Our laboratory mainly studies on flexible multibody dynamics theory and has been researching and developing large space structure on the basis of the theory we proposed.

By applying gossamer structure to the space structure systems, we try on realizing the space mission that has been considered difficult to achieve. Gossmaer structure is extremely flexible structure such as cables, thin beams, and membranes.

There are several issues that need to be addressed in order to put the gossamer space structure to practical use, such as establishing an appropriate combination of numerical analysis and ground tests, and predicting the shape of the structure once it is deployed in orbit, but we intend to solve each of these issues one by one.

Also, we are researching on the terramechanics of underground of asteroid under micro-gravity envronment to improve the Japanese sample-return technology and the boring system robust to the surface soil environment by applying the proposed terramechanics theory.

We expect that the terramechanics theory and the boring system under micro-gravity environment will be getting more and more important for future resource development in space and the utilization of deep space.

Furethermore, we are also researching space science missions that use the gossamer structure as their core, and we are currently developing the ultra-small solar sail “PIERIS” with a team from Institute of Science Tokyo and cosmobloom Inc., a company with which we are conducting joint research, with the aim of launching it in 2027.

In addition, we have been studying on the space science mission that makes use of gossamer structure, e.g. solar sail and direct imaging of exoplanet using large occulter.

Especially, we regard that the direct imaging of exoplanet is a key technology because the research of exoplanet are making a gradual shift toward to the detail investigation of atmoshpere and the possibility of extraterrestrial biological entity away from the discovery. The direct imaging has been achieved by using coronagraph so far, but we focus on the Starshade technology.

There are several technical issues to overcome in order to achieve the direct-imaging by starshade, such as ultra-long-range formation flight technology and high-precision, large-area occultation deployment technology, but we believe that it will become feasible through gradual space verification.

We are also interested in applying our research results to fields other than space science, and for example, we are aiming to realize large antennas that can be mounted on microsatellites using membrane structures.

Practical application of membrane antennas requires thin-film antenna device technology and technology for achieving high precision in the shape of the deployed membrane surface, and we are currently conducting research on this with cosmobloom Inc..

And our ultimate goal is to realize the Space-Based Solar Power System (SBSP). We believe that SBSP can only be realized with the ultimate ultra-lightweight structure combining membrane antennas and membrane solar cell arrays, and we are considering formation flights of large numbers of small satellites via membrane structures.

The space structure systems laboratory (former space structure laboratory) was established by Prof. Koryo MIURA who is known for the development of "Miura fold" and the concept of intelligent strucrure, and Prof. M.C. NATORI who is known for the development of various concepts of space structure such as adaptive structure, the research on structural dynamics of extensible/deployable strucrure, and research on bio-inspired design.

After that, Prof. Ken HIGUCHI, Prof. Saburo MATUNAGA, and Prof. Kosei ISHIMURA took over the laboratory, but they moved to the other universities in terns.

In October 2020, Miyazaki arrived to ISAS,and Prof. Okuizumi moved. Now, Miyazaki is responsible for the laboratory and Miyazaki and Satoh manage the laboratory together.