Rosemary COOGAN

European Space Agency (ESA) • ESA Astronaut | Astrophysicist

Rosemary Coogan is a British astrophysicist and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut from Northern Ireland. She was selected as a member of the 2022 ESA Astronaut Group and completed her basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in 2024.

Coogan holds a degree in Physics from Durham University and a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Sussex, where her research focused on galaxy evolution and active galactic nuclei. Her scientific career has included research at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany and work with the French space agency CNES, where she has contributed to major space astronomy missions including Euclid and the James Webb Space Telescope.

Her research has focused on understanding the evolution of galaxies and the role of their environments and active galactic nuclei in shaping star formation. Earlier in her career, she also conducted research using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to study gamma-ray emission from quasars and worked in data science and machine learning for robotic systems.

In 2024, Coogan graduated from ESA's astronaut basic training programme as part of the astronaut class known as “The Hoppers.” She has since undertaken advanced astronaut training and participated in ESA's CAVES programme, an international expedition designed to develop teamwork, operational and scientific skills in challenging underground environments.

In 2026, Coogan was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Durham University in recognition of her scientific achievements and contributions to space exploration.

Through her combined experience as a scientist, astronaut and space mission specialist, Coogan represents the next generation of European astronauts working at the intersection of space science, exploration and human spaceflight.

Events

77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026)

5 - 9 October 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

Participation: