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“Without research, we wouldn’t be able to train our students to this standard” In-depth interview with Xavier Carbonneau, Deputy Director of Research

Publication Date

20 July 2026

Category

Research

Tag

Research

Xavier Carbonneau is the Deputy Director of Research and Pedagogical Resources at ISAE-SUPAERO. A professor specialising in propulsion and the former head of the Aerodynamics, Energetics and Propulsion Department, he has been supporting the growing role of hydrogen in the Institute’s teaching and research activities for several years.

“Without research, we wouldn’t be able to train our students to this standard”

How does ISAE-SUPAERO integrate hydrogen into its engineering programmes?

Xavier Carbonneau: Our scientific strategy spans a wide range of fields – aerospace systems, defence, Earth observation, space exploration, telecommunications and data analysis – including energy optimisation – across our five research departments, thanks to numerous collaborative projects. These technological advances are shaping the future of key sectors such as mobility. It is essential that the knowledge and advances resulting from our research directly inform our degree programmes.

The use of hydrogen in aeronautics is one of the major fields on which scientists and industry professionals are currently working. At ISAE-SUPAERO, we are conducting several research programmes on this topic, notably focusing on innovative propulsion systems, cryogenic storage, the integration of fuel cells into aeronautical architectures, and the safety and certification challenges associated with hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Our students are naturally curious and motivated by these forward-looking topics. We offer them a range of teaching approaches that enable them to gain an introduction to these subjects and then deepen their knowledge. Hydrogen technology is covered in several modules, with varying levels of focus depending on the objectives. A range of optional modules enables students to explore topics ranging from the design of hydrogen-powered aircraft and their propulsion systems to certification. One such example is a 60-hour elective course entitled “Introduction to Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft“, which includes theoretical modules on the use of hydrogen on board an aircraft, with 50% of the course devoted to practical exercises. We can also mention the new Advanced Master’s programme in Sustainable Aviation, dedicated to teaching students about hydrogen for aviation, as well as a course on risk analysis for the certification of hydrogen-powered aircraft.

We are constantly adapting our programmes in line with the most significant advances. Let me be clear: without research, we would not be able to train our students to this level of excellence.

What kind of engineers do you train, particularly in the field of hydrogen?

XC: Our aim is to train engineers capable of designing the technological systems of tomorrow. We do not merely impart theoretical knowledge: we train our students to handle complex data, master advanced concepts, integrate safety considerations into these new technologies, and, above all, develop a rigorous experimental approach.

That is why we expose them to experimental situations that closely mirror real-world industrial challenges. The practical component accounts for around 50% of the teaching and projects we offer them. Through project-based or ‘design office’ teaching formats, for example, we ask them to envisage the hydrogen propulsion system of the future and to design it without any initial constraints, precisely to stimulate innovation and creativity.

This integration of teaching, research and innovation is the very hallmark of ISAE-SUPAERO, which fully embraces its dual mission of higher education and research. The two are inseparable and reinforce one another. A specific example is the Mermoz Challenge, supported by numerous research contracts, in which many students take part at different stages of their studies; it serves as a model of project-based learning that enables future ISAE-SUPAERO engineers to acquire practical expertise, going beyond the theoretical knowledge we can otherwise provide them with.

What research resources does ISAE-SUPAERO make available to support hydrogen-related training initiatives in the Occitanie region?

XC: Hydrogen is one of the main areas of our research into decarbonisation, on which we have been working for around ten years now. We have developed several projects for which we have acquired significant testing facilities.

When the GENHYO project – GENération HYdrogène Occitanie – was launched as part of the ‘Skills and Professions of the Future’ call for expressions of interest, ISAE-SUPAERO naturally positioned itself as a key player. This project aims to accelerate the adaptation of training programmes, from the CAP to the PhD level, to the skills requirements of the decarbonised hydrogen sector.

We are working closely with the Occitanie academic region and all stakeholders in the regional sector, with the support of the Occitanie Region. Today, GENHYO brings together 27 partners: secondary schools, universities and engineering schools. The project is structured around four strategic objectives: to train all target groups – secondary school pupils, sixth-formers, students, jobseekers, employees, elected representatives and the general public; to train 1,500 trainers; to promote careers in the low-carbon hydrogen sector; and to develop forward-looking analyses to continuously adapt training programmes to emerging needs.

