Draft:Pini Gurfil

{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=71.191.190.246|ns=118|decliner=BuySomeApples|declinets=20250507040726|reason2=v|ts=20250501000555}}

{{AFC comment|1=Possibly notable but the sources need more work. BuySomeApples (talk) 04:07, 7 May 2025 (UTC)}}

{{AFC comment|1=Please fix the reference tags and mojibake —pythoncoder (talk | contribs) 03:25, 1 May 2025 (UTC)}}

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{{Short description|Pini Gurfil, Israeli aerospace engineer, university professor, author, poet, singer-songwriter.}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Pini Gurfil

| image = | alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Pinchas Gurfil

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|04|26}}

| birth_place = Kishinev, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union (now Moldova)

| death_date = | death_place =

| nationality = Israeli

| education = BSc, MSc, PhD

| alma_mater = Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

| occupation = Aerospace Engineer, University Professor, Author, Poet, Singer-Songwriter

| known_for = Pioneer of distributed space systems; Principal Investigator of the SAMSON mission; Solo music albums; Hebrew poetry books

| notable_works = Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, Control and Navigation (Book)

| awards =

| website =

}}

Pini Gurfil ({{Langx|he|פיני גורפיל}}) is an Israeli aerospace engineer, university professor, author, poet, and singer-songwriter. He is recognized as

one of the pioneers in the field of distributed space systems,

name="Economist">[https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/03/07/spacecrafts-solar-panels-can-serve-double-duty-as-sails Pini Gurfil -- The Economist Interview]

Retrieved April 30, 2025. in particular satellite formation flying, and served as the Principal Investigator (PI) for the SAMSON (Space Autonomous Missions for Swarming and Geolocating Nanosatellites) project,

one of the world's first formation-flying missions involving three satellites, launched in 2021.

name="SAMSON">[https://www.space.gov.il/en/research-and-development/990 SAMSON -- The first Israeli formation-flying satellite constellation was launched into space].

Israel Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. Published July 6, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2025. He is a professor in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at

the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.[https://aerospace.technion.ac.il/faculty-members/ Pini Gurfil - Faculty of Aerospace

Engineering]. Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Retrieved April 30, 2025. Alongside his scientific career, Gurfil is an active performing singer with two solo

albums released to date: "Just Below My Cover" and "Read The Lyrics".[https://www.pinigurfil.info/blank-2 Pini Gurfil - Discography]. Retrieved April 30,

2025.

Biography

Pini Gurfil was born on April 26, 1971, in Kishinev, which was then part of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union (now the Republic of Moldova). In his

early years, he immigrated with his family to Israel. He received his BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. From 2000-2003, Gurfil performed post-doctoral research in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Princeton University.

Gurfil pursued a career in aerospace engineering, eventually becoming a prominent figure in the field. He is currently a chaired professor in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

= Aerospace Engineering Career =

Gurfil's research and work have significantly contributed to the advancement of distributed space systems. This field involves the design, development, and operation of

multiple interconnected spacecraft that work together to achieve common goals. His expertise in this area led to his role as the Principal Investigator for the SAMSON (Space Autonomous Mission for Swarming and Geolocating Nanosatellites) mission.

The SAMSON mission, launched in 2021, involved three nano-satellites designed to autonomously fly in formation for several years, demonstrating advanced concepts in

distributed sensing. Gurfil's leadership was crucial in bringing this complex and innovative mission to fruition.

Gurfil served as the head of Technion's Norman and Helen Asher Space Research Institute and the director of the Distributed Space Systems Lab. Gurfil's research spans in

the fields of astrodynamics, satellite orbit control, and satellite engineering.

He is also a co-author of the books "Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, Control and Applications," published by Elsevier in 2009,[https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780750685337/spacecraft-formation-flying Spacecraft Formation Flying:

Dynamics, Control and Navigation]. Elsevier. Retrieved April 30, 2025. and "Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice" published by Springer in 2016.

[https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-50370-6 Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice]. Springer. Retrieved April 30,

2025. His work in distributed space systems has positioned him as a key figure in the international aerospace community.

File:NitzanZohar-0371.jpg at Technion]]

= Musical Career =

Parallel to his scientific endeavors, Pini Gurfil is an active and performing singer-songwriter. He has released two solo albums: "Just Below My Cover" (2022) and "Read The

Lyrics" 2024). Both albums were produced by the Israeli producer Tom Goldstein and are available on major music platforms.

= Poetry =

Gurfil has authored two Hebrew poetry books,"Vanishing Point" ({{Langx|he|נקודת מגוז}}) and "Born To Say", ({{Langx|he|נולד לאמירה}}) both published by Gvanim. He has been awarded multiple

awards for these books.[https://simania.co.il/authorDetails.php?itemId=976764 Pini Gurfil - Poetry].

Retrieved April 30, 2025.

Notable Works and Publications

Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, Control and Navigation (Book, 2009)
Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice (Book, 2016)

(A more comprehensive list of his academic publications can be found on databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, etc.)

References

External links

[https://pgurfil.net.technion.ac.il/ Faculty page at Technion]
[https://www.pinigurfil.info/ Music page]
[https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tNf4wr8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Google Scholar Page]
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