Japan has taken a step toward sustainable space exploration by launching LignoSat, the world’s first wooden-paneled satellite, to see if wood can be used as a viable material for future space technology.
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The 900g LignoSat will be sent into Earth’s orbit and stay there for six months after being launched on a SpaceX mission headed for the ISS. In order to perhaps open the way for the development of environmentally friendly spacecraft, it will test if wood can withstand the harsh conditions of space, including radiation, temperature fluctuations, and the vacuum atmosphere.
The satellite’s panels are made of magnolia wood and assembled using a traditional Japanese process that does not use screws or glue. This novel method proposes that wood might replace some metals in future space missions, perhaps beneficial for constructing buildings on the Moon or Mars. Professor Koji Murata of Kyoto University underlined that, unlike metal, wood may be able to resist space conditions without rotting or burning, as these processes require both water and oxygen, which are generally absent in space.
Well, the use of wood is a novel idea, Dr. Simeon Barber from the UK’s Open University noted that materials like cork have a heat-resistant barrier during re-entry, helping reduce space debris pollution.
While wood’s usage in space has historical precedence, scientists want to know how well it works in current applications. If successful, LignoSat might signal the beginning of sustainable material utilization in future space missions.
