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The Forefront of Space Science

2014

September 14, 2015 updated

Particle acceleration in space and Jupiters magnetosphere

Understanding the mechanism of particle acceleration in space is one of the important issues in space physics. We have succeeded in elucidating the acceleration mechanism of radiation belt particles in Jupiters magnetosphere for the first time in the world by using the data of "Hisaki", the planet spectroscopic observation satellite.

(ISAS News: December 2014 issue)

August 3, 2015 updated

Honeycomb-structured Weight-saving High Gain Planar Antennas Installed on Hayabusa 2

The asteroid explorer Hayabusa 2Ewas launched on 3 December. This paper will introduce the high gain planar antennas lightened with the use of honeycomb structure which is hexagonal just like a honey comb. Additionally, we will also talk about the synthetic aperture radar system for small satellites which is currently under development with the same honeycomb structure.

(ISAS News: November 2014 issue)

June 12, 2015 updated

X-ray Precision Spectroscopic Observation of the Supernova Remnant

Here we will introduce the current situation that the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) installed on the European X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, is working efficiently in the research on X-ray precise spectroscopic observations of the Supernova Remnant (SNR) and is opening up the forefront of the research.

(ISAS News: October 2014 issue)

May 27, 2015 updated

Removing the Carbon Dioxide Using Fuel Cells

For life support in closed spaces in the universe, oxygen supply and removal of the carbon dioxide (CO2) are very essential. Our research group is doing a research on using CO2 effectively by fuel cells. In the first stage, we do research on new fuel cells which can generate electric power while reducing CO2, and develop a next generation air regeneration system using those cells. And in the second stage, we aim at an ultimate carbon cycle system which can reduce and recycle CO2. In this paper, we are going to introduce our efforts.

(ISAS News: September 2014 issue)

May 11, 2015 updated

Lunar Dynamo Found Through Magnetic Fields and Traces of Polar Wander

To understand how the planets and satellites such as the Earth and the moon are formed and evolved, the observation of the magnetic field is very fundamental and essential. In this paper, I will introduce our findings about the magnet field of the moon, obtained from the observations by the Lunar Magnetometer (LMAG), which is installed aboard the lunar orbiter "KAGUYA (SELENE)".

(ISAS News: August 2014 issue)

May 29, 2015 updated

Examination of the exploration using the Epsilon rocket

It was decided upon new "Road Map for Space Science and Exploration" as this arrangement examination in 2013. The Institute of Space and Astronomical Science (ISAS) will set solar system exploration with "the engineering subject conquest and technology acquisition by small missions with high mobility, and the radicalized missions purpose" as one of the pillars of action for another 10 years.

(ISAS News: July 2014 issue)

April 10, 2015 updated

The Realization of Observing the Gamma-Ray Polarization and Studies on the Radiation Mechanism of Gamma-Ray Bursts

Two kinds of scientific instruments were installed aboard IKAROS. One is a large-area dust counter (ALDN), which is used to detect the dust in the space. The other one is called the Gamma-Ray Burst Polarimeter (GAP), developed by our group (Referring from to The Gamma-Ray Burst Polarimeter On IKAROSEby Toshio Murakami and etc. ).

(ISAS News: June 2014 issue)

June 9, 2014 updated

Mission design of moon tours

Celestial mechanics is the discipline that studies the motion of the celestial objects; this field played an important role in the history of science. CopernicusEbook On the revolutions of the Heavenly spheresE(1543) and Galileos observations of the Jovian moons (1610) are the foundation of the scientific revolution and of the scientific method. The word revolutionEitself comes from the latin revolvere, to revolve, as originally applied to the motion of the planets around the Sun.

(ISAS News: May 2014 issue)

May 8, 2015 updated

Mission design of moon tours

The stars are shined by nuclear fusion of hydrogen from birth to about 90% of the time of its life. As the hydrogen was ran out, nuclear fusion of helium generated in nuclear fusion of hydrogen is beginning, and the center temperature of the star will reach 100 million degrees or more. The stars are swelling with a temperature rise. Then it becomes a red giant with a temperature of surface low. A star with a weight of 8 times or less of the sun, the outer layer was blown off leaving a core, white dwarf.

(ISAS News: April 2014 issue)

May 30, 2014 updated

Aiming for a Much Higher Sky

Scientific balloons have been used in space and earth observation as the only flight vehicle that can stay for extended periods in an altitudinal region higher than aircrafts reach and lower than satellites. Balloons play an important role in scientific observation and engineering experiments. In September 2013, the altitude record for balloon flight was broken for the first time in 11 years. In order to fly a balloon even higher, it is very important to increase size and reduce weight. This article introduces various efforts to make a new record.

(ISAS News: March 2014 issue)

May 26, 2014 updated

Computational Science in Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics and computational science are important elements to advance space science. Meanwhile, researches using numerical simulation have many advantages in terms of temporal/spatial resolution, cost, etc. This article introduces fluid mechanics researches for space science using numerical simulation and also discusses the possibility of computational fluid dynamics in the future.

(ISAS News: February 2014 issue)

May 28, 2014 updated

ARTSAT: Art and Satellite Project

When discussing satellites or spacecraft, most people immediately think of science and technology. However, the worlds first Art Satellite using a nano-satellite is now under way. This article introduces attempt at an organic, different-field collaboration to explore an unknown world by making use of strengths in engineering (satellite manufacture) and art (satellite utilization).

(ISAS News: January 2014 issue)