The problem with many of our hopes and fears about the future is that we project forward from what we know, but it’s those things we cannot see coming which often have a greater impact. When it comes to the problem of space junk, not even the movie Gravity foresaw the advent of the wooden satellite. 

Enter the Space Wood Project and its pioneering brainchild, the LignoSat probe— a woodcraft satellite that proposes an eco-friendly solution to the growing issue of space junk.

The idea of a satellite crafted from wooden components comes from the challenges posed by space debris. With thousands of satellites orbiting Earth, the potential for collisions (and the resulting debris clouds) poses a big risk both to future launches and assets already in orbit. 

The idea of using wood in space might seem archaic at first glance; however, LignoSat is anything but a step backward. This initiative looks beyond conventional solutions, leveraging biodegradable materials to mitigate the long-term impact of satellites on the space environment.

The space wood effort is led by Koji Murata. Head of the project at Kyoto University, Murata believes wood is an obvious choice for space structures. 

“When you use wood on Earth, you have the problems of burning, rotting, and deformation, but in space, you don’t have those problems: there is no oxygen in space, so it doesn’t burn, and no living creatures live in them, so they don’t rot,” Murata explains.

Researchers at Kyoto University studied magnolia, cherry, and birch, but identified the wood from magnolia trees as the most suitable material. On the International Space Station (ISS), magnolia demonstrated resistance to cracking, minimal deterioration, and good stability.

Even so, the magnolia selected for LignoSat isn't ordinary. It undergoes a specialized treatment process to withstand the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperatures, vacuum, and radiation. 

The deployment of wooden satellites like LignoSat could dramatically alter the landscape of space exploration and satellite technology. Traditional satellites, made from metals and other durable materials, remain in orbit for decades and longer after their operational lives have ended. LignoSat, on the other hand, is designed to burn up completely upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, leaving no trace behind and significantly reducing the risk of space debris.

When any satellite re-enters Earth's atmosphere, it is subjected to extreme heat due to friction with the air. 

Metal satellites, particularly those made from aluminum and other metals, can release particles into the atmosphere as they burn up. The intense heat melts and vaporizes metals, which can then condense into fine particles as they cool down. These particles become suspended in the upper atmosphere.

There is also a potential danger if larger fragments of metal satellites make it all the way to the ground, depending on where they land. Pieces that survive re-entry could pose risks to people, buildings, and wildlife, especially if they land in populated areas.

LignoSat presents a novel approach to satellite construction. The design philosophy behind using wood is to ensure that the satellite will burn up completely upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, leaving minimal to no debris that could pose a threat. In the event of a satellite collision or break up, junk from wooden satellites is expected to de-orbit sooner than metal debris, due to the lower density and greater surface area of the fragments.

The Space Wood Project goes beyond just creating a wooden satellite; it's about inspiring a shift in how we approach space technology with environmental consciousness at its core. LignoSat could pave the way for more sustainable practices in the space industry, encouraging the use of materials that minimize ecological footprints both in space and on Earth.

Moreover, the project underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts in aerospace engineering, material science, and environmental studies. This approach ensures that solutions are not only technologically sound but also environmentally responsible.

LignoSat is expected to be jointly launched in the summer of 2024 by NASA and JAXA, the Japanese space agency. By prioritizing sustainability, the Space Wood Project contributes to a future where space exploration advances hand in hand with environmental preservation.

By challenging the status quo and introducing biodegradable materials into satellite design, the Space Wood Project offers a glimpse into a future where our technology is more in harmony with the natural world.

Projects like LignoSat not only offer promise for space, they also remind us that we can’t know what the future holds, especially in a world where imaginative and environmentally conscious engineers are coming up with new ideas every day. Less than five years ago, the concept of a “wooden satellite” would have seemed laughable. 

What other innovative solutions to thorny environmental and scientific problems lie ahead?  Will synthetic microbes soon clean up our plastic? Will graphene water purification and desalination technologies deliver oceans of fresh water? Can lab grown meats reduce the carbon footprint of livestock farming? 

All of these, like wooden satellites, are in the early stages of testing, and it’s difficult to tell which ones will succeed beyond our expectations.

But in an age which has seen the advent of the personal computer, the Internet, and the smart phone all in a single lifetime, it’s hard to believe they will all fail to have an impact, or that another innovation, of which we are yet unaware will not shift the way we think about the possibilities to come. 

Learn more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfUUY3AptXE

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Hope is not an illusion; it's a perspective backed by engagement with the world, whatever the condition of the world may be. Like the crew of the Enterprise, we don't expect everyone to share our values, only that we will engage them with ours, and in the course of doing so, possibly, just possilby, win a better future.