I regret  to inform you that the Dr.  Kazimirs Lapushka , Head of  SLR station Riga, Institute of Astronomy University of Latvia,  passed away on Sunday, May 26. 

His lifelong career in satellite observations started in 1957 when he as a first year student was part of the team to visually track first satellite “Sputnik-1”. First time they tracked it  on 9 October 1957.  In 1960  he designed the photographic camera for satellite tracking as a  student’s graduate work.  During 1960s and 1970s he worked in many countries around the world to track satellites,  was one of the designers of the satellite tracking camera AFU-75 and numerous other satellite tracking instruments and related equipment : photographical and later  laser ranging systems. Thanks to his efforts and persistence the SLR system LS-105 was installed permanently in Riga on  1987 and regular satellite laser ranging  was started on  1989.  He participated in the station operations until the last days of his life. We will miss him greatly.

Kalvis Salminsh

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Institute of Astronomy

University of Latvia

Boulevard Rainis 19

Riga, LV 1050

LATVIA