In this context, we have chosen to open up our testing facilities to partner training organisations to create a genuine continuum of training. We have set up an educational platform equipped with five dedicated hands-on workstations. The aim by 2027 is to regularly host different groups to enable them to carry out practical experiments. At the same time, we are working with our Digital Innovations and Aerospace Education team on the digitalisation of testing, which will significantly facilitate hands-on training and enable remote practical sessions.

How do you see the role of hydrogen evolving in the training of aerospace engineers over the coming years?

XC: Hydrogen will become an essential part of aerospace engineering education, quite simply because it represents one of the most promising solutions for decarbonising the sector.

This implies a profound change in our training programmes. We must prepare our students to master not only the technical aspects – storage, distribution, combustion and fuel cells – but also the systemic dimensions: integration into the aircraft’s overall architecture, certification, safety and full life-cycle analysis.

The challenge is also to train engineers capable of engaging with the entire ecosystem, as hydrogen is not limited to the aircraft itself. It is this systemic approach that we must instil. Driven by this ambition, every year we support the 40 students in the HydroArt club as they work towards designing a scale model of a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft.

Finally, I would say that we also have a responsibility towards future generations: to give them the tools to innovate, of course, but also to question, evaluate and make the right technological and environmental choices. This is the very essence of our commitment to GENHYO and our openness towards all stakeholders.

A team of researchers from the École de l’Air et de l’Espace and ISAE-SUPAERO received the Best Paper Award from the journal “Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors”

Publication Date

20 July 2026

Category

Research

Tag

Aviation

DCAS

Human factors

Neuroergonomics

Prize

Research

The study highlights the impact of expertise on the visual strategies of military pilots

The study focused on the influence of expertise and visual strategies on piloting accuracy. For this work, 38 pilots with different levels of experience (student pilots, cadets, experts) performed climbing, descending, and turning maneuvers on a Cirrus SR20 flight simulator while being equipped with an eye-tracking device.

The Cirrus SR20 training simulator is used in the training of fighter pilots at Ecole de l’Air. The military pilot wears a head-mounted eye-tracking device.

The maneuvers included performing turns and altitude changes, typical of those carried out during fighter pilot training exercises. The pilots were equipped with an eye-tracking system that makes it possible to precisely determine which area the pilot’s gaze is focused on.

The analysis revealed that expertise plays a major role in controlling flight parameters. Compared to novice pilots with limited flight hours, more experienced pilots maintain heading, altitude, speed, and aircraft bank angle more precisely during the different maneuvers studied.

Eye-tracking reveals characteristic visual behaviors of expertise

Beyond piloting performance, the researchers highlighted significant differences in visual scanning strategies. Expert pilots devote more attention to certain key instruments, particularly the attitude indicator (“pitch”), which provides essential information about the aircraft’s vertical trajectory. This was especially true when maneuvers required changes in altitude.

These results suggest that expertise relies not only on superior technical control, but also on an enhanced ability to quickly select relevant information in a complex environment. Experienced pilots use their gaze more strategically in order to anticipate the adjustments needed to control the aircraft.

Promising perspectives for pilot training

The conclusions of this study confirm the potential of eye-tracking technologies to enhance aviation training methods. By identifying the visual strategies associated with the highest levels of performance, this work could help develop new educational tools capable of supporting student pilots in acquiring expert behaviors.

The research is ongoing, and the scientists are currently working on the integration of eye-tracking systems that can provide real-time feedback on pilots’ visual attention, in order to guide their learning and further improve the safety of flight operations. A “dashboard” is also being developed to provide a highly pedagogical summary of the pilot’s visual performance following a simulator session. This dashboard could be used by instructors at Ecole de l’Air.

Réference:

Vantrepotte, Q., Dubois, E., Camachon, C., Causse, M. (2025). "Effect of pilot expertise on visual scanning and precision of flight maneuvers in military aviation." Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors.

This work was supported by the Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID) and is now still undergoing thanks to another AID funding (VISTAS project).

Deterministic QoS Guarantees in Next -Generation LEO Satellite Constellations

Publication Date

16 July 2026

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Tag

DISC

Job offer

Thesis

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations — such as Starlink, OneWeb, Kuiper, and Telesat Lightspeed — are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of next-generation communication infrastructures and future 6G networks.

