Japanese researchers have launched the world’s first wooden satellite into space, marking a significant step forward in learning how sustainable materials may be used in lunar missions and on Mars.
The satellite, LignoSat, was developed through a collaboration between Kyoto University and homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry. It was launched on Tuesday as part of a SpaceX mission to the International Space Station (ISS), from where it will be released into orbit approximately 400 km above Earth.
LignoSat, whose name is derived from the Latin word for “wood,” is a palm-sized satellite designed to test the potential of renewable materials in space.
Takao Doi, an astronaut and researcher at Kyoto University, said the mission could have significant implications if successful.
“With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” Doi said.
Part of 50-Year Plan
The development of LignoSat is part of a broader 50-year plan to establish a sustainable human presence in space. The plan includes planting trees and eventually constructing timber homes on the moon and Mars. The construction of LignoSat aims to validate wood as a space-grade material.
Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata believes wood has great potential with the right environment and application.
“Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood. A wooden satellite should be feasible, too,” he said.
He noted that wood might be more durable in space than on Earth due to the absence of water and oxygen, which typically cause rot and inflammation.
The researchers also said their mission could potentially change the future of space exploration, with wooden satellites boasting environmental friendliness over their metal counterparts.
“Metal satellites might be banned in the future. If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX,” Doi said.
After extensive research on which wood is most suited for spacecraft, including a 10-month experiment aboard the ISS, researchers said that honoki, a type of magnolia tree native to Japan and traditionally used for sword sheaths, was the best choice. The new satellite was made with honoki wood, created with traditional Japanese crafting techniques without screws or glue.
Six-Month Orbit
During its six-month orbit, the experimental satellite will collect data on how wood withstands extreme space conditions.
It’s expected to experience temperature fluctuations ranging from negative 100 to 100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes as it moves between darkness and sunlight. The satellite will also assess the wood’s capacity to protect against space radiation on semiconductors.
Kenji Kariya, a manager at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute, said if the satellite holds up well against space radiation, it could also be used in data center construction in space missions.
“It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilisation heads to the moon and Mars,” Kariya said, adding that “Expansion to space could invigorate the timber industry.”
Reuters contributed to this report.