Bernard Foing

Biography Born in France, Bernard Foing has a PhD in Astrophysics and Space Techniques. He worked 3 years in Chile as an astronomer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Foing obtained the Habilitation for direction of research in 1990.

SMART-1 Foing is known as the father of SMART-1. Serving as Principal Project Scientist from conception in 1996, SMART-1's goals were both technological and scientific. First in a series of "Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology", SMART-1 also performed scientific observations of the Moon including determining the Moon's mineralogical composition and the presence and quantity of water in the craters at the Moon's south pole. SMART-1 entered lunar orbit in November 2004 and continued orbit until it was intentionally crashed into the lunar surface on September 3, 2006. Said Foing, "SMART-1 data are helping to choose future landing sites for robotic and possible manned missions, and its instruments are upgraded and being flown again on the next generation of lunar satellites."

Mars Express Foing is an organic chemist for Mars Express, a space exploration mission by the European Space Agency. Launched on June 2, 2004, Mars Express is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency. The HRSC is a high-resolution camera that can make full-color 3-D images of Mars's surface. The camera can also zoom in for a closer look and may be helpful in identifying useful landing sites for future Mars missions.