Researchers at Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry have created the world’s first wooden satellite, a tiny cuboid craft designed to be launched into space. Dubbed LignoSat, the experimental satellite is made from magnolia wood and is set to be launched on a SpaceX rocket in September. The creators hope that the wooden material will completely burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, avoiding the release of harmful metal particles that can have negative impacts on the environment and telecommunications.
The importance of non-metal satellites was emphasized by Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, during a press conference. He highlighted the need for these satellites to become mainstream in order to reduce the negative impact of metal particles on the environment and telecommunications.
In addition to LignoSat, another rocket carrying a sophisticated satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also launched from California. The EarthCARE satellite will orbit Earth for three years at nearly 250 miles above the planet to study clouds and their potential impact on climate change.
