Japanese researchers presented the world's first wooden satellite LignoSat, which is to be launched by the space station in September SpaceX company. The peculiarity of the apparatus was the cheapness of the manufacturing materials and the ease of combustion upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
The production of LignoSat took about four years. The development team included experts from Kyoto University and the logging company Sumitomo Forestry.
Wooden satellites are safer for the environment because they burn up when re-entering the Earth's atmosphere after the end of their life. Conventional satellites are made of metals, so they can create alumina particles that can negatively affect weather and communications, the team said.
Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry said the development was an important step for both space , as well as for woodworking industries. The solution should open up new opportunities for using wood.
LignoSat is a 10 cm cube , made of magnolia wood panels with a thickness of 4 to 5.5 mm. The frame of the device consists of aluminum. Some sides of the satellite have solar panels. The weight of LignoSat is approximately 1 kg.
The satellite was manufactured according to traditional Japanese technology, which does not involve the use of screws or adhesive materials. The team indicated that the wood in LignoSat is suitable for operation in the harsh conditions of outer space.
Astronaut and special program professor at Kyoto University Takao Doi said that in the future, the team plans to create an all-wood satellite, including the electronic substrate of the device .
LignoSat will be handed over to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on June 4. In September, the satellite will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center site in Florida. The device will head to the ISS. Researchers plan to study the potential of wood by analyzing data sent from the new satellite.