In a surprising twist on space technology, the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) for a crucial test. The tiny spacecraft, measuring just 4 inches (10 cm) on each side, made its way to the ISS on November 5, carried aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.
The news article by Mike Wall that was posted on space.com on Tuesday served as the basis for this report.
LignoSat, developed by researchers at Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, replaces traditional metal with magnolia wood, a material that may offer significant environmental benefits. While it may seem unusual to launch wood into space, experts hope that this new approach could make satellites more sustainable. As space exploration continues to grow, environmental concerns about satellite pollution are rising. Conventional satellites are made of metals like aluminum, which, when burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, release harmful pollutants that can damage the ozone layer and disrupt the planet's thermal balance.
"The goal is to demonstrate that wooden satellites could be less polluting and more sustainable than traditional metal-based designs," said Meghan Everett, deputy chief scientist for NASA's ISS program.
As the number of satellites in orbit continues to rise—fuelled by megaconstellations like SpaceX's Starlink network, which now has over 6,500 active satellites—the environmental impact of these spacecraft is becoming a growing concern. Wooden satellites like LignoSat could offer a solution. Unlike their metal counterparts, they wouldn’t release harmful pollutants when they re-enter the atmosphere.
Retired Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, now a professor at Kyoto University, explained that if this initial test succeeds, wooden satellites could become a significant part of future space missions. "Metal satellites might be banned in the future," Doi said. "If we can prove this works, we’d like to pitch it to companies like SpaceX."
In about a month, LignoSat will be deployed from the ISS’ Kibo module. During its six-month mission, it will gather data on the effects of space’s harsh environment—temperature, strain, atomic oxygen, and radiation—on its wooden structure. Researchers will closely monitor how the wood holds up in these extreme conditions.
Kenji Kariya, from Sumitomo Forestry, noted that wood, though seemingly outdated, could become a cutting-edge material for future space exploration.
"This technology may help invigorate the timber industry as humanity looks toward the moon and Mars," he said.
With this test, LignoSat may just be the first step toward greener space exploration.
