Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 9: The innovative LignoSat, the first satellite made of wood, is now orbiting Earth. Launched as part of a five-CubeSat mission, it currently orbits 400 kilometers above the planet. It was transported to the International Space Station (ISS) last November aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule before deployment last month.

A breakthrough in sustainable Spacecraft design

Weighing just 900 grams, LignoSat is crafted from magnolia wood and assembled using traditional Japanese joinery techniques, eliminating the need for screws or adhesives. This sustainable approach not only showcases craftsmanship but also aims to evaluate wood's performance under the harsh conditions of space.

By exploring alternatives to conventional satellite materials like aluminum and titanium, LignoSat's mission seeks to reduce environmental impact and advance eco-friendly technologies in space exploration.

Expanding the horizons of space applications

Equipped with sensors, LignoSat will measure the wood’s behavior under extreme conditions, including rapid temperature shifts between -100°C and 100°C every 45 minutes. Additionally, its shielding properties against geomagnetic fields will be analyzed.

The findings may influence future lunar and Martian missions, with Kyoto University researchers emphasizing wooden satellites’ potential to address space debris. Unlike traditional satellites, wooden ones fully combust during re-entry, leaving no lingering debris in Earth's atmosphere.

Astronaut Takao Doi also highlighted timber's potential for space habitation, envisioning wooden structures for homes and workspaces in space. With its resilience to oxygen- and moisture-free environments, wood offers an exciting and sustainable frontier for interplanetary living.