World's first wooden satellite set to re-enter atmosphere

The world's first wooden satellite, LignoSat, has been successfully launched into space and is set to re-enter the atmosphere without leaving space debris. On November 5, LignoSat was launched on a SpaceX rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), according to its Japanese developers. A spokeswoman for LignoSat's co-developer Sumitomo Forestry told AFP that the launch had been "successful." She added, "It will arrive at the ISS soon, and will be released to outer space about a month later" to test its strength and durability.

Once deployed, LignoSat will orbit about 400 kilometers above Earth for six months. The mission aims to prove that a wooden satellite body is as viable as those made of metal or plastic. The satellite's developers expect that its wooden material will burn up completely upon re-entry, potentially avoiding the generation of metal particles that can harm the environment and affect telecommunications.

"Metal satellites might be banned in the future," said Takao Doi, an astronaut who has flown on the space shuttle and studies human space activities at Kyoto University, according to The Straits Times. This statement highlights the potential for wooden satellites to reduce pollution during re-entry. Doi also expressed a vision for sustainable space exploration: "With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever."

LignoSat is constructed from honoki wood, a type of magnolia tree native to Japan. After extensive research, honoki was determined to be the most suitable wood for satellite applications due to its minimal cracking under temperature fluctuations. The palm-sized satellite measures just 10 centimeters on each side and was built using a traditional Japanese crafts technique without screws or glue.

Koji Murata, a forest science professor at Kyoto University, explained that wood is more durable in space than on Earth. "Wood is more durable in space because there's no water or oxygen to cause it to rot or ignite," he told The Straits Times. Murata drew parallels to early aviation, stating, "Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood. A wooden satellite should be feasible, too."

The electronic components onboard LignoSat will measure how wood endures the extreme environment of space. This includes monitoring changes in the material's internal temperature, magnetic properties, and its expansion and contraction in low-gravity environments. One significant challenge is the extreme temperature fluctuations in space, with the satellite's temperature swinging from minus 100 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes as it transitions between sunlight and darkness.

Takao Doi's team at Kyoto University has a 50-year plan that includes planting trees and building timber houses on the Moon and Mars. He expressed ambition for further collaboration, stating, "If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX," as reported by The Straits Times.

The use of wood in satellites also addresses the growing problem of space debris. Decommissioned satellites must re-enter the atmosphere to avoid becoming space junk, which can linger in orbit and pose risks to other spacecraft. As a wooden satellite disintegrates upon re-entry, it releases far fewer harmful substances, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Burning up without leaving metal particles helps prevent negative impacts on both the environment and telecommunications.

Kenji Kariya, a manager at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute, emphasized the innovative nature of using wood in space exploration. "It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the Moon and Mars," he said to The Straits Times. Kariya also noted that this expansion into space could invigorate the timber industry and that wood's properties make it useful for applications such as data center construction.

Researchers believe that LignoSat's success could pave the way for broader uses of timber in future space missions. The team conducted a 10-month experiment on the ISS to finalize the wood selection, exposing different wood species to space conditions for a year to observe the effects. This rigorous testing ensured that honoki wood was the optimal choice due to its resilience.

Koji Murata also discussed the potential of wood in extraterrestrial habitats. "We have also discussed the possibility of building domes on Mars out of wood in order to grow timber forests," he told the New York Post. Such visions align with the long-term goals of creating sustainable living environments in space.

The mission will evaluate wood's capacity to mitigate the impact of space radiation on semiconductors, a capability that could have significant implications for protecting electronic equipment. Researchers affirm that LignoSat is durable and capable of withstanding the hostile conditions of space.

In an era where environmental concerns are paramount, LignoSat represents a pioneering step toward sustainable space exploration. By utilizing renewable materials and innovative techniques, this mission not only aims to demonstrate the viability of wooden satellites but also to inspire future endeavors that prioritize ecological responsibility. As humanity looks to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, LignoSat may well mark the beginning of a new chapter in space technology.

Sources: New York Post, The Straits Times, The Economic Times, Reuters, Home, Al-Bayan, Japan Today, Asharq News, ABC News Australia, Manila Times, Yahoo News, The Independent, Interesting Engineering, Komsomolskaya Pravda

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq