By RINTARO SAKURAI/ Staff Writer
May 29, 2024 at 18:57 JST
The world’s first wooden satellite named LignoSat is shown in Kyoto. (Kenta Sujino)
KYOTO--A cube-shaped wooden satellite named LignoSat has been unveiled before it is launched into orbit, the first time timber has been utilized for the purpose.
Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co. showed off their joint creation at a news conference here on May 28.
The satellite will be handed over to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on June 4 and is expected to be launched into space as early as fall.
It took about four years to develop the small wooden satellite, measuring 10 centimeters on each side and weighing around one kilogram.
The LignoSat is made of Japanese bigleaf magnolia, and the wooden parts are directly joined with a Japanese traditional method instead of using metallic or adhesive material fasteners.
Space is a harsh environment for satellites because the temperature fluctuates widely and they are bombarded by cosmic rays.
But the LignoSat passed stringent safety inspections of NASA and JAXA.
The satellite will be sent to the International Space Station aboard a rocket of the private U.S. rocket manufacturer Space X in September.
In October, the satellite will be released into space from the Japanese experimental module Kibo of the ISS.
Traditional artificial satellites made of metals burn up in the atmosphere after completing their missions.
But the particles of alumina, or aluminum oxide, which are generated by the burnup, are believed to affect the climate and communications on Earth.
The wooden satellite is expected to fully burn, reducing those possible negative effects.
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