In a historic accomplishment, Japan launched LignoSat, the first satellite in history to be built completely of wood. LignoSat, created in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University, launched on Tuesday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This cutting-edge spacecraft seeks to lessen the environmental impact of space travel by proving that wood, a completely renewable resource, can be used as a sustainable satellite material.
LignoSat is designed to burn up harmlessly in the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of its mission, unlike traditional metal satellites that release harmful particles. Kyoto University’s Professor Koji Murata emphasized the viability of wooden technology in space: “Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood… a wooden satellite should be feasible too.” Indeed, wood offers surprising durability in space, free from exposure to moisture and oxygen, and can effectively protect electronic components in orbit while lowering the satellite’s weight.
Former astronaut Takao Doi expressed excitement about the project’s implications, envisioning wood as a key material for future space construction: “With timber… we will be able to build houses, live, and work in space.” Doi highlighted an environmental advantage: unlike metal, wood doesn’t emit aluminum oxide upon reentry, a substance known to harm the ozone layer. “Metal satellites might be banned in the future,” he suggested. “If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.”
LignoSat is held together using honoki, a traditional Japanese technique that requires no screws or glue. The team selected Japanese magnolia wood for its resilience, confirmed through ISS experiments. Over the next six months, LignoSat’s sensors will monitor its performance, while Kenji Kariya of Sumitomo Forestry noted, “Wood may seem outdated, but it’s actually cutting-edge as civilization heads to the Moon and Mars.” This project could open doors for wood-based innovations, rejuvenating the timber industry as humanity ventures into space.
