Introducing WISA Woodsat, The First Wood Satellite To Orbit The End Of 2021

The world's first wooden satellite to orbit the end of 2021 (Plywood)

JAKARTA - For the first time a satellite made of wood, WISA Woodsat will broadcast at the end of 2021. The launch of the satellite made of wood was made by Plywood wood producer, from Finland.

They are partnering with Scandinavian design house Huld and the European Space Agency (ESA) and technology company Arctic Astronautics in realizing the mission.

In the future, the wooden satellite will be used to collect data related to the resistance of plywood in extreme conditions of space, as reported by The Independent on Monday, April 26.

The plan to launch WISA Woodsat is also aimed at finding out whether spacecraft can be made of wood or not. Small WISA Woodsat is 10 cm long and weighs only 1 kg.

The wooden satellite will orbit for a long time, and is left exposed to space radiation. WISA Woodsat is scheduled to orbit the Earth at an altitude of 500 km.

"We can test a lot of things in the laboratory. But the final test for feasibility (wood satellites) can only be carried out in space, "said Ari Voutilainen from the wood producer UPM Plywood as the space project manager.

“The space industry is constantly looking for material innovations for spacecraft and space stations. We are working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to see if wood and plywood in particular can be used for this purpose, ”said Voutilainen.

The wood satellite will later carry an important message regarding the use of materials made of wood. WISA Woodsat will also be equipped with an on-board camera and selfie stick for taking satellite photos in outer space.

WISA Woodsat is predicted to launch in September or December 2021. The Electron Lab launch rocket will deliver it to Earth orbit from a rocket base located on the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

"Apart from testing the plywood, the satellites also demonstrated accessible radio amateur satellite communications as well as several other secondary technology experiments," said Arctic Astronautics, Jari Mäkinen, WISA Woodsat launch mission manager.