Researchers unveiled the world's first wooden satellite last month, billing it as clearing a path for more uses of wood in outer space. The material will be more sustainable and less polluting than the metals used in conventional satellites, they say.
Wood might seem counterintuitive for use in space because it is combustible, but that feature can be desirable. When LignoSat plunges back to Earth after six months to a year of service, the magnolia will incinerate completely and release only water vapour and carbon dioxide.
This innovation not only promises environmental benefits but also functional advantages in space, as wood is resilient and does not block radio waves. Moreover, wooden components in spacecraft are not unprecedented, as seen with NASA's Ranger 3 lunar probe from 1962.
#wooden-satellite #sustainable-space-missions #environmental-benefits #functional-advantages #space-exploration
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