With thousands of satellites orbiting at altitudes between 500 and 2000 km, these systems offer unprecedented global coverage combined with significantly lower latency than traditional geostationary systems. The emergence of LEO constellations opens transformative opportunities for time-sensitive applications. These applications demand deterministic end-to-end delay guarantees — strict, provable upper bounds on latency — rather than best-effort performance. However, providing such guarantees in LEO constellations remains an open and largely unsolved problem.

Preliminary research conducted at ISAE-SUPAERO has demonstrated that Network Calculus (NC), a mathematical framework for computing worst-case performance bounds in communication networks, can be successfully adapted to LEO satellite constellations. This PhD aims to develop a comprehensive analytical and algorithmic framework for deterministic QoS guarantees in dynamic LEO satellite constellations within a collaborative project PEPR FRONTIER funded by the ANR with many partners like CNRS, Sorbonne Université et mines-Telecom Bretagne.

An ISAE-SUPAERO PhD student has been awarded the ONERA 2026 PhD Student Prize

Publication Date

15 July 2026

Category

Research

Tag

PhD

Prize

Research

A career focused on research in acoustics

After completing a dual bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Musicology, followed by a Master’s in Engineering Sciences, specialising in Physical Acoustics, at Sorbonne University, Lucie Schwoebel joined ISAE-SUPAERO and ONERA to undertake a PhD thesis entitled ‘Temporal representation of the non-linear acoustic impedance of structured absorbent materials ’.

This topic lies at the heart of efforts to reduce noise pollution in the aeronautics sector and draws on advanced expertise in modelling and acoustics.

Research for the future of aviation

The research focuses on modelling the acoustic behaviour of sound-absorbing materials used, in particular, in aircraft nacelles to reduce the noise generated by jet engines.

Subject to particularly severe operating conditions — high noise levels, significant flow over their surfaces and broadband noise sources — these materials require new models capable of representing their behaviour in the time domain.

Ultimately, this research will lead to a better understanding of the behaviour of complex acoustic materials in extreme environments and will contribute to the design of multilayer materials offering optimised absorption performance for future generations of aircraft.

Recognition of scientific excellence

Awarded annually following the ONERA PhD Students’ Days, the Fluid Mechanics and Energy PhD Students’ Prize recognises a third-year PhD student for the quality of their scientific approach, their research output and their oral presentation, as well as for the expected benefits of their work for ONERA.

This award highlights the quality of the research carried out jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO and ONERA, as well as its contribution to scientific advances in the field of acoustics applied to aeronautics.

Space Explorers: In a Desert, Six Students Simulate Life on Mars

Publication Date

08 July 2026

Category

Research

Tag

Space

Student club

Last spring, for four weeks, six students and one alumnus from ISAE-SUPAERO lived completely self-sufficiently at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). This base, located in the Utah Desert in the United States, is specifically designed to simulate living conditions on Mars.

MDRS Mission: Crew 330

For more than ten years, crews of ISAE-SUPAERO students have been participating in missions at the MDRS, a desert environment chosen for its resemblance to the Martian landscape.

This year, fifteen scientific experiments were conducted in a variety of fields: space medicine, human factors, geology, robotics, astronomy, and botany. Most of these experiments require extravehicular activities using spacesuits and equipment that replicate the conditions of a mission to Mars.

Each aspiring astronaut takes on the role of flight engineer, astronomer, health and safety officer, scientist, botanist, or journalist.

In the run-up to the mission, the crew spent no less than a year organizing, securing funding, planning the scientific equipment and protocols, and preparing for the challenge of living and working for 28 days as a group of seven in a cabin 8 m² in diameter.

“Team cohesion is vital for overcoming challenges. We worked together to ensure effective teamwork, even during difficult times,” comments Gaspard Thieulin, an alumnus and crew commander.

For Félix Marguet, the crew’s botanist, “it’s a project that inspires dreams, a unique experience that teaches us a lot for our personal and professional lives, including how to build a project as a team.”

A Photo Recap of the Mission

I'll come back to this later—I'm completely absorbed by this project, which is doing its part to advance space exploration!

Félix Marguet Crew Botanist

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Aeronautics

Chair

Company

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

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

Getting to Campus

How do I get to the ISAE-SUPAERO campus?

