[HN Gopher] Japan set to launch first wood satellite
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       Japan set to launch first wood satellite
        
       Author : type0
       Score  : 21 points
       Date   : 2024-02-28 21:59 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.woodworkingnetwork.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.woodworkingnetwork.com)
        
       | dheera wrote:
       | > biodegradable and will burn up upon reentry
       | 
       | Why does "biodegradable" matter? It seems "burn up upon reentry"
       | is the more relevant part of this, in which case doesn't
       | anything, even metal and rock, burn up upon reentry?
        
         | Apocryphon wrote:
         | Two paragraphs below:
         | 
         | > Traditional satellites, built with aluminum, release harmful
         | particles when they re-enter Earth's atmosphere, potentially
         | damaging the delicate ozone layer, the World Economic Forum
         | reported.
        
           | dheera wrote:
           | Are these harmful particles aluminum-specific or general to
           | all metals? What if it was carbon fiber, titanium, thin sheet
           | steel, or some nontoxic plastic?
           | 
           | Wood is a really odd choice, as it is not a very uniform and
           | predictable material to work with, and it seems "reduce
           | detrimental effects on the ozone layer" is the real
           | constraint, rather than biodegradability.
           | 
           | For things on land that decompose rather than burn up, it may
           | be true that "reduce toxic effects on soil and the ecosystem"
           | == "biodegradability", but it's not obvious to me that this
           | applies to something burning up in the atmosphere. Burning
           | wood isn't particularly great for the ozone layer either
           | (c.f. forest fires).
        
       | ortusdux wrote:
       | Seems like a great application for a densified wood (transparent
       | wood and the like). Much higher strength to weight ratio.
        
       | iefbr14 wrote:
       | Cutting down trees to save the environment. Great idea.
        
         | NikkiA wrote:
         | Wood grows, aluminium doesn't.
        
         | the_third_wave wrote:
         | Yes, good plan as long as you either grew those trees
         | specifically for the purpose or regrow trees after cutting them
         | down. More trees makes for a healthier atmosphere and healthier
         | - and happier - people. More trees, fewer barren fields, good.
        
       | ChrisArchitect wrote:
       | [dupe]
       | 
       | More discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39414641
        
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       (page generated 2024-02-28 23:02 UTC)