Kazuhiko Momose

About me

My name is Kazuhiko Momose. I am currently working as a Gateway Software Tools Engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center (JETS II). I received a Ph.D. in Human-Centered Design at Florida Institute of Technology, where I conducted research on Human-Machine Teamwork. Prior to my Ph.D. study, I earned an M.S. in Space Architecture and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from University of Houston and Nihon University, respectively. I have cultivated my knowledge and experience through a wide array of projects in industry and academic environments.

My experience

Gateway Software Tools Engineer

Amentum (NASA JETS II) - Houston, TX

I am working on the design and development of a ground tool for Gateway. My work spans from software implementation to human factors analysis and testing.

2024-Present

Ph.D. in Human-Centered Design

Florida Institute of Technology - Melbourne, FL

My dissertation research focused on human-machine teamwork. I also conducted FAA-funded research on commercial human spaceflight. Additionally, I interned with Dassault Systèmes, IHMC, and Jacobs Technology, Inc. (NASA JETS II).

2020 - 2024

Engineer

Space Systems Development Corp. - Japan

I worked on a JAXA-supported research project on how we could apply knowledge and assets of human spaceflight to disaster response and management. My work also included 3D visualization of moon and Mars bases.

2019 - 2020

M.S. in Space Architecture

University of Houston - Houston, TX

My master thesis was a conceptual design of multiple purpose single-person spacecraft. Also, I performed a Gateway operations and habitability study in support of the Boeing Company.

2017 - 2018

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Nihon University - Japan

My senior research project focused on crew safety analysis in a catastrophic event during launch. In addition, I participated in Mars society's International Gemini Mars Design Competition as a project manager and won the second place.

2013 - 2017

Featured Work

◀

International Genimi Mars Design Competition

The competition was held by Mars Society, and the goal was to design a two-person Mars flyby mission that could be launched no later than 2024 as simply, safely, and chaeply as possible.
I led a multi-university team as a project manager and undertook developing a mission architecture, performing reentry anaysis, and estimating mission cost.
We presented our proposal at the 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention in Washington D.C. and won the second place among the 10 finalist teams.

Dec. 2015 - Sept. 2016

Simulated USAR Experiment for Human-Machine Teamwork

To investigate human-machine teamwork, I developed a simulated Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) mission exeriment using CARLA (driving simulator software).
I applied Human-Centered Design principles (Design Thinking) to implement UI designs aiming at enhancing human-machine teamwork.
The results offered fruitful insights into interdependence and input compositionality in human-machine teams and showed future work avenues for enhancing human-machine teamwork.

Aug. 2024 - Dec. 2024

Moon Lander Game Experiment for Human-AI Teamwork

I conducted an browser-based moon lander game experiement to investigate human-AI teamwork in a compositional control collaboration setting, where inputs from human and AI are combined to control a moon lander.
The results indicated that effective human-AI teams exhibited different patterns of interactions when compared to lower-performing teams, and this difference differed with AI agent's capabilities.
The work was presented at CHI 2023 LBW, and my first-author journal paper was published in IJHCI.

Aug. 2022 - Dec. 2023

Human-Machine Teamwork for Humanoid Robot Teleoptation

I interned with IHMC during the summer of 2023 and worked on a research project on humanoid teleopration.
I conducted heuristic evaluations of the existing UI design of desktop software.
I designed UI features for VR-enabled humanoid teleoperation by focusing on visibility of system status, match between real world and system, and recognition rather than recall
I led a feasibility study on proposed approach to teleoperating humanoid robot via VR control.
My second-author paper was published in IEEE RA-L.

May 2023 - Aug. 2023

UX Research on Engineering Simulation Software

I interned as a UX Researcher at Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. in Summer 2022
I captured users' thoughts and feelings during workflow assessments of engineering simulation software and then built a journey map to communicate the current status of the user experience to the R&D team
I also worked on a usage analytics app research project, where I designed and conducted a series of internal stakeholder interviews to learn their needs related to data analytics and developed recommendations by consolidating the results.

May 2022 - Aug. 2022

Human Input Systems for Commercial Human Spaceflight

We conducted an experiment to test four input devices (i.e., joystick, touchscreen, numpad, and magicpad) using the Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Simulator to develop guidelines for the Commercial Space Transportation (CST) industry.
I implemented a customized Fitts' law target selection tas and performed statistical analysis on the data using R.
We proposed baseline design recommendations for the CST industry, including the minimum button size required to ensure 95 percent click accuracy for each type of input device in microgravity.
My first-author paper won the best paper award at AHFE 2023.

