Vadim S. Gubanov
Russian Federation
1938-2021
Obituary:
Vadim S. Gubanov was born in 1938 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). After graduating from the Leningrad State University in 1963, he worked at the Central Astronomical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Pulkovo. V. Gubanov headed the Soviet astronomical expedition to Chile from 1972 to 1973. From 1988 until the last days of his life, V. Gubanov worked at the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
V. Gubanov was among the pioneers of Russian radio astrometry and space geodesy. A geodynamic station was created in Pulkovo under his leadership in the early 1980s; it carried out regular observations of satellites using the following three methods: laser ranging, radio interferometry, and astrophotography. V. Gubanov proposed a method to synchronize clocks via satellite communication channels using VLBI technology. He proved that navigation satellites could be observed effectively using mobile VLBI stations. V. Gubanov made an important contribution to the development of the scientific concept of the Quasar VLBI network as the basic system of the fundamental PNT service of Russia.
V. Gubanov paid special attention to personnel training. For over 30 years he has lectured to students of St. Petersburg University. Young scientists who began their activities under the leadership of V. Gubanov, grew into highly qualified specialists working in Russia and abroad. The name of V. Gubanov will forever remain in the hearts of his students and colleagues.