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Surprising Breakthrough: Japan Builds First Wooden Satellite in History, Marking a Sustainable Revolution in Space Exploration. Here’s Why This Is a Big Deal!
Japan, in partnership with Kyoto University and the company Sumimoto Forestry, has just achieved an unprecedented feat in space exploration: the construction of the world's first wooden satellite, LignoSat.
The satellite will be launched in September aboard a rocket SpaceX from the Kennedy Space Center, bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The innovation promises to revolutionize the way satellites are manufactured, bringing significant benefits to the environment and the aerospace industry.
A sustainable solution in space
The collaboration between a forestry company and a renowned Japanese university is unusual in the aerospace industry, but it could mark the beginning of a new era. The wooden satellite, which took four years to develop, measures 10 centimeters in all directions and is made of magnolia, a wood chosen after extensive testing with different types of wood.
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The idea of using wood in satellites may seem strange at first glance, but there is a logic behind this choice. According to astronaut and Kyoto University professor Takao Doi, “satellites that are not made of metal should become common".
Not only has the material proven to be resilient in space conditions, it also offers an environmentally friendly solution to a growing problem: the accumulation of debris. space.
Benefits of Wooden Satellites in Space
Unlike conventional satellites made of metal, LignoSat offers a number of advantages by being built with wood. One of the main ones is the sustainability process.
When wooden satellites re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, they will burn up completely, leaving no harmful residue, as is the case with metal satellites. This could significantly reduce the amount of space debris that ends up polluting Earth's environment.
Another important benefit is that wood is transparent to many wavelengths, meaning that antennas can be housed within the satellite structure without the need for external devices.
On metal satellites, external antennas are essential and need to be deployed after launch, a process that can fail. Using wood therefore simplifies the design of satellites, making them cheaper and more reliable.
The problem of space debris
With the exponential growth in the number of satellites launched in recent years, the issue of space debris has become increasingly worrying. There are currently thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth, and many of them are already inactive.
The lack of an efficient decommissioning system means that many of these satellites remain in orbit, contributing to increased space pollution.
Space debris poses a real risk to manned missions and the International Space Station (ISS). Even small pieces of metal can cause severe damage if they collide with spacecraft or the station itself.
Furthermore, this debris interferes with astronomical observations, generating light pollution that affects ground-based telescopes and scientific research.
By using wooden satellites, this problem can be mitigated. When LignoSat and other similar satellites complete their mission and are deorbited, they will completely disintegrate upon reentry, eliminating the risk of space and Earth pollution.
Tests and expectations for the future
Before reaching space, LignoSat will undergo a series of rigorous tests to ensure its strength and durability. After its launch, it will be monitored on the ISS, where scientists will be able to check whether the satellite can withstand the large temperature variations and other extreme conditions of space.
Sumimoto Forestry, a partner company in the project, said that data will be sent from the satellite to researchers, allowing constant monitoring of its performance.
This isn’t the first time wood has been tested in space. Two years ago, researchers at Kyoto University exposed three types of wood to the outer environment of the ISS for 10 months. The results were promising, paving the way for the creation of LignoSat.
If the tests are successful, the expectation is that, in a few years, wooden satellites will become a viable and widely used solution.”We would like to create a satellite, including the electronic substrate part, entirely made of wood in the future.”, said Takao Doi, highlighting the technology’s innovation potential.
A milestone for spatial sustainability
The launch of LignoSat is a milestone for space exploration and sustainability. As the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow, solutions like this become increasingly important to ensure that space does not become a dumping ground for waste.
By using natural and sustainable materials like wood, the aerospace industry can help protect not only space, but also the Earth's environment.
With the success of the wooden satellite, Japan proves once again that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand, even on the frontiers of space.
