Hidetaka Aoki

Hidetaka Aoki is a notable "Space Evangelist" working to promote the space business in Japan and foster a private-sector-led space industry through expertise in space technology. They earned a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering and a pilot's license in the U.S. and previously worked as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer at Mitsubishi Electric, contributing to the development of Japan's first spacecraft, Kounotori, and the lunar lander SLIM. Aoki has been actively involved as an investor and board member for various space startups and co-founded both SPACETIDE Foundation and Space Port Japan. Additionally, Aoki serves on several committees for JAXA and the Japanese government, supporting national space policy initiatives.