Delhi Delhi. In an unprecedented achievement, the world's first wooden satellite, Lignosat, has been launched into Earth orbit. Developed jointly by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, this innovative satellite is made from 10 cm long Hinoki magnolia wood panels. What's unique is that it uses traditional Japanese wood-joinery techniques, eliminating the need for screws or glue. The weight of lignoset is approximately 900 grams.
Space Journey LignoSat was sent into orbit in December 2024 along with five CubeSats. Before its launch, the satellite was transported to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. It now orbits the Earth at an altitude of 400 km, where it will conduct important experiments on the feasibility of wood as a sustainable material in space exploration.
Leading the way in sustainable space technology Unlike traditional satellites, which rely on materials such as aluminium, titanium and Teflon thermoplastics, Lignosat's wooden design offers a sustainable alternative. During its space journey, the satellite will endure extreme temperature changes ranging from -100 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes. These conditions will test the wood's resistance to temperature fluctuations and radiation, providing information about its potential for future applications in space, including lunar and Mars missions.
Vision for space habitats Takao Doi, an astronaut and human space activity researcher at Kyoto University, highlighted the long-term vision for wood in space exploration. “With wood, a material we can make ourselves, we will be able to build, live and work in space forever,” he said. The experiment is an important step toward environmentally friendly technologies in space, exploring the potential of wood as a material that could redefine the way humanity builds and lives beyond Earth.
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