Daisuke KUNITOM

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Daisuke Kunitomi is a pioneering aerospace engineer whose work centers on small satellite development and space tether technology. He is best known as the principal investigator behind the Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite (STARS) project, which marked a historic milestone as the first satellite ever developed in the Shikoku region of Japan. Launched aboard an H-IIA rocket by JAXA in 2008, STARS demonstrated an innovative mother-daughter satellite configuration connected by a tether, advancing research in orbital robotics and tethered spacecraft dynamics. Though his most-cited paper, "Kagawa Satellite 'STARS' in Shikoku" (2009), has garnered 2 citations, its true impact lies in establishing Kagawa University as a credible player in the Japanese small satellite community and inspiring subsequent regional space programs. Kunitomi’s contributions have been instrumental in democratizing space access for smaller academic institutions, proving that cost-effective, student-led missions can achieve meaningful scientific and engineering objectives. His work continues to influence tether-based satellite systems and educational space initiatives.