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Graduate Education

Benefits of Graduate Education

Advanced graduate education in space science is increasingly important, corresponding to social needs associated with the development of space activities. More recently, the benefits have been distributed among research institutes, universities, manufacturing industries, and other space related activities in the private sector or within the government. Technological benefits often spin off to general society which recognizes space science as a source of advanced technology. Space activities also attract the interest of young people who might otherwise have never studied science.
As described in the previous sections, graduate students have dual roles as recipients of education and collaborators in research, and thus are a vital force in the research activities at ISAS.
In addition to contributing to the research of graduate students, the involvement of ISAS in graduate education has another very positive effect. It fosters close connections with other public, academic, and private institutions in which students find work after graduation. In the past, ISAS has made excellent use of these close relationships. Our scientific satellite programs have made significant progress with the assistance of other government institutions and private enterprises.

The places of employment for graduate students of ISAS are government offices, university research institutions, government research institutions (including National Space Development Agency), private space-related companies, and non space-related private institutions. The Figure below shows the employment distribution of the students who graduated through the ISAS. Industries are more likely to employ more personnel with the MS degree than they are to employ personnel with the Ph.D. degree. The reduced number of doctoral students within the engineering division seems to reflect this trend. By contrast, most students studying basic science continue their research in universities or some research organizations after graduation. Some industries are willing to employ those graduates to enhance their capability in space related business. Even a student granted a doctorate in astronomy found a job with a satellite manufacturer.
Last but not least, the participation of ISAS in graduate education also plays the important role in nurturing talented young researchers as the next generation of ISAS staff.

Specific Examples of Research Themes of Recent Graduate Course Students

Space Science

  1. X-rays from SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Observations from GlNGA and theoretical models.
  2. Spectral Study of Black Hole Candidates observed with GlNGA.
  3. Experimental and Numerical Study of Penetrator Dynamics.
  4. Dynamics Equatorial Ionosphere-Plasma Transport to Effect Discovered by HINOTORI Satellite.
  5. Morphology of thermal plasma of inner plasmasphere. First systematic of electron temperature measurement obtained by AKEBONO.
  6. S-520-12 Observation of Electron Fluxes in a Pulsating Aurora.

Space Engineering

  1. SRM Nozzle Two-Phase Flow and Optimum Contour Design.
  2. Active, Passive and Semi-Active Vibration Suppression by Stiffness Variation.
  3. Passive Vibration Suppression of Truss Using Backlashes.
  4. On Earth-Moon Transfer Trajectory with Gravitational Capture.
  5. Multi-Body Lambert Type Orbit Design Using Recursive Multistep Linearization.
  6. Improved Method for Initial Attitude Acquisition Maneuver.