Dr. Hiromitsu Kakudo

Research Engineer

BACKGROUND

Hiromitsu, originally from Nagasaki, Japan, holds bachelor’s (2014) and master's (2016) degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from The University of Tokyo. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyoto University in 2023. Prior to joining the GTL in 2023, he worked at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) since 2016.

RESEARCH

His research expertise lies in liquid propulsion for launch vehicles, with a specialized focus on rocket-engine turbopumps and other high-speed turbomachinery. At the GTL, he is investigating cavitation dynamics in turbopump inducers. Additionally, he is working on the development of a 1-megawatt electric motor, aiming to enable hybrid propulsion for aviation.