The world’s first wooden satellite

For the first time, scientists have come up with a satellite made of plywood, as opposed to conventional materials such as Kevlar. How will the
furniture-friendly wood withstand the extreme conditions of space? Well, that’s precisely what the mission seeks to find out.

Artist’s concept of WISA Woodsat,
the world’s first wooden satellite.
PHOTO: ARCTIC ASTRONAUTICS/ ESA
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 outfitted with
two cameras, one of which will be
attached to a metal selfie 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 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 corner
aluminium rails used for its
deployment into space plus a
metal selfie 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 are satellites usually made of?
Engineers need to build satellites out of materials that don't expand or contract much due to
temperature fluctuations, 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, fiberglass,
Teflon, Kevlar and many other materials all work together to create a fully functional satellite.