Japan Launches First Wood Satellite Into Space

Illustration of wooden satellites in space (photo: dock. Nanosats)

JAKARTA Satellite technology continues to develop and Japan is trying to create new innovations. A number of researchers in the country succeeded in creating the world's first wooden satellite named Lignosat.

Originally from Latin, this satellite was developed by scientists at Kyoto University and a company called Sumitomo Forestry. The satellite was also launched on the International Space Station (ISS) on November 4 via NASA's cargo mission.

The Lignosat is transported by SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. About 400 kilometers from Earth, the satellite was released for initial testing. While in orbit, researchers will observe whether this wood is capable of surviving in extreme environments.

If the testing process is successful, the researchers will develop more wooden satellite models. Lignosat is believed to have good durability and be able to minimize space environmental problems, such as debris issues that continue to grow every year.

"With wood, materials that we can produce ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live, and work in outer space forever," said Takao Doi, an astronaut and scientist at Kyoto University, quoted by CNN.

According to Doi's confession, this wooden satellite already has certification from NASA so it can be launched on a cargo mission. This certification proves that wood is suitable material for use in space.

Doi explained that wood has good durability because space is different from Earth. Space is free from water and oxygen that can make wood rot or fire.

In addition, the wooden satellite fits the space company's sustainability target, which does not produce much pollution. In contrast to conventional metal satellites that produce aluminum oxide particles, triggering more pollution during the de-orbit process.