I only recently came across the obituary of Bodo Reinisch, written by Dieter Bilitza, and reading it now hits harder than I expected. Even in our hyper-connected world, some losses arrive quietly, yet Reinisch’s impact on geo- and space sciences is impossible to overlook.

His work on the ionosphere shaped how we understand and monitor a part of the world most people never see but depend on every day. He played a pivotal role in developing and maintaining the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model, which remains the standard for ionospheric research worldwide. Tools like DIDBase and SAOExplorer, which he also developed, complemented the IRI model and became essential infrastructures for research globally. For many of us, these contributions transformed how ionospheric data could be explored, interpreted, and applied.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Reinisch embodied collaboration, mentorship, and community-building. Having personally used his tools, I would be interested to hear how others see his legacy shaping current and future ionospheric research. His impact extends far beyond what he discovered, it’s in what he made possible for the entire community. His legacy is more than what he discovered, it’s what he made possible for all of us.

May his soul rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences go out to everyone whose lives he touched.

 The "Obituary: Bodo Reinisch (1936–2025)" written by Dieter Bilitza reflects very well both the high professional and human standards of  Bodo Reinisch. The paper can be published in the present form.