The Institute of Space Systems (IRS) as well as the team of the Collaborative Research Centre 1667 ATLAS are excited to welcome Dr. Artem Smirnov as the newly appointed Junior Professor (W1) for Physics of the Upper Atmosphere at the University of Stuttgart!
Dr. Smirnov is joining us from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, where he conducted his post-doctoral research on modelling the Earth's ionosphere and studying its coupling with the neutral thermosphere. He had previously earned his doctorate from the University of Potsdam, conducting his research on the dynamics of the near-Earth space environment utilizing long-term satellite observations at the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) Potsdam.
Here in Stuttgart, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Smirnov will continue to investigate and model space weather phenomena, such as the effects of solar activity and geomagnetic processes on Earth's upper atmosphere. The understanding and accurate prediction of space weather dynamics, particularly within the thermosphere, is essential towards facilitating sustainable satellite operations in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). These phenomena carry further implications on questions pertaining to the determination, prediction and control of orbital trajectories for spacecraft operating also in traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO), as well as on the monitoring, tracking and collision risk prediction for the growing population of space debris orbiting at these altitudes. In view of these close links to the practical problems of spaceflight, Prof. Smirnov's office is based at the Institute of Space Systems. Due to the particularly strong links of his research to the topic of VLEO, collaborations between Prof. Smirnov and ongoing projects within the CRC ATLAS are being actively explored and expanded.
The teams at IRS and the CRC 1667 ATLAS are very much looking forward to working with Prof. Smirnov!
