4 ms·
Interesting… apparently the advantages are: * cheaper material * naturally dampens vibrations -> can potentially help sensitive instruments * natur
by fouc 9mo ago
Interesting… apparently the advantages are:
* cheaper material
* naturally dampens vibrations -> can potentially help sensitive instruments
* naturally insulates heat better -> saves power on heating
* doesn't block radio frequencies -> lower drag in low orbits -> 50% longer orbital time
* fully burns up on re-entry
- CableNinja 8mo agodownsides is that wood is porous and full of things that dont do well in extreme cold and vacuum. These wont last long, will become very brittle, and have the potential of offgassing things that hardware doesnt like.
- pjerem 8mo agoI would imagine the wood would be processed. Conditions in space are extreme but at least they are stable and known so i'd bet we would know how to treat the wood for this environment.
- pjc50 8mo ago"Engineered wood" is a whole field. It's basically an organic composite, a slightly more flexible form of carbon fiber.
- lnenad 8mo agoIt's really interesting to me that people write these sort of messages in this context. The context being multiple companies with actual material scientists that think this is viable, and that are investing actual dollars into this idea. My first assumption when thinking about wood is the one that you are having. But my second assumption would be that they've probably thought about the same things.
- creatonez 8mo agoWe are in a post-hyperloop, post-spinlaunch, post-theranos, post-oceangate world. You can't trust that any project is not just there to generate VC hype.
- lnenad 8mo agoBut we are talking about multiple companies considering the same approach. By definition it shouldn't be vapourware.
- dtgriscom 8mo agoTake another look at the article; it addresses exactly this.
- junofan 8mo agoWonder about suitability for habitat construction, especially extraterrestrially. Apparently some plants have been grown in regolith samples. Would be wild if there’s a way to close the cycle on building materials very quickly.
- varjag 8mo agoCheaper material isn't really an argument here. Common aluminium and titanium alloys are dirt cheap. Doubly so in aerospace context.
- direwolf20 8mo agoWood's even cheaper. Been to the hardware store recently? You're right though. I really doubt the cost of the aluminium is relevant to any satellite. It costs over 10k to launch the smallest cubesat.
- varjag 8mo agoYeah am not even sure prime quality mahogany (proposed here) is cheaper than aluminium at all.
- antonvs 8mo agoThe outer shell of WISA Woodsat (a different wood satellite) is made from birch plywood. There are some nice pics here: https://kitsat.fi/2022-04_one-year-after-making-our-project-public-now-ready-and-waiting https://kitsat.fi/2022-04_one-year-after-making-our-project-... Sadly, I don't think it was ever launched.