NASA Collaborating with JAXA
Researchers are moving in the direction of more environmentally friendly space flight. According to a Live Science report, NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) intend to launch the first wooden satellite into Earth’s orbit by the summer of 2024. The tiny, biodegradable spacecraft, known as LignoSat, is made of magnolia wood and will burn up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, helping to reduce space waste.
European Space Agency
According to the European Space Agency, there are currently around 9,300 tonnes of space debris. This includes abandoned satellites and waste rocket stages, orbiting the earth. The space objects, which are composed of shining metals, have been discovered to be a significant source of light pollution. Brightening the night sky by at least 10% above levels of natural light, according to Live Science. Additionally more costly to produce, metal spacecraft have the potential to endanger not only persons on Earth but also other human-carrying spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS).
What’s New this Time
Satellites eventually re-enter the atmosphere,” Kyoto University researcher Koji Murata told CNN regarding LignoSat. “The difference is, the wood in the LignoSat will burn up and eventually become a gas, whereas metals become fine particles instead.” In advance of the impending mission. NASA examined a number of wood samples on board the International Space Station earlier this year, including cherry and birch. Researchers finally decided to use magnolia wood for the coffee cup-sized satellite. Since it proved to be more durable in harsh space conditions.
After being exposed to space, these wood specimens underwent testing and revealed no distortion. According to a May statement from the researchers. Tests revealed no decomposition or deformations, such as cracking, warping, peeling, or surface damage, despite the harsh environment of space, which includes dramatic temperature variations, exposure to strong cosmic rays, and hazardous solar particles for ten months.
Eco Friendly Satellite
The project is in line with a larger international endeavour to improve the sustainability of space operations. In addition to demonstrating the possibility for environmentally friendly satellite materials. LignoSat’s creative use of magnolia wood represents a major advancement in the promotion of ecologically conscious space exploration procedures.
Researcher will Monitor Satellite
Following LignoSat’s launch, scientists will keep an eye on the wooden satellite for a minimum of half a year to observe its performance in orbit. Its reaction to magnetic fields and radio waves will also be observed by the researchers. Murata is optimistic that wood offers a viable remedy for the expanding problem of space debris. “It is a renewable, environmentally friendly, and people-friendly material,” Murata stated. “I think wood could be used in space development, particularly as an interior material and for radiation shielding material, for small satellites and manned space vehicles.
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