to evolve can only be done if we have the capacity to understand humans and their social behaviour”.

Towards more collaborative and applied research

Extreme environments – space, the depths of the sea, polar zones, deserts, etc. – share common challenges: isolation, confinement, physiological risks, technological autonomy.

CIME has shown that bringing together researchers and operators in the field is essential for :

steer research towards practical applications (medicine, engineering, training) ;
feed scientific reflection with unique feedback.

“Bringing everyone together in the same place, at the same time, is a great opportunity”. – Marion Jost, physiotherapist (Fédération Française d’Aéronautique)

“We’re interested in adapting image-guided medical techniques to extreme environments, like those presented here. – Romain Capocci, IRIS Group

And what about tomorrow? A stronger ecosystem to meet extreme challenges

This first edition of CIME laid the foundations of a collaborative model for tackling the complexity of extreme environments. By transcending disciplinary boundaries, the conference aims to open up new avenues of research (physiology, psychology, technologies):

new avenues of research (physiology, psychology, technologies) ;
greater dialogue between science, medicine and the field;
innovations in health, safety and exploration.

👉 CIME 2025 marks a decisive step towards understanding humans in the most extreme conditions.
🌍 At ISAE-SUPAERO, the frontier between science and adventure becomes a space for innovation.
🚀 See you in 2026 for more exploration!

CIME 2025: where science and adventure meet to explore extreme worlds

Publication Date

30 October 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Congress

First Interdisciplinary Conference on Extreme Worlds at ISAE-SUPAERO: from hostile environments to collaborative research

In October 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO hosted the first edition of the Interdisciplinary Congress on Extreme Worlds (CIME), an event aimed at bringing together explorers, researchers and professionals around a common objective: to understand humans and technology in the face of the most hostile environments on the planet – and beyond.

Spearheaded by Vsevolod Peysakhovich (lecturer and researcher in human factors), Maëlis Lefebvre (postdoctoral researcher in human factors) and Safouane Hamdi (endocrinologist specialising in reproduction, Toulouse University Hospital), this conference is an initiative promoting an interdisciplinary approach to the study of extreme environments.

Experts share their challenges and knowledge

The CIME programme gave the floor to personalities whose unique experiences shed light on the scientific and technological challenges of extreme environments.

Gaëlle Giesen, a champion relative parachutist and scuba diver, calls for greater collaboration between science and extreme sport: “I’d like science to be involved in my disciplines to shed light on my physiology”.
Géraldine Parodi, a scuba diver – one of the most dangerous professions in the world – highlights the similarities between underwater and space exploration: “We can bring our experience to bear on joint innovations.

Alban Michon, polar explorer and founder of the School of Explorers, stresses the importance of passing on knowledge to train future generations.
Jessica Studer (Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology) presents the results of her research at the Concordia station in Antarctica, a unique laboratory for studying human behaviour in prolonged isolation.

Towards more collaborative and applied research

Extreme environments – space, the depths of the sea, polar zones, deserts, etc. – share common challenges: isolation, confinement, physiological risks, technological autonomy.

CIME has shown that bringing together researchers and operators in the field is essential for :

Directing research towards practical applications (medicine, engineering, training).
Nourish scientific reflection with unique feedback.

“Bringing everyone together in the same place, at the same time, is a great opportunity”. – Marion Jost, physiotherapist (Fédération Française d’Aéronautique)

“We’re interested in adapting image-guided medical techniques to extreme environments, like those presented here. – Romain Capocci, IRIS Group

What about tomorrow? A stronger ecosystem to meet extreme challenges

New avenues of research (physiology, psychology, technology).
Enhanced dialogue between science, medicine and the field.
innovations for health, safety and exploration.

CIME is a meeting place for all those who, whether scientists or adventurers, are pushing back the limits of humanity and technology. Stay tuned!

The 2025 Edmond Brun Prize from the French Academy of Sciences awarded to Annafederica Urbano, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO

Publication Date

29 October 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DCAS

News

Prize

Science

Space

Recognition of scientific expertise

Annafederica Urbano carries out her research activities in the Advanced Space Concepts team (SaCLaB) of the Aerospace and Space Vehicle Design and Control Department (DCAS). An expert in space propulsion, she has developed a research area at ISAE-SUPAERO dedicated to access to space and propulsion.

Her work focuses in particular on the management of cryogenic propellants in weightlessness and their combustion in rocket engines.

