Space is the final frontier. Many of humanity’s greatest scientific and engineering efforts have been directed toward taking humans further into space. However, the trip was fraught with problems, including: Growing space debris problem and any possibility Being in space can cause damage. to the human brain and body. But in recent years, a new potential question has emerged: how much damage our efforts to explore space and send satellites into orbit could be causing to Earth.

Many people are worried about How do large satellite systems like Starlink affect the ozone layer?. The simplest solution might be to simply stop sending satellites into space, but researchers have come up with another idea that not only reduces possible negative climate impacts, but also allows satellite research to continue in space. The solution is wooden satellites.

Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the idea of ​​wooden satellites make headlines. In 2023, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) proposed the idea of ​​building an entirely wooden satellite. The reason for this was so that after completing its orbital mission, it could return to Earth and completely burn up without releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere upon re-entry. It seemed like a crazy idea, but in the last month of 2024 it became a reality. JAXA’s first wooden satellite “LignoSat” launched into orbit.

Main reason Why JAXA conducts performance tests on wooden satellites It all has to do with what happens during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. You see, most satellites are made of metal and other parts designed to burn up on re-entry. However, metals often break down into other chemicals when burned. We saw this recently: researchers measured Air pollution left behind by SpaceX rockets upon re-entry. The cloud of contamination left behind when rocket components begin to disintegrate under heat is only pushing researchers toward finding more sustainable ways to launch objects into space.

And wooden satellites could be the answer to many of those concerns. That’s because satellites like LignoSat contain much less metal than traditional satellites. Instead, it consists of wooden panels joined using blind miter dovetail joints, common in Japanese woodworking. This means that metal alloys are less likely to burn up in the atmosphere and, as a result, less likely to cause negative atmospheric effects. There are still concerns that the soot produced and the chemicals released when the satellite’s electronics burn can cause unintended chemical reactions, but more research will be needed to properly understand these risks.

There’s also the fact that a wooden satellite means less space junk will fall from the sky, making it less likely that satellite debris will hit a populated area and hurt someone.