According to the preliminary plan, in February, JAXA astronaut Takao Doi will fix wood samples outside the ISS research module to study their properties and strength in outer space
TOKYO, December 31. /tass/. At the beginning of next year, Japanese specialists will begin technical experiments related to the preparation for the launch of the world's first wooden satellite. This was reported on Friday by the Kyodo news agency.
According to the preliminary plan, in February, an astronaut of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Takao Doi will fix wood samples outside the research module on the International Space Station to study their properties and strength in outer space.
Magnolia, a mountain variety of sakura yamazakura, as well as a stone birch were chosen for the experiment. Panels made of these types of wood will spend nine months in outer space, after which scientists will make a final conclusion about which material is best suited for making a satellite.
The device itself is supposed to be made in the form of a small cube with a face of 10 cm. Solar cells will be installed on it from the outside, and the rest of the necessary electronic equipment, including the antenna, will be placed inside. The satellite is being developed by specialists from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry with the support of JAXA.
The launch of the satellite is scheduled for 2023. A team of Japanese scientists believes that this experiment will be able to prove the suitability of wood as an environmentally friendly material for the production of spacecraft.
