LignoSat is anything but normal when it comes to space exploration. The satellite is currently under development by NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA, to be the world's first satellite made of solid wood. 

Small And Wooden

It may sound very crazy, but the satellite is being designed to withstand the environment of space and the rocket launch when it blasts off into space in June, 2024. The satellite is the size of a coffee mug, and even though the satellite’s outer shell is made out of wood, its antenna and other circuits are made out of light metal. 

The idea of a wooden satellite started in 2020, and the mission LignoSat was announced in 2021 when Koji Murata, the head scientist of the research effort, stated that the mission was successfully funded by the Japanese and American governments. The governments gave the mission a limited budget that both space agencies had to follow.

Testing 

After carefully testing different kinds of wood that engineers thought would do best in the space environment, the scientists picked Magnolia wood because of its stability and strength. In 2022, the wood actually got to be tested in space; it was launched aboard a cargo ship to the ISS. Astronauts put the wood outside of the safe environment of the space station and into the harsh habit of space. The wood spent the next 10 months outside of the ISS, when it was returned to Earth in January, 2023. Everyone on the mission team was delighted when the wood showed little damage after spending 10 months unprotected in space. 

"(The) Wood's ability to withstand simulated low earth orbit - or LEO - conditions astounded us," said Koji Murata in a press release. 

A New Future?

Many satellites that orbit the Earth cost over 100 million dollars to make because they are made out of expensive metal and are normally heavy. However with LignoSat we may be able to prove that we can produce cheaper satellites out of wood. Plus it could also be much cleaner than the metal satellites. According to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), most satellites when deorbited mostly burn up, however some small pieces can survive and land in the ocean, harming ocean life. But a wooden satellite can burn up much easier and quicker. They would never be a threat to the environment. 

Whatever happens, it's sure to rewrite the history books in space exploration.               

Video Source: CNN.