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Subaru Staff -Part 2-

February 5, 2002

We will introduce the Subaru day crew team. The day crew team goes to the Subaru Telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea and does various work during the daytime for night observations. Tomonori Usuda, the day crew team chief, Kouji Omata, and Tomio Kurakami of the day crew team member appear in this issue (current as of date).

 

Day Crew Team Chief
Tomonori Usuda

Born in Nagano pref., Japan.
Hobby is playing sports and watching sports games.

- What do you do as day crew team chief?

Arranging the weekly meeting of the day crew team, and coordinating the team's work schedule so every team member is able to work safely and efficiently, are my principal jobs as a team chief. Also, shoveling snow away from the roof of the Subaru Telescope enclosure is a very important job during this time of year, because the Mauna Kea summit has a lot of snowfall during winter.

- How did you become interested in this type of work?

I have been interested in astronomy since I was small. Especially, one of the TV programs that I watched inspired me a lot. That is why I chose this kind of job.

On the roof of the Subaru enclosure

- How do you spend your weekend?

I usually spend time with my two-year-old daughter. I always come home late during weekdays. So I try to be with my family during the weekend.

- What advice would you give to people who hope to find a job like yours?

Well, please find something, at least one thing that you can be proud of. That is very important, I think.

 


 

Day Crew
Kouji Omata

Born in Saitama pref., Japan.
Hobby is making model airplanes, golf, and scuba diving.

 

- What do you do as a day crew member?

I am in charge of operating and switching equipment for the Cassegrain focus of the Subaru Telescope. Developing new equipment, and maintaining them is my job too.

- How did you become interested in this type of work?

Since I was a big fan of Astronomy in my childhood, I joined an astronomy club in middle school. I was also interested in machines, so I hoped to have a job creating something. As a result, today, I found a job that supports Subaru Telescope from the technical side.

In the enclosure
at the Mauna Kea summit

- How do you spend your weekend?

Mostly "family service," I spend time with my child. The only time I can spend for myself is reading books in the bathroom.

- What advice would you give to people who hope to find a job like yours?

Sometimes life is a turn of Fortune's wheel. However, the important thing is to take interest in many things and to keep improving yourself.

 


 

Day Crew
Tomio Kurakami

Born in Gunma pref., Japan.
Hobby is playing tennis.

 

- What do you do at the Subaru Telescope?

Mainly, my jobs are the re-aluminization (re-coating with aluminum) of the primary and secondary mirrors of Subaru Telescope, and the development and operation of TUE (Top Unit Exchanger), which is a machine for changing the secondary mirror. We re-aluminized the primary mirror last summer and I am in charge of preparing for the re-aluminization of the secondary mirror.

- How did you become interested in this type of work?

I have liked working with machines since I was small. When I became a high school student, I decided to find a job working with machines. I came to Subaru because I thought I could do something really interesting.

- How do you spend your weekend?

I like to play sports, especially tennis. So I spend time playing tennis with my friend during the weekend.

Work with TUE

- What advice would you give to people who hope to find a job like yours?

I think "Continuation is power." As long as you keep working towards a goal, you can get closer to your goal.



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