NASA and Japan launch world's 1st wooden satellite into orbit. Here's why it could help solve a huge problem for our planet.

Illustration of a wooden square satellite as it orbits the earth.

The world's first wooden satellite is officially in Earth orbit.

LignoSat, a coffee mug-size satellite made from magnolia wood, was successfully deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2024, NASA announced in a statement on Jan. 7.

Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and shepherded into space by NASA, LignoSat will help investigate the use of wood in space in a bid to make spaceflight more sustainable.