A historic moment occurred when the world’s first wooden satellite, the brainchild of Japanese researchers, flew into space, ushering in a new era of sustainable space exploration.

The ambitious LignoSat, with a 10 cm cube, is the result of a partnership between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a forestry company.

LignoSat was transported to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket. Later, astronauts are expected to release the satellite into a 400 km (250 mile) orbit around Earth.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying more than 6,000 pounds of scientific supplies and experiments, was launched into orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center Monday evening (9:29 p.m. EST).

The spacecraft is expected to dock autonomously with the Harmony module around 10:15 a.m. EST on Tuesday, November 5.

Towards a sustainable future

This small cuboid satellite is constructed of magnolia wood and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and space radiation. If the satellite works as expected, it could open up new possibilities for using wood in future space exploration missions.

“With wood, a material we can produce ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” said Takao Doi, who studies human space activities at Kyoto University. Reuters.

In the harsh vacuum of space, wood finds its ideal environment because it is protected from water and oxygen.

In addition, wooden satellites would be more environmentally friendly at the end of their life.

When a traditional metal satellite re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it often breaks up and burns.

This process releases harmful particles, such as aluminum oxide, into the atmosphere. These particles can contribute to pollution and potentially harm the environment. Sometimes metal satellites create space debris that can remain in orbit for a long time.

In contrast, a wooden satellite is designed to burn completely upon re-entry. As it disintegrates, it releases far fewer harmful substances, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

“Metal satellites may be banned in the future,” Doi said. “If we can prove that our first wooden satellite works, we want to present it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.”

Performance to be tested for six months

The word Ligno comes from Latin and means wood. A years-long quest uncovered the perfect wood for this revolutionary mission.

Researchers even conducted a 10-month experiment aboard the ISS to finalize the wood.

After extensive research, ‘honoki’, a magnolia tree native to Japan, was found to be the most suitable wood for satellite applications.

Interestingly, LignoSat is constructed using traditional Japanese woodworking methods, eliminating the use of screws or glue.

LignoSat will spend six months in orbit. One of the biggest challenges is extreme temperature fluctuations. As the satellite orbits the Earth, it alternates between periods of intense sunlight and complete darkness.

This causes dramatic temperature swings, going from a freezing -100 degrees Celsius to a scorching 100 degrees Celsius, and back again, every 45 minutes.

Additionally, LignoSat will evaluate the ability of wood to mitigate the impact of space radiation on semiconductors.

The successful tests could also pave the way for extensive use of wood for lunar habitats.