Famed Japanese rocket engineer Tomifumi Godai dies at 92

The Tokyo native made significant contributions to Japan's efforts to develop large rockets from the early days of the initiative.

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Godai entered a private-sector company and engaged in research and development on rockets.

Later, he moved to the now-defunct Science and Technology Agency and then to the former National Aerospace Laboratory.

In 1982, Godai joined the National Space Development Agency, or NASDA, a predecessor of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, playing a central role in developing the H-2, Japan's first fully domestically produced large rocket.

He became an executive director at NASDA in 1988 and led the launch of the first H-2 rocket in 1994. In 1995, he was appointed NASDA senior vice president.

Godai was also involved in the development of the lower-cost H-2A rocket.

He also served as a member of the Japanese science ministry's former Space Activities Committee and president of the International Astronautical Federation.