World's first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space
www.abc.net.au
The palm-sized LignoSat is tasked with demonstrating the cosmic potential of the renewable material as humans explore living in space.

The world’s first wooden satellite, built in Japan, is being flown to the International Space Station on a SpaceX mission.

LignoSat will be released into orbit about 400km above the Earth, with researchers hoping it will prove wood is a space-grade material.

LignoSat will stay in orbit for six months, with the electronic components onboard measuring how wood endures the extreme environment of space.

Edit: added sunmary

  • gazter@aussie.zoneEnglish
    1·
    8 days ago

    It’s easier and cheaper to make wood than aluminium or steel. If it holds up, it would be a win.

    I imagine there’s all sorts of issues to iron out… The wood would have to be super dry, for example. Freeze thaw cycles in space are constant and extreme.

    I don’t think it’s the first time wood has been used in spacecraft- I vaguely remember oak heatshields being a thing.