SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Driving Force THE POWER TO MAKE TOMORROW INTERVIIEW REPORT
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Driving Force THE POWER TO MAKE TOMORROW INTERVIIEW REPORT

Working Towards Landing on Mars

Department of Aerospace Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering,
Tohoku University
Danish Ai REPORT #37

© School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Taking on the astronaut candidate selection process

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted its first astronaut candidate selection process in 13 years, and in February 2023, the agency announced its selection of two new astronaut candidates. There were 4,127 applicants, and less than 1 out of more than 2,000 applicants passed. One of those applicants who took on this challenge was Mr. Danish Ai, a doctoral candidate studying at the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering. Applicants were required to have three or more years of work experience (one year of experience is counted for those with a master’s degree, and three years for those with a doctorate degree). When he applied, Mr. Ai was a senior at the College of Engineering Sciences of the University of Tsukuba, so how did he meet the requirements despite not having had any work experience? He explains, “Right after enrolling at the University of Tsukuba, I joined a space-related club, and I made small artificial satellites and probes. Also, the news that NASA’s helicopter would soon fly over Mars was attracting much attention, so thinking that a better helicopter for Mars exploration could be made, I started my own research. As I was doing my research, I was advised by Prof. Kazuya Yoshida and Prof. Hiroki Nagai of Tohoku University, both of whom were conducting cutting-edge aerospace research. Also, JAXA kindly allowed me to use their facilities to carry out experiments. When I applied to the astronaut candidate selection process, I emphasized that all of the experience I gained through my extra-curricular research gained as an undergraduate was equivalent to work experience. As a result, I passed the document screening (wherein 2,266 applicants passed), and I was able to proceed to the pre-selection stage which included an English proficiency test, a general knowledge exam, a brief essay, and others.”

Although he did not advance to the first, second, or third selection rounds, Mr. Ai says he gained a lot from the experience. “Before I went through the selection process, I envisioned my future as an astronaut solely based on my own experiences and aspirations. But through my interactions with other applicants such as doctors, members of Self-Defense Forces, and people working in the space industry, I learned that while we were all aiming to become astronauts, we had differing ideas and ways of thinking. I also realized how tough the selection process was, and how only those who truly excel pass, which then became a huge motivation for me in my subsequent research and activities,” he says.

After 2021, JAXA plans to recruit astronauts approximately every five years. If everything goes as planned, the next recruitment will be in 2026, and Mr. Ai will be in the third year of his doctoral program. He says, “Of course I will try again. Regardless of the result, taking on the challenge will surely lead to new developments. For me, there is no choice but to try.”

Challenging the world with the ARES Project

Trying to pass the astronaut candidate selection isn’t his only challenge. After working on the development of a helicopter for Mars exploration, Mr. Ai launched the “ARES Project,” a project for the development of a Mars rover equipped with a robotic arm and an analyzer for life on the planet. He says the ARES Project was inspired by a global competition wherein students build Mars rovers and compete based on their rovers’ performance. “There’s the University Rover Challenge in the USA and the European Rover Challenge but no team from Japan had ever competed. I wanted to compete, so along with two students from another university whom I met at a manufacturing program held at the University of Tokyo, we completed our first rover,” he says.

Around the time they built their second rover, Mr. Ai began his studies at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering. Shortly after enrolling, in late June, he took advantage of the university's Space Studies Program (SSP) - International Space University which sends students abroad and went to Portugal to work on various issues and projects for nine weeks along with other members around the world. He says that he was barely involved with the ARES Project during that time. But when he returned to Japan, an unexpected development awaited him. He explains, “The two other founding members recruited students and scaled up the team to around 20 members. When I saw this, I decided to organize the team’s management, and take on the challenge of competing globally as a team in earnest.”

The ARES Project has five goals: 1. To compete in the world’s top rover competition and achieve a high rank in it; 2. To pioneer rover development, a new field in Japan’s student space development; 3. To improve the technical skills of students in Japan and to contribute to future space development; 4. To make use of the team’s activities for the rovers actually used on Mars and the moon; and 5. To solve the earth’s environmental problems using rover technology. Currently, there are more than 40 students from universities all over Japan but mainly from Tohoku University and Keio University participating in the project.

From May to June 2024, the team became the first Japanese student team to participate in the finals of the University Rover Challenge held in Utah, USA. Even though they finished in 32nd out of 38 teams, they received the Best Presentation Award in the “Science Mission” category which analyzes recovered rock samples. Mr. Ai evaluates the teams’ results, saying, “Under the harsh conditions of a blazing sun and sandstorms, the sixth rover we brought from Japan ran into electrical problems causing it to perform unexpected actions repeatedly, and the parts around the tires were also damaged several times. But we did not give up. Even though we failed, we were determined to leave some kind of mark at the competition. Although the information we gathered from the recovered samples was few, we were able to interpret the geological features of the site based on a limited number of photos and the knowledge from our preliminary research. Also, I believe that the solidarity shown by 23 members of our team who came all the way from Japan to watch the presentation together was also taken into consideration in giving us the award. Our next goal is to make sure we participate in the next competition and win. To achieve this, I will place importance on talking with each and every member and leading the team.”

