In a surprising breakthrough, scientists led by Kyoto University have confirmed the feasibility of a satellite made of wood which could be launched into space in 2024.
Tests carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) revealed that the wood has high durability and stability even in such an extreme environment.
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The wood samples submitted to the experiments on the ISS suffered only minimal deterioration, showing promise for space applications. This discovery opens up new possibilities in the space industry, highlighting the importance of sustainability and the use of renewable materials in future space missions.
After the return of the wood samples to Earth by the International Space Station (ISS), Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata conducted a detailed preliminary inspection. This included strength testing and crystal structural analysis to further understand the properties of wood in the space environment. The result was surprising.
Wooden satellite could be launched in 2024
According to a recent statement from Kyoto University, tests performed on samples of wood exposed to the extreme conditions of space for 10 months did not reveal any alteration significant.
Even in the face of temperature changes, intense cosmic rays and dangerous solar particles, samples remained intact, without any evidence of cracking, deformation, peeling or damage to the surface.
According to the scientists responsible, the recovered wooden tracks were subjected to rigorous tests and did not show any deformation after exposure to space.
Researchers from the international research group chose magnolia wood, known as “Hoonoki” in Japanese, as the main material for the satellite. LignoSat, which is scheduled to be launched in 2024 by NASA and the Japanese space agency Jaxa.
Magnolia was selected due to its favorable properties such as high workability, dimensional stability and overall strength. These characteristics make magnolia wood ideal for withstanding the rigorous conditions of space and playing a crucial role in the satellite's mission.
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