JAPAN, Nov 6: The world's first wooden satellite has been launched into space as part of a study aimed at reducing space junk. Scientists at Kyoto University hope that the wooden material will burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, providing a solution to avoid the creation of metal particles when decommissioned satellites return to Earth. These particles, the developers warn, can have negative effects on the environment and telecommunications.

The experimental satellite, named LignoSat, is box-shaped with each side measuring just 10cm (4in). It was launched aboard an unmanned SpaceX rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a statement from Kyoto University’s Human Spaceology Center on Tuesday.

The satellite, placed in a special container prepared by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, was confirmed to have "flown into space safely," as reported in a post on X. A spokesperson for Sumitomo Forestry, one of LignoSat’s co-developers, confirmed the success of the launch.

The spokesperson also mentioned that the satellite will soon reach the International Space Station (ISS) and will be released into space about a month later to undergo tests on its strength and durability. Researchers will receive data from the satellite, allowing them to monitor signs of strain and assess whether it can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.

"Satellites that are not made of metal should become mainstream," said Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, during a press conference earlier this year.