Will wood soon become an integral part of space exploration? A world first has just paved the way for this surprising prospect. A wooden satellite, developed by researchers from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, has left Earth aboard a SpaceX rocket, marking a potential turning point in satellite design.
LignoSat prototype (top) and the model sent to the ISS (bottom).
Kyoto University
The device, dubbed LignoSat, stands out due to its unique material: wood, chosen for its potential to fully disintegrate upon atmospheric reentry. This innovation aims to address an environmental issue: pollution from metal particles released by decommissioned satellites, which can disrupt the atmosphere and telecommunications.
Each side of LignoSat, a compact 10-centimeter (approximately 4 inches) cube, has been carefully designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space while allowing for complete destruction upon its return to Earth. Launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the satellite is part of a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where it will be tested under extreme conditions.
Its developers explain that this material could offer an alternative to the metals currently used in satellite manufacturing—components that are often responsible for pollutants when they burn out. By being consumed, the wood would eliminate this risk, an aspect deemed crucial by Takao Doi, astronaut and professor at Kyoto University.
This ambitious project aims to collect real-time data on wood's durability in space. Once it is deployed into space from the ISS, scientists will monitor its behavior under extreme temperature changes and radiation. This information will be essential to assess whether wooden satellites can truly become viable in the coming years.
If the tests prove successful, this innovation could usher in a new era for small satellites and short-term missions. It would not only help reduce production costs but also limit the ecological footprint of next-generation satellites, a feature that is already attracting the interest of the space industry.
The success of this launch marks a key milestone for Sumitomo Forestry, which has announced the potential to mass-produce wooden satellites in the future. Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry even envision applications beyond satellites, with wooden components for other space infrastructures.
LignoSat will be deployed into space from the ISS in about a month to assess its resistance in detail. This unprecedented experiment could soon transform wood into a valuable ally for space exploration.