| Birth date: |
May 6, 1937
Ziakas, Greece |
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Education:
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1961
1964 |
M.S. Nuclear Physics
Postgraduate Degree |
Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia
Institute for Plasma Physics, Prague, Czechoslovakia
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| Employment History: |
|
1961-1964
1964-1981
1981-1997
1997- present
2007 |
Physicist, Institute for Plasma Physics, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Physicist, Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, The University of Chicago.
Senior Research Associate, Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago.
Senior Scientist, Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago.
Honorary Doctor’s Degree – TEI of Western Macedonia in Kozani, Greece.
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| Professional Societies: |
Member AAAS, American Geophysical Union, European
Geophysical Society, LAMPF users group. |
Major Research Activities:
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a) |
In-situ Chemical analyses of planetary bodies by Alpha Backscattering technique (with A. Turkevich - Surveyor Alpha backscattering experiment 1967-68; Instrument development for Viking missions;
penetrator missions to comets and asteroids); Co-I on the Alpha-X experiment on board the Soviet
Phobos 1 and 2 spacecrafts in 1986-89; Co-Investigator on the Alpha-Proton-X-ray for the Russian
Mars-96 missions to Mars - Principal Investigator for the X-ray mode of this experiment;
Co-Principal Investigator on the APX Spectrometer on NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission in 1993 -
1997; Principal Investigator for the X-ray mode of the APXS experiment on the Pathfinder
Mission. Member of Program Science Group for the Pathfinder mission. Team member of
Mineralogy/Geochemistry Science Operation Group for the Pathfinder. Member of many NASA
mission evaluation teams (1970 - present). Analysis of Mars Pathfinder APXS data.
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b) |
Cosmic Dust investigations in near Earth and interplanetary space (with A. Tuzzolino --
Member of science team on Cassini CDA experiment (1997 launch); SPADUS(1999 launch),
STARTDUST (Comet sample return mission,1999 launch).
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c) |
Principal Investigator for development of the X-ray mode of the Alpha Particle technique
using room temperature X-ray detectors (HgI2, Si, Si PIN-- NASA multi-year Program).
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d) |
Basic Research in Nuclear Physics involving alpha spectrometry and radiochemistry (with A. Turkevich
-- 238U Double Beta experiment; search for super heavy and other exotic particles; fusion, etc.)., 1970-1996).
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| e) |
Optical Observatory Orliakas in Northwestern Greece Project. Consulting function ( 2007- present). |
| Awards: |
NASA award for the APXS on the Pathfinder Mission, National Air and Space Museum 1998 Achievement
Trophy for the Pathfinder Team, Group award for Sojourner rover development. NASA Group and individual
awards for Mars Rover mission Spirit and Opportunity, NASA award for the STARDUST mission. |
