Dr. Rosemary Coogan is a British astrophysicist and astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), recognized as the third Briton to join the ESA Astronaut Corps. Born in 1991 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she was raised near Brighton, England, and developed an early interest in space and science.

Coogan pursued her undergraduate and master's degrees in physics and astronomy at Durham University, focusing on gamma-ray emissions from black holes. She earned her PhD in astronomy from the University of Sussex in 2019, researching galaxy evolution and the role of active galactic nuclei. Her academic journey included international collaborations, such as a year at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany and a fellowship at the French space agency CNES, where she contributed to missions like Euclid and the James Webb Space Telescope.

In November 2022, Coogan was selected from over 22,500 applicants to join ESA's 2022 astronaut class. She completed her basic astronaut training in April 2024, which encompassed spacecraft systems, robotics, survival training, and spacewalk simulations at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Now certified, she is eligible for future missions, including potential assignments to the International Space Station and participation in lunar or Mars exploration initiatives.

Beyond her professional achievements, Coogan is multilingual, speaking English, French, and basic German. She has a background in the Royal Naval Reserve and enjoys activities such as hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, and playing the piano.

Dr. Coogan's dedication to science and exploration positions her as a prominent figure in the UK's space endeavors, inspiring future generations in the field of space science.