A historic moment unfolded as the world’s first wooden satellite, the brainchild of Japanese researchers, soared into space, ushering in a new era of sustainable space exploration.
The ambitious 10cm-cube LignoSat is a product of a partnership between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a logging company.
LignoSat has been ferried to the International Space Station on a SpaceX rocket. Later, the astronauts are expected to release the satellite into a 400km (250 miles) orbit around Earth.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying over 6,000 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments, launched into orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on Monday night (9:29 p.m. EST).
The spacecraft is set to dock autonomously at the Harmony module around 10:15 AM EST on Tuesday, November 5.
Towards sustainable future
This small cuboid satellite is constructed from magnolia wood and is designed to endure extreme temperatures and space radiation. If the satellite performs as expected, it could open up new possibilities for using timber in future space exploration missions.
“With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” Takao Doi, who studies human space activities at Kyoto University, told Reuters.
In the harsh vacuum of space, wood finds its perfect environment as it is protected from water and oxygen.
Moreover, wooden satellites are said to be more environmentally friendly at end-of-life.
When a traditional metal satellite re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it often breaks apart 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. At times, the metal satellites create space debris, which can linger in orbit for a long duration.
In contrast, a wooden satellite is designed to burn up completely upon re-entry. As it disintegrates, it releases far fewer harmful substances, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
“Metal satellites might be banned in the future,” Doi said. “If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.”
Performance to be tested for six months
The word Ligno comes from Latin, which means wood. A years-long quest led to discovering the perfect wood for this groundbreaking mission.
The researchers even conducted a 10-month experiment onboard ISS to finalize the wood.
After extensive research, “honoki,” a magnolia tree native to Japan, was determined to be the most suitable wood for satellite applications.
Interestingly, LignoSat is constructed using traditional Japanese woodworking methods, eliminating the use of screws or glue.
LignoSat will spend six months in orbit. One of the most significant challenges is the extreme temperature fluctuations. As the satellite orbits the Earth, it cycles between periods of intense sunlight and complete darkness.
This causes its temperature to swing wildly, from a freezing -100 degrees Celsius to a scorching 100 degrees Celsius, and back again, every 45 minutes.
Moreover, LignoSat will evaluate wood’s capacity to mitigate the impact of space radiation on semiconductors.
The successful testing may also pave the way for extensive use of timber for lunar habitats.