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.
a small cubic satellite on a blue-green surface, with a white-gloved hand beside it for scale(Image credit: STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
