Wood paneling may conjure images of 70s and 80s era couches covered in plastic, but it’s the latest material being tested for Earth orbiting satellites. The satellite was built by Japanese researchers at Kyoto University and blasted to the International Space Station on a SpaceX flight.

Researcher’s named the 900g cubesat, LignoSat. Named after the Latin word for wood, the satellite has a beautiful magnolia finish and is held together using traditional Japanese woodworking techniques instead of screws. and glue. The satellite will be released from the ISS and placed into orbit.

Researchers hope wood can be a durable replacement material for metal. They also hope wooden satellites can alleviate the massive cloud of space junk circling the Earth.

Wood is more durable in space than on Earth because there’s no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it.

Koji Murata, Forest Science Professor, Kyoto University

Inside the wood paneled satellite are standard, silicon and wired components we’re all familiar with. LignoSat is using sensors to help scientists understand how wood reacts in space around Earth. LignoSat will orbit the Earth for six months and probably bite the dust by re-entering atmosphere.

If the wood satellite proves successful, wood may be a chosen material for habitats and enclosures on Mars. If trees can be grown in martian soil, it could be a renewable material for colonization.

This will be interesting experiment, and I’m excited to see how the wood holds up. Renewable materials may be the quickest path to Mars.