Astronaut
Kouichi Wakata Visits Subaru Telescope
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On May 16, astronaut Kouichi Wakata (left in photo) from the National
Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) visited the
base facility of Subaru Telescope. He and Hiroshi Karoji, director
of Subaru Telescope (right in photo), discussed results from the
Subaru Telescope and the future of space development.
The PR Office of Subaru Telescope also had a chance to talk to him:
--- What are you working on lately?
I am working on robotics and extra-vehicular activities for the
Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) at the NASA
Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston, while also
continuing training as a Mission Specialist.
--- What
are the future plans for you and NASDA?
There are eight Japanese astronauts working in varying capacities
for the space program, and one, Soichi Noguchi, is scheduled for
a space flight next year. As for me, I will continue to work on
my technical assignments in support of the development and operation
of the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs, as well as participate,
together with my colleagues of the Japanese astronaut corps, in
training for the assembly of "Kibo", the Japanese experiment
module on the International Space Station, and for a long duration
expedition on the ISS.
--- What are your hopes for Subaru
Telescope?
Space is a frontier providing unlimited dreams for everyone. I hope
that Subaru Telescope will continue to take a leading role in exploring
the unknown and deepening our knowledge of space, guiding us in
our quest for answers to where we came from and where we are headed.
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Manufacturer
Wins Prize for Technology Supporting Subaru Telescope's Primary
Mirror
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Shinko Denshi Co. won the 2001 Grand Prize for in Inventions
for their high precision force sensors used to maintain the shape
of Subaru Telescope's primary mirror. The prize rewards research
and development by mid-size Japanese companies that have succeeded
in the market place and is cosponsored by the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Inventions and the Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun Ltd.
 Shinko
Denshi's high precision force sensors are called tuning fork sensors.
They combine a tuning fork that vibrates in response to weight,
and a digital readout device that converts those vibrations into
a measure of weight. These sensors are the heart of the 261 actuators
that
support Subaru Telescope's primary mirror so that it maintains
a perfect shape no matter where it points in the sky. Masaaki
Kobayashi, department head of the techonology department of the
Shinko Denshi Tsukuba Office, who helped develop the sensors says,
"at first I was surprised that a sensor developed for use in scales
was adopted for use in a world class telescope like Subaru. As
a researcher, it is great to see the long term stability and high
precision of our sensors gain recognition."
Further information on Shinko Denshi can be found at their web
site:
http://www.vibra.co.jp/EN/index.html
http://www.vibra.co.jp/
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