Aug. 2020 - May 2022

Conceptual Design of Multi-Purpose Single-Person Spacecraft

The study was inspired by the idea of a Single-Person Spacecraft (SPS) proposed by Genesis Engineering Solutions, Inc.
The goal was to design a single-person mobility system in orbit and surface operations, which could contribute to future human space exploration missions.
I conducted an anthropometric study to investigate easy ingress/egress method by using a low-fidelity mockup
A first-author paper regarding the design concept was presented at ICES 2019

Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2018

International Genimi Mars Design Competition

The competition was held by Mars Society, and the goal was to design a two-person Mars flyby mission that could be launched no later than 2024 as simply, safely, and chaeply as possible.
I led a multi-university team as a project manager and undertook developing a mission architecture, performing reentry anaysis, and estimating mission cost.
We presented our proposal at the 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention in Washington D.C. and won the second place among the 10 finalist teams.

Dec. 2015 - Sept. 2016

Simulated USAR Experiment for Human-Machine Teamwork

To investigate human-machine teamwork, I developed a simulated Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) mission exeriment using CARLA (driving simulator software).
I applied Human-Centered Design principles (Design Thinking) to implement UI designs aiming at enhancing human-machine teamwork.
The results offered fruitful insights into interdependence and input compositionality in human-machine teams and showed future work avenues for enhancing human-machine teamwork.

Aug. 2024 - Dec. 2024

Moon Lander Game Experiment for Human-AI Teamwork

I conducted an browser-based moon lander game experiement to investigate human-AI teamwork in a compositional control collaboration setting, where inputs from human and AI are combined to control a moon lander.
The results indicated that effective human-AI teams exhibited different patterns of interactions when compared to lower-performing teams, and this difference differed with AI agent's capabilities.
The work was presented at CHI 2023 LBW, and my first-author journal paper was published in IJHCI.

Aug. 2022 - Dec. 2023

Human-Machine Teamwork for Humanoid Robot Teleoptation

I interned with IHMC during the summer of 2023 and worked on a research project on humanoid teleopration.
I conducted heuristic evaluations of the existing UI design of desktop software.
I designed UI features for VR-enabled humanoid teleoperation by focusing on visibility of system status, match between real world and system, and recognition rather than recall
I led a feasibility study on proposed approach to teleoperating humanoid robot via VR control.
My second-author paper was published in IEEE RA-L.

May 2023 - Aug. 2023

UX Research on Engineering Simulation Software

I interned as a UX Researcher at Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. in Summer 2022
I captured users' thoughts and feelings during workflow assessments of engineering simulation software and then built a journey map to communicate the current status of the user experience to the R&D team
I also worked on a usage analytics app research project, where I designed and conducted a series of internal stakeholder interviews to learn their needs related to data analytics and developed recommendations by consolidating the results.

May 2022 - Aug. 2022

Human Input Systems for Commercial Human Spaceflight

We conducted an experiment to test four input devices (i.e., joystick, touchscreen, numpad, and magicpad) using the Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Simulator to develop guidelines for the Commercial Space Transportation (CST) industry.
I implemented a customized Fitts' law target selection tas and performed statistical analysis on the data using R.
We proposed baseline design recommendations for the CST industry, including the minimum button size required to ensure 95 percent click accuracy for each type of input device in microgravity.
My first-author paper won the best paper award at AHFE 2023.

Aug. 2020 - May 2022

Conceptual Design of Multi-Purpose Single-Person Spacecraft

The study was inspired by the idea of a Single-Person Spacecraft (SPS) proposed by Genesis Engineering Solutions, Inc.
The goal was to design a single-person mobility system in orbit and surface operations, which could contribute to future human space exploration missions.
I conducted an anthropometric study to investigate easy ingress/egress method by using a low-fidelity mockup
A first-author paper regarding the design concept was presented at ICES 2019

Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2018

International Genimi Mars Design Competition

The competition was held by Mars Society, and the goal was to design a two-person Mars flyby mission that could be launched no later than 2024 as simply, safely, and chaeply as possible.
I led a multi-university team as a project manager and undertook developing a mission architecture, performing reentry anaysis, and estimating mission cost.
We presented our proposal at the 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention in Washington D.C. and won the second place among the 10 finalist teams.

Dec. 2015 - Sept. 2016

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My skills

R
Python
JavaScript
TypeScript
HTML
CSS
React
Next.js
Node.js
MongoDB
Git
Rhinoceros
Fusion 360
Figma
Adobe XD
Miro

Contact me

I am always looking for opportunities to apply and expand my knowledge and experience in Human-Centered Design and Human-Machine Teamwork.
Please feel free to reach out to me to explore potential collaborations.