Wood in Space?
The research wing at Kyoto University, Japan, has always made the country proud. In a recent turn of events, Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan and the Tokyo-based logging company Sumitomo Forestry showcased the world’s first wooden satellite, manifesting their invention as clearing a path for more uses of wood in outer space. According to the Kyoto team, the material will be more sustainable and less polluting than the metals used in conventional satellites while also solving the growing problem of space junk threatening spacecraft and space stations.
The satellite, which is named LignoSat, is a roughly 10-centimeter-long cube built out of magnolia-wood panels. It also has an aluminum frame, solar panels, circuit boards and sensors. The researchers have made use of ancient Japanese wood-joinery methods so as not to rely on glue or metal fittings. However, you might wonder if using wood is counterintuitive for use in space because it is combustible. On the contrary, that feature can be desirable. “When LignoSat comes back to Earth, after six months to a year of service, the magnolia will incinerate completely and release only water vapor and carbon dioxide,” says Takao Doi, an astronaut and engineer at Kyoto University, who is part of the research team.
He also states that other benefits of wood include its resilience in the harsh environment of space and the lack of blocking of radio waves, making it suitable for enclosing an antenna. In truth, there is enough precedent for spacecraft with wooden parts. Although the project ended up being a failure, NASA’s Ranger 3 lunar probe in 1962 had a balsa-wood casing intended to protect its capsule as it landed on the lunar surface. We wish the research team all the best and, on this note, publish our yearly special issue based on the prestigious alumni of Kyoto University. Do let us know your thoughts.