[6] He worked 3 years in Chile as an astronomer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO),[6] the French embassy, and as Professor of Astrophysics.

[11] First in a series of "Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology",[11] SMART-1 was used to test new state-of-the art instruments such as a solar-electric primary propulsion system.

[15][16] 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.

[19] Foing is also co-investigator of the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) for the Mars Express orbiter.

[22] Foing has published over 400 articles, including 160 refereed papers, in lunar and planetary science and exploration, solar/stellar physics and astrobiology.