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Space Flight and Exploration Engineering Lab
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A lab that studies the trajectories and control of space probes and spacecraft from the standpoint of mechanics.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the dynamics and control of vehicles flying in space.
The Space Flight and Exploration Engineering Lab studies astrodynamics (the dynamics of space flight), which deals with the dynamics and control of vehicles flying in space.
It tackles a wide range of issues, including trajectory optimization and attitude control of deep-space probes, vibration control of space structures, and actuator development.
Associate Professor Takao came from the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) at JAXA, and still collaborates with it as a researcher in the university joint-use system.
Many of the lab's themes are related to space science missions that are currently operating or being planned at JAXA.
Key terms
- Astrodynamics
- The dynamics that deals with the motion and control of vehicles flying in space. Also called space flight dynamics
- Swing-by
- A method of changing a probe's trajectory by using the gravity of a planet. Also called a gravity assist
- Solar sail
- A thin sail spread out from a spacecraft. Its orbit and attitude change as it receives solar radiation pressure
- Solar radiation pressure
- The pressure produced when sunlight strikes an object. It also strongly affects objects flying near small bodies
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies how to design and control the trajectories of space probes and spacecraft, through both theory and hardware development. Its targets range from exploration of the Moon, planets, and asteroids to transportation networks in space.
*Illustrative imageTrajectory Optimization for Exploration
For exploration of the Moon, planets, and asteroids, the lab finds flight paths that minimize propellant consumption and flight time. It also handles swing-bys that use planetary gravity and complex systems affected by the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and studies methods that use machine learning.
*Illustrative imageOrbital Dynamics around Small Bodies
Small bodies such as asteroids and comets have weak gravity and irregular shapes, so objects flying nearby are also affected by solar radiation pressure and move in complex ways. The lab studies how to clarify these unknown orbits, and guidance, navigation, and control for orbiting, landing, and takeoff.
*Illustrative imageActuators for Solar Sails
The lab is developing new actuators for very small solar sails. The sail is folded and stored in the body of a very small satellite, and is deployed by the centrifugal force of spin. Internal-force actuators change the shape of the sail to alter the effect of solar radiation pressure, controlling orbit and attitude at the same time.
*Illustrative imageOrbital Transfer Vehicles (OTV)
The lab studies orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), which carry people, cargo, spacecraft, and more between orbits. It works on orbit design for building a transportation network, and on design optimization that mathematically derives the spacecraft configuration that maximizes transport capability.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Space Flight and Exploration Engineering Lab consist of faculty members and graduate and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorYuki Takao
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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: “IKAROS solar sail” Andrzej Mirecki / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Trajectory Optimization for Exploration: “NEAR spacecraft trajectory-fr” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Orbital Dynamics around Small Bodies: “(253) mathilde” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Actuators for Solar Sails: “Diffractive solar sail concept art” MacKenzi Martin / Public domain (cropped)
- Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTV): “Orion and Mars Transfer Vehicle in Martian orbit” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Aerodynamics Lab): “221206-F-KN521-2020” U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Advanced Mechatronics Lab): “Flexible heat flux sensor FHF04 by Hukseflux” Hukseflux TS / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Applied Solid Mechanics Lab): “Friction-Driven Encoder Test (encoder 04-CC)” International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Computational Materials Mechanics Lab): “Fluid-Structure-Interaction-Topology-Optimization-2” Chrlundg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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