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An innovative satellite constructed from wood has been released from the International Space Station (ISS) to evaluate how the renewable, sustainable material endures the rigorous conditions of the orbital setting.
The satellite, conceptualized and developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, a Japanese lumber processing firm, is named LignoSat, paying homage to the organic polymer lignin, commonly found in wood cells.
The 1U cubesat — a cube measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) on each side — is expected to stay in orbit for approximately six months before reentering Earth’s atmosphere due to drag. This mission may unveil new opportunities for spacecraft engineering at a time when concerns regarding the environmental consequences of satellite reentries are escalating.
Throughout the mission, scientists will assess the reaction of LignoSat’s magnolia-wood structure to the temperature fluctuations and elevated radiation levels in near-Earth space.
Related: Pollution from rocket launches and incinerating satellites may trigger the next environmental crisis
A satellite at the altitude of the International Space Station (about 250 miles or 450 kilometers) orbits the planet every 90 minutes, experiencing temperatures that soar to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) in sunlight and plummet to minus 250 degrees F (minus 157 degrees C) in Earth’s shadow. Moreover, the spacecraft is subjected to intense charged particles from the solar wind.
Faced with such extremes, materials can deteriorate rapidly. Consequently, satellite manufacturers have primarily depended on durable aluminum alloys — yet these materials can produce potentially climate-affecting metallic dust during reentry. Should LignoSat endure its orbital test, it could lead to a new era of environmentally friendly satellites.
“Geomagnetic levels will also be observed to ascertain whether the geomagnetic field can penetrate the wooden satellite’s structure and disrupt its technological functions,” NASA stated in a Jan. 7 announcement regarding the deployment.
LignoSat, recognized as the world’s first wooden satellite, was launched to the ISS on November 5 of last year aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was released from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Kibo module alongside four other experimental mini-satellites in December, according to NASA representatives in the Jan. 7 announcement.
JAXA had previously evaluated various types of wood at the ISS, aiding LignoSat’s creators in selecting the most resilient species.
The space sector is currently encountering a challenge, as studies indicate that the anticipated surge in satellite numbers could result in a perilous increase in concentrations of potentially climate-altering substances in the otherwise unspoiled layers of the upper atmosphere. Aluminum, a key component in spacecraft production, is a significant factor, as it generates ozone-depleting aluminum oxides upon combustion. Aluminum oxides could also affect the atmosphere’s capacity to reflect sunlight, thereby modifying its thermal equilibrium.
“If we can demonstrate that our inaugural wooden satellite functions effectively, we are eager to present it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX,” retired Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, an aerospace engineer now serving as a professor at Kyoto University, stated to Reuters before the launch.
With almost 7,000 satellites in orbit, SpaceX stands as the world’s leading satellite operator and potentially one of the main contributors to the satellite pollution issue.
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