A dialogue between novelist and mystery writer Shin Iyoahara and Professor Shogo Tachibana of the UTOPS has been featured in the June issue of Gendai Kagaku, published by Tokyo Kagaku Dojin Co., Ltd.
For more details, please see here.
Dialogue with Novelist Shin Iyoahara Featured in the June Issue of Gendai Kagaku
Public Lecture by Professor Shogo Tachibana at Yamanashi Prefectural Science Center
In conjunction with the “Double Sample Exhibition of Asteroids Itokawa and Ryugu,” held from May 10 to May 18at the Yamanashi Prefectural Science Center, Professor Shogo Tachibana of the University of Tokyo Organization for Planetary and Space Science (UTOPS) delivered a public lecture.
International Workshop “Hera, Apophis T-4, RAMSES in Tokyo 2025”
The international workshop “Hera, Apophis T-4, and RAMSES in Tokyo 2025” was held at the Koshiba Hall, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo, from April 7 to April 11, 2025.
The workshop brought together researchers working on planetary defense and the exploration of small bodies, including the Hera Community Meeting 2025, the Apophis T-4 meeting, and the first RAMSES Community Meeting, providing an opportunity for discussions on current research and mission activities related to planetary defense.
For more details, please see here.
UTOPS Signs Joint Research Agreement with ALE Co., Ltd. for Asteroid “Apophis” Exploration Mission
The Tachibana Laboratory at UTOPS has signed a joint research agreement with ALE Co., Ltd. (https://star-ale.com/), a company whose mission is to “make space closer for all of us together”, for an exploration mission to the asteroid “99942 Apophis”.
[Comments]Lena Okajima, Founder and CEO, ALE Co., Ltd.:
“We are very pleased that our technology will be applied to an important effort in space science research. Through this joint research, we aim to help reveal the unknown aspects of space and contribute to a sustainable future for human society through the utilization of space resources. ALE will continue to collaborate with research institutions and companies, including the University of Tokyo, and pursue innovative challenges for the advancement of space science.”
Shogo Tachibana, Professor, University of Tokyo Organization for Planetary and Space Science (UTOPS), Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo:
“Recent missions such as Hayabusa2 and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx have shown that asteroid surfaces are highly diverse. This method will enable us to investigate the properties of surface materials at multiple locations on an asteroid. It is expected to contribute significantly to solar system science, planetary defense, and the utilization of space resources. The approach may also be applied to various future exploration missions, and I look forward to the progress of this joint research.”
For more details, please see here.
Professor Shogo Tachibana Receives the FY2025 MEXT Commendation for Science and Technology (Awards for Science and Technology, Research Category)
Professor Shogo Tachibana (Institute for Planetary Materials Science / Department of Earth and Planetary Science) has received the FY2025 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Awards for Science and Technology, Research Category).
MEXT Website
Graduate School of Science | The University of Tokyo Website
Public Lecture: “Protecting Earth from Celestial Impacts: The Front Line of Planetary Defense”
A public lecture titled “Protecting Earth from Celestial Impacts: The Front Line of Planetary Defense” was held on April 6, 2025, at the Koshiba Hall, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo.
During the event, speakers introduced current efforts in planetary defense, including recent monitoring activities for near-Earth asteroids and international initiatives aimed at assessing and responding to potential impact risks.
A commemorative photo was also taken with the speakers following the event.
Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i and NAOJ Director General Doi Visit UTOPS
Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i and NAOJ Director General Doi visited UTOPS.
During the visit, the group toured several laboratories at the University of Tokyo, including the CubeSat development laboratory in the School of Engineering and laboratories related to cosmochemistry and planetary science in the Graduate School of Science.
Article by Shogo Tachibana Featured in Gendai Kagaku (March Issue)
An article by Professor Shogo Tachibana of UTOPS has been published in the March issue of Gendai Kagaku.
The article, titled “Materials for Life Formed in Space,” appears in the special feature “Astrobiology: Exploring the Universality of Life.” It discusses the formation of materials related to life in space and their relevance to astrobiology.
For more information, please see here.
