Wooden satellites: Japan’s curious plan to save costs on materials

Japan, Always one step ahead in technological matters, he developed a curious plan to launch wooden satellites into space. The first of them will be in orbit by 2024, according to scientists from Kyoto University.

The satelite LignoSat, just like its name, it will count with Magnolia wood, for its ideal properties for the most arduous climate. The goal is to save costs in materials: currently metal alloys are used.

In addition, it is more disposable when it comes to the end of the useful life of a satellite, he stresses the specialized portal Space.

In the first instance, Japanese scientists confirmed the durability of space wood on the International Space Station. From Earth it was sent a panel with three different samples of wood, being stored in the Kibo experimental module of the ISS.

It was then put over 290 days in orbit on a cubosat, and was recovered by JAXA astronaut, Koichi Wakata. Finally, it was determined that the deterioration of each sample is minimal and has good stability.

The inspection included resistance tests and elemental structural analysis and glass of wood signs.

The conclusions of Kyoto University on wooden satellites

“Despite the extreme environment of outer space,” he explains Kyoto University in a statement, “involving significant changes in temperature and exposure to intense cosmic rays and hazardous solar particles for ten months, the tests They did not confirm decomposition or deformations such as cracks, detachments or surface damage.”

The scientists did not specify the other two types of wood they used. They considered that that of Magnolia (Hoonoki, in Japanese), it was ideal for the first of the LignoSat satellites.

The reason: “Its workability, dimensional stability and relatively high general resistance.

The launch will take place in 2024, and will be in charge of both the Japanese aerospace agency JAXA and NASA.