Japan launches world's 1st wooden satellite

Japan on Tuesday launched the world's first wooden satellite into space.

The timber-made satellite will be used for lunar and Mars exploration.

LignoSat, named after the Latin word for wood, was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the US atop a SpaceX rocket bound for International Space Station.

Named after the Lord for "wood," Lignosat was developed by Kyoto University and homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry.

The palm-sized LignoSat is tasked to demonstrate the cosmic potential of the renewable material as humans explore living in space.

It would stay in orbit for six months, once launched into space.