On November 5, 2024, in a historic moment for sustainable technology, Japan launched the world’s first wooden satellite into orbit.
This innovative project, named LignoSat, is a collaborative initiative between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, aiming to revolutionize the approach toward environmentally friendly space exploration.
An ambitious endeavor in its own right, LignoSat is a cube measuring just 10cm on each side.
It was delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) through a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which was loaded with over 6,000 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments onboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Following its journey to the ISS, this pioneering satellite is set to be released into a 400km orbit around the Earth.
The mission signifies a remarkable shift towards using sustainable materials in space, with timber—specifically magnolia wood—making its debut in the vacuum of space where the absence of water and oxygen provide a unique environment.
The LignoSat project could open new vistas for utilising timber materials in outer space.
“With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” explained Takao Doi from Kyoto University who has a keen interest in human space activities.
Aside from showcasing material durability, wooden satellites are considered environmentally friendly alternatives once their mission concludes.
Unlike traditional metal satellites that disintegrate upon re-entry and release pollutants like aluminum oxide into the atmosphere, wooden satellites like LignoSat are designed to burn up completely, releasing minimal harmful particulates.
The introduction of this technology may eventually lead to stricter controls on metal satellite deployments, potentially pivoting major players like SpaceX toward embracing timber-derived technology.
Indeed, the LignoSat project is already positioning itself as a potential partner for companies such as SpaceX, provided the mission yields positive results.
The satellite’s name, LignoSat, draws from ‘Ligno’, meaning wood in Latin, reflecting the innovation behind its creation.
Over time, researchers undertook extensive experiments to finalize the ideal wood choice, ultimately selecting the honoki, a Japanese magnolia species, for its resilience and suitability for space applications.
Impressively, the satellite is constructed using traditional Japanese woodworking techniques, foregoing screws or glues, which adds another layer of sustainability to the mission.
Over its projected six-month orbit around Earth, LignoSat will face the rigors of extreme temperature variations—from chilling -100 degrees Celsius to blistering 100 degrees Celsius—as it traverses periods of intense sunlight and darkness every 45 minutes.
Such fluctuations will test honoki wood’s capability to withstand harsh space environments and assess its ability to protect semiconductor components from space radiation.
Successful trials during LignoSat’s mission might pave the way for broader timber applications in constructing future space habitats on the moon or other celestial bodies.