Association

Student club

Student life

Testimonials

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

Alumni

Space

Testimonial

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

Testimonials

Testimonial from Sylvain ASSOGBA, an AM IEM student participating in the “Startech Summer School – Space Entrepreneurship: from Business Ideas to Start-Ups” in Rome

Education

International

Space

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

16th EASN International Conference

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Event

Pages

Job offers

Aeronautics

Aerospace

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

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

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

DCAS

News

Prize

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

Pages

Connected Systems (SysCo) Scientific Group

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

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

Start-up insights: interview with Ugo Bonnet from the Space Flight Institute

In recent years, ISAE-SUPAERO has developed a range of services and comprehensive support for its project leaders (students, doctoral students, teacher-researchers, and alumni), earning it the title of incubator. It is in line with this support philosophy that the Institute currently hosts numerous startups that were created within its walls. Today we welcome Ugo Bonnet, CEO of the Space Flight Institute, a company that offers innovative training (in partnership with ISAE-SUPAERO) to future professionals in human spaceflight, whether on Earth or in orbit. Ugo Bonnet discusses the creation of the organization, its major successes, and its plans for the future.

Alumni

Space

Startup

Pages

Learning, Decision, Optimisation (ADO) Scientific Group

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Our Library

The ISAE-SUPAERO library is open to the general public. Anyone registered with the Réseau des Bibliothèques de l’Université Fédérale de Midi-Pyrénées can borrow from our libraries.

Association

Student club

Student life

News

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

Aeronautics

Chair

Partnership

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

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

Sophie Adenot Returns to Earth

Sophie Adenot, an ESA astronaut and ISAE-SUPAERO engineering graduate, is back on Earth after spending nearly 8 months on the ISS for her Epsilon mission.

Alumni

Event

Space

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

News

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

Aeronautics

Event

Fair

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

Capturing the seismic activity of an asteroid: our Apophis rendezvous

DEOS

Research

Space

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

News

Hera probe captures exceptional images of Mars and its moon Deimos

DEOS

Researcher

Science

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

Pages

Lasbordes Air Operations Center (COAL)

DCAS

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

The “Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Spaceflight” offered by the Spaceflight Institute in collaboration with ISAE-SUPAERO

The Spaceflight Institute is the first institute dedicated to training in human spaceflight. In partnership with ISAE-SUPAERO, it offers an intensive training program that enables participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of human spaceflight and to position themselves within a rapidly expanding ecosystem, marked by future lunar and Martian missions as well as the rapid emergence of commercial space stations and private initiatives in low Earth orbit.

Education

Innovation

Partner

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

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

Events

AASTRA Certificate: presentation webinar on March 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Air transport

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

Pages

Marie Marvingt Aerotheque

Located in the centre of the ISAE-SUPAERO campus, the Marie Marvingt Aerotheque is a space dedicated to knowledge and cultural exchange. It is open to students and the general public alike.

Association

Student club

Student life

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

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

Le sismomètre SIA développé par l'ISAE-SUPAERO est une première mondiale pour explorer l'astéroïde Apophis

DEOS

Research

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

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

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

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

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

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

Space Systems for Planetology and Applications (SSPA) Scientific Group

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Videos

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

Prize

Space

News

The COMETES project - Skills and Careers in Space - is launching its website, a platform dedicated to skills and careers in the space sector.

The space sector is undergoing profound change driven by New Space, accelerating technological innovation, and environmental challenges. These transformations are leading to rapid changes in the careers and skills required within the industry. In this context, COMETES is launching a platform dedicated to space-related skills, careers, and training.

Education

Space

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

Pages

Our Collections

The library team offers high-quality documentary resources to support research and studies. The digital offering is constantly growing, with millions of documents available online.

Association

Student club

Student life

Testimonials

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

Alumni

Space

Testimonial

Events

AASTRA Certificate: Introductory Webinar on May 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Air transport

Pages

Enjoy Student Life at ISAE-SUPAERO

Association

Student club

Student life

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

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

Pages

UNIVERSEH

UNIVERSEH, the European Space University for Earth and Humanity, is an alliance of European universities created as part of the European Universities initiative launched by the European Commission in 2019.

Education

International

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

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

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

Events

2026 edition of "Les Entretiens de Toulouse"

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Event

Pages

Applied Mathematics (MA) Scientific Group

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Campus

Association

Student club

Student life

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

Testimonials

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

Advanced Master

Aerospace

Space

News

Happy New Year, Martians!

