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The humanity ’s first wooden artificial satellite is officially in Earth orbit . LignoSat , a java mug - size satellite made from magnolia wood , was successfully deploy from theInternational Space Station(ISS ) in December 2024,NASAannounced in astatementon Jan. 7 .
Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA ) and shepherded into blank by NASA , LignoSat will help investigate the use of wood in distance in a bid to make spaceflight more sustainable .
Illustration of a wooden square satellite by Kyoto University
The first wooden satellite
Wood does n’t burn or decompose in the lifelessvacuum of space , but it will burn into a okay ash upon reentry into Earth ’s standard atmosphere — making it a surprisingly utilitarian , biodegradable material for future artificial satellite . After successfully test their Ellen Price Wood samples aboard the ISS earlier in 2024 , the scientist deemed the test satellite burst for launch .
" Three woodwind specimen were test and exhibit no distortion after outer space photograph , " the researchers saidin a statementin May 2024 . " Despite the uttermost environs of tabu space take significant temperature change and photo to intensecosmic raysand dangerous solar particles for ten month , test confirmed no decomposition or deformation , such as crack , warping , peeling , or airfoil equipment casualty . "
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This internal view of LignoSat’s structure shows the relationship among the satellite’s wooden panels, aluminum frames, and stainless-steel shafts.
To decide which Natalie Wood to utilise , the scientist sent three wood samples — magnolia , cherry or birch — to the ISS to be kept in a module that was exhibit to space . The investigator settled upon magnolia because it is less likely to part or recrudesce during manufacture .
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More than 9,300 tons ( 8,440 metric tons ) of place objects — includingspace junksuch as inoperative satellites and lump of spent rocket stage — presently orbit Earth . But the glossy metals they are made from , such as lightweight titanium and aluminum , increase the overall luminance of the dark sky by more than 10%over orotund parts of the planet , make ambientlight pollutionthat makes distant distance phenomenon harder to observe .
Spacecraft made from alloy are also expensive andpose a threat to the ISS , other spacecraft carrying humans and — if they ’re heavy enough to survive reentry — people on Earth too . Wooden orbiter like LignoSat should theoretically be less harmful as space dust , accord to the investigator .
