Why in the News?

LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, was launched on November 5, 2024, aboard a SpaceX rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with Japan’s Kyoto University and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) overseeing the project. Developed by Kyoto University in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry, this satellite aims to explore the potential of timber as a material for future space habitation and structures.

About the Satellite

• The project was led by Kyoto University and JAXA, Japan’s space agency.
• It aims to test the durability of wood in space, with an ultimate goal of reducing space junk by exploring wood as an eco-friendly alternative to metal in satellite construction.
• Constructed with magnolia wood, known for its resilience, its panels were crafted using traditional Japanese techniques without screws or glue, making it both lightweight and biodegradable.
• The wooden structure will fully burn up upon re-entry eliminating debris.
• It will orbit Earth for six months, enduring cosmic radiation, high temperature shifts and microgravity.
• With a small size of 10 cm and weighing just 900 grams, its unique biodegradable design minimizes the environmental footprint.