She is developing advanced numerical methods for modelling new-generation rocket engines using methane as a fuel, and is interested in the use of artificial intelligence algorithms and data from numerical simulations for rocket engine injector and combustion chamber design models. It is also studying the behaviour of fluids stored at very low temperatures in launcher tanks.

A remarkable career

She obtained her PhD in 2012 from La Sapienza University in Rome on the cooling system of rocket engines and moved to France in 2013 to specialise in numerical combustion and two-phase flows. Her research at ISAE-SUPAERO is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and the French National Research Agency (ANR).

Its activities are also supported by Ariane Group and Airbus Defense and Space through the SaCLaB sponsorship chair on advanced space concepts, for which it is responsible. Since 2022, Annafederica has been a member of the Space Propulsion Committee of the International Astronautical Federation. She also leads the ESA topical team on propellant management physics.

"From a personal point of view, this recognition is an immense source of satisfaction and fully rewards my commitment to research. On a professional level, this prize is a fantastic opportunity to highlight my work in the field of space propulsion, a strategic sector for the future of space exploration.

Annafederica Urbano Professor of space launchers

The Edmond Brun Prize

Created in 1984 by the Suzanne Brun Foundation of the Académie des Sciences, this prize is awarded alternately for work in the field of astronautics (2025) and fluid mechanics and thermics (2027).

The Académie des Sciences, founded in 1666, is responsible for scientific expertise, the transmission and dissemination of knowledge, and the international promotion of French science. It encourages, supports and protects the spirit of scientific research, thereby contributing to the progress of science and its applications.

This award is further proof of the excellence of the research carried out at ISAE-SUPAERO and its major contribution to the scientific and technological challenges of access to space.

The first Franco-Korean workshop dedicated to the challenges of cryogenic hydrogen

Publication Date

27 October 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

News

With this in mind, the first Franco-Korean workshop on cryogenic hydrogen for aviation was held at ISAE-SUPAERO on 13 and 14 October 2025.

Jointly organised by Jean-Marc Moschetta, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, and Dr Seo Young Kim, CEO of the South Korean company Hylium Industries, this event brought together nearly fifty researchers, engineers, industrialists and institutions with a common objective: to accelerate the development of concrete solutions for low-carbon air transport.

An event supported by the Occitanie Region as part of the Génération Hydrogène Occitanie (GENHyO) programme.

Hydrogen, a promising fuel for decarbonising the aviation sector

The adoption of hydrogen as a fuel represents a major opportunity to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint. By replacing paraffin, a fossil fuel, with hydrogen produced in a low-carbon way, it would be possible to avoid emitting thousands of tonnes of CO2 every day. This transition would make it possible to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve air quality and actively combat global warming.

Major steps have already been taken in the development of this technology. Several demonstrators carrying gaseous hydrogen have flown successfully. Today, research is continuing with liquid hydrogen, which is more efficient but also more complex to handle.

Indeed, liquid hydrogen has exceptional characteristics: an energy density three times greater than paraffin and combustion that produces only water vapour. Stored at -253°C, it can power fuel cells and combustion engines alike.

But these advantages come with major technical constraints: management of extreme cold, secure cryogenic tanks, fine-tuned management of the risk of leaks, and entirely new refuelling logistics. All these challenges provided food for thought and discussion over the two days of this Franco-Korean workshop.

Two days to share knowledge, advance science and remove technological barriers

The event, co-organised by ISAE-SUPAERO and the Korean company Hylium Industries, brought together major players from both countries, including

Major groups such as Airbus, Safran and Liebherr Aerospace,
SMEs and start-ups Absolut Hydrogen, H3 Dynamics, H2Pulse, DELAIR, CT Engineering, ARESIA, AKIRA, FINIS TERRAE,
as well as research institutions and universities Politecnico di Torino, Seoul National University, Kookmin University, University of Seoul and Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Laboratoire LAPLACE, Institut Clément Ader, and the French Embassy in Seoul.

In seven themed sessions, the workshop illustrated the diversity of approaches to hydrogen in aviation.

Session 1 – Hydrogen liquefaction: producing and storing liquid hydrogen

The work presented in this first session focused on the liquefaction and cryogenic storage of hydrogen. The aim is to improve the energy efficiency and thermal stability of cooling systems, which are essential for producing liquid hydrogen at -253°C.
Discussions also focused on insulating materials and tank design processes, in conjunction with Airbus and Safran.

