Chinese Firm Develops Wooden Rocket Fairing for Cost-Effective Launches

Chinese commercial space firm Light Year Explorer has manufactured a rocket fairing with a wooden outer skin as part of the company’s push for lower-cost, mass-produced launch vehicles. The design of the protective shell uses low-density plywood formed into a smooth aerodynamic curve, supported by an internal metal framework to bear loads, according to the Jiangsu-based company.

This configuration matches traditional composite fairings in key performance areas such as weight, structural rigidity, radio wave transparency and noise reduction, while reducing production costs and shortening manufacturing time markedly. The diameter of the wooden fairing is 4.2 meters, designed for use in commercial rockets that launch both groups of small satellites and larger individual payloads.

The wooden fairing aims to protect payloads from aerodynamic pressure during ascent through dense atmospheric layers, as well as from heating and intense acoustic impacts. After reaching the necessary altitude, sections of the fairing detach, releasing the payload. The company asserts that the use of plywood will significantly reduce material costs and manufacturing time, while also being environmentally friendly, as wooden fairings do not release harmful particles into the atmosphere during combustion.

Currently, the plywood fairing is undergoing preparation for certification and may soon find customers. Light Year Explorer also manufactures other rocket components, including stainless steel fuel tanks and corrugated metal parts for rocket bodies. This innovation follows previous interest in wooden structures for rockets, such as the Japanese cubesat LignoSat, which was launched with walls made of magnolia two years ago. Light Year Explorer's plywood fairing could soon be part of the next generation of eco-friendly launch vehicles.