Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite into Space
Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite into Space
The Facts
LignoSat, the world's first wood-paneled satellite, was launched into space aboard a SpaceX mission on Tuesday in an early test of the use of timber in lunar and Mars exploration.
Researchers from Japan's Kyoto University and homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry developed the palm-sized glue- and screw-less satellite using hinoki magnolia wood and traditional Japanese crafting techniques.
The Spin
Wooden satellites represent an environmentally conscious solution for space exploration, as they burn up cleanly during atmospheric re-entry compared to metal satellites that release aluminum oxide particles. Indeed, metal satellites might face future restrictions due to their environmental impact, making wooden alternatives an increasingly important part of sustainable space development.
Timber has properties that are hard to control, and from an engineering point of view, it's a complex material with which to make critical structures like spacecraft parts. Prioritizing finding ways to make future space exploration sustainable is fine, but using wood in space technology is outdated and offers no real solution to reducing the space industry's environmental impact.
