Stamatios Krimigis
Encyclopedia
Stamatios M. Krimigis is a Greek-American scientist in space exploration
. He has contributed to the majority of the United States' unmanned space exploration programs of the Solar system
and beyond. He has contributed to exploration missions to almost every planet of our solar system. In 1999, the International Astronomical Union
named the asteroid 8323 Krimigis
(previously 1979 UH) in his honor.
of Chios
, Greece
where he attended school. In the United States he studied at the University of Minnesota
, and earned his Bachelor of Physics, 1961, his Master of Science
at the University of Iowa
in 1963 and his Ph.D.
in 1965 in Physics. He was a student of James Van Allen
.
He is Head Emeritus
of the Space Department Applied Physics Laboratory
at Johns Hopkins University
Laurel, Maryland
, USA and he is a member of Academy of Athens
, Greece
, where he has the Chair of Science of Space. He is also the President of the Greek National Council for Research and Technology.
He has been the Principal Investigator on several unmanned NASA and ESA missions including the NASA
-ESA Cassini–Huygens mission to Saturn
and Titan
(1990-present), the Low Energy Charged Particle Experiment on Voyager 1
and Voyager 2
, Explorer
47 and 50. He is Co-Principal Investigator on NASA
-ESA Ulysses solar polar orbiter (1978-present), MESSENGER
, GEOTAIL
, Advanced Composition Explorer
and New Horizons
. He was Co-Principal Investigator on the NASA
Galileo mission to Jupiter
(1977-2003) and Co-Investigator with James Van Allen on the University of Iowa Particle Experiments on NASA Mariner
3, 4 (to Mars
) and Mariner
5 (to Venus
).
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
. He has contributed to the majority of the United States' unmanned space exploration programs of the Solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
and beyond. He has contributed to exploration missions to almost every planet of our solar system. In 1999, the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
named the asteroid 8323 Krimigis
8323 Krimigis
8323 Krimigis is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 17, 1979 by E. Bowell at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory. Named after Dr Stamatios Krimigis . The I.A.U. in 1999 named asteroid "8323 Krimigis", in his honor.- External links :*...
(previously 1979 UH) in his honor.
Biography
He was born in 1938 in VrontadosVrontados
Vrontados is a small coastal town located at the eastern part of the island of Chios in Greece. With a population of about 4,500 the town hosts the seat of the municipality of Omiroupolis.-Other:...
of Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
where he attended school. In the United States he studied at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and earned his Bachelor of Physics, 1961, his Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1963 and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1965 in Physics. He was a student of James Van Allen
James Van Allen
James Alfred Van Allen was an American space scientist at the University of Iowa.The Van Allen radiation belts were named after him, following the 1958 satellite missions in which Van Allen had argued that a Geiger counter should be used to detect charged particles.- Life and career :* September...
.
He is Head Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of the Space Department Applied Physics Laboratory
Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory , located in Howard County, Maryland near Laurel and Columbia, is a not-for-profit, university-affiliated research center employing 4,500 people. APL is primarily a defense contractor. It serves as a technical resource for the Department of...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, USA and he is a member of Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens may refer to:* Platonic Academy* Academy of Athens...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, where he has the Chair of Science of Space. He is also the President of the Greek National Council for Research and Technology.
He has been the Principal Investigator on several unmanned NASA and ESA missions including the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
-ESA Cassini–Huygens mission to Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
and Titan
Titan (moon)
Titan , or Saturn VI, is the largest moon of Saturn, the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found....
(1990-present), the Low Energy Charged Particle Experiment on Voyager 1
Voyager 1
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA in 1977, to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. Operating for as of today , the spacecraft receives routine commands and transmits data back to the Deep Space Network. At a distance of as of...
and Voyager 2
Voyager 2
The Voyager 2 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977 to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space...
, Explorer
Explorer program
The Explorer program is a United States space exploration program that provides flight opportunities for physics, heliophysics, and astrophysics investigations from space. Over 90 space missions have been launched from 1958 to 2011, and it is still active...
47 and 50. He is Co-Principal Investigator on NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
-ESA Ulysses solar polar orbiter (1978-present), MESSENGER
MESSENGER
The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging space probe is a robotic NASA spacecraft in orbit around the planet Mercury. The spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004 to study the chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field of Mercury...
, GEOTAIL
GEOTAIL
GEOTAIL is a satellite observing the Earth's magnetosphere. It was developed by ISAS in association with NASA, and launched by a Delta II rocket on July 24, 1992....
, Advanced Composition Explorer
Advanced Composition Explorer
Advanced Composition Explorer is a NASA space exploration mission being conducted as part of the Explorer program to study matter in situ, comprising energetic particles from the solar wind, the interplanetary medium, and other sources. Real-time data from ACE is used by the Space Weather...
and New Horizons
New Horizons
New Horizons is a NASA robotic spacecraft mission currently en route to the dwarf planet Pluto. It is expected to be the first spacecraft to fly by and study Pluto and its moons, Charon, Nix, Hydra and S/2011 P 1. Its estimated arrival date at the Pluto-Charon system is July 14th, 2015...
. He was Co-Principal Investigator on the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Galileo mission to Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
(1977-2003) and Co-Investigator with James Van Allen on the University of Iowa Particle Experiments on NASA Mariner
Mariner program
The Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes designed to investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury from 1963 to 1973...
3, 4 (to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
) and Mariner
Mariner program
The Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes designed to investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury from 1963 to 1973...
5 (to Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
).