Wooden satellite in orbit

The JAXA (Japanese space agency) LignoSat is a small cubic-shaped artificial satellite, of the type known as CubeSat, which is largely made of wood. It also includes some electronics and some other components. It is considered the first satellite with this composition, and qualifiable as “made of wood”, to fly independently in Earth orbit.

It was taken to the International Space Station (ISS) in November 2024. In December it was released outside the station along with four other CubeSats. The operation was carried out from the Japanese module of said station, the Kibo.

LignoSat measures only about 10 You can also communicate with radio amateurs.

Measurements of the stress suffered by the wood will be used to evaluate its response to the temperatures and radiation levels prevailing in the vacuum of space. The measurements of the geomagnetic field will be used to find out if said field can pass through the wood of the satellite, reaching its interior, and causing interference in its electronic systems.

Kyoto University and the company Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., both entities from Japan, have also worked on the mission.

LignoSat and two other small cubic-shaped satellites shortly after being released into space from the International Space Station. (Photo: JAXA/NASA)

The interior of the LignoSat, where you can see the extensive use of wood that has been made in it. (Photo: Kyoto University)

The main task of LignoSat is to take a key step in a line of research and development that began with a previous experiment on the International Space Station. In that experiment, three types of wood were exposed to the space environment to compare their resistance to it and help decide which would be the best wood to build LignoSat.

This line of research and development aims to determine to what extent the use of wood in astronautics could provide innovative solutions that are better alternatives to conventional options to address various challenges in future space missions. (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)