Christophe Bonnal
Mise à jour le : 28 août 2025
- Christophe Bonnal started his career in Aerospatiale, now Ariane Group, working on technical topics related to the Ariane 4 launcher and some flight mechanics problems.
- He was then in charge of several future concepts studies, including the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and several launchers.
- In 1987 he joined the Ariane 5 Architect team, in charge of mission analyses.
- Since 1992, Christophe works for the Launcher Directorate of CNES where he was first responsible for the Ariane 5 system tests, including maiden flights.
- Following the qualification of Ariane 5, he headed the future launchers division.
- In 2005 he was named Senior Expert, first for the Technical Sub-Directorate, then directly attached to the Launcher Director.
- From 2022 to 2024, Christophe Bonnal was Senior Expert in the CNES Directorate of Strategy.
- Since January 2024, he is Senior Expert, System, in the Launcher Startup MaiaSpace.
- In parallel, since 1987, Christophe is in charge of the Space Debris topic. He is French Delegate to Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) and International Standardization Organization (ISO). He is co-chairing the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Space Debris Committee and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Space Traffic Management Committee
- Christophe Bonnal is President of the European Conference for Aerospace Sciences (EUCASS), and Chairman of the Technical Committee
- Full member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and Air & Space Academy (A&SA), Emeritus of French Association Aéronautique & Astronautique de France (3AF), member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and lifetime Fellow of International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS).
- Author of 240+ publications, including 80 Peer Reviewed, 7 patents. Book on Space Pollution. Co-editor of Acta Astronautica, AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. Couple of awards…
