Japan's Timber Satellite Nears Completion for Space
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Loading... - Patricia Turner
- 24 May 2023
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Evidently, the utilization of wood in space is a viable concept. Japanese scientists are making preparations to launch the world's inaugural wooden satellite after a successful experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which demonstrated the remarkable durability of lumber in the outer space environment.
In collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a group of researchers from Kyoto University exposed three different wood varieties to the harsh conditions outside the ISS. Over a period of 10 months, they discovered that the material remained unaffected by cosmic rays and solar particles, as confirmed by the researchers involved in the experiment. The experiment commenced in March 2022 within Japan's Kibo module on the ISS.
This orbital experiment serves as a stepping stone for the research team, in partnership with Sumitomo Forestry, a Japanese logging company, to launch a wooden satellite into orbit next year. Although the satellite, affectionately called LignoStella, will not be entirely constructed from wood, the wooden components will replace the typical aluminum parts.
After evaluating the performance of three different wood types in space, the team determined that magnolia wood exhibited the highest durability due to its overall strength. Consequently, it will be employed in the construction of the experimental satellite.
When envisioning the creation of spacecraft for orbit, the notion of transporting timber into space might be the last thing that comes to mind. However, as the recent experiment demonstrated, the wood exhibited no signs of cracking, peeling, warping, or surface damage after spending nearly a year in low Earth orbit.
Wood possesses additional advantages, such as completely burning up upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This stands in contrast to metal satellites, which can fragment into space debris or result in the release of burning aluminum, thereby negatively impacting the environment. Moreover, wood does not obstruct electromagnetic waves, enabling the satellite to house its antennas within its wooden structure instead of externally. Therefore, rather than resembling Futurama's Bender attempting a downgrade by rebuilding with wooden components, this ingenious Japanese spacecraft will actually receive an upgrade owing to its wooden body.
Although natural timber is commonly perceived as more fragile compared to other materials, it should not be underestimated just yet.
