Hideo Itokawa

Hideo Itokawa
糸川 英夫
Hideo Itokawa (1961)
Born(1912-07-20)July 20, 1912
Tokyo
DiedFebruary 21, 1999(1999-02-21) (aged 86)
NationalityJapanese
Alma materTokyo Imperial University
Known forThe father of Japanese space development
Scientific career
FieldsRocketry
InstitutionsUniversity of Tokyo

Hideo Itokawa (糸川 英夫, Itokawa Hideo; July 20, 1912 February 21, 1999) was a pioneer of Japanese rocketry, popularly known as "Dr. Rocket," and described in the media as the father of Japan's space development.

The near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa was named in honor of Itokawa, and is notable as the target of the Hayabusa mission.