Japanese Scientists to Launch World's First Wooden Satellite Into Space

Koji Murata, a researcher at Kyoto University in Japan, has been investigating the potential use of biological materials in space travel.

Murata made the decision to create a wooden satellite in order to test his idea that he "could build a wooden house on the moon or Mars," as reported by CNN.

(Photo: by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) This picture taken on March 15, 2022, shows Tadanori Fukushima, an engineer with Tokyo-based satellite operator and broadcaster SKY Perfect JSAT, speaking during an interview with AFP in Tokyo. - From laser beams and wooden satellites to galactic tow-truck services, start-ups in Japan are trying to imagine ways to deal with a growing environmental problem: space debris.

The Pollution From Spacecraft

10% of atmospheric aerosol in the stratosphere, according to recent research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), contains metallic particles from spacecraft, including satellites.

Although the long-term effects of these metal pieces are uncertain, scientists are worried that they might harm Earth's delicate ozone layer.

Eco-Friendly Satellite to Space

According to Murata, wooden satellites would be more environmentally friendly while maintaining the same level of operation as their metal counterparts.

Murata and his colleagues have been working on the project for four years, and in 2021 they want to send wood samples to space to test the material's resistance to space conditions. This proves that the idea is not fiction.

They are now collaborating with NASA and Japan's space agency (JAXA) to launch the LingoSat prototype satellite into orbit early in 2019.

Why a Wooden Satellite?

According to Murata, who leads Kyoto University's space-wood project, wood makes sense for space construction.

Murata continues, "Wood is a compelling choice for space construction because it has the same strength per weight as aluminum." The team's studies aboard the International Space Station also showed that wood is highly robust in space.

Murata examined three different wood species for the satellite: Japanese cherry, Erman's birch, a species that is endemic to East Asia, and magnolia obovata. Although cedar and cypress are more popular wood species for building, Murata notes that because of the satellites' small size, the team "selected materials that could withstand as much detailed work as possible."

In the end, the magnolia wood prevailed because, according to him, its compact, homogeneous cells make it simpler to work with and less prone to split or shatter.

Since the 1950s, satellites have been launched by humans into orbit; until 2010, up to 100 spacecraft were launched annually. However, in the last ten years, commercial launches have been more widely available, and in 2021, this number will have surpassed 1,400 new satellites.

According to NOAA study, spacecraft metallic particles may make up up to 50% of the atmospheric aerosol in the stratosphere in the next several decades, as satellite launches are expected to rise.

There are other groups looking to use wood in space as well. The WISA Woodsat, a wooden satellite created by Finnish firm Arctic Astronautics, was scheduled for launch into orbit in 2021.

However, according to Jari Mäkinen, the creator of the firm, bureaucratic obstacles have delayed the debut.