Selfie-stick packing Woodsat blasting off
Science and technology online bible Ars Technica (AT) has reported that a plan to build satellites using plywood as material may finally see orbit in space later this year.
Called the Wisa Woodsat, the satellite — a cube sat, actually — is being conceptualized in Finland with a plywood manufacturer as its primary backer.
Don’t judge a satellite by its plywood claddings because its inside is all serious business.
AT said the design for the compact, 10cm per side satellite was intended to be a kit for students who can use either “cheap, easy-to-obtain hardware” or space-grade materials.
One thing assured of Wisa Woodsat is that it can be sent into space and work. The original design, however, is taking the backburner to an upgraded version designed to survive space’s unforgiving environment.
“That ride to orbit is being provided by the supplier of the wooden sides that give the satellite its name, with WISA being a supplier of plywood,” AT reported.
“The company is sponsoring the launch and, in turn, the sides of the satellite will be covered in its product,” it added. “A boom with a camera will be extended once in orbit, allowing images of the wood to be sent back down from space.”
Mission manager Jari Mäkinen conceded that the “wooden satellite with a selfie stick will surely bring laughter and goodwill.”
But don’t be judging a satellite by its plywood cladding because its inside is all serious business with a communication technology that will allow most earthlings with low-power receivers to receive Woodsat’s signal.
Woodsat will broadcast on amateur or ham radio frequencies, broadcasting data picked up by minute sensors and two cameras. If plans do not misfire, the satellite will be rocketed by Rocketlab into a polar orbit by the end of the year.
“Are we going to learn anything interesting about wood from this? Almost certainly not. Still, you have to appreciate WISA for being willing to put up the money to send a student project to space,” said.