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Usui Lab
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The lab studies how the solar system formed, using evidence from water on Mars and samples from asteroids.
AboutAbout the lab
From the history of water to the origin of the solar system
The Usui Lab is a planetary science lab at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of JAXA in Sagamihara.
Planetary scientists, geologists, and remote sensing specialists work together to uncover the history of water in the solar system.
The lab is involved in exploration missions such as Hayabusa2 and MMX, and analyzes samples returned from asteroids as well as meteorites.
Members also go on field excursions to observe strata and rocks outdoors.
Key terms
- Remote sensing
- A method of studying the terrain and materials of distant places using light or radio waves, from satellites or space probes
- Isotope
- Atoms of the same element that differ only in mass. Their ratios can reveal the origin and history of a material
- Spectroscopy
- A method of studying the composition and properties of a material by separating light by wavelength and measuring it
NewsLab news
Paper published on the process by which gamma rays produce the sugar in the DNA backbone on small bodies
Paper on space weathering of Phobos, a moon of Mars, published in PEPS
Prof. Usui elected a 2026 Fellow of the Meteoritical Society
Paper on low-temperature reflectance spectra of meteorites published in Icarus
Paper on measuring the hydrogen isotope ratio of comets with an ultracompact ultraviolet instrument published in JGR: Planets
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies the history of water in the solar system and the formation of planets and small bodies. It combines data from space probes with analyses of returned samples and meteorites.
*Illustrative imageThe history of water on Mars
The lab uses data from subsurface-sounding radar to investigate whether ice on Mars exists only in certain regions or is spread across the whole planet. It also studies the origin and changes of Martian water through the hydrogen isotopes of Martian meteorites.
*Illustrative imageSmall-body exploration and sample analysis
The lab investigates the origin of the solar system using data on the rock, shape, and chemical composition of returned samples and meteorites. It also develops new measurement techniques based on electron microscopy and spectroscopy, and measures the thermal properties of samples.
*Illustrative imageMMX, the Martian moons exploration mission
The lab is involved in the MMX mission, which will bring back samples from a moon of Mars, and examines whether the Martian moons are captured asteroids or were formed from fragments of a giant impact gathering together. Members are also preparing the procedures for analyzing the returned samples.
*Illustrative imageHayabusa2's Ryugu samples
The lab manages the dedicated facility for the samples that Hayabusa2 brought back from the asteroid Ryugu. It carries out rock observation, spectroscopic measurements, and inorganic and organic chemical analyses of the samples.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Usui Lab include faculty, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral and master's students, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorTomohiro Usui
- Associate ProfessorHaruna Sugahara
- Assistant ProfessorRyota Fukai
- Assistant ProfessorTakuya Ishizaki
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Phobos colour 2008” NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Arizona / Public domain (cropped)
- The history of water on Mars: “Mars - Korolev Crater - ESA Mars Express ( )” Andrea Luck / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Small-body exploration and sample analysis: “Murchison meteorite MNHN Minéralogie” Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- MMX, the Martian moons exploration mission: “Phobos and Deimos” Giuseppe Donatiello / CC0 (cropped)
- Hayabusa2's Ryugu samples: “Sample of Ryugu PC095199” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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