On November 7, 2024, Japan launched the world's first wooden satellite, Lignosat, designed to study the behavior of wood in space conditions. This initiative aims to assess the viability of renewable materials for future lunar and Martian habitats.
The satellite, weighing just 900 grams, is currently en route to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket. Once it reaches its destination, Lignosat will be deployed into orbit above Earth.
Constructed from honoki, a wood similar to magnolia, Lignosat's panels utilize traditional Japanese woodworking techniques that eliminate the need for screws or glue. Researchers from Kyoto University, who developed the satellite, envision wood potentially replacing some metals used in space exploration.
Koji Murata, a professor of forestry at Kyoto University, noted that early 20th-century airplanes were made of wood, suggesting that a wooden satellite is feasible. The team has a 50-year plan that includes planting trees and constructing log cabins on the Moon and Mars.
Astronaut Takao Doi, who studies human space activities at Kyoto University, emphasized that wood is a sustainable material that could enable long-term habitation in space. He pointed out that wood can withstand space conditions better than on Earth, as the absence of water and oxygen prevents decay and combustion.
Lignosat is set to remain in orbit for six months, equipped with both wooden panels and traditional aluminum structures. It will measure how wood withstands extreme space environments, where temperatures fluctuate between -100 and +100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes.
The satellite will also evaluate wood's ability to mitigate radiation effects on semiconductors, which could be beneficial for constructing data centers in space. Kenji Kariya, director at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute, remarked that while wood may seem outdated, it represents cutting-edge technology for future extraterrestrial colonization.
Researchers believe that expanding into space could revitalize the forestry industry. Additionally, Lignosat's design minimizes environmental impacts at the end of its life cycle, as it will burn up upon re-entry, avoiding space debris. Doi expressed concerns that metal satellites might eventually be banned to prevent space junk.