Space a wooden satellite!

[Cooper]

I never thought I’d ever hear of news like this. What next, a wooden space station?

 

[Cabinetman]

I assumed that was a video, do you have any more info?

 

[Nick.]

I was just reading about it on Sky news, very interesting.

https://news.sky.com/story/worlds-f...ds-to-space-in-mars-exploration-test-13248719

"The world's first wooden satellite has been launched into space.

The satellite, designed by Japanese researchers, was launched on Tuesday...

...Experts hope to test how timber can be used in the exploration of the moon and Mars

...Wood is a more durable material in space than it is on Earth as there's no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it, researchers say.

...LignoSat is made of honoki, a kind of magnolia tree native to Japan, and has been made using a traditional Japanese technique without screws or glue."

 

[Hypnotic Chimera]

Awesome.

What if......

What if Japanese woodworking techniques have been handed down from a legacy of a civilisation in far pre-history? A far pre-historic civilisation that pioneered wooden satellites and developed woodworking techniques that would work in space?

 

[Cooper]

A bit more information.
https://www.theguardian.com/science...te-launched-into-space?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[Chris Puttick]

One of the best aspects of this news is the 2 partners in the development were Kyoto University and a 300+ year old forestry company - founded in 1691. Sadly they don't have an English language page for the project, but I grabbed this photo of the completed satellite from the Japanese press release on the satellite's completion.

Translation of the release here: https://sfc-jp.translate.goog/information/news/2024/2024-05-28.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp