Magnolia Wood: The Key to Building a Wooden Satellite

Researchers from Japan have completed testing on using magnolia wood as a housing material for satellites, which could potentially alleviate the problem of space debris caused by metal enclosures. The wood samples were subjected to material tests after being exposed to radiation for over half a year in the vacuum of space, and showed no significant deformation, peeling, or surface damage. Magnolia wood was selected for its flexibility and support strength, and will be used for the LignoSat project launching on a joint NASA/JAXA mission in 2024.