In December 2024, five CubeSats deployed into Earth's orbit from the International Space Station. Among them was LignoSat, a wooden satellite from JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) that investigates the use of wood in space.

In a pioneering space mission, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched LignoSat, a satellite constructed from wood, into Earth's orbit in December 2024. This innovative approach aims to assess the viability of wood as a sustainable alternative to traditional satellite materials.

The world's first wooden satellite has officially been deployed. Built by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the timber-clad device hitched a ride on a SpaceX mission which brought it to the International Space Station last November.

LignoSat's six-month mission will demonstrate whether wood could help reduce the environmental impact of spaceflight in the future.