Doctor of Engineering

Astronautics

0000-0002-8428-2468

02years03months

To address space debris issues which threaten long-term sustainability of outer space activities, SSDL has built space debris evolutionary models by incorporation of laws of astrodynamics and empirical assumptions. The assumptions have been augmented and verified by a series of laboratory satellite impact tests. This work not only contributes to the world-wide effort to predict the future space debris population, but it also provides a novel tool to identify effective procedures of space debris mitigation and environmental remediation.
SSDL also applies the evolutionary models for Space Situational Awareness to devise an effective and practical search strategy applicable for breakup fragments around the Earth. The evolutionary models can characterize, track, and predict the behavior of groups of breakup fragments. Such analyses can specify where and how we should conduct ground-based optical measurements of breakup fragments around the Earth, and how we should process successive images to detect dimmer objects moving in a field-of-view. The analyses can also identify the origin of breakup fragments detected.
Finally, SSDL performs unique “hands-on” satellite design activities through the design and construction of Q-Li, the 3-Unit CubeSat for Light Curve Inversion Demonstration, which aims at establishing a mathematical technique to model the surfaces of rotating objects from their brightness variations. Q-Li is also planning to perform in-situ measurements of tiny space debris, which would lead to a better understanding of the current space environment. This project involves mission analysis, spacecraft system design as well as subsystem design problems. Now, we are conducting the feasibility study.

Research Interests

• GEO Modeling based on Ground-based Optical Measurements
  keyword : Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, Space Debris, Spacecraft, Optical Measurements
  2010.04.
• QSAT the Satellite for Polar Plasma Observation
  keyword : Spacecraft Charging, Magnetized Plasma
  2006.06Developing A Polar Plasm Observation Satellite.
• Research and Development of a micro-satellite to demonstrate aero-capture technology around the Earth
  keyword : Space Probe, Aero-Brake, Aero-Capture
  2003.04～2008.03.
• Debris Environment Monitoring Using Small Satellite as Secondary Payload
  keyword : Space Debris, Space Dust, Space Environment
  2008.04Nano-satellites constellation for in-situ debris measurements.
• Research and Development of a Micro-satellite for in-flight Demonstration of Electro-dynamic Tether.
  keyword : Tether, Magnetized Plasma
  2008.04～2010.03Developing A Polar Plasm Observation Satellite.
• Developing Optical Sensors using a High-Resolution Camera to Scan Solar Array Panels for Signs of Impacts
  keyword : Space Environment, Space Debris, Space Dust
  2002.04～2006.03Developing Optical Sensors using a High-Resolution Camera to Scan Solar Arrays for Signs of Impacts.
• Research and Development of Orbital Debris Evolutionary Model
  keyword : Space Environment, Space Debris
  1994.04Developing an Evolutionary Model of the Orbital Debris Environment.
• Small and Medium Orbital Debris Removal Using Special Density Material
  keyword : Orbital Debris, Removal
  2009.06.

Current and Past Project

• The primary objective is to confirm the Kessler Syndrome, the volume of space debris in Low Earth orbit is so high that objects in orbit are frequently struck by debris, creating even more debris and a greater risk of further impacts.

Academic Activities Membership in Academic Society

• International Academy of Astronautics
• University Space Engineering Consortium
• Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences
• American Institute of Aeronautics ans Astronautics

Awards

• For Paper 2009-r-2-37p entitled “Development of a New Type Sensor for Micrometeoroid and Space Debris In-Situ Measurement at JAXA” and presented at the 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, July 5-11, 2009.
• For conducting state-of-the-art satellite low velocity and hypervelocity impact tests to acquire new data on modern microsatellite construction materials, solar panels, and multi-layer insulation debris to advance the knowledge of the outcome of satellite fragmentation.
• For providing innovative satellite low-velocity and hypervelocity impact experiments and excellent contributions to improve the knowledge of the outcome of satellite fragmentation.

Educational Activities Other Educational Activities

• 2015.10.