Hideaki “Hirdy” Miyamoto
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Professor in the Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, and Director of the Center for Space Resources and Innovation (CSRI). PhD, The University of Tokyo.
Principal Investigator, Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA)
A lunar surface instrument for NASA’s Artemis programme
His research in planetary science and space resources examines the landscapes and materials of the Moon, Mars and asteroids to understand their origins and evolution and explore possibilities for resource use. He combines spacecraft data, laboratory experiments and numerical modelling with the development of new exploration and measurement techniques.
He leads the Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA), one of three instruments selected by NASA in 2024 for astronauts to deploy on the lunar surface. A founding member of MMX, he serves on its Science Board and is PI of the Surface Science and Geology Science subteam (SSG-SST). He is also Science PI and a board member of TSUKIMI. His mission contributions include Hayabusa, Kaguya, Hayabusa2 and LUPEX. NASA announcement ↗
International appointments
Adelaide University, Australia — Adjunct Professor
Planetary Science Institute, USA — Senior Research Affiliate
researchmap ↗ ORCID ↗ University faculty profile ↗
Selected honours
Academic year 2025 — Dean’s Commendation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo ↗
2024 — MEXT Award for Science and Technology ↗
2024 — NASA Group Achievement Award
As a member of the International Mars Ice Mapper Measurement Definition Team, recognised for multidisciplinary science assessments supporting the mission concept.
2021 — Commendation from the President of the University of Tokyo
Media appearances, conversations and public lectures
NHK: Shiten Ronten (broadcast in July 2026)
Commentary on Japan’s role in the Artemis programme. Broadcast record (Japanese) ↗
BS TV Tokyo: Imakara Science (29 April 2026)
Discussion of lunar resources and the future of space exploration. Official programme page (Japanese) ↗
IMAGINE University: Conversation with Kenichiro Mogi (published 4 May 2026)
Mars, space resources and humanity’s future. Watch on YouTube (Japanese) ↗
Tokyo Forum 2025: Capitalism and Space
Moderator of an international panel exploring the science, governance and ethics of space resource use. Official overview ↗ Watch the discussion ↗
More public lectures and interviews
UTokyo Channel (2026)
A public dialogue on obtaining resources in space and expanding human activity beyond Earth. Watch (Japanese) ↗
UTokyo Metaverse School of Engineering × Sony (14 September 2024)
A lecture on resources across the Solar System and their potential uses. Programme (Japanese) ↗
Forbes JAPAN (3 June 2023)
An interview on space resources research and future industries. Read (Japanese) ↗
The University of Tokyo Newspaper (17 July 2023)
An interview on planetary exploration and humanity’s future beyond Earth. Read (Japanese) ↗
Selected earlier research coverage and appearances
Yomiuri Shimbun (5 January 2022, morning edition, p. 33)
Coverage of Mount Fuji field research to prepare for the MMX mission.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) (9 March 2018, morning edition, p. 35)
A feature on Miyamoto’s work in space resource development.
National Geographic: MARS promotional event (17 November 2016)
A public appearance discussing Mars exploration and human settlement. Event coverage (Japanese) ↗
Space.com and Scientific American (2007)
Coverage of his first-author Science paper on regolith migration and sorting on asteroid Itokawa. Space.com ↗ Scientific American ↗ Research paper ↗
Outreach — Public engagement with science
He helped establish the TeNQ Space Museum at Tokyo Dome City and served as Director of the TeNQ Research Center for nine years. By bringing a working research laboratory into the museum, he helped visitors encounter research in progress and learn about the latest findings directly from scientists.
He proposed and developed the School Mobile Museum initiative, turning school classrooms and other local spaces into science exhibitions. Through exhibition supervision, public talks and collaborations with schools, he works to make Solar System science and other advanced sciences accessible to school students and the wider public.
TeNQ Research Center and educational activities (PDF, Japanese) ↗
Background, former appointments and committee service
Background
He received his BSc in 1995 and PhD in Earth and Planetary Science in 2000 from the University of Tokyo. His previous appointments include Visiting Scholar at the University of Arizona and Associate Professor at the University Museum, the University of Tokyo. He has led CSRI since 2025.
