Plenary Event
Tuesday Plenary
18 June 2024 • 08:30 - 10:00 Japan Standard Time | National Convention Hall, 1F
Session Chair
8:30 to 9:15
The present and future of Japan's space program
The Basic Plan on Space Policy sets forth the basic principles of Japan's space policy with an aim to promote policies for space development. The latest version, approved by the Cabinet in June 2023, marks a significant shift by defining space science as a crucial integral part of Japan's space development efforts, transitioning from treating it solely as an isolated academic activity. For instance, the Artemis program is promoted as a policy initiative where scientific exploration is positioned to serve a precursor role. It also encourages Japan’s involvement in NASA's post-JWST efforts. Here, I will present Japan's recent accomplishments and future plans in space science.
Saku Tsuneta, former Director General of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Tokyo in 1983. He was instrumental in developing the solar observing satellites Yohkoh and Hinode, and was awarded the Japan Academy Prize in 2019 for outstanding achievement in astronomy. He also served as the Director General of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, and currently is the vice chair of the Committee on National Space Policy.
The goals of the Astrophysics Division are to understand how the universe works, understand how we got here and to address the question, are we alone? In this talk, Dr. Clampin will discuss the current goals of the Astrophysics Division, and its suite of current and future missions. He will also preview progress towards the 2020 National Academies (NAS) Decadal Survey including the key recommendation, the Habitable Worlds Observatory and NASA’s approach to its implementation. Dr. O’Meara will discuss the first steps towards implementation, the formation of a Science, Technology, Architecture Review Team (START) and Technical Analysis Group (TAG) for HWO. He will describe how these teams, along with a large cohort of volunteers are working to define the trade space that must be explored for HWO to meet its top science goals of surveying exoplanets for the signatures of life and performing transformational astrophysics.
Mark Clampin is the Astrophysics Division Director in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. He previously served as the Director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) where he led the Astrophysics, Solar System, Heliophysics, Earth Science Divisions, and the high-performance computing office. During his tenure at GSFC he was the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Observatory Project Scientist. Dr. Clampin is a Co-Investigator with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the Advanced camera for Surveys (ACS) science team. His research interests focus on studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems and astronomical instrumentation. He has designed space and ground-based telescope instruments including adaptive optics systems, coronagraphs and detectors. Dr. Clampin graduated from the University of London with a BS in Physics and from the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland, with PhD in Astronomy.
John O'Meara is the Chief Scientist and Deputy Director for the W. M. Keck Observatory, which operates twin 10-meter telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the island of Hawai'i. Dr. O’Meara is an observational astrophysicist and cosmologist with over 25 years experience with large ground- and space-based facilities. In the last decade, Dr. O'Meara has worked on a number of mission concept studies, including service as the Cosmic Origins science lead for LUVOIR. He has served in leadership roles on a number of federal oversight and science committees, and frequently works with stakeholders in Washington D.C. to advance science in the United States and across the world. Dr. O'Meara is a recipient of the 2020 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Award.
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Satoshi Miyazaki
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan) |
8:30 to 9:15
The present and future of Japan's space program
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Saku Tsuneta
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) (Japan) |
The Basic Plan on Space Policy sets forth the basic principles of Japan's space policy with an aim to promote policies for space development. The latest version, approved by the Cabinet in June 2023, marks a significant shift by defining space science as a crucial integral part of Japan's space development efforts, transitioning from treating it solely as an isolated academic activity. For instance, the Artemis program is promoted as a policy initiative where scientific exploration is positioned to serve a precursor role. It also encourages Japan’s involvement in NASA's post-JWST efforts. Here, I will present Japan's recent accomplishments and future plans in space science.
Saku Tsuneta, former Director General of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Tokyo in 1983. He was instrumental in developing the solar observing satellites Yohkoh and Hinode, and was awarded the Japan Academy Prize in 2019 for outstanding achievement in astronomy. He also served as the Director General of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, and currently is the vice chair of the Committee on National Space Policy.
9:15 to 10:00
NASA astrophysics: from today to the Habitable Worlds Observatory
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Mark Clampin
NASA (United States) |
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John O'Meara
W.M. Keck Observatory (United States) |
The goals of the Astrophysics Division are to understand how the universe works, understand how we got here and to address the question, are we alone? In this talk, Dr. Clampin will discuss the current goals of the Astrophysics Division, and its suite of current and future missions. He will also preview progress towards the 2020 National Academies (NAS) Decadal Survey including the key recommendation, the Habitable Worlds Observatory and NASA’s approach to its implementation. Dr. O’Meara will discuss the first steps towards implementation, the formation of a Science, Technology, Architecture Review Team (START) and Technical Analysis Group (TAG) for HWO. He will describe how these teams, along with a large cohort of volunteers are working to define the trade space that must be explored for HWO to meet its top science goals of surveying exoplanets for the signatures of life and performing transformational astrophysics.
Mark Clampin is the Astrophysics Division Director in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. He previously served as the Director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) where he led the Astrophysics, Solar System, Heliophysics, Earth Science Divisions, and the high-performance computing office. During his tenure at GSFC he was the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Observatory Project Scientist. Dr. Clampin is a Co-Investigator with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the Advanced camera for Surveys (ACS) science team. His research interests focus on studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems and astronomical instrumentation. He has designed space and ground-based telescope instruments including adaptive optics systems, coronagraphs and detectors. Dr. Clampin graduated from the University of London with a BS in Physics and from the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland, with PhD in Astronomy.
John O'Meara is the Chief Scientist and Deputy Director for the W. M. Keck Observatory, which operates twin 10-meter telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the island of Hawai'i. Dr. O’Meara is an observational astrophysicist and cosmologist with over 25 years experience with large ground- and space-based facilities. In the last decade, Dr. O'Meara has worked on a number of mission concept studies, including service as the Cosmic Origins science lead for LUVOIR. He has served in leadership roles on a number of federal oversight and science committees, and frequently works with stakeholders in Washington D.C. to advance science in the United States and across the world. Dr. O'Meara is a recipient of the 2020 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Award.