Munetaka Ueno is a senior scientist of Technology Advancing Node for Space Exploration, JAXA, and a professor of Kobe University. After his Ph.D in physics from Kyoto University, Japan in 1994, he joined Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, University of Tokyo (as an assistant professor), then moved to Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), JAXA in 2009, and his former occupations were head of mission instrument technology group, director of space science program office, and Chief engineer of JAXA. His research interests include infrared astronomy, solar system science, scientific instrumentation and systems engineering in space development. He has been involved in several space missions, AKARI (Infrared Astronomical Satellite), AKATSUKI (Venus orbiter), HISAKI (extreme-UV telescope in space), and also related activities on recovered sample analysis project of HAYABUSA mission.
He served a director of Astronomical Society of Japan, a chair person of Standing Space Agency Subcommittee, International Project Management Committee, a vice-chair of Standing Space Agency Subcommittee, Knowledge Management Technical Committee. He serves an associate editor of Space Research Today (COSPAR), and a member of space science advisory committee of ISAS, JAXA.