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/

  • 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.

  • SUZUKI Shino
    Associate Professor

    How did life on Earth emerge, adapt, and evolve? Is it possible for life to emerge and survive on the other planets? I try to answer these questions by unraveling the microorganisms that live in extreme environments similar to the early Earth, Mars, and ocean worlds.
    As a member of ASRG, I am in charge of microbial contamination control and microbial monitoring of ESCuC.

  • 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

  • SUGAHARA Haruna
    Specially-appointed Assistant 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
    Aerospace Project Research Associate

    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

  • 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

  • MIYAZAKI Akiko
    Researcher

  • YOGATA Kasumi
    Researcher

  • NAGASHIMA Kana
    Researcher

  • KANEMARU Rei
    Researcher

  • YAMAMOTO Shoko
    Contractor: administration

  • KUMAGAI Kazuya
    Contractor: technical support

  • HATAKEDA Kentaro
    Contractor: technical support

  • SOEJIMA Hiromichi
    Contractor: technical support

  • HITOMI Yuuya
    Contractor: technical support

  • SUGIYAMA Yuka
    Contractor: technical support