Ioannis A. Daglis isProfessor of Space Physics at the University of Athensand President of the Hellenic Space Center.He is an expert in solar-terrestrial coupling processes and space weather; his work is focused on the dynamics of energetic particles and of geospace magnetic storms. He has(co-)authored100+ scientific papersandhas edited and co-authored 5 textbooks; the most recent book, “Waves, particles and storms in geospace”, co-edited with G. Balasis and I.R. Mann, was published by OUP in 2016.He has been a Co-Investigator on three NASA missions (SAC-B, Polar, THEMIS) and two ESA missions(BepiColombo, Proba3).
Dr. Günther Hasinger is a world leader in the field of X-ray astronomy and in the study of black holes, objects whose gravity is so strong that not even light can escape from them. He received his physics diploma from Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich, and in 1984, he earned a PhD in astronomy from LMU for research done at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE).
After visiting lectureships in the United States, he returned to Germany to take a position at the University of Potsdam. He served as director of the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam from 1994 to 2001. In 2001, he was appointed as a scientific member of the Max Planck Society, one of the world’s premier research organizations, and as the director of the High-Energy-Group at MPE. In 2007, he spent four months at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) while on sabbatical, and in 2008 he became scientific director at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), the position he relinquished to become the director of the IfA.
Dr. Hasinger has received numerous awards for his research and scientific achievements, including the Leibniz Prize of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the most significant research prize in Germany, and the international Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Award for his outstanding contributions to space science. He is a member of the Academia Europea, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, and Leopoldina (the German National Academy of Sciences), and an external member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Together with his colleagues, Dr. Hasinger resolved the cosmic X-ray background radiation into distinct objects, which were then identified mainly as active black holes in distant galaxies. These studies showed that the cosmological evolution of active galactic nuclei (the centers of galaxies that emit much more radiation than can be produced by stars alone) is closely associated with the star-forming history of galaxies in the Universe and that black holes are likely motors for the development of galaxies.
Dr. Hasinger has also played a key role in the operation of X-ray satellites and the development of future observatories. When the attitude control system of ROSAT, a joint German-UK-US X-ray and ultraviolet satellite, failed soon after launch in 1990, Dr. Hasinger was instrumental in developing a new control system that enabled the satellite to continue its mission.
Dr. Hasinger has also held several important national and international responsibilities, such as the chair of the Council of German Observatories and the president of the International Astronomical Union Division on Space and High Energy Astrophysics. He played a significant role in improving the financial constraints of basic space research in Germany and Europe.
In addition to writing numerous scientific papers, Dr. Hasinger is the author of an award-winning book, Fate of the Universe, which explains astrophysics and cosmology to a wider audience, and the winner of the Wilhelm Foerster Prize for public dissemination of science in 2011.
Dr. Hasinger was born in Oberammergau, Germany, in 1954. He is married to Barbara Kreiss-Hasinger, and they have two grown children.
Mr. Andrew Johnson has been the deputy head of the New Zealand Space Agency since 2018.
He earned a BSc in Psychology and a BCA (Hons) in Economics from Victoria University of Wellington. Andrew is an economist and public policy professional with fifteen years’ experience in economic analysis, stakeholder management, and policy development. Prior to starting work at the NZSA, Andrew previously held roles with New Zealand's Ministry for the Environment, the New Zealand Treasury, HM Treasury in the UK, as well as several private sector roles. His focus in the last two years at the NZSA has been on continuing to support and extend the development of New Zealand's Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act regime and develop the New Zealand space sector through collaborations with other international space agencies and working with the New Zealand research and commercial sector.
Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla studied mechanical engineering and materials science in Bochum and Darmstadt. She completed her doctorate and qualified as a university lecturer at Ruhr University in Bochum. Following research activities at the Hahn-Meitner-Institute (HMI) and the Technical University of Berlin, she conducted research and taught as a university professor at the Vienna University of Technology from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, she joined the management team at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH in Dusseldorf as Scientific Member, Director and then Managing Director. In 2008, she was appointed Scientific Director of the Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy in Berlin (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH), which was created under her leadership through the merger of HMI and the Berlin Electron Storage Ring Society for Synchrotron Radiation (BESSY). In 2017, Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla was elected President of TU Braunschweig, a post she held until the DLR Senate unanimously appointed her as the new Chair of the Executive Board in March 2020.
Dr. Kuninaka completed a Ph.D. program in aerodynamics at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering in 1988. That same year he took up a new post at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which is now part of JAXA. In 2005, Dr. Kuninaka became a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering. In 2011 he served as Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program Group Director, then assumed his current post in 2012. Dr. Kuninaka’s areas of expertise are electric propulsion and plasma engineering. He has been involved in the development of the ion engines for the Hayabusa asteroid explorers.
