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About

Yasufumi Nagai is a space robotics and satellite systems researcher whose work has significantly advanced the field of on-orbit servicing and space infrastructure development. Based at the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) in Japan, Nagai has focused primarily on two interconnected areas: the assembly of large, precise space antennas using robotic systems, and the development of orbital maintenance technologies for satellites. His most impactful contribution — earning 25 citations — involves the design and evaluation of robotic assembly mechanisms for space antennas, demonstrated aboard Japan's landmark ETS-VII spacecraft, the world's first teleoperated space robot. This work established foundational techniques for constructing large-scale space structures autonomously in orbit. He also contributed to early orbital maintenance experiments through the Micro-LabSat 1 satellite program, garnering 24 citations and helping lay the groundwork for sustainable, long-term space operations. Notably, Nagai pioneered the use of audio feedback systems to reduce operator stress during teleoperation — a practical and human-centered innovation in a field that typically prioritizes engineering performance. Across his career, his research has collectively shaped how space agencies and engineers approach the reliability, maintainability, and scalability of future space infrastructure.