Japanese engineers have built a novel satellite, not from aluminium, copper, or any metal, but from an unexpected material. According to the Japan Times, Kyoto University and Tokyo logging company Sumitomo Forestry scientists developed a wooden satellite to orbit Earth. It is scheduled to launch aboard Elon Musk’s Falcon 9 rocket in September this year.
The wooden satellite will depart from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the International Space Station (ISS). Afterwards, it will be released from Japan’s Kibo module to test its stability in the harsh space environment.
Named LignoSat, the satellite is a tiny cube made of magnolia wood, measuring 4 inches on each side and weighing just over 2 pounds, as reported by Gizmodo. The idea emerged four years ago, focusing on low-cost satellites and addressing the space junk problem.
The space probe is not entirely made of wood; some parts are made of aluminium. It is designed to burn up completely upon reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
