The World’s First Wooden Satellite Heads to Space: Testing Timber for Lunar and Mars Exploration

Japan’s first wooden satellite is the world’s first foray into using wood as a staple building material in space exploration on the Moon and Mars. Jointly developed by Kyoto University and homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry, the palm-sized satellite called LignoSat blasted off to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX cargo ship. From there, it will be deployed to make an orbit around Earth that is approximately 400 km (250 miles) up.

Named after the Latin word for “wood,” LignoSat aims to demonstrate that timber is renewable and self-replenishing and, therefore, could very well be a cosmic future material. For Kyoto University astronaut and space scientist Takao Doi, his vision of a future human habitat in space partly involves making sure that the habitats and workspaces in it have the capability of being self-sustaining. Doi’s team will plant the first trees on the Moon and Mars within the next 50 years, using this NASA-approved satellite as proof.

According to Kyoto University professor Koji Murata, wood had actually been used previously in early aircraft and could work for space applications. In space, there is no problem with moisture or oxygen, both of which readily damage the wood on Earth, providing a surprising level of strength for wood in space. In addition, wooden satellites burn up with minimal pollutants when re-entered into space. In contrast, metal satellites do not have the advantage of not releasing the deadly aluminum oxide pollution that they do.

Experiments were performed with hinoki, a Japanese magnolia that was cherished in the early ages of Japan due to its might and long history. A sword case material the group considered LignoSat was made out of honoki wood. Honoki, handcrafted using traditional techniques without needing screws and adhesives, was fashioned into an orbiting module to run for half a year where it can demonstrate the behavior of the wooden material, from minus one hundred to one hundred degrees Celsius per forty-five minutes, along with analyzing whether electronic components it carries remain sheltered from radiation in the outer space. According to Kenji Kariya of Sumitomo Forestry, it may make valuable wood for future space missions as a source of radiation protection for data centers and other high-tech applications.

With their sights set on proving Timber’s tenacity in space, the team hopes to pique the interest of major companies like SpaceX. “Wood may seem like a relic, but it could be cutting-edge as we move toward space,” Kariya said, adding that success in space could energize the timber industry back on Earth.

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