Kuninaka Hitoshi, Director General of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), has been elected as an international member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2025. Membership of the NAE is among the highest professional honors in engineering. Director General Kuninaka was elected in recognition of his achievements in spacecraft electric propulsion technology and for the asteroid sample return mission, Hayabusa2.

The research and development conducted by Director General Kuninaka has greatly contributed to the advancement of electric propulsion for spacecraft, particularly in the technological innovation for ion engines, which contributed to the success of the asteroid exploration missions, Hayabusa and Hayabusa2. From the launch in 2014 through to the recovery of the asteroid sample in 2020, Hayabusa2 achieved unprecedented results, making a significant contribution to the development of Japan's space exploration technology, and is continuing through the Hayabusa2 Extended Mission. That these achievements have been internationally recognized is a source of great pride for the Japanese space engineering field, and further technological innovations are anticipated in the future.

The newly elected members to the NAE, including the Director General Kuninaka, will officially assume their positions at the NAE Annual Meeting to be held on October 5, 2025.

Comment from JAXA ISAS Director General Kuninaka Hitoshi
When I first received the email with the subject "Welcome to the National Academy of Engineering" and read the words "in recognition of your distinguished contributions to the engineering profession", I wondered what this could mean. But then I began to receive emails from my friends in the USA saying "Congrats", and the significance of what had just happened finally sunk in. The efforts we have made to contribute to the promotion of science and technology in Japan, and the development of space science globally, have been recognized in Japan and also by space organizations around the world. However, being selected as an international member of the National Academy of Engineering is something that I never expected. To me, this is even more surprising than the Big Bang / inflation theory! I am deeply grateful that the work of myself and my colleagues has been recognized. I would like to share this experience with the world, and inspire young people.