JAXA’s First Wooden Satellite Deploys from Space Station
January 7, 2025
[Redacted], Florida – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully deployed its first wooden satellite from the International Space Station (ISS). The WNISAT-1 (Wooden Nano-Satellite) was launched to the ISS on December 22, 2024, aboard the SpaceX Dragon CRS-28 cargo spacecraft.
WNISAT-1 is a 10-centimeter cube satellite made primarily from Japanese cedar. It weighs approximately 1 kilogram and is powered by a single solar panel. The satellite carries a variety of sensors, including a camera, a temperature sensor, and an accelerometer.
The primary objective of the WNISAT-1 mission is to test the durability of wood in the harsh environment of space. Wood is a natural material that is lightweight, strong, and inexpensive. However, it is also susceptible to damage from ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperatures, and micrometeoroids.
By sending a wooden satellite into space, JAXA hopes to learn more about how wood behaves in this environment and to assess its potential for future use in space applications. If wood proves to be a viable material for space missions, it could lead to the development of lighter, more compact, and more affordable satellites.
WNISAT-1 was deployed from the ISS on January 7, 2025, at 6:09 AM CST. The satellite was released into orbit using the ISS’s robotic arm, Canadarm2. WNISAT-1 is now orbiting Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers.
JAXA will monitor WNISAT-1’s performance for the next several months. The agency will collect data from the satellite’s sensors and track its orbit to assess its durability and functionality.
The WNISAT-1 mission is a significant milestone for JAXA and for the field of space exploration. It is the first time that a wooden satellite has been deployed into space, and it has the potential to open up new possibilities for the use of wood in space applications.
JAXA’s First Wooden Satellite Deploys from Space Station
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
NASA a new article on 2025-01-07 19:09 titled “JAXA’s First Wooden Satellite Deploys from Space Station”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
26