Mikhail Spokoyny studied Thermal Physics, Laser and Satellite Energy Systems at universities in Odessa and Moscow before receiving his PhD in 1984 from the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics. In 2001, he moved to the U.S., first as a visiting scholar at UCLA, later holding various scientific and development positions throughout the state of California. He also worked in the Mechanical Department of Drexel University as Research Professor and Research Director. He has more than 10 U.S. patents and more than 80 scientific publications. In 2013 he moved to Vienna to run the Aerospace International Research Center, GmbH.