Japan to launch first wooden satellite to combat space pollution

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/17/japan-to-launch-worlds-first-wooden-satellite-to-combat-space-pollution

by hackernj • 2 years ago

55 17 2 years ago

theguardian.com

jerzmacow• 2 years ago

I like the idea that they care, but cellulose at 10,000km/h is just as deadly as steel

dartos• 2 years ago

Would it burn to ash at those speeds?

itake• 2 years ago

Doesn’t wood need oxygen to burn?

kobalsky• 2 years ago

the article talks about the pollution of “aerosolized” aluminum particles in the atmosphere, not about the kinetic hazard.

mc32• 2 years ago

We get showered by meteors all the time, I don't see how satellites create unique pollution. Or do artificial satellites reenter earth in larger magnitudes than meteors?

xyx0826• 2 years ago

I’d be curious to see the actual design. How much existing aluminum are they replacing with wood? Assuming the wood is purely structural, doesn’t that leave solar panels and internal propulsion/electronics as is which happen to make up the most of a satellite’s volume?

netsharc• 2 years ago

Looking forward to the Matthias Wandel build video...

ksec• 2 years ago

Off Topic Question: Doesn't Space pollution causes problem when we launch spacecraft with the risk of colliding with those debris?

askin4it• 2 years ago

Pollution free satellites = good

Forcing everyone to use wooden satellites = bad

Hopefully the policy makers will get it now...

Edit: spelling

hulitu• 2 years ago

Japan to launch first wooden satellite to combat space pollution

Is it April 1st already ? They use wood becsuse it is "renewable" ? Or is it because burns better than other materials ?

Japan to launch first wooden satellite to combat space pollution

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