The world’s first wooden satellite

A Finnish company is set to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, largely constructed from birch plywood, into space in November


WISA Woodsat: Based on CubeSat design primarily used by hobbyists and students

Nov 2021: First mission will test durability of Space Plywood panels in extreme hot and cold conditions of space

Nine solar panels

One side will be coated in normal wood varnish to see how it reacts to space environment

Launch site: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

10cm

500km 300 miles
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

50km 30 miles
Mahia Peninsula

Pacific Ocean


Radio antennae 
Relay video and photos back to Earth

ESA Quartz Crystal Microbalance sensor measures any gas venting from wood

Selfie stick: Records changes in appearance


HOW SPACE PLYWOOD IS MADE – UPM Savonlinna Mill, Finland

1. Birch logs soak in water for 24 hours

2. Bark removed and log cut into lengths

3. Logs peeled and sheets dried

4. Veneers glued together (alternate layers rotated 90°)

5. Hot press squeezes layers together for several minutes, curing glue to maximum strength

6. Wood dried in thermal vacuum, then coated in aluminium oxide


Sources: Space, Mashable, UPM Plywood 
Pictures: Arctic Astronautics 
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