A program director of JSPEC was recently elected a Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Prof. Hitoshi Kuninaka specializes in electric propulsion and education in astronautics, including space operation of Japanese Space Flyer Unit and round trip of Hayabusa asteroid explorer between Earth and an asteroid.

Being named a Fellow of AIAA is among the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an aerospace professional, and represents recognition from colleagues and peers for important contributions to the field and the technical community. Only ten Japanese have been honored with AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows, which include Prof. Kyoichi Kuriki as Kuninaka’s teacher and the late Prof. Ichiro Tani as Kuriki’s teacher. This is one of the proofs that Japanese aerospace technology has been researched and developed and then practiced successfully handing down from generation to generation. Award of AIAA Fellow will stimulate to promote Japanese space technology and its education in proper manner.

• AIAA website URL：http://www.aiaa.org/2012AIAAFellows/?terms=2012%20fellows