Distinguished New Zealand space scientist Sir Ian Axford died at his Napier home on 17 March 2010, aged 77. Sir Ian, who is survived by his wife Joy and four adult children, worked on many American and European space probes, such as Voyager and Giotto, designing robotic craft and calculating orbits ‘His achievements were not only as a researcher, but also as a leader of science organisations,’ said Garth Carnaby, President of the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ). Sir Ian was one of New Zealand’s most remarkable scientists and had a distinguished international career.