Hideo Itokawa (糸川 英夫, Itokawa Hideo, July 20, 1912 – February 21, 1999) was a pioneer of Japanese rocketry, popularly known as "Dr. Rocket," and described in the media as the father of Japan's space development.[1][2][3]
Hideo Itokawa | |
|---|---|
糸川 英夫 | |
 Hideo Itokawa (1961) | |
| Born | July 20, 1912 Tokyo |
| Died | February 21, 1999 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | Tokyo Imperial University |
| Known for | The father of Japanese space development |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Rocketry |
| Institutions | University of Tokyo |
The near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa was named in honor of Itokawa,[4] and is notable as the target of the Hayabusa mission.
Biography
editBorn in Tokyo, Itokawa skipped grades in school and graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University (University of Tokyo) in 1935, having majored in aeronautical engineering. In 1941, he became an assistant professor at the university. During World War II, he was involved in designing aircraft at the Nakajima Aircraft Company and designed the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa ("peregrine falcon"; Allied reporting name "Oscar") fighter.
Itokawa became a full professor at his alma mater in 1948. In 1955, Itokawa worked on the Pencil Rocket for Japan's space program. He retired from his post at the university in 1967 and established an institute.
On 11 February 1970, a team formerly led by him at the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science at the University of Tokyo succeeded in launching Japan's first satellite, Ohsumi, making the country the fourth nation in the world to have the capability to send objects into orbit with their own launch vehicles. The satellite was carried on a Lambda 4S rocket, a joint project by the Institute of Industrial Science at the university and Nissan.[5]
Itokawa wrote 49 books, and was a best-selling author. Topics that Itokawa became interested in or took as a hobby, include such sports as basketball, golf and swimming, as well as orchestral arrangements and such instruments as cello, harmonica, organ, piano, violin and taishōgoto (a string instrument invented in Japan). He was also interested in baton twirling, brain waves, English language plays, Mah Jong, philosophy, rocket engineering and novel writing.
Bibliography
edit- Gyakuten no Hasso
- Hachijussai no Aria
- Koya wo Yuku
References
edit- ^ Kirkup, James (19 March 1999). "Obituary: Hideo Itokawa". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ *Japan-An Illustrated Encyclopedia, Kodansha, Tokyo, 1993, p. 638
- ^ "Prof. Itokawa, "The Father of Japanese Rocketry"". History of Japanese Space Research. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Official Approval of Names on ITOKAWA by IAU". Press Release of JAXA. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "『人工衛星計画試案』 | 日本の宇宙開発の歴史 | ISAS". www.isas.jaxa.jp. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
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