Japanese Researchers to Launch World’s First Wooden Satellite in 2024
By Digital Today AI Reporter
Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan are set to make history by launching the world’s first wooden satellite in 2024. The pioneering project aims to address the growing environmental issues in space, particularly the problem of space debris.
Solving Environmental Problems in Space
As of 2021, there are over 8,400 tons of space debris, including defunct satellites and discarded rocket parts, in Earth’s orbit. These objects, made largely of shiny metals such as titanium and aluminum, contribute to light pollution and pose a risk of emitting metal particles into the atmosphere, potentially exacerbating air pollution.
Advantages of Wood as a Space Material
To combat this issue, researchers have turned to wood as a potential solution. Wood, lacking the reflective properties of metal, can burn up completely upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, mitigating the risk of pollution. Extensive space exposure experiments with different types of wood conducted on the International Space Station showed promising results, with the wooden material showing resilience to extreme temperature changes and solar energy particle rays.
Out of the tested materials, a wood type called Hoonoki stood out as particularly durable and is set to be used in the development of the wooden satellite.
Towards a Sustainable Space Strategy
The launch of the wooden satellite in 2024 marks a significant milestone in the quest for more sustainable space exploration. If successful, it could open the door to the use of biodegradable materials in space technology, contributing to a reduction in space waste and facilitating a more responsible approach to space development.
Expect a satellite using some wood [사진: 일본 교토대학교]
[디지털투데이 AI리포터] Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan will launch the world’s first wooden satellite in 2024.
According to online media Gijin on the 15th, the artificial satellite made of wood is an attempt to solve environmental problems in space. As of this year, there are more than 8,400 tons of space debris, including unused satellites and derelict rockets, orbiting the Earth.
Because these space debris are made of shiny metals such as titanium and aluminum, problems such as light pollution that increases the brightness of the night sky by 10% or the emission of metal particles as they fall into the atmosphere can affect air pollution. There are. Accordingly, researchers are conducting research using wood, a material that has no luster and can burn completely even when falling into the atmosphere.
Researchers conducted space exposure experiments with three types of wood materials on the International Space Station for a total of 10 months from last year to this year. As a result, it is said that the wooden satellite did not decompose or deform, such as cracks, bending, peeling, or damage to the surface, despite being exposed to extreme temperature changes or solar energy particle rays. In addition, it is said that among the three materials, a material called Hoonoki, which is difficult to break, is used to develop artificial satellites.
This satellite is due to be launched in the summer of 2024, and if successful, the world’s first wooden satellite will be created. In addition, it is expected to be the first step in the use of biodegradable materials in space development and contribute to the reduction of space waste.
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