About

Overview

The Astromaterials Science Research Group (ASRG) has two major roles: (1) the management of the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center (ESCuC) that conducts the curatorial work of the material from celestial bodies brought back to Earth by JAXA’s sample return missions, (2) leading planetary material science research activities at JAXA. See our "Research Activities" page for details.

Members

  • USUI Tomohiro
    Professor, Manager of Astromaterials Science Research Group

    Promoting research activities of ASRG, managing the curation of Hayabusa, Hayabusa2 and beyond as a director of the Extraterrestrial Samples Curation Center (ESCuC).
    https://planetb.sci.isas.jaxa.jp/aqua/

  • TACHIBANA Shogo
    Specially-appointed Professor

    I am a cosmochemist who is interested in the origin and early evolution of the Solar System. I would like to know what was responsible for making diverse Solar-System planets, including the Earth.
    https://shogo-tachibana.webnode.com

  • ABE Masanao
    Associate Professor, Technical Area Chief

    A member of launching of ESCuC and receiving Hayabusa sample.
    Hayabusa2 spacecraft operation and the Sampler team.
    Coordinating Hayabusa2 sample acceptance and planning subsequent distribution work.

  • OKADA Tatsuaki
    Associate Professor

    Hayabusa2 spacecraft operation.
    Introducing MicrOmega to the Hayabusa2 clean chamber.
    Developing equipment for future planetary probes.

  • YADA Toru
    Associate Senior Researcher

    A member of launching of ESCuC and receiving Hayabusa sample.
    Leading Hayabusa2 sample curation, as the representative curator of ESCuC.
    Research Theme: earth descent process of cosmic dust

  • NISHIMURA Masahiro
    Associate Senior Researcher

  • SAKAMOTO Kanako
    Associate Senior Researcher

  • SUGAHARA Haruna
    Associate Professor

    My research interest is the evolution of organic molecules in the universe and their roles in the emergence of life on the Earth and other extraterrestrial bodies. In Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, I am responsible for the contamination control of the samplers, curation, and sample analysis.

  • FUKAI Ryota
    Specially-appointed Assistant Professor

    Analyzing element abundance and isotope ratio of Hayabusa2 sample as a member of the Initial Analysis team.
    Research Themes: Formation of carbonaceous chondrite parent body
    http://ryotafukai.web.fc2.com/index.html

  • ISHIZAKI Takuya
    Specially-appointed Assistant Professor

    I specialize in thermophysical properties (thermal diffusivity and thermal contact resistance) measurement engineering. I will develop instruments for curation, which is a non-contact measurement of the thermal diffusivity of small irregularly shaped samples, and develop components for future asteroid exploration.
    Research Theme: Development of spectroscopic telescope and microscopic infrared cameras for measurement of thermophysical properties of planetary materials

  • SHIMONISHI Rina
    Researcher

  • KAWASAKI Seiya
    Researcher

  • OKADA Shion
    Researcher

  • OJIMA Tomoko
    Associate Senior Researcher

  • TAHARA Rui
    Associate Senior Researcher

  • NAGASHIMA Kana
    Researcher

  • KANEMARU Rei
    Researcher

  • NAKANO Arisa
    Researcher

  • ENOKIDO Yuma
    Researcher

  • SAKURAI Ryosuke
    Researcher

  • HATAKEDA Kentaro
    Contractor: technical support

  • SOEJIMA Hiromichi
    Contractor: technical support

  • HITOMI Yuuya
    Contractor: technical support

  • KUMAGAI Kazuya
    Contractor: technical support

  • YAMAMOTO Shoko
    Contractor: administration

  • NAKATA Ayako
    Contractor: technical support

  • SHIMAUCHI Yuriko
    Contractor: technical support

  • TAMANOI Ken
    Contractor: technical support

  • MIURA Yutaka
    Contractor: technical support

  • FURUYA Shizuho
    Contractor: technical support

  • MIYAZAKI Akiko
    Contractor: technical support