From Earth to Space: Wooden Satellites Open New Frontiers

Capturing global attention, the world's first all-wood satellite is scheduled to launch this September. This groundbreaking project is expected to usher in a new era in space technology and environmental protection.

Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry have been working on the 'Space Timber Project' since 2020. The core of the project was to build a satellite entirely out of wood, not metal. The satellite 'LignoSat' is the culmination of this effort.

LignoSat is a very small satellite with 100mm edges, completed after four years of research. It passed rigorous safety inspections by NASA and JAXA, marking a major achievement in officially recognizing the use of wood in space.

Until now, satellites have primarily been made of metals like aluminum. However, this can lead to environmental problems as oxidized metal particles are released during re-entry into the atmosphere. On the other hand, LignoSat, being made entirely of wood, completely burns up in the atmosphere, significantly reducing environmental impact.

This innovative idea originated from the concept of Kyoto University Professor Takao Doi. He presented his vision, stating, "In the future, wooden satellites should become mainstream. We need to extend the Earth's carbon neutrality to space."

During the project, the exceptional strength, durability, and safety of wood were proven. The material also showed excellent performance in a 10-month wood exposure experiment conducted at the International Space Station.

The selection of wood incorporated both wood properties and traditional techniques. Willow from Sumitomo's private forest was used for the satellite's structure, and it was assembled securely using the 'Sanji' structure technique, which doesn't require adhesives.

LignoSat is scheduled to be launched to the International Space Station on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in September. Starting in November, it will begin full operation, fully testing the potential of wood in space.

Project officials expressed their anticipation, stating, "It will contribute to solving environmental problems such as space debris reduction and greenhouse gas reduction." In the long term, they plan to use wood for a variety of space structures, including not just satellites but also space stations.

From Earth to space, the wooden satellite will represent humanity's new challenge towards innovation and sustainability.