Sessions 2 & 3 –LH₂ tank modelling and testing: modelling, designing, testing

These sessions explored the fundamentals of cryogenic tank design and safety, a central issue for on-board storage.
The presentations highlighted advances in lightweight materials, thermodynamic simulation and applications for drones and commercial aircraft.

Session 4 – Hydrogen-powered drones: hydrogen takes flight

This session presented the concrete applications of hydrogen in light air mobility, with drones capable of flying twice as long as battery-powered ones.

Session 5 – H₂ fuel cells: fuel cells for aeronautics

Presentations showed the diversity of fuel cell technologies adapted to aeronautics, with ammonia systems for airport infrastructures, intelligent diagnostics for predictive maintenance, and high-power prototypes (up to 500 kW).

Sessions 6 & 7 – Hydrogen for operational mobility: towards commercial hydrogen flights

Finally, the discussions in the last two sessions highlighted the large-scale applications of liquid hydrogen for air and ground mobility. The focus was on cryogenic test benches, refuelling safety and Airbus-ISAE-Safran collaboration on future architectures.

Solid prospects for Franco-Korean research and cooperation

This first Franco-Korean workshop marked an important stage in cooperation between France and South Korea on hydrogen applied to aeronautics. By bringing together researchers and engineers in Toulouse to discuss cryogenics and hydrogen propulsion, the workshop provided an opportunity to compare scientific approaches, identify technological complementarities and outline joint projects.

From a scientific point of view, the prospects are opening up around several axes: the optimisation of liquefaction processes, advanced modelling of LH₂ tanks, the reliability of fuel cells and the scaling up of refuelling infrastructures. These are all projects where synergies can accelerate advances in research for sustainable aviation.

On an institutional level, the event consolidated the partnerships already in place between ISAE-SUPAERO, Hylium Industries, Airbus, Safran, Seoul National University, KIST and University of Seoul, while opening the way to new academic cooperation via the France Excellence, STAR, START and Brain Pool programmes.

These schemes for scientific mobility and exchanges of expertise will help to train a new generation of engineers and researchers capable of meeting the technological challenges of hydrogen flight.

“Korea has a technological and political lead in the field of hydrogen. This Workshop was an ideal opportunity for us to benefit from the experience of a delegation of 17 Korean experts in cryogenic hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells. I’m delighted with the innovative capacity of the French community mobilised by the event and the exchanges we had with our South Korean guests. I’m convinced that these synergies will enable us to launch some excellent collaborative projects on an international scale”, concludes Jean-Marc Moschetta.

By combining fundamental research, industrial innovation and international training, France and Korea are laying the foundations for a lasting alliance with a shared objective: to make liquid hydrogen the driving force behind cleaner, safer and more ambitious aviation.

Workshop « L’hydrogène cryogénique pour l’aviation »

ISAE-SUPAERO acquires an innovative new additive manufacturing equipment

Publication Date

24 September 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Aeronautics

News

Research

The inauguration of this new research facility was held on Tuesday 23 September on the ISAE-SUPAERO campus in the presence of financial and research partners.

Technology at the service of the sustainable aeronautics industry

WAAM technology makes it possible to manufacture large semi-finished parts using only the materials required. It therefore helps to reduce waste, limit the use of rare metals and improve the energy efficiency of manufacturing processes.

Thanks to its performance (more than 2 kg of material deposited per hour), it represents a promising alternative to traditional machining processes, particularly for parts such as jet engine masts or aircraft spars.

Research, training and industrial partnerships

This equipment will be used by our lecturers, PhD students and engineering students to explore new approaches to the design, multi-material manufacture and repair of high added-value aeronautical parts.

It will also pave the way for new industrial collaborations: a project is already underway with Segula Technologies, while discussions are underway with Airbus and Safran.

A collective investment in the future

The €700,000 acquisition of this machine was financed as part of a State-Region Plan Contract (CPER), with the support of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Occitanie Region and Toulouse Métropole. ISAE-SUPAERO also contributed by financing the infrastructure and installation of the equipment.

A further step towards responsible innovation

With the WAAM, ISAE-SUPAERO and the ICA are reinforcing their role as key players in the development of innovative, sustainable and competitive technologies, in line with the major challenges of the aerospace sector’s ecological and digital transition.

