The wooden satellite LignoSat, measuring just 10 cm on each side and made entirely from magnolia wood, is set to be launched this September.
On May 28, scientists from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a Japanese timber company, completed the construction of the world’s first wooden satellite, named LignoSat.
This miniature satellite promises to usher in a new era for sustainable and environmentally friendly space exploration missions.
LignoSat measures just 10 cm on each side and is made entirely from magnolia wood – (Photo: japantimes.co.jp)
LignoSat measures just 10 cm on each side and is constructed entirely from magnolia wood. This wooden material is expected to burn up completely when the satellite re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, eliminating the risk of forming metallic debris that could negatively impact the environment and telecommunications, unlike conventional satellites.
During the press conference for LignoSat’s launch, Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, stated that this is a significant milestone marking a new step in the effort to develop environmentally friendly satellites. He believes that wooden satellites are poised to become the mainstream trend in the future of the space industry.
Scheduled for launch in September, LignoSat will be sent from Kennedy Space Center towards the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX rocket.
After detaching from the Japanese experimental module on the ISS, the satellite will carry out its mission to collect data on the durability and resilience of wooden materials in the harsh space environment.
In addition to the launch of LignoSat, May 29 also marked another significant event in Japan’s space industry, the launch of the EarthCARE satellite from California.
This satellite is a collaborative product between JAXA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is expected to orbit Earth at an altitude of 400 km for the next three years, aiming to research the role of clouds in responding to climate change.
