Kyoto University in Japan is going to team up with a Japanese Forestry firm to make wooden satellites into orbit by 2023. These wooden satellites will be used to reduce space junk. The Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, has said that the benefit of a wooden satellite is that even if it falls out of orbit, it will burn up on re-entry. These wooden satellites will not discharge as harmful particles as metal satellites. The lead author of the study has said that all existing satellites that make a re-entry into the atmosphere of Earth, burn into flames and leaves tiny alumina particles, which will keep floating in the upper atmosphere for many years. Ultimately, it negatively impacts the environment of the planet Earth.
As per the report, experts from the Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry will start testing how well different types of woods can endure extreme conditions on Earth. Keeping these factors in mind, they are planning to develop a wood that can bear wild variations in temperature and sunlight. Scientists have said that growing space junk and debris have become a huge matter of concern. It has increased the risk of the collision of two massive space junks, which will lead to the greatest ecological risk. These space junks range from one to ten metric tons. As per the data from the Center for Space Standards and Innovation (CSSI), there are more than 760000 objects in orbit at present, which are larger than a centimeter.
Daniel Oltrogge, the director of CSSI has said that the figure is constantly on the rise, with private firms launching their own group of satellites. For example, Elon Musk’s Space X has launched around 900 of its High-Speed Internet Starlink satellites. SpaceX is planning to launch around 12000 to 42000 such satellites. Amazon as well is on board with a similar kind of project. The company is going to launch around 3236 satellites. Amazon officials have already obtained FCC approval for the project.
