Objective? To improve future geodetic satellite missions

Joanna Najdar was persuaded to join the UPWr Doctoral School by prof. Krzysztof Sośnica, who saw potential in her when she was working on her master's thesis under his supervision and worked for a year in the EPOS (European Plate Observation System) project. Joanna decided to take up this challenge, because the proposed research topic was extremely interesting to her. Today, the PhD student is also a member of the SpaceOS Leading Research Team and a PhD student in the NCN OPUS project "Integrated terrestrial spatial reference systems based on laser distance measurements to geodetic, remote sensing and GNSS satellites". 

– I have been interested in satellite geodesy for years. During my master's studies, I carried out work on a topic related to the technique of laser distance measurement (SLR) and geodetic satellite orbits. So, I acquired knowledge that allows me to carry out my doctoral thesis. In addition, I knew that no one had dealt with this topic before, so I could become a kind of pioneer – says Joanna Najder. 

The PhD student studies simulations of orbits and global geodetic parameters for future geodetic satellite missions. – I simulate the flight trajectory of the satellite and its laser observations, and then I carry out calculations to determine the global geodetic parameters. Then, I assess the impact of particular orbital parameters, e.g. the height at which the satellite orbits depends on the determined parameters – explains Joanna, who tries to determine the optimal parameters of the orbits of future geodetic satellites, so as to maximize their share and increase the accuracy of determining global geodetic parameters, such as, for example, coordinates of the Earth's center of mass, pole, the excess of the length of the day, the flattening coefficients of the Earth, the coordinates of the geocentre, or the parameters of the Earth's rotation. 

– This will not only improve the quality of those parameters that are crucial for determining the mass loss of glaciers in Greenland or determining the amount of sea level rise, but will also help reduce the number of satellites launched – says the PhD student, reminding that scientists are currently struggling with increasing amounts of space debris that threatens orbiting satellites or space stations. So research that evaluates what orbital parameters will be best for a particular goal can make it possible to send one satellite instead of several that will achieve the same goal. – I hope to extend my research to all types of satellites in the future. This would allow, for example, to reduce the costs of satellite missions by maximizing the potential of future satellites – says Joanna Najder adding that after completing her PhD she hopes to establish a cooperation with other institutions, such as the European Space Agency, for which she could perform analyzes for future satellite missions. And the authors of these missions, in turn, could use the analysis results to plan subsequent missions. 

– Long-term work with my promoter Prof. Sośnica has been successful. I did my engineering thesis, my master's thesis and now my PhD under his supervision. I can boldly say that if the cooperation had not been successful, we wouldn’t have achieved this much – says the doctoral student with a smile, adding that since the beginning of their partnership she’s always received a lot of support and help in solving any problems from prof. Krzysztof Sośnica. 

As Joanna admits, after graduating from the UPWr Doctoral School, she would like to commercialize her research. – Currently, other research units or state institutions may be interested in the results of my research. However, if we could extend the research to all types of satellites, for example navigation satellites, it is possible that we could create a tool that could significantly help the currently developing space sector, says Joanna Najder.

• 

  Are medicinal plants the future of medicine?

  Prof. Mehdi Rahimmalek joins forces with UPWr scientists to research the health benefits of Iranian native species of Lamiaceae and Apiaceae plants in a project lead under the NAWA Programme.

• 

  UPWr scientists test new drug for atopic dermatitis in dogs

  Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects nearly 30 percent of dogs in Poland, and veterinarians are still using symptomatic drugs. Such therapy does not provide long-term results, and chronic use increases the risk of side effects. Scientists from the UPWr hope to change this.