In order to reduce pollution linked to the countless satellites and metal debris orbiting the EarthJapanese researchers recently unveiled the LignoSat satellite, a spacecraft manufactured… wooden.
A solution to the space debris problem?
Space pollution is a real problem today, as there are so many objects orbiting our planet. According to CNES figures, it is estimated that approximately 34,00 objects over 10cm in diameter revolve every day above our heads, of which 9000 are active satellites. The number of space objects larger than 1mm is even more disproportionate, estimated to be around 128 millions !
The presence of this numerous debris and various objects in orbit also favors the risk of collision between these small objects and satellites, which could further increase these already impressive figures. A single collision between debris and a satellite can in fact generate a multitude of additional objectscreating a domino effect and thereby worsening the problem.
Based on this postulate, Japanese scientists decided to create the very first satellite built from wood. This experimental satellite, called LignoSat, is in fact a wooden cube of 10cm side held in the palm of the hand.
This one is made from honoki wooda kind of magnolia native to Japan and traditionally used for sword sheaths. Researchers have indeed discovered that this variety was surprisingly suitable for building spacecraft. Additionally, the scientists also used a traditional Japanese craft technique without screws or glue to make itthereby reducing the number of potential metal debris.
The satellite will soon be tested in space
LignoSat’s main mission is to demonstrate the cosmic potential of this renewable material. When the device reaches the end of its life, it will plunge towards Earth through the atmosphere and by consuming without generating pollution linked to metal particlesinherent to satellites that fall back to Earth.
In space, the wood should also not rot or catch fire when the satellite orbits the Earth, since there are no neither water nor oxygen. In the event of a collision, the number of space debris will also be limited, because LignoSat is made up mainly of wood, a material whose impact is necessarily much less than metal.
This satellite was inaugurated as part of a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched into space aboard an unmanned rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This will then remain for approximately a month in the ISS and will then be sent into space.
LignoSat will subsequently begin its mission, finding itself in orbit for 6 months approximately 400km above the Earth’s surface. The electronic components on board will measure during this period how wood resists the extreme environment of spacewhere temperatures can fluctuate from -100 to +100°C every 45 minutes depending on exposure to sunlight.
If the test is conclusive, wooden satellites could then become widespread according to researchers at Kyoto University, which could on the one hand revolutionize space exploration by manufacturing less expensive spacecraft, but also greatly limit pollution around and on our planet, these satellites completely disintegrating during the crossing of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Sources: Libération/Space.com/CNES
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