معرفی
Takahiro Hiroi is a Senior Research Scientist at the Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences, Brown University. His research focuses on planetary geoscience with a strong emphasis on asteroid composition, space weathering processes, and remote sensing analysis. He collaborates with international missions like NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2, analyzing returned samples from asteroids Bennu and Ryugu to understand early solar system evolution and material preservation.
Key contributions include studies on UV-induced spectral changes in asteroid materials, thermal metamorphism in carbonaceous chondrites, and compositional analysis of lunar and Martian surfaces. Hiroi co-authored a 2022 paper on Ryugu’s evolutionary history, leveraging Hayabusa2 samples to trace asteroid formation processes. His work integrates experimental simulations (e.g., UV irradiation experiments) with observational data to model space weathering effects on asteroid surfaces.
Recent activities include leading the Bennu sample analysis at Brown University, as highlighted in a 2024 news article. His research extends to lunar geology, including studies of agglutinates and high-Ca pyroxene distributions, contributing to understanding Moon’s crustal evolution. He is affiliated with the Division of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS) and actively participates in the DESTINY+ mission targeting asteroid Phaethon.
Notable achievements include advancing methodologies for detecting hydrous minerals and developing spectral classification frameworks for carbonaceous asteroids. His interdisciplinary approach bridges planetary science, geochemistry, and astrophysics, with a focus on sample-based research to address fundamental questions about planetary formation and habitability.
