Actually the "re entry" surface "tiles" used by the old USSR on all their personnel carrying orbital vehicles was/is wood. It is only used once then completely replaced and is very effective and cheap (apart from being non reusable). The first shuttle for the USA was for some time before it's completion also going to use wooded tiles until they came up with a much more expensive but reusable "tile" system. It has been said that if NASA had/did use wooden tiles there would be a few astronauts that perished still alive today.
(The tiles are, I believe "cork" so "Corksfloat" is very appropriate?)