<
https://gizmodo.com/japanese-researchers-are-making-wooden-satellites-becau-1845967973>
"Floating around the Earth is a bunch of satellites. Cool for GPS,
monitoring weather patterns, and the internet—not so cool for space
junk. This is why Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University are teaming up
to create the world’s first wooden satellites by 2023.
You might think metal satellites burn up on re-entry, but as it turns
out, it’s not that simple. “We are very concerned with the fact that all
the satellites which re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere burn and create
tiny alumina particles which will float in the upper atmosphere for many
years,” Takao Doi, an astronaut and Kyoto University professor, told the
BBC when speaking about the project. “Eventually it will affect the
environment of the Earth.”
Wood, however, would entirely burn up upon re-entry without leaving
harmful substances in the atmosphere—or perhaps scattering dangerous
debris. According to Nikkei Asia, another reason the researchers are
experimenting with wood is that it doesn’t block electromagnetic waves
or the Earth’s own magnetic field. That means wooden satellites could
have simpler builds, as components like antennas could be placed inside
the satellite itself."
Via
libramoon@pluspora.com.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
