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Japan’s wooden satellite went up into space aboard an unmanned SpaceX rocket to test timber for space exploration.
Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry developed the satellite and named it LignoSat, after the Latin word for “wood.”
It uses material from the magnolia tree, which samurai warriors have used for their sword sheaths. Soon, it could be the key to environmentally friendly satellites.
Inquirer Tech initially reported on LignoSat in 2023, when it shared a statement from space-wood project head Koji Murata.
He told CNN wood was an obvious choice for space structures. “When you use wood on Earth, you have the problems of burning, rotting, and deformation,” he said.
