World's First Wood-Paneled Satellite Launched Into Space (bbc.com)
- Reference: 0175410431
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/24/11/05/2047247/worlds-first-wood-paneled-satellite-launched-into-space
- Source link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3qzd5ql9o
> Made by researchers in Japan, the tiny satellite weighing just 900g is heading for the International Space Station on a SpaceX mission. It will then be released into orbit above the Earth. Named [2]LignoSat , after the Latin word for wood, its panels have been built from a type of magnolia tree, using a traditional technique without screws or glue. Researchers at Kyoto University who developed it hope it may be possible in the future to replace some metals used in space exploration with wood.
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> "Wood is more durable in space than on Earth because there's no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it," Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata told Reuters news agency. "Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood," Prof Murata said. "A wooden satellite should be feasible, too." If trees could one day be planted on the Moon or Mars, wood might also provide material for colonies in space in the future, the researchers hope. Along with its wood panels, LignoSat also incorporates traditional aluminium structures and electronic components. It has sensors on board to monitor how its wood reacts to the extreme environment of space during the six months it will orbit the Earth.
You can watch the launch [3]on YouTube .
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3qzd5ql9o
[2] https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/lignosat
[3] https://www.youtube.com/live/QI8QS72Wvec?si=ndCpuHEtDrM59RiB&t=1689
Re: (Score:2)
You mean The Wooden Spaceships by Bob Shaw?
Solid rocket motors (Score:2)
I can't wait until they use sawdust as the main fuel in a heavy-lift launch vehicle. That will address the environmental concerns of space industry better than engineered plywood.
Honestly I wouldn't have so many problems with the article if the phrase "renewable building material" wasn't invoked. Wood is just a great material, regardless if it is renewable. In aerospace, it's the fuel and the rocket casing that are the long pole in terms of renewability and environmental responsibility. I guess I don't like
Re: (Score:2)
Sawdust as rocket fuel? The launch site and the whole surrounding county will smell like barbecue for a week after.
Re: (Score:2)
It'll smell like hydrogen peroxide and smokey barbecue. Like you're having a cook out at the salon.
Re: (Score:2)
And of course today is the 5th of November - Guy Fawkes Day.
(Probably only celebrated in Commonwealth countries.)
Re: (Score:2)
> And of course today is the 5th of November - Guy Fawkes Day.
> (Probably only celebrated in Commonwealth countries.)
I love the irony of the UK election happening on Independence Day and the US election happening on Guy Fawkes Day...
Re: Orbital railgun... (Score:1)
"Should"? Elaborate. Our Solar System is overwhelmingly a vacuum with nothing in it. Close your eyes: ta dah, there's your telepresence.
And also to test a hypothesis (Score:2)
I think it's also a test to see if vacuum kills termites. It probably would for one or two seasons. After that, termites would probably evolve the ability to survive in vacuum and use cosmic radiation for energy.
But does it have a pool table and beer fridge? (Score:2)
goes with the wood panelling, No?
Would likely need a couple of couches, big square coffee table, xbox, and 46" flat screen.
Amirite?
Re: (Score:2)
> goes with the wood panelling, No? Would likely need a couple of couches, big square coffee table, xbox, and 46" flat screen. Amirite?
I don't know, but I think it's got hookers. And blackjack!
Extremes of temperature (Score:2)
Initially I'd think the extremes of temperature wouldn't work too well for wood.
Re: (Score:2)
Hot or cold I've never had a problem with my wood staying stiff. YMMV.
Timber (Score:2)
Good luck in finding any trees on the Moon and Mars to chop down and make lumbar from.
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If trees could one day be planted on the Moon or Mars,..." If horses could fly, we would not need aircraft. Aside from the difficulty of growing trees in space, it takes many years to grow a tree. I also doubt how well wood will actually last in space. I would expect loss of moisture to cause warping fairly rapidly.
Re: (Score:1)
> If trees could one day be planted on the Moon or Mars...
You're thinking far too small - this is a potentially awesome application for genetic engineering (unlike the others!):
Who wouldn't want to live inside a 2km-tall lunar oak??
Re: (Score:1)
Making lumbar
[1]https://www.etsy.com/listing/1... [etsy.com]
[1] https://www.etsy.com/listing/1793999801/spine-wall-decor-spiral-cord-wood-art
Re: (Score:3)
If you did grow tree on the moon it would come out like bamboo. 1/6 gravity won't make for dense wood. It would be a fun experiment to try though.
Re: (Score:2)
> If you did grow tree on the moon it would come out like bamboo. 1/6 gravity won't make for dense wood. It would be a fun experiment to try though.
Some idiot savant: "Well then, what you wanna do is plant trees on Jupiter! It'll be wood that's denser than diamond with tensile strength far greater that high carbon steel! We need to send a planting mission right away!"
Re: (Score:2)
Perhaps they can devise a mechanism to push the top of the bamboo in a different direction each day to stress it while it's growing.