The search for sustainable and innovative solutions in space technology draws attention with a new step by Japanese researchers. Developed as a joint venture between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, was launched into space to test the use of renewable materials on planets such as the Moon and Mars. LignoSat, which means “wood” in Latin, was first sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with the help of SpaceX and will be released into orbit about 400 kilometers above Earth.
The satellite is a critical test for researchers to measure the potential of natural materials for future use in space. Takao Doi, an astronaut and Kyoto University space researcher involved in the project, points out that the use of wood could be an important innovation for long-term colonization and sustainable shelter construction in space. According to Doi, wood, as a self-producible material, could open the door to building habitats in space in the future.
Why LignoSat Preferred Wood?
LignoSat is made of Honoki wood, a durable type of magnolia tree used in Japan for making traditional sword sheaths. The wood is not exposed to water or oxygen that would cause rotting or burning, making it durable in the space environment. Koji Murata, Professor of Forest Science at Kyoto University, says that space offers a less corrosive environment for wood, such as rotting and burning, compared to earthly conditions. In addition, a satellite made of wood material releases fewer pollutants upon re-entry into the atmosphere than traditional metal satellites, minimizing environmental impacts. The conditions the wooden satellite will be exposed to for six months in orbit will be quite challenging. LignoSat’s sensors will continuously monitor temperature fluctuations and the effects of solar radiation. Temperatures of up to 100°C during the day and freezing temperatures down to -100°C at night provide an important testbed to observe how wood reacts to the extreme conditions of space. The potential of wood to absorb space radiation and reduce the negative effects on semiconductors is also being evaluated. According
The Future of Space and the Potential of Wood
As the need for more environmentally friendly and renewable solutions in space exploration grows, LignoSat offers an inspiring answer. Takao Doi, the head of the project, says that if this first step is successful, they plan to offer the wooden satellite technology to Elon Musk’s SpaceX program. The use of wood as a cultivable resource on other planets could be considered as a potential material for the infrastructure of long-term human settlements on the Moon or Mars in the future. This project, which expands the use of wood in space, represents a major innovation not only for space exploration but also for the timber industry. LignoSat, a joint effort between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, heralds an era in which renewable materials meet technological solutions. This seminal satellite once again demonstrates the importance of sustainability and environmental awareness in space exploration.
