A team of scientists from Kyoto University and Japanese logging company Sumitomo Forestry say that wood could be a durable material in space and the best substitute for metal. In the future, wood can become a breakthrough in the field of sustainable development of the space economy. It sounds strange, because we are used to metals being more adaptable to the harsh conditions of space. But the results of research on organic matter in space exceeded all expectations of scientists.

The first wooden satellite is already in 2024

The partnership was first announced in 2020. And in March 2022, the team teamed up with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to send three types of wood to the International Space Station (ISS) to test the sustainability of each beyond Earth. Upon arrival at the ISS, the samples were placed in the Kibo module, where they remained for about ten months. And last week the results finally came out. All in all, it was a huge success – scientists are already hoping to put their first full-fledged wooden satellite into orbit next year.

“We were impressed by the wood’s ability to withstand simulated low Earth orbit (LEO) conditions. Now we want to see if we can accurately assess the effects of NGO’s harsh conditions on organic materials,” he said.

As for the type of wood, the Japanese magnolia turned out to be the most durable. In addition, the scientists confirmed that the returned specimen did not undergo any weathering or deformation such as cracking, deterioration, flaking or surface damage, and there was virtually no change in weight, according to the press release. Given the harsh temperatures and high radiation levels that are characteristic of space, this is quite a remarkable breakthrough.

Environmentally friendly product

From military applications to high-speed internet, society relies heavily on satellites. But no matter how much we trust them, satellites pose many real problems for both Earth’s internal and external environments.

As with many other spacecraft, satellites often become very expensive scrap when they die. And when dying satellites re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, they create another serious problem – the combustion of aluminum. As a result of the thermal reaction, the by-product of the combustion of this metal can create a new hole in the ozone layer of our atmosphere.

Therefore, switching to wooden satellites may be the best possible solution to the growing satellite problem. Who knows, maybe the heir to the ISS could be made of wood.