This innovation could not have come at a better time, as the number of satellites in Earth’s orbit continues to increase.
Approximately 11,000 satellites, both active and inactive, are currently orbiting the Earth, according to the satellite tracking website Orbiting Now.
In the coming years, this number is expected to skyrocket past 100,000. SpaceX’s Starlink alone plans to launch around 40,000 satellites. Most satellites have a lifespan of roughly five years.
LingoSat incorporates some traditional aluminum structures and electronic parts, but its wooden exterior panels represent a step toward sustainability. LingoSat will stay in orbit about 250 miles above the Earth for six months.
During that time, the satellite will collect information on how the wood performs and whether it can withstand the harsh environment of space, where temperatures fluctuate from -148 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit every 45 minutes.
The satellite will also measure the wood’s ability to minimize the impact of space radiation. If LingoSat is a success in space, wooden satellites could become the new normal when it comes to space exploration.
“It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the moon and Mars,” said Kenji Kariya, a manager at Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute. “Expansion to space could invigorate the timber industry.”
