The first wooden satellite sent into space

A group of scientists has achieved a historic milestone by sending a satellite made entirely of wood into space, becoming the first of its kind in the world. This satellite, named LignoSat, derived from the Latin word for wood, was launched on a SpaceX mission bound for the International Space Station. Once it reaches its orbit at approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, studies will be conducted to assess the wood's resilience against the harsh conditions of space over a period of six months.

Takao Doi, an astronaut and professor at Kyoto University, stated that using wood, a material that can be produced sustainably, opens up the possibility of constructing housing and establishing a permanent way of living and working in space. This research began in 2020 through a collaboration between Kyoto University and the forestry company Sumitomo Forestry. In 2022, they conducted space exposure tests from the International Space Station, where the chosen wood was Hoonoki, a type of magnolia wood known for its high workability, dimensional stability, and overall strength. This type of wood is traditionally used in Japan for making sword sheaths due to its resistance to breaking.

The research team at Kyoto University notes that the absence of water and oxygen in space will prevent the wooden satellite from being damaged by fire or decomposition. Additionally, they plan to evaluate the effectiveness of wood in protecting semiconductors from space radiation. Doi mentioned that if they manage to demonstrate the functionality of their wooden satellite, they intend to pitch the idea to Elon Musk's SpaceX. They also believe that wooden satellites could represent a less polluting alternative to metal satellites, which release aluminum oxide particles when burned during reentry into the atmosphere. Looking ahead 50 years, Doi's team aims to cultivate wood for building housing on the Moon and Mars.