Which is world’s first wooden satellite?

What is the WISA Woodsat?

  • The WISA Woodsat is a nano-satellite that’s shaped like a cube. It measures roughly 10 x 10 x 10 cm and weighs one kilogram.
  • According to the European Space Agency (ESA), it is built up from standardised boxes – but with surface panels made from plywood. The base material for plywood is birch. The Woodsat’s only non-wooden parts are comer aluminium rails used for its deployment into space plus a metal selfie stick.
  • The satellite will be powered by nine small solar cells. It will be equipped with an amateur radio payload that will allow amateur astronauts to relay radio signals and images around the globe.
  • The WISA Woodsat is scheduled to be launched from New Zealand in November 2021. After launch, it will enter polar orbit around Earth at 500-600 km altitude.

Who are the key players?

The wooden satellite has been developed by Arctic Astronautics, a Finnish company manufacturing cubesat kits for students. The satellite has sensors developed by the ESA and the rocket that will carry it has been developed by American aerospace manufacturer Rocket Lab.

What is the objective of the satellite?

  • The aim of the mission is to test the behaviour and durability of wood – the plywood panels – in the extreme conditions of space and assess its suitability for future missions. Plywood has been prized for its strength, rigidity and durability-three things that are good in a spacecraft.
  • WISA Woodsat will also run an experiment to understand the 3D printing of cables in space. Future satellite projects may be able to make power and data cables using an onboard printer in space.
  • The satellite will be outfitted with two cameras, one of which will be attached to a metal selfie stick, allowing the mission team to observe how the satellite’s plywood surface changes in the space environment.

How has it been designed to endure the space environment?

  • All components in the satellite will be made to withstand the rigours of launch and open space.
  • In normal conditions, plywood is susceptible to humidity in the air. So, the wood used in the WISA Woodsat will be vacuum-dried to avoid any troubles in space.
  • An ultra-thin layer of aluminium oxide, which is commonly used to coat electronics will be added to the satellite to minimise any vapours emitted (called outgassing) by the wood. Such emission could cloud the satellite’s optical instruments.
  • The aluminium oxide will also apparently protect the plywood panels from atomic oxygen, a corrosive element at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. It’s created when UV rays strike and split oxygen molecules.
  • The scientists will also be testing other varnishes and lacquers on sections of the wood.
  • The dual-camera monitoring would help the scientists determine how the satellite reacts to space’s harsh conditions. The ESA’s pressure sensors will help monitor the pressure in its cavities.

What happened during the test flight?

On June 12, the first test flight of the WISA Woodsat was carried out. It was launched aboard a weather balloon to approximately 30 km above Earth’s surface. Tests of its communication capabilities, command response, and selfie stick camera were successful.

What are satellites usually made of?

Engineers need to build satellites out of materials that don’t expand or contract much due to temperature fluctuations, which occur frequently in orbit. Satellites travel at high speed, which means they have to withstand immense gravitational forces and potential impacts with space junk and space rocks.

Most satellites are made of aluminum and its alloys. Aluminium is lightweight, durable, and relatively cheap. Aluminum-coated polyimide is usually used to insulate the satellite. The iconic gold shimmer of many satellites comes from this polyimide. Graphite, boron, carbon, fiberglass, Teflon, Kevlar and many other materials all work together to create a fully functional satellite.

Picture Credit : Google

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