Work

Experimental assessment of wood as a lightweight proton-radiation shield for spacecraft structures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Wooden satellites are currently under development owing to their lighter weight, better processability, and lower manufacturing costs compared with conventional metallic constructs. Additionally, wooden satellites are inherently capable of autogenous deorbit burn-up after completing the mission. Therefore, wooden satellites are proposed to mitigate orbital waste. However, there is a general lack of research and knowledge on the space radiation shielding characteristics of wood, compared with conventional materials used in satellite structural manufacturing. Space radiation is an essential factor to consider in satellite system design, and energetic ions can markedly impair or destroy onboard electronics. To evaluate the radiation shielding properties of wood, 10 species underwent proton beam irradiation. The experimental results demonstrated that the two species effectively attenuated ionizing particles. Furthermore, the radiation energy degradation rate was quantified for wood and aluminum shielding to demonstrate suitability for space applications.

Source: Advances in Space Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2025.12.021

Authors: Woo-Min Cho, Hyun-Ung Oh

Institution: Korea Aerospace University

Language: English

Topic: Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,780

Funders: Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, Korea University, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Defense Acquisition Program Administration