World’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, reaches ISS for key orbital test

LignoSat

The world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, reached the International Space Station (ISS) on November 5 aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. This compact Japanese satellite, created by researchers from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, measures just 4 inches on each side and is designed to explore sustainable options for space technology.

Unlike conventional satellites, which are primarily made of aluminum, LignoSat uses magnolia wood as its main structural material. According to the mission team, the use of wood could reduce environmental impact, as traditional aluminum satellites release aluminum oxides upon reentry, potentially affecting Earth’s thermal balance and ozone layer. With the growing number of satellites in orbit, including SpaceX’s Starlink network with approximately 6,500 active satellites, the environmental footprint of satellite reentry has become an increasing concern.

“While wood in space might seem unusual, researchers aim to demonstrate that wooden satellites can offer a more sustainable approach,” said Meghan Everett, deputy chief scientist for NASA's ISS program, during a press briefing on November 4.

LignoSat is set for deployment from the ISS’s Kibo module in about a month. Over the next six months, it will collect data on its structural performance in space, measuring variables such as temperature, strain, and exposure to atomic oxygen and radiation.

Takao Doi, a former Japanese astronaut and now professor at Kyoto University, suggested that wooden satellites could potentially serve as an alternative in the future. "If our first wooden satellite works, we aim to present it to companies like SpaceX,” Doi told Reuters.

The satellite’s successful operation may have implications beyond Earth’s orbit, potentially benefiting sustainable practices in the timber industry as space exploration advances.