{{Short description|Japanese astronaut and engineer (born 1954)}} {{distinguish|Takako Doi}}{{Eastern name order|Doi Takao}}{{Infobox astronaut | name = Takao Doi | native_name = 土井 隆雄 | native_name_lang = ja | image = Doi.jpg | type = JAXA astronaut | status = Retired | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|9|18}} | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | occupation = Engineer | selection = 1985 NASDA Group, NASA Group 15 (1994) | time = 31d 19h 35min | eva1 = 2 | eva2 = 12 hours, 43 minutes<ref name="EVA">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/the_shuttle/79.html|title=Takao Doi (Ph.D.) JAXA Astronaut (Former) Biography on the NASA website|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 1, 2017|url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406135333/http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/the_shuttle/79.html|archivedate=April 6, 2012}}</ref> | mission = STS-87, STS-123 | insignia = 50px 55px | module = {{infobox scientist | embed = yes | thesis_title = Internal velocities in the Orion Nebula | thesis_year = 2004 | thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1031099288 | doctoral_advisor = | field = Astronomy }}| }} {{Nihongo|'''Takao Doi'''|土井 隆雄|Doi Takao|extra=born September 18, 1954}} is a Japanese astronaut, engineer and veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.

== Early life and education == Doi holds a doctorate from the University of Tokyo in aerospace engineering, and has studied and published in the fields of propulsion systems and microgravity technology. He researched at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and was selected by NASDA as an astronaut candidate in 1985 for the Japanese crewed space program while also conducting research in the United States at NASA's Lewis Research Center and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Doi flew as a mission specialist aboard STS-87 in 1997, during which he became the first Japanese astronaut to conduct a spacewalk.

He received a Ph.D. in 1983 from the University of Tokyo, and also a PhD in Astronomy from Rice University in 2004.

As an avid amateur astronomer, he discovered supernovae SN 2002gw and SN 2007aa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/07900/07995.html |title=IAUC 7995 |date=2002-10-17 |accessdate=2014-03-27 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021053439/http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/07900/07995.html |archivedate=2013-10-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/sn2007/sn2007aa.html |title=Supernova 2007aa in NGC 4030 |accessdate=2014-03-27}}</ref>

== Astronaut career == Takao Doi visited the International Space Station in March 2008 as a member of the STS-123 crew. STS-123 delivered the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Kibō, and the Canadian Dextre robot to the space station. During this mission, he became the first person to throw a boomerang in space that had been specifically designed for use in microgravity during spaceflight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flight-toys.com/boomerang/boomnews/spacebooms.html |title=Boomerangs in Space |accessdate=2011-01-19}}</ref>

== Post-astronaut career == In September 2009, Doi retired from astronaut duty and started working as the chief of Space Applications Section of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090606p2a00m0na014000c.html |title=Veteran Japanese astronaut Takao Doi to take up UN job |publisher=The Mainichi Daily News |date=June 6, 2009 |accessdate=June 8, 2009 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608233644/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090606p2a00m0na014000c.html |archivedate=June 8, 2009 }} (found in archive.org capture)</ref>

In April 2016, he became a professor at the Unit of Synergetic Studies for Space of Kyoto University<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20160306-OYT1T50075.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307183707/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20160306-OYT1T50075.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |script-title=ja:宇宙飛行士の土井隆雄さん、京大特定教授に |language=ja |website=Yomiuri Online |publisher=The Yomiuri Shimbun |date=March 7, 2016 |accessdate=March 7, 2016}}</ref> and then at the Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability (GSAIS) in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |work=京都大学ELP &#124; 京都大学エグゼクティブリーダーシッププログラム |url=https://www.elp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/professor/doi/ |language=Japanese |script-title=ja:京都大学ELP 有人宇宙活動 |publisher=Kyoto University |access-date=10 May 2021|date=3 April 2019 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Doi Takao}} {{Portal|Japan|Biography|Space}} * {{cite web|url=https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/doi-takao/ |title=DOI Takao biography|publisher=JAXA |access-date=July 25, 2021}} *[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/doi_takeo.htm Spacefacts biography of Takao Doi]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 15}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doi, Takao}} Category:Japanese astronauts Category:Japanese aerospace engineers Category:University of Tokyo alumni Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Rice University alumni Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts Category:Discoverers of supernovae Category:Spacewalkers