In 2023, wooden satellites will solve the problem of space waste. The Kyoto University and Sumitomo Group are working on the project
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himIn 2023 satellites will be made of wood and will solve the problem of space waste: this was announced by the University of Kyoto which is working on the project with the Japanese company Sumitomo Group, confirming that the works are fully on schedule.
Space debris is a reality and a known problem, not only on the International Space Station but also in space itself, mainly due to old and disused satellites that continue to orbit, generating further debris.
@ Sumitomo Group
Just recently a New Zealand radar had spotted two large debris weighing 2,8 tons on a collision course over Antarctica (Read also: Two large 2,8-tonne space junk debris on a collision course over Antarctica).
But in reality there is still no solution. For this reason, the Sumitomo Group and the University of Kyoto have joined forces to develop what they hope will be by 2023 the first satellites in the world made of wood, studying options for tree growth and the use of wood materials in space.
On the other hand, satellites are increasingly used for communications, navigation and weather forecasts: according to what was reported by the World Economic Forum which re-elaborated the Euroconsult data, by 2028 there could be 15.000 satellites in orbit and already now there are almost 6.000 of which about 60% are no longer functional, and therefore spatial rejection.
©World Economic Forum
Among other things, space debris travels at an incredibly fast speed, of over 22.300 mph, and therefore can cause considerable damage to all objects in its path. Furthermore, according to scientists, satellites re-entering Earth are also an environmental problem.
“We are very concerned that all satellites that re-enter the Earth's atmosphere are burning creating tiny particles of alumina that will float in the upper atmosphere for many years - explains Takao Doi, professor at the University of Kyoto and Japanese astronaut - in the end this will interfere with the Earth's environment ”.
A situation that is no longer sustainable, destined to get worse.
The wooden satellites proposed by the team would then be destroyed without releasing harmful substances into the atmosphere and without raining debris on the ground when they fall back to Earth.
Currently the team is in full experimental research, then it will move on to the development of the engineering model of the satellite, and then move on to the flight model. However, the wood we are talking about is not the common one, but designed to be highly resistant to changes in temperature and sunlight. And it still is covered by industrial secrecy.
The launch is scheduled for 2023.
Sources of reference: BBC / World Economic Forum
Read also:
- Garbage in space: ESA's solutions to eliminate garbage in orbit
- Cosmic Junk: The gecko robot that removes space debris
