Japanese researchers have achieved a remarkable feat by building the world’s first wooden satellite. This tiny cuboid craft, developed by scientists at Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, is made entirely from magnolia wood and measures just 10 centimetres (four inches) on each side. The creators believe that the wooden material will completely burn up when the satellite re-enters the atmosphere, potentially avoiding the generation of metal particles that could have a negative impact on the environment and telecommunications.
During a press conference, astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, Takao Doi, stated that non-metal satellites should become more common. The developers plan to hand over the satellite to the Japanese space agency JAXA next week for further testing before its launch on a SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in September. Once in space, LignoSat will be released from the Japanese ISS experiment module and tested for strength and durability, with data being sent back to researchers to analyze signs of strain and the satellite’s ability to withstand extreme temperature changes.
Meanwhile, another sophisticated satellite was launched from California on a mission to investigate the role of clouds in combating climate change. The EarthCARE satellite, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA, will orbit nearly 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth for three years. As these two satellites continue their journey through space, they will provide valuable insights into our planet’s climate system and help us better understand how we can combat climate change in future generations.
