WISA WOODSAT
Late last year we were extremely skeptical about the reports regarding a plan for wood satellites that seemed confused about what the benefit of using the natural material might be. But it looks like a wooden satellite could orbit later this year via a project we can fully endorse. These are some silly ads by a plywood manufacturer that will ensure a student project is sent into space.
The project, based in Finland, is called the WISA WOODSAT, and it has taken a somewhat indirect route to orbit. The design is based on the cube format called Kitsat, which is intended for student projects. If the goal is simply to expose students to what is needed to make a compact satellite (the design is a 10 cm / side block), the satellite can be built with inexpensive, readily available hardware. But it can also be made using space material and sent to an orbit.
The WOODSAT started with more than the former, with students across the country contributing different parts to a cube set which was then taken up by a balloon. But now, with an opportunity to go to a track, another version gets an upgrade to survive the tough environment.
The ride to the orbit is provided by the wooden edges that give the satellite its name, and WISA is a supplier of plywood. The company sponsors the launch and in turn the sides of the satellite in the product will be covered. A tree with a camera will be extended once in an orbit so that the images of the wood can be sent back from space again. It seems to be monitoring the impact of the environment on WISA’s product, but even its mission manager, Jari Mäkinen, admits “The wooden satellite with a selfie stick will surely bring laughter and goodwill.”
Yet there is more to the satellite than the wooden walls. The plan is to use a communication technology that enables a simple, low-power receiver to record the WOODSAT’s signal, and it will be broadcast on frequencies dedicated to amateur radio. The data it provides comes from a few simple centers and two different cameras. This will be part of the project’s educational mission.
The plans are to place the satellite in a polar orbit with a Rocketlab launch vehicle. The hope is to send it to space before the end of the year.
Are we going to learn something interesting from this? Almost certainly not. You should still appreciate WISA because you are willing to put the money into sending a student project to space.