Key facts
- Light Year Explorer said the fairing's outer skin is low-density plywood formed into a smooth aerodynamic curve.
- An internal metal framework carries loads, according to the Jiangsu-based company.
- The company said the configuration matches traditional composite fairings in key performance areas including weight and structural behavior.
- Light Year Explorer said the design is part of its push for lower-cost, mass-produced launch vehicles.
Light Year Explorer, a commercial space company based in Jiangsu province, has manufactured a rocket fairing whose outer skin is made of wood, the company said in a report published November 6, 2026.
The protective shell uses low-density plywood formed into a smooth aerodynamic curve, with an internal metal framework bearing loads, according to the company. Light Year Explorer said the configuration matches traditional composite fairings in key performance areas such as weight and structural behavior.
The company described the fairing as part of its push toward lower-cost, mass-produced launch vehicles. The report did not state a launch date, a customer or a cost figure for the fairing.