Research

Space

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

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

Research Engineer – Structural Dynamics

Publication Date

30 June 2026

Category

Tag

DMSM

Job offer

The engineer will contribute to all work packages within the CRÉSAT project, playing a central role in experimental developments. Their work will be carried out in close collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher recruited for the project at the École de l’Air et de l’Espace (EAE).

Their tasks will focus primarily on the preliminary design and development of several deployable-structure prototypes, with increasing fidelity, ranging from beam-type structures to truss-type architectures. Particular attention will be paid to replicating operational conditions, notably in microgravity environments and under shock-type loads. The dynamic characterisation of the various systems will provide input for the project’s numerical models.

The project is based on an innovative approach combining hybrid control and a wave-based representation of structural behaviour. Based on the phenomena of wave propagation, reflection and absorption, this approach notably introduces the concept of anechoic termination, which aims to limit unwanted reflections and confine vibrational energy. The hybrid control system will therefore aim to implement this type of termination experimentally. In this context, the engineer will play a key role in the experimental validation and development of the control strategy, initially passive and subsequently hybrid. In particular, he or she will be involved in the design of control laws and their real-time implementation using data acquisition systems (such as dSPACE).

Finally, particular attention will be paid to identifying and accounting for any non-linear phenomena, notably those induced by the junctions between the various structural elements.

Malaury Fouet, an engineering apprentice at Airbus, wins first prize in the “My Apprenticeship in 180 Seconds” public speaking contest

Publication Date

29 June 2026

Category

Education

Tag

« Ingénieur ISAE-SUPAERO » by apprenticeship

Apprenticeship

Prize

A public speaking competition to promote apprenticeships

“My Apprenticeship in 180 Seconds (MA180s)” is a public speaking competition organised by CFA Midisup, in collaboration with the CFA des Universités Centre-Val de Loireand theANASUP network.

The aim of this project is to showcase higher education apprentices through a challenge:

To describe their apprenticeship experience in 180 seconds flat.

In three minutes, each candidate must give an insight into their journey, their responsibilities, their achievements and what the work-study programme has brought them.

What counts? Eloquence, the ability to explain technical terms and to make the link between your work responsibilities and your work-study programme.

Much more than just a public speaking challenge, this competition is arewarding experience that helps develop key skills such as public speaking, structuring a speech, communication and self-confidence.

Out of the 50 apprentice candidates from across Occitanie, ten finalists were selected back in February to take part in the competition final held on 11 June.

This selection marked the start of several months of intensive preparation, including three coaching sessions led by drama teachers.

Since applications were submitted in January, a great deal of groundwork has been carried out: successive rewrites of the texts, careful consideration of word choice, rhythm, intonation and the intention behind each sentence, all with a view to crafting a performance that is both authentic and impactful.

At the end of the three minutes allotted to present her background, her learning journey and what this experience has brought her – both professionally and personally – it was Malaury Fouet who ultimately won first prize in this very first edition of the competition.

A look back at her journey and her experience 👇

Malaury Fouet, engineering student at ISAE-SUPAERO

Winner of the MA180s competition

Surname – First name: Malaury Fouet
Education: Industrial Engineering degree
Company: Airbus

Through my participation in the ‘My Apprenticeship in 180 Seconds’ competition, I wanted to send a strong message about equal opportunities.

By recounting my journey, from my rural home in Ariège to the Airbus hangars, I wanted to show that an apprenticeship can be a fantastic stepping stone to an engineering degree, which can sometimes seem out of reach.

This competition was also an opportunity to pay tribute to the people who believed in me, particularly my maths teacher, Laetitia, who recognised my interest in aeronautics when I was just 11 years old and encouraged me to pursue this path.

This recognition has now strengthened my commitment to secondary school pupils, particularly through the OSE L’ISAE-SUPAERO association, to encourage them to believe in their ambitions and never give up on their dreams.

Finally, this challenge gave me the opportunity to shed light on my day-to-day life as an apprentice at Airbus by explaining, in just three minutes, my responsibilities and how the theoretical knowledge gained at university complements the practical experience acquired in the workplace.

“What stands out most for me is the realisation that a simple message can sometimes open a door.

So if you’re in doubt, if you’re hesitating, if you think a dream is too far out of reach: start dreaming and never stop.”

