The European Space Agency selected Raphaël Liégeois in 2022 as part of its newest career astronaut group, placing him in line to become the third Belgian to travel into space. Born in Namur in 1988, he combines a career in neuroengineering with a background in ballooning and extensive international research experience spanning three continents.
Academic and Scientific Foundation
Liégeois pursued an extensive education in physics and biomedical engineering. After completing his secondary schooling at Athénée Royal de Namur, he enrolled at the University of Liège from 2005 to 2011. His academic path included an exchange program at École Centrale Paris in 2009 and a master's degree in fundamental physics from the University of Paris-Sud in 2010. By 2015, he earned a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Liège, focusing his thesis on dynamical modelling from resting-state brain imaging.
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His professional career shifted toward advanced neuroimaging and clinical research. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a post-doctoral researcher at the National University of Singapore, investigating markers for neurodegenerative conditions. He later held a position as a research fellow at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne between 2018 and 2021, and served as a visiting scholar at Stanford University in 2019. Since 2021, he has held a joint appointment at the University of Geneva and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, teaching statistics and neuroengineering.
Astronaut Selection and Training
He graduated with his cohort, known as The Hoppers, on 22 April 2024. In May 2024, he was named as the second member of his class assigned to a space mission, currently projected for an autumn 2026 launch. Throughout this transition, he has consulted with established Belgian space figures, including Dirk Frimout and Frank De Winne.
Personal Pursuits and Interests
Liégeois holds dual citizenship in Belgium and Luxembourg. His formative years were influenced by the adventures of Tintin and the 1995 film Apollo 13. Outside of his professional obligations, he is an active balloon pilot. In 2017, he and his spouse completed a four-month cycling journey from Singapore back to Belgium, traveling through twelve countries and documenting their interactions with local poets.
Fast facts
- Born: 8 January 1988, Namur
- Citizenship: Belgium and Luxembourg
- Doctoral studies: 2011-2015, University of Liège
- ESA astronaut selection: 2022
- Current teaching: University of Geneva and EPFL
- Professional interests: Biomedical engineering, neuroengineering
- Active recreation: Balloon pilot
Questions readers ask
What is the academic background of Raphaël Liégeois?
He is a biomedical engineer who holds a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Liège.
When is the expected flight date for his mission?
The mission is estimated to launch in the autumn of 2026.
Achievements
- Recorded as astronaut, balloonist and biomedical engineer
