The BBC reports that a Japanese firm and university are designing a satellite made of wood.
Except Bespoke, Hipster points What is the meaning of such noble stuff? One advantage: When a satellite is disseminated and burns at re-entry, it can theoretically release less toxic fumes into the atmosphere.
Space junk is becoming a growing problem as more satellites land in the atmosphere.
Wooden satellites burn when they sink back into the earth without releasing harmful substances into the atmosphere or raining debris on the ground.
“We are very concerned about the fact that all satellites that re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere burn and form small alumina particles that float in the upper atmosphere for many years,” said Professor Tako Doi of Kyoto University and a Japanese astronaut. BBC.
“Eventually it will affect the Earth’s atmosphere.”
It is certainly true that the space-junk problem is spreading; I have recently noticed a large part on the privatization of outer space New Republic, And I met scientists worried about SpaceX’s plans to send thousands of new satellites in the coming years.
Popular mechanics Wrote a brief history of the use of wood in spacecraft (there were many experiments, including the heat ield), and showed another advantage:
There may be some advantages to closing the payload in a wooden shell. Nikkei Asia It also notes that, unlike metal, wood will not block the electromagnetic waves that satellites use to communicate. If so, scientists will be able to hide the antenna and other pieces of instrumentation inside the outer wooden structure.
(CC-0.0.-Licensed photo of the above wood – not related to the construction of the satellites! It’s just wood!