The inaugural edition of the competition was a resounding success thanks tothe commitment of our partners, speakers, jury members and the public!

Corporate Partners: Alpine, Syngenta, Ministry of the Armed Forces, Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park – UNESCO Global Geopark, Valeo, EDF Power Solutions, Sanofi, alpe.tv, Brasserie La Petite Aixoise, Airbus.

Educational Partners : Tarbes National School of Engineering – ENIT, Tarbes Occitanie Pyrénées University of Technology – UTTOP, AGRO Toulouse – Toulouse National School of Agronomy – ENSAT, Sciences Po Toulouse, IMT Mines Albi, Toulouse Higher Institute of Journalism, ISAE-SUPAERO.

Watch the video of his visit

World Alumni Days 2026: Testimonial from Fabien Dubuc, Vice President of R&D at Biocon

Publication Date

23 June 2026

Category

Tag

Alumni

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Testimonial from Fabien Dubuc, Class of 2005

Surname, first name:
- DUBUC
- Fabien
Nationality: French
Country of residence:
- France, Grenoble
Countries in which you have worked:
- France,
- Hungary,
- England,
- United States,
- Currently based in France but working in India
Position, company:
- Biocon
- Vice President of R&D for drug delivery technologies
Sector:
- Pharmaceutical industry
Course studied at ISAE-SUPAERO:
- Engineering
Year of graduation:
- 2005

Could you tell us about your career path?

Originally from Montpellier, I joined ISAE-SUPAERO because of my passion for anything that flies and for aeronautics. At a very young age, I was lucky enough to obtain my pilot’s licence, to the point where I was able to fly my parents before I’d even got my driving licence. Like many aviation enthusiasts, I used to dream of flying fighter jets.

After finishing secondary school in Montpellier and then attending preparatory classes at Fermat in Toulouse, I enrolled at ISAE-SUPAERO with the aim of joining a major aerospace group. I have some wonderful memories of that time – from the lectures and the people I met to even paragliding. But back then, I was still trying to work out what I really wanted to do. I explored various fields, from microelectronics to quantum mechanics, in order to broaden my knowledge.

In my third year, I went to Polytechnique Montréal, where I specialised in microelectronics and the microfabrication of microsystems. At the same time, I worked with a professor who was setting up a laboratory focusing on the biomedical applications of microsystems. I found this experience particularly interesting, and it marked the beginning of my interest in the healthcare sector.

On graduating, despite opportunities at Airbus and Eurocopter, I chose to continue my studies at the Collège des Ingénieurs on an MBA programme. It was at that point that I realised the aerospace industry might no longer be what I wanted to do and that I would prefer to join the healthcare sector.

My career then took me to France, Hungary, the United Kingdom and the United States, where I spent a total of seven years. Today, I am based in France but work with India for Biocon. As Vice-President of R&D, I am responsible for all technologies related to drug delivery. I lead a team of 45 people based in Bangalore, with a role that encompasses innovation, development and support for patient-focused technologies.

Why did you decide to pursue an international career?

Initially, my international journey stemmed above all from a personal desire to travel, explore and gain new experiences. The first step was the year I spent in Montreal whilst studying at ISAE-SUPAERO. I found it truly remarkable that the school offered this opportunity to study abroad. That experience was a real turning point: I met people from very different backgrounds and discovered a different culture. In fact, it gave me a taste for travelling.

Afterwards, my wife and I wanted to try something new and build an international experience. So we started looking for opportunities and, when they came along, we seized them. After several professional stints in Europe, the big adventure was moving to the United States with our family. Ultimately, all these stints abroad were driven by the same desire: to explore new environments, discover other cultures and step outside our comfort zone.

What motivated you to return to work in France, and what did your experiences abroad teach you?

We have returned to France, though not necessarily for good, as we are still open to the possibility of leaving again. The decision to return was made at a particular time in our lives, marked by significant family issues and professional considerations. Last year, several factors came together and led to this decision.

Are you considering pursuing an international career in the near future? Why?

Even though I’ve returned, I’ve remained part of an international environment. Initially, I thought I’d continue my career at Sanofi, where I was well established. But this return to France ultimately opened up a new opportunity in India, made possible in particular by a more favourable time difference. This opportunity would undoubtedly not have materialised if I’d remained based in the United States.

