Japan Launches World's First Wooden Satellite
2024-11-12
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1An experimental satellite made out of wood has been launched into space.
2Japanese developers of the device say it is the first time a wooden satellite has ever been sent to space.
3The small satellite, called LignoSat, launched aboard an uncrewed Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).
4The satellite will later be released into orbit about 400 kilometers above Earth.
5The satellite was built in the form of a box, with each side measuring about 10 centimeters.
6It was developed jointly by researchers at Kyoto University and Japanese homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry.
7A spokeswoman for Sumitomo Forestry told the French news agency AFP that the launch of the satellite was "successful."
8She said the plan calls for the device to be released into orbit in about a month, when its strength and effectiveness will be tested.
9While made mostly of wood, LignoSat contains electronic elements that will control its movements and collect data on its operation.
10Once deployed, the satellite is expected to remain in orbit for about six months.
11The main goal of the experimental satellite is to see whether wood material can be used to build additional satellites or other space equipment.
12Wood is considered more environmental friendly.
13This is because it can just burn up when reentering Earth's atmosphere.
14Satellites and other materials made of metal can release polluting particles into the air and oceans upon reentry.
15International officials have already identified space junk as a growing problem.
16This includes things like dead satellites, lost pieces of equipment or small pieces of paint.
17Such objects can present threats to spacecraft and satellites operating in space.
18Takao Doi is an astronaut who has flown on past space missions and studies human space activities at Kyoto University.
19He told Reuters he thinks wood can greatly improve future stays for long-term space travelers.
20"With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever," Doi said.
21He added that the experiment is designed to demonstrate the abilities of wood to serve as a suitable material for developing future space equipment.
22"Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood," said Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata.
23"A wooden satellite should be feasible, too."
24Murata noted that wood can last longer in space than on Earth because water or oxygen cannot burn or destroy it.
25Doi said it is possible metal satellites could be banned in the future.
26"If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk's SpaceX."
27The team said a 10-month experiment aboard the ISS found that honoki - a native tree in Japan and traditionally used to make sword covers - is well-suited for spacecraft.
28LignoSat is made of honoki as part of a traditional Japanese crafting method that does not use screws or glue.
29Kenji Kariya is a leader at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute.
30He told Reuters the wooden satellite will also test the ability of the material to reduce the effects of space radiation on semiconductors.
31"It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the moon and Mars."
32Kariya noted that expanding into space technologies could support the timber industry.
33I'm Bryan Lynn.
1An experimental satellite made out of wood has been launched into space. Japanese developers of the device say it is the first time a wooden satellite has ever been sent to space. 2The small satellite, called LignoSat, launched aboard an uncrewed Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The satellite will later be released into orbit about 400 kilometers above Earth. 3The satellite was built in the form of a box, with each side measuring about 10 centimeters. It was developed jointly by researchers at Kyoto University and Japanese homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry. 4A spokeswoman for Sumitomo Forestry told the French news agency AFP that the launch of the satellite was "successful." She said the plan calls for the device to be released into orbit in about a month, when its strength and effectiveness will be tested. 5While made mostly of wood, LignoSat contains electronic elements that will control its movements and collect data on its operation. Once deployed, the satellite is expected to remain in orbit for about six months. 6The main goal of the experimental satellite is to see whether wood material can be used to build additional satellites or other space equipment. Wood is considered more environmental friendly. This is because it can just burn up when reentering Earth's atmosphere. Satellites and other materials made of metal can release polluting particles into the air and oceans upon reentry. 7International officials have already identified space junk as a growing problem. This includes things like dead satellites, lost pieces of equipment or small pieces of paint. Such objects can present threats to spacecraft and satellites operating in space. 8Takao Doi is an astronaut who has flown on past space missions and studies human space activities at Kyoto University. He told Reuters he thinks wood can greatly improve future stays for long-term space travelers. "With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever," Doi said. 9He added that the experiment is designed to demonstrate the abilities of wood to serve as a suitable material for developing future space equipment. 10"Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood," said Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata. "A wooden satellite should be feasible, too." Murata noted that wood can last longer in space than on Earth because water or oxygen cannot burn or destroy it. 11Doi said it is possible metal satellites could be banned in the future. "If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk's SpaceX." 12The team said a 10-month experiment aboard the ISS found that honoki - a native tree in Japan and traditionally used to make sword covers - is well-suited for spacecraft. LignoSat is made of honoki as part of a traditional Japanese crafting method that does not use screws or glue. 13Kenji Kariya is a leader at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute. He told Reuters the wooden satellite will also test the ability of the material to reduce the effects of space radiation on semiconductors. 14"It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the moon and Mars." Kariya noted that expanding into space technologies could support the timber industry. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16Reuters and Agence France-Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 17_____________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19junk - n. material that is no longer of use or working 20timber - n. wood used to construct buildings 21feasible - adj. possible to do 22pitch - v. try to persuade someone to do something 23sword - adj. a weapon with a long, metal blade and a handle, that was especially used in the past 24crafting - n. an activity in which you make something using a log of skill, especially with your hands 25semiconductor - n. a material, such as silicon, that permits electricity to move through it more easily when its temperature increases 26outdated - adj. not modern enough 27cutting-edge - adj. very modern, with all the newest developments