LignoSat: The Wooden Satellite

LignoSat: A Wooden Satellite for Space

• LignoSat, the world's first primarily wooden satellite, reached the ISS in November 2024.
• Named after the Latin word for "wood," it's palm-sized.
• Its mission: to test wood's ability to withstand space conditions.
• Collaboration between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry.

Initial Testing and Materials Selection

• A panel containing three different wood samples was sent to the ISS in 2022.
• The panel was exposed to space for ten months.
• Data from this experiment led researchers to select magnolia wood for LignoSat.
• This project challenges the traditional perception of wood as outdated technology in aerospace.

Environmental Benefits of Wooden Satellites

• Current satellites, primarily aluminum, release aluminum oxide particles when burning up, potentially harming the ozone layer.
• Wooden satellites, burning only into water and carbon dioxide, are a more environmentally friendly option.
• Wood, a renewable resource, presents a sustainable alternative for constructing spacecraft.

Future Applications and Aims

• LignoSat will orbit the Earth for six months, collecting data.
• Data will inform the design of future, larger wooden satellites and devices.
• The project envisions a future where trees are grown on lunar or Martian surfaces.
• This successful test of wood in space could pave the way for sustainable space exploration.