School of Engineering, Tohoku University Driving Force, The Power to Make Tomorrow. INTERVIIEW REPORT

A Second Chance at Tohoku University,
this time for graduate school

Mr. Ai reflects, “There were many failures and setbacks behind the things I’ve tried to do.” One of those was not being accepted into Tohoku University after graduating from high school. “I was thinking of studying aerospace engineering and my top choice was the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Tohoku University’s School of Engineering. At the time, I envisioned joining Prof. Kazuya Yoshida’s lab to research space robotics. However, I was not accepted into the university immediately after high school, and even after taking a gap year to try again, the result was the same,” he explains.

Mr. Ai enrolled at the College of Engineering Sciences of the School of Science and Engineering at the University of Tsukuba which primarily focuses on nanotechnology and materials which are quite different from space robotics. However, he did not give up. He says, “I thought, if I couldn’t learn about space robotics in an official place such as a lab, I might as well do it on my own. This resulted in my research on a Mars exploration helicopter which then led to the ARES Project. If I had been accepted into Tohoku University, research would have started only in my senior year, so I wouldn’t have learned about space as much as I did during my undergraduate years. For my graduate studies, I decided to have a second go at Tohoku University and join Prof. Yoshida’s lab. To achieve this, I had to do space research on my own. Enrolling at the University of Tsukuba helped me have a strong determination.”

Mr. Ai also applied to graduate schools overseas such as MIT and he was accepted into several universities, but in the end he chose to go to Tohoku University which has Prof. Yoshida’s lab. He says, “If I went to a graduate school abroad, I’m sure I would have had experiences that I wouldn’t have otherwise. But even if I were to go abroad eventually, I thought that there would be more chance for me to succeed if I were to go after being taught by Prof. Yoshida. I decided on Tohoku University because I thought I could genuinely grow under his tutelage.”

Currently, Prof. Yoshida serves as the project manager for “Self-Evolving AI Robot System for Lunar Exploration and Human Outpost Construction,” a moonshot research and development project being promoted by the Cabinet Office. Mr. Ai is also part of this R&D project. He says, “By developing robot parts as modules that can be detached and recombined, I am working on the R&D of a robot that can fulfill its mission by choosing movement methods and work styles appropriate to the lunar environment while rebuilding and repairing itself or by another robot. Many of the assignments issued by Prof, Yoshida are difficult and require a high level of skill. If I do not clear a hurdle, he will point things out saying, ‘It won’t do if you don’t do this,’ so I have to do my best. The challenge I have now is balancing my lab work on the self-evolving AI robot system and ARES Project activities.”

To Mars where no one has been before

Mr. Ai says his interest in space began when he saw a space exhibit at the Saitama Municipal Youth Astronomical Museum where the astronaut Koichi Wakata serves as honorary director. “My father was a mineralogist, and he often took me to mining site surveys and his conference presentations. Even though I was still a child, seeing my father’s work made me think how cool it was to be a researcher. That was the kind of childhood I had, so that’s why the space exhibit I saw at the museum was astonishing. I had seen space in books and such, but it was the first time I learned there’s such a job as an astronaut going to space, and there are such fields as space development and robot development. When I was in elementary school, I decided I also wanted to go to space someday, and Iet my heart on becoming an astronaut,” he explains.

After he becomes an astronaut, the place where Mr. Ai wants to set his foot on is Mars. The biggest trend in space development these days is the moon but Mr. Ai says, “Mars is by far more romantic.” He adds, “It’s a simple thing, but what I find most appealing about Mars is the possibility that there may have been life there before, and the fact that no one has ever been there. The moon is the Earth’s satellite, whereas Mars is a neighboring planet. Considering our current technologies, I don’t think it’s completely impossible for us to send humans to Mars. I’m not saying let’s go to Saturn or the sun. If we make progress one step at a time, I’m sure Mars will be the first planet we’ll reach.”

Mr. Ai continues to work on the research and development of lunar exploration robots and Mars rovers, and towards his dream of becoming an astronaut. He also wants to encourage his juniors telling them “If you continue to have a strong desire, a path will surely open up for you. That’s why I want you to keep trying.” He adds, “Continuing to try things eventually leads to something interesting, which is precisely the world of robotics. If you think robotics is interesting and you want to try your hand at it, give all that you’ve got in a university where you feel you will be able to do interesting research. You have to stop thinking that something’s impossible no matter how hard you try, and don’t give up. Please challenge yourself. You also won’t know what a university’s vibe is like until you go, so I recommend actually visiting a lab you’re interested in.”