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About

Aiko Nakato is a pioneering geochemist and cosmochemist whose work bridges the frontiers of planetary science and analytical instrumentation. Her primary research focuses on the isotopic analysis of noble gases in extraterrestrial materials, particularly from asteroid regolith returned by space missions. Nakato’s most significant contribution lies in the development of ultra-high-sensitivity mass spectrometry techniques tailored for micro-samples, enabling the detection of minute quantities of noble gas isotopes that reveal the formation history and surface processes of primitive bodies. Her landmark 2023 study on materials from the Hayabusa2 mission—already garnering 4 citations—demonstrated how custom-designed instruments can achieve the low detection limits and high ion transmission necessary to analyze asteroid grains smaller than a millimeter. This work has profound implications for understanding the early solar system’s volatile inventory and the origins of water on Earth. Nakato’s achievements include leading the noble gas analysis team for JAXA’s Hayabusa2 sample curation, and her methods are now being adapted for future missions like MMX and OSIRIS-REx. Her research not only advances planetary science but also sets new standards for analytical chemistry in space exploration.