With profound sadness and an immense appreciation for his groundbreaking contributions to the space science community, AGU mourns the passing of our esteemed and much-loved colleague and friend, Professor Michael (Misha) Balikhin.
Misha was Editor-in-Chief of AGU’s Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics since 2020, where his steadfast leadership, kindness, and charm touched everyone who worked with him. He cared deeply about the journal and its people, and his presence made it better and brighter. Members of his editorial board remember him as “open-minded and warm-hearted” (Jay Albert), “a bright and radiant person, always lifting our spirits” (Elena Grigorenko), and “a true friend who cared deeply about scientific integrity” (Natalia Ganushkina).
Misha was Professor of Space Systems in the University of Sheffield’s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. He contributed to numerous missions, beginning with the VEGA mission to Comet Halley, and most recently served as Principal Investigator for instruments onboard four European Space Agency (ESA) Cluster satellites. He relished a good scientific debate, not to win an argument but to deepen understanding, and his blend of curiosity, warmth, and generosity left a lasting mark on all who worked with him.
AGU sends its heartfelt sympathies and support to Misha’s family and friends. May his memory leave a lasting impact and be a source of inspiration for our entire community.