Japan developing wooden satellites to cut space junk

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Japanese company and Kyoto University have joined forces to develop

what they hope will be the world's first satellites made out of wood by

2023.Sumitomo Forestry said it has started research on tree growth and the use of wood materials in space. The partnership will begin experimenting with different types of wood in extreme environments on Earth.Space junk is becoming an increasing problem as more satellites are launched into the atmosphere.Wooden

satellites would burn up without releasing harmful substances into the

atmosphere or raining debris on the ground when they plunge back to

Earth.