Mike Adrian Cruise

Adrian Michael "Mike" Cruise, a distinguished British astronomer and astrophysicist, and former president of the Royal Astronomical Society, passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 78. His death marks the end of a remarkable career dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, particularly through his pioneering work on gravitational waves. Professor Cruise was widely respected for his profound scientific contributions and his steadfast commitment to the astronomical community.

Born in 1947, Mike Cruise embarked on his academic journey at University College London (UCL), where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. His early career saw him at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, where he specialized in instrumentation for X-ray astronomy and rose to the position of Deputy Director in 1985. This foundational work laid the groundwork for his extensive contributions to space science.

In 1986, Professor Cruise transitioned to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, taking on the leadership of the Astrophysics Group before becoming the Associate Director for Space. His expertise led him to the University of Birmingham in 1995, where he was appointed to a prestigious chair. During his tenure at Birmingham, he further distinguished himself by serving as Head of School and later as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer, shaping the future of scientific inquiry at the institution. He formally retired from the university in 2012 but remained actively engaged in research and with key space agencies.

A pivotal moment in his career came with his significant contributions to the first conclusive detection of gravitational waves in 2015, a monumental achievement that confirmed a century-old prediction by Albert Einstein. His groundbreaking work earned him recognition as a team member for both the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics and the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2016. Professor Cruise's leadership extended to the Royal Astronomical Society, where he served as President from 2018 to 2020, having previously held roles as Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President.

In recognition of his exceptional services to space science, Professor Cruise was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours. Throughout his illustrious career, he authored over 200 research papers and a seminal textbook, "The Principles of Space Instrument Design." He was also instrumental in numerous international space missions, including the development of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a future space-based gravitational wave observatory. Mike Cruise will be remembered not only for his scientific brilliance but also for his kind, thoughtful, and honorable character, coupled with a keen sense of humor that endeared him to colleagues and friends alike.