Jean-Yves Le Gall is President of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, since 2013. In this capacity, he is interministerial coordinator for satellite navigation programmes. He is also Honorary Ambassador and former President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
CNES is responsible for shaping and executing France’s space policy. It is involved in all aspects of space (Ariane, Sciences, Earth Observation, Telecommunications, Defence) through its four centres of excellence in Paris, Toulouse and French Guiana, with 2,350 employees and a budget of €2.335bn (2021). CNES represents France on the Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) and at many other international organizations, and is a partner in several commercial enterprises.
Born in 1959, Jean-Yves Le Gall has devoted his entire career to the European space programme, holding positions within the French national scientific research agency CNRS, several French ministries, at Novespace and a first stint with CNES before joining Starsem and then Arianespace, where he was Chairman & CEO. In addition to leading CNES, he has also been Chair of ESA Council and Chair of the Administrative Board of GSA, the European GNSS Agency in charge of Galileo.
Jean-Yves Le Gall is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and Vice-President of the "Space Circle" at French think-tank CEPS (Centre d’Etude et de Prospective Stratégique). He chairs the France-Japan business council of Medef International, is President of the Foundation for the study of the Japanese language and civilization and a member of the French-Mexican Strategic Council. He also sits on the board of Paris Est Créteil University and on the Strategic Oversight Committee of Paris-Saclay University.
In 2001, he received the Astronautics Prize from the French Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF). He was named Via Satellite magazine’s 2005 Satellite Executive of the Year and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC). In 2011 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SPPI) and received the Icarus Prize from the French association of professional aerospace journalists (AJPAE). In 2014 he received a Laureate Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine and in 2018 the California Institute of Technology presented him with the International Von Kármán Wings Award.
Jean-Yves Le Gall holds the ranks of Commander of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Merit. He has also been awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian Federation and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, by the government of Japan. He is Doctor Honoris Causa of Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology.
Anatoli Petrukovich is director of Space Research Institute (IKI), Russian Academy of Sciences. The mission of IKI is development of space science and technology with the focus on spacecraft observations in a range from Earth science to cosmology. Не received a Master degree from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1990. Нe joined Space Research Institute as researcher, later became head of space weather lab, head of space plasma physics department. Since 2018 he is IKI director. He received a COSPAR Zeldovich medal for young scientists in 2002. Since 2011 he is corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences. Petrukovich scientific interests are related with dynamics of the magnetosphere and substorms, space weather forecasts. A. Petrukovich is professor in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He was an associate editor of «Journal Geophysical Research - Space Physics» (2012-2014) and is now an Editor-in-chief of Russian «Cosmic Research» journal.
Karl Rodrigues is responsible for developing relationships with International Space Agencies. He also engages with Australian industry, start-ups, domestic agencies, research institutions and state and territory governments to help grow the Australian space sector.
Karl has over 25 years of experience in innovation, venture investment, research, development and commercialisation of technology. Karl was Deputy Director for CSIRO Energy, responsible for the Business Unit strategy, science investment and operations. He delivered science impact, leadership and direction to the Business Unit. This included the Hydrogen Future Science Platform to create a new energy security and export opportunity for Australia.
Sri.S. Somanath took over as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in January 2018. He was the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) since July 2015. Till June 2015, he was the Associate Director (Projects) of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and also the Project Director of GSLV Mk-III Launch vehicle. Under his leadership as the Project Director, the first Experimental flight of LVM3-X/CARE mission was successfully accomplished on 18th December, 2014.
He joined ISRO in 1985 and was a team leader for Integration of PSLV during its early development phase and during the first flight of PSLV and the successful second flight PSLV-D2. As Project Manager he handled areas of mechanisms, pyro-technique systems and satellite launch service management. He conceived and executed the first time launches of commercial mini satellites and developed small satellite mounting and separation systems which have successfully deployed many commercial satellites.
He joined GSLV MkIII Project during 2003 and was the Deputy Project Director responsible for Ooverall design of the vehicle, Mission design, Structural design and Integration. He has been the Deputy Director of the ‘Structures’ Entity in VSSC and also the Deputy Director of ‘Propulsion and Space Ordinance Entity’ in VSSC till November, 2014. Shri Somanath is an expert in the area of system engineering of Launch vehicles. He made contributions in PSLV and GSLV MkIII in their overall architecture, propulsion systems, structural and structural dynamics, separation systems, vehicle integration and integration procedures development.
As Director, LPSC he led the team to successfully complete the development of 20 ton thrust C25 cryogenic engine and stage and realised the flight stage for the successful GSLV Mk-III-D1 mission. Impetus given for development of 200 ton Semicryo engine for future Launch vehicles, qualification of throttleable engines for Vikram lander of Chanradrayaan-2 and successful fight test of electric propulsion in GSAT-9 and realisation of 300 mN high thrust electric propulsion thrusters are his major achievements in LPSC.
