Robinia Hungary Holding Kft.
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Event · · Tokyo

After magnolia, black locust: a Hungarian tree at the gateway to space

In 2024, the world’s first wooden satellite reached orbit. It was made of Japanese magnolia, and its wooden structure held together in orbit. A Hungarian family business now wants to go further – with a denser, harder wood: Hungarian black locust. On 10 December in Tokyo, we will show where the work stands. And how you can help.

Live online stream · Event language: English

10 December 2026, 16:00–20:00 (JST)
Embassy of Hungary in Tokyo

Register now Programme ↓

RobiniaSat-1 concept visualization: a cube-shaped satellite frame of wood with solar panels
Concept visualization (R&D phase), not the final configuration

Why wood?

More and more retired satellites circle the Earth. Metal structures re-entering the atmosphere can release aluminium oxide particles into the upper atmosphere, while wood burns up almost completely. LignoSat, developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, showed that a wooden satellite structure can hold together in orbit. The question now is: which wood is best for the job? The seminar’s title, “Beyond LignoSat”, takes that question further.

What makes a black locust satellite special?

RobiniaSat-1 is at the research and development stage (TRL 1–3): we are researching a CubeSat-format satellite frame, not building a finished satellite.

The twist: all of this is self-funded

Since January 2026, RobiniaSat-1 has been developed entirely from our own resources. There is no government programme or corporation behind us – just a forest, a family and a question. Now, for the first time, we are opening the project up: if you believe in it, you can join as a supporter.

Growth Ring Programme: support the development

Your support funds material tests, samples and the first structural-frame prototype. Choose one of the four levels or transfer any amount you like.

Seedling

€40

Numbered digital supporter certificate, your name on the website’s supporter list (with your consent), annual progress report by email.

Growth Ring

€130

Seedling level, plus a digital supporter pack: a printable wall poster with the RobiniaSat-1 concept visualization and black locust growth rings, wallpapers for desktop and phone, and your name in the acknowledgements of the project’s professional materials.

Forest

€650

Growth Ring level, plus a park tree planted in your name in the newly launched RobiniaSat Park in Dánszentmiklós, Hungary. Your certificate shows the tree’s number and planting year.

Orbit – for companies

from €4,000

To say thank you, we will contact your company personally. In a friendly conversation, we are happy to offer our network of contacts in Japan and our support, if you wish.

Payment reference for your transfer: Támogatás RobiniaSat-1 (Hungarian for “Support RobiniaSat-1”)

Bank details – support

Account holder
Robinia Hungary Holding Kft.
Bank
BKS Bank, St. Veiter Ring 43, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria
IBAN
AT70 1700 0001 3004 4220
SWIFT/BIC
BFKKAT2K
Currency
EUR

Support is a voluntary donation, not payment for a product or service, so no invoice is issued. The thank-you items listed for each level are given voluntarily. Our bank details are shown above. After your transfer, please send us a short email so that we can send you our thank-you.

Support is not an investment: it carries no equity, return or revenue share. The project is at the research stage (TRL 1–3), and support does not guarantee that the satellite will reach orbit.

Let us know about your support

Meet us in Tokyo

Programme (Japan Standard Time)

Japan time (JST)ProgrammeHungarian time (CET)
16:00Registration8:00
16:30Opening remarks – Ambassador of Hungary to Japan8:30
16:45Keynote – Tamás Pásztory, founder and managing director, Robinia Hungary Holding Ltd.
Prof. Dr. Arnold Gucsik, scientific associate of Robinia Hungary Holding Ltd., cosmochemist
8:45
17:30Q&A with space technology experts and academic representatives9:30
18:00Networking reception with Hungarian wine and food10:00

Venue: Embassy of Hungary in Tokyo, 2-17-14 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073

Attendance: registration required.

Register now

Our black locust trees grow in Hungary. Now we will show how far they can go: from growth ring to orbit. Join us!

Download the supporter brochure (PDF, 2 MB)