Recently, an unusual box-like satellite named LignoSat hitched a ride into space aboard an unmanned SpaceX rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. LignoSat is small, measuring a mere 4 inches across, but its most remarkable feature is that it is the first satellite constructed of wood.
After arriving at the International
Space Station, the satellite will be released into outer space about a month
later to test its strength and durability. Data transmitted from the satellite
will allow researchers to monitor for signs of strain and determine whether the
wooden structure can withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations of space.
Ultimately, LignoSat will re-enter
Earth's atmosphere, and its Japanese developers expect the wooden material to
burn up completely—potentially offering a way to avoid generating metal
particles when retired satellites return to Earth. These particles could
interfere with telecommunications and negatively impact the environment. In the
future, researchers anticipate that most satellites may no longer be
constructed of metal.
I find it particularly fascinating,
if not outlandish, that our latest technological innovation in space science is
a box made of wood.
—Mitchell Hegman
SOURCE: news.yahoo.com
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