As Director, VSSC he mentored the team to develop the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) with innovations for cost reduction and production easiness, Human rated Launch Vehicle version of GSLV MkIII, Crew Escape System (CES) and Test Vehicle for Gaganyaan. Some of the significant tests accomplished are the Pad Abort Test (PAT-01) for Gaganyaan, the successful flight test of ATVP with TMA release. The successful first operational mission GSLV MkIII-M1 for Chandrayaan-2 with payload enhancement was a significant event. Nine operational missions of PSLV-C40 to C48 (50th PSLV Mission) and GSLV-F09 were successful in this time frame. Critical development tests of RLV-LEX mission have been completed. He has initiated various new R&D developments as well as facility upgradation initiatives in VSSC which include 2 petaflop computation facility, Trisonic wind tunnel, pyro production augmentation facilities, industry operated production hubs for critical systems in many areas.
Shri Somanath took his B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala University with a Second Rank and Masters in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore with specialization in Structures, Dynamics and Control with Gold Medal.
He received the ‘Merit Award’, ‘Performance Excellence award’ and Outstanding Achievement award” from ISRO and a ‘Team excellence award’ for GSLV Mk-III development. He received, the “Janasewa Award 2018” instituted by Sivaparvathy Cultural Society, “Marthoma Educational Technical Training & Research Centre Award-2018” instituted by Marthoma college of Science & Technology, “Lifetime achievement Award instituted by TKM College Trust, Kollam and “Platinum Jubilee Award” from Aerospace Department of IISc Bangalore. He is the recipient of the ‘Space Gold Medal’ from Astronautical Society of India. He is the recipient of the “National Aeronautics Prize” by The Aeronautical Society of India for the year 2018. He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa by Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai.
He is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), Astronautical Society of India (ASI) and a Member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). He is the Vice President of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in charge of the technical activities. Shri Somanath has widely travelled as delegate and representative of India in UN-COPOUS at Vienna, many space agencies and establishments across the world and International Astronautical Federation (IAF)’s International Programs in various countries.
He has published papers in journals & seminars in the area of structural dynamics and control, dynamic analysis of separation mechanisms, vibration & acoustic testing, launch vehicle design and launch services management.
Chi Wang is a Professor and the Director General of the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, also the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Space Weather. He graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China, and got his Ph.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. His research interesting focuses on the large-scale solar wind structures in the heliosphere and the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. He worked on the plasma experiments on Voyager 2 and developed a multi-fluid solar wind model. Starting from 2002, he led the effort to establish the first state key laboratory of space weather in China, and to develop of a global MHD model of the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. So far, he has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers including Nature, JGR etc. He was the PI of the Chinese Meridian Project, which is the ground-based space environment monitoring chain in China. He currently is the Co-PI of the solar wind – magnetosphere – ionosphere link explorer (SMILE) and the deputy chief engineer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration CE-4 mission. Dr. Wang received National Outstanding Young Scientist Award from Chinese National Science Foundation in 2003, 9th National Science and Technology Award for Youth of China in 2006. He was elected as an IAA Corresponding Member in basic science in 2017.
Scientific discovery is one of humanity’s most important endeavors. Using the tools of exploration, we can better understand our world and our universe and ultimately learn more about ourselves. All discovery is interconnected, and no important question stands alone. As NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen is tasked with helping us answer some of humanity’s biggest questions: Where did we come from? Are we alone? How does the universe work? Dr. Zurbuchen is well versed in the practice of asking difficult questions that help us seek interconnected answers leading to real world impacts. He is keenly interested in innovation and how leadership is developed and how the pursuit of excellence can help change the world.
Growing up in Switzerland, Dr. Zurbuchen was a keen observer of the natural world from an early age. His curiosity led him to pursue degrees in physics, and he has served on and led innovative scientific teams that have helped enlarge our perspective on the solar system and the universe. Previous points of focus have been the planet Mercury and our Sun. He was also a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He was the founding director of UM’s Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering and developed and ran several campus wide innovation initiatives, one of which led to the top-ranked undergraduate entrepreneurship program nationally.
On a daily basis, Zurbuchen works to ensure that NASA’s science missions build partnerships across disciplines and with industry and other nations to generate new questions and help advance the frontiers of knowledge and exploration. He brings a wealth of scientific research, engineering experience and hands-on knowledge to NASA’s world-class team of scientists and engineers. Zurbuchen sets the NASA Science strategy and inspires the teams to carry it out.
During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles in peer reviewed journals in solar and heliospheric phenomena. He earned his doctorate and Master of Science degrees in physics from the University of Bern in Switzerland. His honors include multiple NASA ground achievement awards, induction as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the 2018 Heinrich-Greinacher prize, the leading science-related recognition from the University of Bern. Zurbuchen engages people worldwide with NASA’s work and the inspiration of science.
You will want to grab the official t-shirt of the first ever Virtual Assembly in the history of COSPAR.
Missed the Space Agency Leaders’ Round Table live? You can now download and view the recording.
See the whole weeks’ program at a glance. Commencing Friday 28th January 2021.
View the extended interview videos of all Awardees here.
COSPAR's objectives are to promote on an international level scientific research in space, with emphasis on the exchange of results, information and opinions and to provide a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of problems that may affect scientific space research.
These objectives are achieved through the organization of Scientific Assemblies, publications and other means.
COSPAR-K
