A Falcon 9 rocket has launched the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, into space. It was built by researchers from Kyoto University and the Sumitomo Forestry company to test the possibility of using timber in lunar and Mars exploration.
The LingoSat is a ten-centimeter cube weighing about 1 kg, made of magnolia wood about 5 mm thick, with a partially aluminum frame and solar panels. It was created according to a traditional Japanese carpentry technique, which requires no nails or adhesive substances.
Once launched, the pioneering satellite will remain in space for six months. The data it will collect will allow researchers at Kyoto University to assess the strength of wooden materials, their resistance to extreme temperatures and how they perform under reduced gravitational force.
