LignoSat is a four-inch (10cm) cube packed with advanced electronics and sensors.
Why trade metal for wood?
Conventional aluminum satellites release aluminum oxide particles into the upper atmosphere as they burn up on re-entry.
This could lead to significant accumulation of aluminum oxide over time.
LignoSat aims to test how well a wooden satellite performs in a space environment.
In about a month, the craft will be ejected from the ISS into orbit.
They’ll also check its ability to shield components from cosmic radiation compared to aluminum.
But testing is still needed before such satellites can be widely adopted..
The team aims to plant trees on the moon and Mars within the next 50 years.
Image credit:Kyoto University