Former appointments
Adviser to the President, The University of Tokyo (2025)
Special Advisor to the Dean, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (2023–2024)
Selected committee service
Member, International Space Exploration Committee, JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, fourth term (FY2023–2025). Official roster (Japanese) ↗
Patrick Michel
Global Fellow
Hera PI — Principal Investigator of ESA’s Hera mission
Director of Research at CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France.
His research focuses on asteroid physical properties, collisions and dynamical evolution, and on planetary defence against asteroid impacts. He uses theory and numerical simulations to investigate how small bodies form and evolve and how impact hazards can be mitigated.
As Hera PI, he leads the scientific investigation of the outcome of NASA’s DART asteroid-deflection experiment. He is also a science-team member of Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx, and co-PI of the rover for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission.
Selected honours
Appointed Chevalier (Knight) of France’s Ordre national du Mérite by decree of 2 December 2025. His honours also include the Carl Sagan Medal of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences (2012) and the Paolo Farinella Prize (2013).
Makito Kobayashi
Project Researcher
LDA Deputy PI — Deputy Principal Investigator, Lunar Dielectric Analyzer
He studies the dielectric properties of lunar soil and measurement techniques for exploring the lunar subsurface and resources. Laboratory experiments with regolith simulants help establish how temperature and material composition affect observations.
Selected research
Demonstrated the temperature dependence of lunar regolith simulant permittivity, providing laboratory data for interpreting lunar radar observations. Earth, Planets and Space (2023) ↗
Reported a passive method for measuring the permittivity of lunar regolith simulants using natural thermal emission in the terahertz band. The Planetary Science Journal (2025) ↗
Yuta Shimizu
Assistant Professor
He studies the surface evolution of asteroids and the Martian moons. By analysing boulder and crater distributions in spacecraft images, he investigates how material moves and landscapes form in low-gravity environments.
Selected research
Analysed boulder distributions on Bennu and Ryugu, showing distinct surface-evolution pathways associated with their different rotation rates. Scientific Reports (2025) ↗
Mapped craters and boulders on Deimos using Emirates Mars Mission images, revealing evidence consistent with resurfacing and possible reorientation. Geophysical Research Letters (2026) ↗
Lauri Siltala
Project Researcher
He specializes in asteroid orbit and mass estimation and the analysis of physical properties using photometric data. Combining observations with statistical methods, he studies asteroid properties and evaluates potential mission targets at Karman+.
Selected research and activities
Estimated the mass and density of asteroid Psyche using a Markov-chain Monte Carlo method and the gravitational perturbations of other asteroids. The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2021) ↗
Presented the planned observations and scientific data from Karman+’s High Frontier asteroid mission at an international planetary science meeting. EPSC–DPS Joint Meeting (2025) ↗
Ryodo Hemmi — Visiting Researcher (JAXA)
Tomohiro Takemura — Visiting Researcher (Adelaide University)
Support Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Technical Specialist | Katsuro Mogi |
| Staff | Atsuko Sakuma |
| Staff | Mayuko Naito |
| Staff | Yumi Shimojyo |
Students — Academic Year 2026
| Year in 2026 | Name / affiliation |
|---|---|
| Doctoral student, year 3 |  Shintaro Hashimoto Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Doctoral student, year 3 |  Shogo Okamoto Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Doctoral student, year 2 |  Yousuke Ishii Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Doctoral student, year 1 |  Yuna Isobe Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Doctoral student, year 1 |  Airi Toida Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science |
| Doctoral student, year 1 |  Kazumi Masuda Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Doctoral student, year 1 |  Ryo Yasufuku Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Master’s student, year 2 |  Hiroki Aida Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Master’s student, year 2 |  Hisato Hara Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Master’s student, year 2 |  Praet Alvin Loran Yamaguchi Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Master’s student, year 2 |  Yuta Sugihara |
| Master’s student, year 2 |  Teppei Takemoto Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science |
| Master’s student, year 1 |  Haruna Sekiguchi Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Master’s student, year 1 |  Ryou Watanabe Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering |
| Undergraduate student, year 4 |  Shuu Nakagawa Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering |
| Undergraduate student, year 4 |  Jo Tanabe Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering |
| Undergraduate student, year 4 | Yohgo Nose Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Faculty of Science |
| Research student |  Subhajit Das |