Japanese researchers want wood to be tested as a sustainable alternative for future Moon and Mars missions.
The satellite will be exposed to extreme conditions in orbit 400 kilometers above the Earth, where it will be subjected to strong thermal shocks: as it moves from shadow to light, the temperature will fluctuate between minus 100 and plus 100 degrees Celsius every 45 minutes.
LignoSat (its name comes from the Latin word “lignum”, meaning wood) will remain in orbit for six months after being launched from the International Space Station. During this time, its sensors will constantly monitor how the wood behaves in harsh space conditions.
If successful, the experiment could pave the way for the use of wood in the construction of future spaceports and offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional materials.
(source: AFP)
