In a groundbreaking development, Japanese researchers have successfully created the world’s first wooden artificial satellite. This miniature satellite, weighing approximately 1.1 kilograms, is set to be launched into space in September. The use of wooden materials in satellite construction is believed to help reduce the negative environmental impact caused by metal materials.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the small satellite named LignoSat was crafted from magnolia wood by a research team composed of Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.
Measuring about 10 centimeters on each side, this cube-shaped satellite will hitch a ride on a rocket from the United States-based aerospace manufacturer SpaceX to travel into space in the coming months.
On May 28th, the researchers announced the completion of LignoSat. It is projected that upon completing its mission and re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the wooden materials of the satellite will fully burn up, potentially serving as a method to avoid the generation of metal particles when retired satellites return to Earth, which could have negative impacts on the environment and telecommunications.
Japanese astronaut and specially-appointed professor at Kyoto University, Takao Doi, stated during a press conference on the same day, “Satellites made from non-metallic materials should become mainstream.”
The research team plans to hand over LignoSat to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It will embark on its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA in September, aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Subsequently, the satellite will be launched from Japan’s experimental module at the ISS to test its strength and durability.
A spokesperson from Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. informed Agence France-Presse that data from the satellite will be transmitted to the researchers for examination regarding its stress levels, evaluating its ability to withstand significant temperature changes.
As reported by The Guardian, Takao Doi previously mentioned that all satellites produce small aluminum oxide particles when burning upon re-entry into the atmosphere, which can linger in the upper atmosphere for years and ultimately affect the Earth’s environment.
To address this issue, the research team at Kyoto University conducted a series of tests to assess whether wood could endure the stresses of launch and prolonged orbital travel around Earth.
During the initial phase of testing in a lab simulating space conditions, they found that the quality of the wood samples remained unchanged, showing no signs of damage or decomposition.
Following the first stage of testing, the wood samples were sent to the ISS for exposure to space conditions for nearly a year and then returned to Earth, still exhibiting no signs of damage.
Koji Murata, the project lead and associate professor in the Department of Agriculture at Kyoto University, speculated that the absence of oxygen in space to ignite the wood and the lack of organisms causing decay likely contributed to the wood’s stability.
The team tested various types of wood, including Japanese cherry wood, and determined that magnolia wood emerged as the most sturdy among them.
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