TOKYO: In a groundbreaking achievement, Japan has launched the world’s first wooden satellite, marking a significant step in the exploration of sustainable materials for space missions.
The satellite, named LignoSat, was launched on Tuesday as part of a pioneering project led by researchers at Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a major Japanese homebuilding company.
The satellite is part of an early test to explore the potential use of timber in space, with an eye on future lunar and Mars missions. LignoSat, which is about the size of a palm, will be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX mission. Once on the ISS, it will be released into orbit about 400 km (250 miles) above Earth.
The satellite is designed to test the viability of wood—a renewable material— in space, as humans look to extend their presence beyond Earth. The project is part of a larger vision to build sustainable living structures on the Moon and Mars. “With timber, a material we can produce ourselves, we could one day build houses and establish permanent settlements in space,” said Takao Doi, a former astronaut who has flown on the Space Shuttle and now leads human space activity studies at Kyoto University.
The LignoSat project is driven by a 50-year plan to plant trees and construct timber-based buildings on the Moon and Mars. The satellite’s development is a key milestone in proving that wood can be a viable, space-grade material. “In the early 1900s, airplanes were made from wood,” said Koji Murata, a professor of forest science at Kyoto University. “If wood worked for airplanes, why not for satellites?”
Researchers believe that wood could be more durable in space than on Earth. Without the presence of water or oxygen in space, there is little risk of decay or combustion, making wood an ideal candidate for long-term use in extraterrestrial environments.
Another key advantage of a wooden satellite is its potential environmental benefits. Unlike metal satellites, which create aluminum oxide particles when they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, wooden satellites would burn up completely, minimizing pollution and reducing the environmental impact of space debris.
As humanity looks toward sustainable solutions in space exploration, LignoSat could represent a significant shift. “Metal satellites might face restrictions in the future,” Doi said. “If our first wooden satellite proves successful, we hope to pitch this idea to space companies like SpaceX.”
