August 26, 2026, marks the 85th anniversary of the birth of Anatolii Petrovych Alpatov, an outstanding scientist in the dynamics of controlled multibody mechanical systems, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, DSc in Engineering, Professor.
Anatolii Alpatov was born in 1941 in Barnaul, Altai Krai. After graduating from the Kazan Aviation Institute (1965), he worked as an engineer at the Pivdenne State Design Office (1966–1970).
From then on, his career was closely tied to the establishment and growth of the Institute of Technical Mechanics. Here he rose from postgraduate student (1970–1973) and junior researcher to director of the Special Design and Technology Bureau of ITM of the NAS of Ukraine and head of a research department. His academic standing grew along the way: PhD in Engineering (1973), Senior Researcher (1979), DSc in Engineering (1988), Professor (1992), Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine (2018), Laureate of the M. K. Yangel Prize of the NAS of Ukraine (1996), Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine (1997), Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (2014), and Honorary Professor of Harbin Institute of Technology (China, 2016).
Alpatov received numerous awards: the Medal “For Valiant Labor” (1970), the Academician M. Yangel Medal (1990), the Medal “60 Years of KB Yuzhnoye” (2014), Certificates of Honor of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1987) and of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (2008), and commemorative awards of the NAS of Ukraine (2018, 2024).
Under his leadership and with his direct involvement, many important fundamental studies were carried out on developing methods for modeling and analyzing the controlled motion of multibody mechanical systems. He developed the theory of mobile control of mechanical systems and studied spacecraft dynamics in transient and stabilized modes of motion. He also made a significant contribution to the study of the dynamics of large complex systems, in particular space-based solar power stations, as well as to the theory of motion of rigid bodies connected by unilateral constraints and the theory of mechanical manipulator systems. The results of this research made it possible to solve a number of important practical problems, including those involved in developing the onboard manipulator for the Buran reusable spacecraft.
In recent years, his main research areas were systems analysis of space industry problems, control systems using artificial intelligence, dynamics of spacecraft and space systems, Earth remote sensing, electrodynamic tethered space systems, autonomous space systems, space debris mitigation, on-orbit servicing systems, industrial space platforms, and countering global warming.
His scientific legacy comprises more than 300 research works, including 18 monographs. He supervised the dissertations of 4 Doctors of Sciences, 13 Candidates of Sciences, and 1 Doctor of Philosophy. Alpatov was actively engaged in teaching and public activities: he worked as a professor and head of the Department of Medical Cybernetics and Computer Engineering at Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy and as a professor in the Department of Specialized Computer Systems at the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology; until his last days, he was the guarantor (head) of the Educational and Scientific Program for PhD Training at the Institute and a supervisor of postgraduate students; and he was a member of specialized academic councils and of the editorial boards of research journals, as well as of a number of research and coordinating bodies of the NAS of Ukraine.
He was also active internationally: as an expert, he took part in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), where, together with scientists from various countries, he contributed to solving the global problem of debris in near-Earth space. He also collaborated with Northwestern Polytechnical University in China as a Consulting Professor.
We still feel the loss of a wise leader, a reliable colleague, and a caring mentor. Anatolii Alpatov is no longer with us, but his ideas, his work, and his research school live on.
Prepared by the Department of Systems Analysis and Control Problems