Once again, it was a combination of circumstances that created new prospects. Today, I continue to work in a highly international environment, with frequent interactions and travel to various parts of the world, whilst maintaining my main base in France.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue an international career?

When you’re young, you don’t always realise what you’re getting yourself into, but above all you have that desire to do something different. Living abroad allows you to discover a whole host of things you wouldn’t have thought of at the outset. Very quickly, you can find yourself in a sort of ‘golden cage’: you’ve settled in, you’ve got a job, a salary, sometimes a family, a mortgage, and you’re reluctant to step outside that framework. Yet you have to tell yourself that this isn’t necessarily a reason not to take risks. There’s never really a perfect time, and you have to dare to go for it.

My main piece of advice, therefore, is not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Living abroad has enabled me to give my career a boost, improve my English and, above all, gain access to opportunities I probably wouldn’t have had in France. Today, I can see just how much it opens doors and allows you to break out of established moulds.

Another important point is networking; I quickly realised its value. Mentors, meetings and professional connections play a key role in seizing international opportunities. It’s not just about friends, but contacts who can help and be helped, and who often make all the difference in a career.

Initiation Ceremony for the ISAE Group’s Class of 2028 of Engineering Apprentices

Publication Date

19 June 2026

Category

Education

Tag

« Ingénieur ISAE-SUPAERO » by apprenticeship

Apprenticeship

Engineer specialising in Industrial Engineering

Induction ceremony for the Class of 2028

Marie-Hélène Baroux, Chairof the ISAE Group andChief Executive of ISAE-SUPAERO, was accompanied by Sawsen Ayari-Pouliquen, Director of Social Affairs and Trainingat GIFAS, and the heads of the schools delivering the programme, to present the ISAE Group badge to the 86 apprentices in the 2028 intake.

Training managers, along with industry representatives and apprenticeship mentors, were present to support the apprentices, whom they will be guiding throughout their training.

For Marie-Hélène Baroux, as well as strengthening the bonds between the apprentices,“this ceremony marks their commitment to their training and should enable them to better understand all the opportunities offered by this programme”.

Qualified engineers currently in employment who had completed this apprenticeship programme shared their experiences, enabling the apprentices to visualise their training journey more clearly and to envisage their professional future a little more clearly.

A training programme supported by GIFAS

Supportedby GIFAS(the French Aerospace Industries Association), this course is run by four of the ISAE Group’s schools: ISAE-SUPAERO (Toulouse), ISAE-ENSMA (Poitiers), ISAE-SUPMÉCA (Paris-Saint-Ouen) and ESTACA (Laval).

“GIFAS is delighted to support the ISAE Group in launching this training programme, which has been requested and eagerly awaited by our member companies. We wish the 86 engineering apprentices in this cohort every success in their apprenticeships, at their schools and within the aerospace industry” – Sawsen Ayari-Pouliquen , Director of Social Affairs and Trainingat GIFAS.

Find out more about the Industrial Engineering specialism at ISAE-SUPAERO

ISAE Group: four schools offering the same course

The three-year programme includes, in addition to essential scientific and technical knowledge, modules focusing on the technical and societal challenges facing the engineers of tomorrow, such as sustainable development, people management and innovation.

It also includes an essential practical component, delivered through work-study placements within one or more companies in the aerospace sector, with a minimum of nine weeks spent abroad.

The programme is structured around an identical core curriculum for the first two years, with each school offering a specialisation pathway in^{the third year}: Avionics and On-Board Systems in Toulouse,Energy Systems and Advanced Materials inPoitiers,Logistics, Systems and Aeronautical Production Processes inSaint-Ouen,and Digital Technologies for Production and Eco-Responsible Innovation atthe Laval campus.

Find out more about the ISAE Group

The ISAE Group bringstogether institutions specialising in aeronautical and space engineering under a single umbrella. It aims to meet the needs of the aerospace sector by offering a wide range of specialist courses (engineering degrees, master’s degrees, specialised master’s degrees and PhDs), to establish a quality standard for these courses and to develop joint projects amongst its members.

With six member and associate schools, some 5,500 students and 2,000 graduates each year, the ISAE Group thus offers companies in the aeronautics and space sector a pool of graduates with high-level scientific and technical profiles that is unique in Europe.