Inauguration de la machine WAAM - ISAE-SUPAERO / ICA

Valentin LELOUP, quantum and optical telecommunications systems engineer: the quantum and space tandem

Publication Date

02 July 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Alumni

News

Research

Space

Explorer, le maître mot de Valentin

« Guidé après les classes prépa par mon intérêt pour le domaine spatial, j’ai intégré l’ISAE-SUPAERO et ai découvert les cours de physique fondamentale. J’ai été happé ! » explique Valentin Leloup aujourd’hui ingénieur en Recherche et Développement chez Thales Alenia Space, fabricant européen de satellites destinés aux domaines des télécommunications, de l’observation de la Terre, de l’exploration spatiale et de la navigation par satellites.

Le jeune ingénieur double diplômé et multicompétences témoigne de son riche parcours qui lui permet de travailler dans le domaine de la physique quantique appliquée au spatial.

Un parcours de formation sur mesure

Quand Valentin entre à l’ISAE-SUPAERO en 2018 avec une appétence pour le spatial, les cours de physique fondamentale l’intéressent énormément et le conduisent à s’orienter vers des options en physique du laser. Durant la période Covid, il s’attaque à la lecture de l’ouvrage de référence « Mécanique quantique » de Claude Cohen-Tannoudji.

« Passionnant » confie-t-il !

Fort de cet enthousiasme, il s’inscrit en complément de son cursus de 3e année à l’ISAE-SUPAERO au Master 1 « Physique fondamentale et applications » dispensé par Sciences Sorbonne Université qu’il suit à distance. Sur cette bonne lancée, il obtient l’année suivante un aménagement de sa dernière année à l’ISAE-SUPAERO dans le domaine de la conception et opération des systèmes spatiaux afin de poursuivre à mi-temps un Master 2 en physique à l’Université de Toulouse.

« J’ai ensuite obtenu un stage de fin d’études dans le domaine des télécommunications par satellite chez Thales Alenia Space. Mon profil a donné satisfaction à mes employeurs et j’ai été séduit par ce stage qui associait le quantique au spatial » se souvient Valentin Leloup.

Physique et spatial au cœur de l’activité

Ce stage a été une excellente rampe de lancement qui lui permet d’être embauché chez Thales Alenia Space comme ingénieur système pour les télécommunications quantiques et optiques.

« C‘est rare et précieux de pouvoir relier dans mon activité professionnelle mes deux domaines de prédilection » précise Valentin Leloup.

Dans le secteur spatial, notamment dans les activités relatives à l’observation de la Terre, à la navigation par satellite ou encore la sécurité des systèmes de télécommunications, la physique quantique promet de nombreux développements.

« Je travaille sur des projets de Recherche & Développement (R&D) au sein du domaine Télécommunications de Thales Alenia Space afin de concevoir de nouvelles technologies pour des applications industrielles sur le marché du spatial » poursuit-il. « En parallèle de la distribution quantique de clés de chiffrement par voie spatiale, nous travaillons sur le modèle des expériences de photons intriqués du physicien Alain Aspect nobélisé en 2022. C’est à partir de recherches en laboratoire, que l’ingénieur recherche en physique que je suis, est à l’œuvre pour distribuer de l’intrication quantique à grande échelle via l’utilisation de satellites et pour développer ce qu’on appelle l’internet quantique » explique Valentin Leloup.

À cette activité de recherche s’ajoute la partie ingénierie qui lui permet de suivre la réalisation de maquettes des équipements (source de photons unique, détecteurs de photons uniques, etc.) comprenant les étapes de design, les phases de manipulation et de tests afin de disposer de toutes les métriques et performances. « Ma formation d’ingénieur spatial m’est très utile pour avoir une bonne approche du système global ainsi que pour maîtriser des différents sous-systèmes qui participent à la conception de cette nouvelle technologie » développe Valentin Leloup.

Les projets de R&D sont réalisés en collaboration avec les agences spatiales française et européenne, des laboratoires de recherche ainsi que des startups. Le travail en équipe pluridisciplinaire, le croisement de différents domaines d’expertise et de compétences en composants photoniques spatiaux, architecture réseau, systèmes orbitaux, télécommunications spatiales sont au cœur des innovations industrielles. Pour Valentin Leloup toutes les composantes d’une activité professionnelle stimulante sont réunies.

« Compte tenu mon expérience, si j’avais un conseil à donner aux étudiants, ce serait de s’ouvrir et d’explorer plusieurs domaines et ne pas se focaliser sur une idée de départ. En un mot, il faut être acteur de son avenir. » conclut Valentin Leloup.