Hitoshi Kuninaka

Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

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About

Dr. Hitoshi Kuninaka is a pioneering figure in space propulsion and asteroid exploration, best known for his leadership in Japan’s Hayabusa missions. His primary research areas include electric propulsion systems, particularly microwave discharge ion engines, and robotic deep-space sample return. Dr. Kuninaka’s most significant contribution is his role in the Hayabusa2 mission, which successfully retrieved samples from the asteroid Ryugu and returned them to Earth in 2020. His paper “Flight status of robotic asteroid sample return mission Hayabusa2” (2016, 50 citations) documents this landmark achievement, which has profoundly advanced planetary science and in-situ resource utilization. Earlier, he developed the MIU-10 microwave discharge ion engine, a low-cost, durable thruster enabling inexpensive robotic precursors to near-Earth asteroids—a critical step toward future human missions to Mars. His work has demonstrated that small, efficient spacecraft can perform complex interplanetary tasks, reducing barriers to deep-space exploration. With over 30 years at JAXA, Dr. Kuninaka’s innovations have earned him international recognition, including the AIAA Aerospace Power Systems Award. His legacy inspires a new generation of engineers to pursue bold, resourceful space missions.