The world's first wooden satellite was launched into space on Tuesday, soaring its way towards the International Space Station. Developed by a team at Kyoto University, the palm-sized box, named LignoSat was crafted from a magnolia tree. 

世界上第一颗木质外壳的卫星于本周二发射升空，飞向了国际空间站。这颗人造卫星由京都大学的一个团队研发，是一个只有手掌大小的盒子，被叫做 “木质卫星（LignoSat）”，是用一棵木兰属的乔木制成。 

It will spend six months in orbit 400km above the Earth, where temperatures fluctuate from -100C to 100C, testing to see if wood could be a feasible space-grade material. Researchers say with no water or oxygen to rot or inflame it, wood is much more durable in space than it is on Earth.

这颗人造卫星将在距地表 400 公里的轨道上运行六个月，从而检测木材是否是一种可行的太空材料，因为那里的温度在零下 100 摄氏度到 100 摄氏度之间波动。研究人员说，由于太空中没有水或氧气来使其腐烂或燃烧，木材在太空中远比在地球上更加坚固耐用。 

And when the mission is over, the decommissioned satellite will burn up on its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. With no screws or glue, it will emit far fewer pollutants than ordinary metal satellites. Scientists hope it's the first step in a 50-year plan to build timber houses on the Moon and Mars.

本次任务结束后，退役的卫星将在重返地球大气层时烧尽。由于没有使用任何螺丝或胶水，它将比普通的金属人造卫星排放的污染物更少。科学家们希望这次实验能够成为一项在月球和火星上建造木质房屋的 50 年计划的第一步。 

词汇表

soaring 向高处飞
magnolia 木兰属的
fluctuate 波动，起伏不定
feasible 可行的
rot 使…腐烂
inflame 使…燃烧
decommissioned 退役的
pollutants 污染物
timber 木材