Dr. Alain Dupas, born on October 11, 1945, in Paris, and passing on June 12, 2022, in Meudon, France, stood as one of Europe’s most influential voices in space policy, technology, and scientific communication.
Earning his doctorate from Paris-Sud University in 1997, Dr. Dupas combined rigorous academic training with an unrelenting curiosity about the cosmos.
- Director of Studies at CNES: For over two decades, Dr. Dupas directed programs at the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), focusing on research into stellar systems and advancing France’s position in international space policy.
- Global Collaborator: He contributed as an associate researcher at the Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, and served as an aerospace advisor to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
- Co-founder of Astronaute Club Européen: With visionaries Jean-Pierre Haigneré and Laurent Gathier, he created this organization in 2005, championing broader participation in space exploration and private astronaut missions.
Dr. Dupas excelled as a synthesizer bringing together diverse perspectives from American and European space communities. His insights spanned commercial, military, and scientific arenas, and he was among the earliest proponents of the “New Space” entrepreneurial movement. Through authoritative analysis and commentary, he shaped strategies underpinning the future of French, European, and global space efforts.
Dr. Dupas authored a suite of influential books, making complex space topics approachable without sacrificing substance. Notable works include:
- Les vaisseaux cosmiques (1968)
- La lutte pour l’espace (1977)
- Ariane et la navette spatiale (1981)
- L’âge des satellites (1997)
- Une autre histoire de l’espace (1999)
- Destination Mars (2002)
- La nouvelle conquête spatiale (2010)
- Demain, nous vivrons tous dans l’espace (2011)
- L’appel du cosmos (2011)
His books illuminated not just the technologies and challenges of spaceflight, but also European aspirations and the evolving interplay between public and private sectors in space.
Dr. Dupas was celebrated for fostering understanding between French and American approaches to space exploration which was and is a rare and invaluable trait.
He inspired a generation of scientists, policymakers, and enthusiasts with his encouragement of creative, independent thinking.
His passing was widely mourned across the global space policy community, with tributes highlighting not just his intellectual leadership but his warmth, wisdom, and inclusive vision.
At his funeral, colleagues recalled Dr. Dupas as an “unusual Frenchman”. a respected scholar with a deep affection for the United States and an ability to build bridges between disparate viewpoints. He was remembered for his readiness to foster collaboration, his wellspring of curiosity, and his enduring optimism about the future potential of humanity in space.
Dr. Alain Dupas’s journey reminds us that space is not just about technology, but about vision, collaboration, and the quest for understanding across borders. His body of work remains a touchstone for those who look to the stars, aspiring to build a future marked by discovery, cooperation, and imagination.
Dupas was a constant contributor to Second Line of Defense and was a key member of the community of forward thinkers which has made up the team. Notably, we highlighted the impact we saw of space constellations and what became known as new space, much in advance of the conventional wisdom of the day.
His foresight is much missed but recognized notably in its absence.