The world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, was launched into space on November 5. Developed by a team of researchers from Japan’s Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, LignoSat aims to demonstrate the potential of timber as a material for space missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The satellite was sent aboard a SpaceX mission, headed toward the International Space Station (ISS) before it will be released into Earth’s orbit at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers.
The project showcases the fusion of Japan’s traditional woodworking techniques and advanced space technology, bringing a renewable, biodegradable material to the forefront of space exploration. Researchers hope this experiment will provide valuable insights into the use of timber in the harsh conditions of space and open up possibilities for a new era of sustainable space structures.
The inspiration behind LignoSat is the potential for timber to become a mainstay material in humanity’s long-term space exploration ambitions. Professor Takao Doi, a Kyoto University scientist and former astronaut, envisions timber as a sustainable resource that can provide future space explorers with the tools and shelter needed to live and work in space indefinitely.
“With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever,” Prof. Doi commented. He further noted that the vision is part of a 50-year plan that includes the establishment of timber-based habitats on the moon and Mars, turning what is traditionally an Earth-exclusive material into a viable component of interplanetary infrastructure.
The pioneering LignoSat project aligns with a larger vision for a circular, eco-friendly approach to space exploration. Timber-based habitats and vehicles could be constructed using materials grown on Earth or even cultivated off-world through future agricultural technologies. This sustainable model counters the high environmental cost of conventional space materials, which require intensive mining, refining, and transportation.
The choice of wood for space applications might seem unconventional given the modern reliance on metals, ceramics, and composites for spacecraft. However, the durability of wood in a vacuum environment may offer unique advantages over these traditional materials. Unlike Earth, where wood is susceptible to rot and fire due to oxygen and moisture, space lacks these elements, which means timber remains stable and less prone to degradation.
Koji Murata, a forest science professor at Kyoto University, highlights this overlooked durability: “Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood. A wooden satellite should be feasible, too.” By re-evaluating wood’s role in advanced technology, the team hopes to demonstrate that what was once seen as an outdated material could, in fact, be cutting-edge in the context of space exploration.
Furthermore, wood’s minimal environmental footprint could address the increasing issue of space debris. As Professor Doi explains, traditional satellites are largely constructed from metals that create harmful aluminium oxide particles when they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, polluting both air and potentially impacting the ozone layer. A wooden satellite, on the other hand, would burn up harmlessly, reducing the environmental impact of satellite decommissioning.
“Metal satellites might be banned in the future,” Doi speculated. “If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.”
The team selected honoki wood, derived from a Japanese magnolia tree, after a rigorous testing phase. Honoki is widely used in Japan for sword sheaths and musical instruments due to its resilience and light weight. After a 10-month experiment aboard the ISS, researchers determined that honoki’s characteristics make it particularly suitable for space applications, enduring extreme temperatures and resisting various forms of degradation.
In crafting LignoSat, the team adhered to traditional Japanese woodworking techniques, avoiding screws or glue, which could potentially degrade or cause complications in a vacuum. Instead, they used precise, interlocking joints to assemble the palm-sized satellite, showcasing a unique merger of Japan’s artisanal heritage with cutting-edge technology.
When LignoSat reaches orbit, it will face temperature fluctuations of up to 200 degrees Celsius every 90 minutes as it cycles from sunlight to the darkness of Earth’s shadow. This is a significant test of wood’s endurance and could yield insights on how it could be utilized for construction in space. The mission will also monitor how the honoki wood reacts to cosmic radiation, assessing its potential as a protective material for electronics against the damaging effects of space radiation.
While LignoSat is primarily an experimental satellite, it symbolizes the beginning of a new era in both space exploration and the timber industry. The team envisions that if successful, wood could become a core material for building extraterrestrial infrastructure, which could boost the timber industry in unexpected ways. Kenji Kariya, a manager at Sumitomo Forestry’s Tsukuba Research Institute, highlights the potential industrial impacts:
“It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the moon and Mars,” Kariya noted. “Expansion to space could invigorate the timber industry.”
If LignoSat proves successful, the timber industry could experience increased demand, inspiring investment in forestry and potentially sparking innovation in wood processing and construction. On a larger scale, this success might pave the way for the global timber industry to expand into high-tech and sustainable applications, positioning wood as a green alternative for future technological advancements.
Although LignoSat’s mission holds promise, the use of wood in space is not without challenges. Concerns such as structural integrity under intense stress and compatibility with space mission requirements will require extensive research and adaptation. However, the success of LignoSat could inspire confidence in timber’s viability for more ambitious applications.
In the years ahead, Professor Doi and his team aim to advance from wooden satellites to full-scale wooden habitats and facilities on the moon and Mars. They envision that forests of honoki and other suitable trees could be grown in controlled environments on these celestial bodies, providing a renewable source of building material and even a means of generating oxygen.
The team’s long-term goals align with the broader objectives of NASA, ESA, and other space agencies, which have been actively exploring ways to establish sustainable habitats on other planets. If timber can be proved as a feasible material for constructing habitats and vehicles in extraterrestrial environments, it could fundamentally reshape the approach to building space colonies, aligning space exploration with ecological considerations that have often been overlooked in past missions.
