World’s first wooden satellite launched into space

LignoSat, developed in Japan and launched from Florida, expected to reduce space junk as it burns up on re-entry

The world's first wooden satellite has been launched into space as part of study on using timber to help reduce the creation of space junk.

Scientists at Kyoto University expect the wooden material to burn up when the device re-enters the atmosphere - potentially providing a way to avoid generating metal particles when a retired satellite returns to Earth.