In a groundbreaking step toward sustainable space exploration, Japanese researchers launched LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, into space on Tuesday. Developed through a collaboration between Kyoto University and homebuilding firm Sumitomo Forestry, this innovative satellite is designed to test the potential of timber for use in lunar and Mars missions. Aboard a SpaceX mission, LignoSat is now en route to the International Space Station (ISS) before its release into an orbit approximately 400 kilometers above Earth.
Demonstrating Timber’s Space Potential
The small, palm-sized LignoSat—named after the Latin word for “wood”—is engineered to demonstrate the durability and applicability of timber in the harsh conditions of space. Takao Doi, a former astronaut and current researcher at Kyoto University, explained that timber could be a sustainable option for building materials in space. “With wood, a renewable resource we can cultivate, we may one day be able to build habitats and workspaces on the moon and Mars,” Doi stated.
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Japan is launching first small wooden satellite to test space durability, LignoSat, on Nov. 5 via a SpaceX rocket.pic.twitter.com/CeLeMal4dd
— Mark Foster (@mfosterio) November 4, 2024
Inspired by a 50-year vision of constructing wooden habitats on other planets, Doi’s team designed the satellite using honoki wood, a magnolia species known for its durability and traditionally used in Japanese craftsmanship. Notably, the satellite was constructed without screws or glue, following traditional Japanese woodworking methods. Once deployed, LignoSat will orbit Earth for six months, with sensors onboard tracking its resilience against temperature swings from -100°C to 100°C and measuring radiation impacts on semiconductors.
A Sustainable Alternative to Metal Satellites
Wood offers a unique advantage in space due to its resistance to corrosion in the absence of water and oxygen. As Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata noted, “Early 20th-century planes were built with wood, so a wooden satellite is very feasible.” LignoSat’s creators highlight the environmental benefit: while metal satellites generate harmful aluminium oxide upon atmospheric re-entry, wooden satellites would burn up with minimal pollution.
In addition to space exploration, the project showcases wood’s potential industrial applications, with Sumitomo Forestry’s Kenji Kariya citing possible uses in radiation shielding for data centers. If successful, LignoSat could pave the way for more eco-friendly space exploration solutions, potentially reinvigorating the timber industry in the process. “Wood is both timeless and cutting-edge as civilization advances into space,” Kariya concluded.
