Tomifumi GODAI

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Former Senior Vice President

  • 1932 Born in Tokyo
  • Professional Career
  • 1957 Joined Fuji Seimitsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
  • Engaged in research and development of sounding rockets1961 Joined National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL)
  • Engaged in designing, research, development of rockets (solid, liquid)
  • 1982 Joined National Space Development Agency (NASDA)
  • Led the development of the first fully domestic rocket, H-II
  • 1988 Appointed as Vice President of NASDA
  • 1996 Appointed as Senior Vice President of NASDA
  • 2000 Retired NASDA
  • Academic Career
  • 1957 Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics from the University of Tokyo
  • 1964 Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology
  • 1976 Doctor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Tokyo
  • Other appointment and membership
  • 1988-1989 President of The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences
  • 1994-1996 President of Japanese Rocket Society
  • 1998-2000 President of International Astronautical Federation
  • 1999 Director-International, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • 2001-2004 Member of Space Activities Committee, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • Member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)
  • Organized the space policy think tank Sora no Kai to expand the utilization of space for various fields.

Events