"A made-in-Japan solution for space junk that goes against the grain."
Against the grain, get it? They're talking about wood.
"Wooden satellites would mitigate the increase of metal in the stratosphere and the risks from tumbling satellites at a time when the atmosphere is growing ever more crowded thanks to SpaceX's launches of thousands of satellites and the expansion of its competitors such as Amazon."
"Back in 2022, Kyoto scientists sent wooden samples -- cherry, birch and magnolia -- into space. Magnolia, which is a hardwood, is relatively light and has dimensional stability that is superior to other species, Koji Murata, a Kyoto University professor who specializes in wooden materials and agriculture, says, making it a winning candidate for the project."
A made-in-Japan solution for space junk that goes against the grain
