LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Sakamoto Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab uses small satellites to test methods for building large structures in space.
AboutAbout the lab
Developing methods to build large structures in space
The Sakamoto Lab (Space Dynamics and Design Lab) studies methodologies for building large structures in space.
Structures in space are flexible, prone to vibration, and change shape over time, so it is important to design them with their motion in mind.
While deepening its foundations in fields such as structural dynamics and systems engineering, the lab carries out in-space demonstration experiments using small satellites.
Key terms
- Structural dynamics
- The field that investigates, based on the laws of motion, how a structure vibrates and deforms when subjected to forces
- CubeSat
- A standard for microsatellites that are built from units of a fixed-size cube
- Solar power sail
- A spacecraft that unfolds a large, thin membrane in space to obtain both propulsion and electric power from sunlight
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab develops theories and analysis methods for building huge structures in space. By taking part in JAXA satellite projects and developing its own microsatellites, it puts new design methods for space systems into practice.
*Illustrative imageIn-space demonstration with microsatellites
To test new space structures, the lab builds CubeSats and mission instruments itself and demonstrates them in space. It develops satellites such as the OrigamiSat series.
*Illustrative imageLightweight, compact, foldable membrane structures
The lab studies methodologies for realizing membrane structures that unfold in space, such as the IKAROS solar power sail. It also works on how to fold large sails and on new structures made of fabric.
*Illustrative imageNew space antennas
Space antennas are folded for launch, so it is difficult to keep their shape accurate after they unfold. The lab studies both methods for controlling the shape of the reflector and methods for compensating electrically.
*Illustrative imageModeling of large-scale space systems
The lab studies how to represent, through models, the process of building large and complex space systems, such as space solar power satellites, crewed outposts in deep space, and groups of satellites flying in formation.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Sakamoto Lab include faculty, administrative assistants, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and exchange students.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiraku SakamotoPublications ↗
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Sakamoto Lab
Yamaura LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringDynamic characteristics analysis of machines and control app…
Inoue-Sakaguchi LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringLifetime strength design and nondestructive inspection of ma…
Mizutani LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringStructural integrity assessment and nondestructive testing t…
Takeda-Sugahara LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringDesign technology for robots and assistive/welfare machinesThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “Iss sts115 big” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- In-space demonstration with microsatellites: “ISS-51 CubeSat deployment - A pair of CubeSats” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Lightweight, compact, foldable membrane structures: “Advanced Composite Solar Sail System testing” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- New space antennas: “STS-77 Spartan - deployable antenna” NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC), Image-ID: s77e5033 / Public domain (cropped)
- Modeling of large-scale space systems: “NASA solar power satellite concept 1976” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Yamaura Lab): “Tower crane rising at hollywoodHUB construction site, Portland, Oregon” PortlandAppraisalBlog / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Inoue-Sakaguchi Lab): “Turbine blade close up - geograph.org.uk - 6888528” Gordon Hatton / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Mizutani Lab): “Olympus OmniScan MX2” Boevaya mashina / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Takeda-Sugahara Lab): “Hexapod positioner aka Stewart platform x2” User Mike1024 on en.wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.