Wood Reaches New Heights: World's First Wooden Satellite Launches from Japan

Have you ever wondered what material could be used to build houses on the moon or Mars? Well, a team from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry has an answer: wood! They've launched the world's first wooden satellite into space to test the idea. The tiny satellite, named LignoSat, is no bigger than your palm. It will live on the International Space Station before being released into Earth's orbit. Its mission? To show that wood can withstand the extreme conditions of space.Scientists chose a special Japanese tree called honoki for its durability. They used a traditional craft technique to build LignoSat, without any screws or glue. The satellite will spend six months in orbit, facing temperature swings from -148°F to 212°F every 45 minutes as it moves in and out of sunlight. Why wood? It's a renewable resource, and it burns cleaner than metal when re-entering Earth's atmosphere. This makes wooden satellites a more eco-friendly option. Plus, wood could protect electronics from space radiation, making it useful for data centers, both on Earth and in space. If LignoSat succeeds, it could change the game. Maybe even SpaceX will start using wooden satellites, making space exploration greener. Isn't that a cool thought?