A historic moment occurred when the world’s first wooden satellite, the brainchild of Japanese researchers, flew into space and ushered in a new era of sustainable space exploration.
The ambitious 10 cm cube LignoSat is a product of a partnership between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a logging company.
LignoSat was delivered to the International Space Station on a SpaceX rocket. Later, astronauts are expected to launch the satellite into a 400 km orbit around Earth.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying more than 6,000 pounds of supplies and science experiments, was launched into orbit Monday evening (9:29 p.m. EST) from the Kennedy Space Center atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft will autonomously dock with the Harmony module on Tuesday, November 5 around 10:15 a.m. EST.
Towards a sustainable future
This small cube-shaped satellite is made of magnolia wood and is designed to tolerate extreme temperatures and space radiation. If the satellite performs as expected, it could open up new possibilities for using wood in future space exploration missions.
“With wood, a material we can produce ourselves, we will be able to build houses and live and work in space forever,” said Takao Doi, who studies human spaceflight activities at Kyoto University. Reuters.
In the harsh vacuum of space, wood finds its perfect environment because it is protected from water and oxygen.
In addition, wooden satellites are said to be more environmentally friendly at the end of their lifespan.
When a traditional metal satellite reenters Earth’s atmosphere, it often disintegrates and burns up.
This process releases harmful particles, such as aluminum oxide, into the atmosphere. These particles can contribute to pollution and potentially harm the environment. Sometimes the metal satellites create space debris, which can remain in orbit for a long time.
A wooden satellite, on the other hand, is designed to burn up completely upon reentry. When it decomposes, it releases far fewer harmful substances, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
“Metal satellites may be banned in the future,” Doi said. “If we can prove that our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.”
Performance is tested for six months
The word Ligno comes from Latin and means wood. A years-long search led to the discovery of the perfect wood for this groundbreaking mission.
The researchers even conducted a ten-month experiment aboard the ISS to finish the wood.
After extensive research, it was determined that ‘honoki’, a magnolia tree native to Japan, was the most suitable wood for satellite applications.
Interestingly, LignoSat is built using traditional Japanese woodworking methods, which eliminate the use of screws or glue.
Lignoza will spend six months in orbit. One of the biggest challenges is the extreme temperature fluctuations. As the satellite orbits the Earth, it alternates between periods of intense sunlight and complete darkness.
This causes the temperature to fluctuate wildly every 45 minutes, from a frigid -100 degrees Celsius to a scorching 100 degrees Celsius, and back again.
In addition, LignoSat will evaluate wood’s ability to mitigate the impact of space radiation on semiconductors.
The successful tests could also pave the way for expanded use of wood for lunar habitats.