Harunori Nagata

Prof. Nagata completed his PhD in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Tokyo and received his Ph.D. in 1994. After working in the Aerospace Division of Nissan Motor Co., he became an associate professor at Hokkaido University in 1996 and a professor in 2006. In 1999, he organized the “Hybrid Rocket Research Group” within the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences. He developed a CAMUI-type hybrid rocket, which succeeded in a significant improvement in thrust and miniaturization. In April 2008, he received the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences Award (Technology Award) for CAMUI-type Hybrid Rocket Technology. He has received numerous awards, including the 2018 AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Hybrid Rockets Best Paper Award and the 2024 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In June 2020, he founded Letara Co., Ltd. with alums to commercialize hybrid kick motors and serves as CTO. He is a Senior Program Officer at the Research Center for Science Systems, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).