The ISAE Group’s schools are located across France in all the major aerospace regions, including ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC (Occitanie–Toulouse), ISAE-ENSMA (Nouvelle-Aquitaine–Poitiers), ISAE-SUPMÉCA (Île-de-France – Saint-Ouen), ESTACA (Île-de-France – Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Pays de la Loire – Laval, Nouvelle-Aquitaine – Bordeaux), and the École de l’Air et de l’Espace (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur – Salon-de-Provence).

In 2020, ESTIA (Nouvelle-Aquitaine – Bidart), EIGSI (Nouvelle-Aquitaine – La Rochelle) and Elisa Aerospace (Hauts-de-France – Saint-Quentin and Nouvelle-Aquitaine – Saint-Jean-d’Illac) became partner institutions, as did ENSPIMA in 2026.

Further information:www.groupe-isae.fr

ICCAS 2026: Artificial Intelligence for Operational Decision-Making

Publication Date

19 June 2026

Category

Research

Tag

Aeronautics

Aviation

Conference

DCAS

Human factors

Neuroergonomics

Research

An edition that confirms the conference’s international standing

This fourth edition brought together 169 participants representing 23 different nationalities, with a balanced split of 45 per cent from industry and 55 per cent from academia. The programme comprised 28 oral presentations, two keynote speeches by Anne-Marie Brouwer and Wendy Mackay, as well as 30 posters and 10 demonstrations. Three companies (HAT.tec, Tobii and Ephyca) also had stands to showcase their solutions.

Organised around the key themes of embedded artificial intelligence,human-system interaction, neuroergonomics and autonomous systems, the conference offers an integrated perspective combining cutting-edge academic research with concrete operational applications.

A strong focus on practical application

This edition of ICCAS stands out for its resolutely application-oriented focus: the work presented centres on proof-of-concept projects that are very close to deployment, with advanced levels of technological maturity. Researchers validate their methods using realistic scenarios (flight simulators, flight tests, collaborative platforms) before considering their integration into future operational systems.

Another new feature this year was the demonstrations session, where researchers and engineers presented their systems in action. Among the standout demonstrations were human-machine interface concepts for fighter aircraft, an estimation of mental state using cameras, a test bed for collaboration between humans and autonomous systems, modular tools for robotic planning and execution, and a gaze-aware reinforcement learning system for human-AI collaboration.

An exemplary collaboration between industry and academia

ICCAS brings together a unique international community of academic, institutional and industrial researchers focused on the design and architecture of cognitive aerial systems. Alongside Dassault Aviation, major partners such as Thales, Airbus, Cap Gemini, DGA Essais en Vol, TNO and the US Air Force Research Laboratory accounted for 40 per cent of the institutional and industrial stakeholders present, alongside researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO, research laboratories at international universities and grandes écoles.

This dynamic illustrates the model championed by Dassault Aviation and ISAE-SUPAERO within the framework of the CASAC Chair: industry articulates its needs to address operational challenges, academic research proposes innovative methods and tools, and the Chair ensures cross-fertilisation between these two worlds: a collaborative effort underpinned by a shared commitment to accelerating the emergence of smart aviation in the interests of safety.

The main theme of this year’s event: AI for operational decision-making

The 2026 edition placed the issue of autonomy in the service of humanity at the heart of its discussions: how can AI tools help a military pilot or a drone operator to make the right decision at the right time, in a constrained environment, without replacing their judgement? This question, which brings together ethics, systems engineering, cognitive psychology and operational performance, lies at the heart of the challenges facing French and European technological sovereignty in the defence sector.

Among the topics discussed were behavioural and neurophysiological monitoring of operators, eco-friendly and augmented human-machine interfaces, cooperative algorithms with mixed initiative, the certification of embedded AI, and single-pilot or extended-crew operations.

As Caroline Chanel, a professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, points out: “AI is already being used in simulators and will soon be on actual aircraft; today we must ensure that this AI is understandable, reliable, certified and accepted by crews – essential conditions for its operational deployment. ICCAS is precisely the place where this convergence takes place.”

This event is co-organised by ISAE-SUPAERO, Dassault Aviation and the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation, and is supported by the CASAC Chair, ANITI and AFIA. The 2026 conference was chaired by Caroline Chanel, Frédéric Dehais and Patrick Fabiani, general chairs of ICCAS.