Why will NASA launch a wooden satellite in 2024?

NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are paving the way for a historic launch in the history of space exploration: The world’s first satellite made of wood.

rectifier lignosateThe revolutionary coffee cup-sized satellite is built from magnolia wood and is expected to be launched into Earth’s orbit in mid-2024.

The initiative aims to enhance Sustainability of spaceflight Why? Because there are currently more than 11,000 tons of space objects, including inoperable satellites and rocket fragments, orbiting Earth.

“on Currently, 10,590 satellites orbit the EarthThe German news agency DW reported that this space debris increases light pollution and makes it difficult to observe distant space phenomena.

LignoSat is being built by American and Japanese scientists, in coordination with Kyoto University, for the joint mission between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA.

In search of solutions to this growing problem, scientists thought of A Biodegradable materials, such as wood. In this case, the base material, magnolia wood, proved suitable for use in space.

It does not burn, rot or deform

Unlike other materials, Wood does not burn or decompose in the vacuum of spaceBut it burns up when it reenters Earth’s atmosphere, forming fine ash. This fact makes it an effective and biodegradable alternative for future satellites.

The process of choosing the type of wood was meticulous. Since 2020, when the LignoStella Space Wood project began, space exposure tests on different types of wood have been carried out for more than 290 days in the Japanese experimental module Kibo, on the International Space Station (ISS).

Pieces of magnolia, cherry and birch They were exposed to extreme space conditions, such as temperature changes, cosmic radiation, and condensed solar particles.

You Scientists concluded that magnolia is the most resistantIt does not show any signs of transformation, deformation, or damage to the surface after ten months of exposure. Moreover, it has been proven to be more resistant during manufacturing.

“When wood is used on the ground, There are problems with burning, rotting and deformationBut in space there are no such problems: In space there is no oxygen, so it does not burn, and there are no organisms living in it, so it does not rot,” Koji Murata, a researcher at Kyoto University, told CNN.

This innovative approach aims to Reduce the increasing amount of metal objects and space debris Which contributes to light pollution in the Earth’s atmosphere and poses a danger to the International Space Station and other spacecraft.

a Introducing biodegradable satellitesSatellites, such as LignoSat, represent a promising alternative, potentially less damaging and cheaper to manufacture.

Before the scheduled launch in 2024, researchers are studying the mechanisms for this Decomposition of materials at the nanometer level. Their discoveries could lead to stronger wood materials for new space applications.

The launch of LignoSat will be an important step towards the future of space More sustainable and less intrusive for our terrestrial environment.