World's First Wooden-shell Satellite Built by Japan

TapTechNews May 29th news, Kyoto University in Japan and Sumitomo Forestry Co. announced on the 28th that they have built the world's first artificial satellite with a wooden shell. This microsatellite will be transported to the International Space Station as soon as September to verify the feasibility of using wood in the space field.

The microsatellite named LignoSat is in the shape of a cube, about 10 centimeters on each side and weighs about 1 kilogram. It is planned to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA in September and sent to the International Space Station, and will be released into space from the Japanese Kibo experiment module the following month.

According to TapTechNews, Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co. started to work on the research and development of LignoSat in 2020. After comparing three types of wood through space environment tests, they chose magnolia wood with a firm texture and easy processing as the main material of the satellite. This satellite is assembled using traditional Japanese techniques without screws or adhesives, and is covered with solar panels on the outside.

After being released into space, LignoSat will conduct a series of tests within a period of up to six months to measure the expansion and contraction of the wood, the internal temperature, the influence of the geomagnetic field, and the potential impact on electronic devices. The collected data will be sent to the communication station of Kyoto University and used to guide the research and development work of the next wooden satellite.