Science Japan to test wooden satellites

"Despite the extreme environment of outer space involving significant temperature changes and exposure to intense cosmic rays and dangerous solar particles for ten months, tests confirmed no decomposition or deformations, such as cracking, warping, peeling, or surface damage," a recent Kyoto University press release said. The experiment served as a preliminary investigation for the Kyoto University-led international partnership LignoSat, which designed a wooden satellite scheduled to be jointly launched by the Japanese space agency (JAXA) and NASA sometime next year.

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"Three wood specimens were tested and showed no deformation after space exposure," the researchers said in a statement in May. "Despite the extreme environment of outer space involving significant temperature changes and exposure to intense cosmic rays and dangerous solar particles for 10 months, tests confirmed no decomposition or deformations, such as cracking, warping, peeling or surface damage." To decide which wood to use, the scientists sent three wood samples — magnolia, cherry or birch — to the ISS to be kept in a module that was exposed to space. The researchers settled upon magnolia because it is less likely to split or break during manufacture. More than 9,300 tons (8,440 metric tons) of space objects — including space junk such as inoperative satellites and chunks of spent rocket stages — currently orbit Earth. But the shiny metals they are made from, such as lightweight titanium and aluminum, increase the overall brightness of the night sky by more than 10% over large parts of the planet, creating ambient light pollution that makes distant space phenomena harder to detect.

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The LignoSat is made of Japanese bigleaf magnolia, and the wooden parts are directly joined using a traditional Japanese method instead of metallic or adhesive fasteners. Space is a harsh environment for satellites because the temperature fluctuates widely, and cosmic rays bombard them. However, the LignoSat passed stringent safety inspections by NASA and JAXA. The satellite will be sent to the International Space Station aboard a rocket of the private U.S. rocket manufacturer Space X in September.

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Dr. Simeon Barber, a space research scientist at the Open University, expressed enthusiasm for the innovative use of wood in space exploration. While acknowledging that LignoSat isn't entirely made of wood, he highlighted the potential of this renewable material for future missions. Barber noted that wood's sustainability and versatility make it a promising candidate for constructing shelters and other structures on extraterrestrial bodies. He also pointed out that wood has a history of space applications, such as its use in spacecraft re-entry shields and lunar lander components. However, he cautioned that wood's variable properties can pose challenges for precise engineering. The researchers at Kyoto University share this vision, believing that wood-based spacecraft could offer environmental benefits by reducing pollution during re-entry.

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