The negative situation created by unwanted substances and energy released into space and accumulating there also reveals a reality called space pollution. However, according to The Guardian, Japan has taken action to combat space pollution. In this context, the country is preparing to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat.
THE WORLD’S FIRST WOODEN SATELLITE!
According to the news, the LignoSat probe was built from magnolia wood, which was found to be particularly strong and resistant to cracking in experiments carried out on the International Space Station (ISS). Plans are now being finalized for a launch on a US rocket this summer.
The wooden satellite was built by researchers at Kyoto University and the logging company Sumitomo Forestry to test whether biodegradable materials such as wood could be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to the metals from which all satellites are currently constructed.
“Japanese astronaut and aeronautical engineer Takao Doi from Kyoto University recently made the following warning:
“Any satellites that re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere burn up to form small alumina particles, which float in the upper atmosphere for many years. Eventually this will affect the Earth’s environment.”
To tackle the problem, Kyoto researchers have launched a project to evaluate wood species to determine how well they can withstand the rigors of space launches and long flights in Earth orbit. Initial tests were carried out in laboratories that recreated conditions in space, and found that the wood samples showed no measurable change in mass and no signs of decay or damage.
“HE SURPRISED US”
“We were amazed by the wood’s ability to withstand these conditions,” said project leader Koji Murata.
After these tests, the samples were sent to the ISS, where they were subjected to exposure trials for almost a year before being brought back to Earth. Again they showed little sign of damage; Murata attributes this to the lack of oxygen in space that could cause wood to burn and the absence of living things that could cause it to rot.
Various types of wood were tested and wood from magnolia trees proved to be the strongest. This is now being used to build Kyoto’s wooden satellite and will include a series of experiments that will determine how well the spacecraft performs in orbit, Murata said.
WHEN WILL IT BE LAUNCHED?
Murata added that the final decision on the launch vehicle has not yet been made, and the options have been narrowed down to a flight to the ISS this summer with the Orbital Sciences Cygnus vehicle or a similar SpaceX Dragon mission later in the year. The coffee cup-sized probe is expected to operate in space for at least six months before being allowed to enter the upper atmosphere.
If LignoSat performs well during its in-orbit operation, it could open the door to using wood as a building material for more satellites. (Photo source: Kyoto University)
