A research team from Kyoto University and others plans to launch the world's first wooden artificial satellite in 2024

In an attempt to solve environmental problems in space, research teams at Kyoto University and other institutions are conducting research on creating artificial satellites from wood, and it is expected that the world's first wooden artificial satellite will be created in 2024. I am.

NASA and Japan to launch world's 1st wooden satellite as soon as 2024. Why? | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/nasa-and-japan-to-launch-worlds-1st-wooden-satellite-as-soon-as-2024-why

As of 2023, there are over 8,440 tons of man-made objects around the Earth, including space debris such as unused satellites and used rockets. Because space junk is made of shiny metals such as titanium and aluminum, it can cause light pollution that increases the brightness of the night sky by more than 10%, and when it crashes into the atmosphere, it releases fine metal particles that pollute the atmosphere. In order to deal with this problem, research is being conducted on artificial satellites using ``wood'', a material that does not have luster and can be completely burned even when it crashes into the atmosphere. .

From 2022 to 2023, a research team from Kyoto University and other institutions conducted space exposure experiments on three types of wood: magnolia, Betula birch, and wild cherry on the International Space Station. Despite the extreme environment of outer space, where they are exposed to significant temperature changes, intense cosmic rays , and dangerous solar energy particle beams for 10 months, they all suffer from decomposition and deformation such as cracking, warping, peeling, and surface damage. No change in mass was observed.

Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. have released the first test results of a wood specimen exposed to the space environment for 10 months for the first time in the world in the 'Space Exposure Experiment on Wood on the International Space Station (ISS).' The wood test specimen did not crack, warp, or peel, confirming its excellent durability: https://t.co/qq8C4pDbUM pic.twitter.com/7LTE7OFUF3

— Kyoto University Space Wood Project (@spaceKUwood) May 12, 2023

It is said that out of the three types of materials, magnolia, which is a porous material that is difficult to break, is being used to create an artificial satellite.

We decided to use Magnolia magna for the structure of the wooden satellite. Magnolia is a hardwood material called a perforated wood that has uniformly distributed tubes that allow water to pass through the tree (left: Yamazakura). It is said to be more difficult to break than hardwood materials called ring-hole materials, which have pipes arranged in a row (right: ash). Koji Murata pic.twitter.com/9qzRddDU2b

— Kyoto University Space Wood Project (@spaceKUwood) September 6, 2023

This satellite is scheduled to be launched in the summer of 2024, and if successful, it will be the world's first wooden artificial satellite. This is the first step in the use of biodegradable materials in space exploration, and is expected to reduce the harm caused by space debris.