This satellite is made of wood and its mission changed space forever
LignoSat's main claim to fame is its wooden structure, which was chosen for more than just novelty. Wood is renewable and, when it burns up on reentry, it leaves behind carbon dioxide, ash and water vapour, rather than the metal particles that can come from aluminium satellites. This matters because those metal particles may harm the ozone layer or disrupt atmospheric processes, while wood's byproducts are much less concerning.
The satellite's journey wasn't entirely smooth. After deployment, the team on the ground couldn't get in touch with LignoSat. Later analysis pointed to possible issues with the switches that were supposed to activate the satellite and deploy its antenna, or perhaps a software glitch that kept the system from starting up. As a result, the satellite couldn't send back the data on temperature, radiation and magnetic permeability that the mission was hoping for. Still, the satellite itself stayed in one piece, which was a big step for the idea of using wood in space.
Takao Doi, a former astronaut and now a professor at Ryukoku University, led the project alongside scientists from Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry. Despite the communication problems, Doi's team sees LignoSat as a success for proving that wooden satellites can survive in orbit, according to EOS Magazine. It also helped clear some regulatory hurdles for future wooden spacecraft, since safety reviews are now a bit simpler after LignoSat's mission.
The team is now working on LignoSat-2, which will be twice as big and come with two separate communication systems, one inside the structure and another on the outside. This way, even if one antenna fails, there's a backup.
Interest in wooden satellites isn't limited to Japan. In Finland, Arctic Astronautics and UPM Plywood have built WISA Woodsat, a birch plywood CubeSat with sensors and a deployable camera to watch how wood behaves in space. They are waiting for launch approval from Finnish authorities.
As more satellites fill the sky, finding greener materials is becoming more important. Wood isn't perfect, as it can be unpredictable and tricky to engineer, but projects like LignoSat show that it's worth exploring. The hope is that, one day, wooden satellites could help make space more sustainable.
First Published Date: 08 Jul, 17:35 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
"Being Still A Challenge": Shubhanshu Shukla Posts Video Of 'Floating' In ISS
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned from a successful space mission last week, has posted a video in which he is seen trying to stay still in microgravity. In the clip, Mr Shukla, sitting in a cross-legged position, is seen floating inside the International Space Station (ISS). Sharing the clip on his Instagram account, he said he tried to control his body movements but "clearly failed." He wrote, "Any small disturbance can move your body in space, and it takes skill to be completely still. Kind of like our minds in this fast-moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast." When they first reached the space station, they were occupied with completing their tasks and experiments, he said. "Initially, it is a bit challenging as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station," he wrote. "Shux", his call sign among colleagues and nickname for friends, said the video was taken a few days after they reached the station. "Apparently, being still is a challenge with or without gravity," he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shubhanshu Shukla (@ Amazed by the rare glimpse into life aboard the ISS, social media users reacted in large numbers. One person commented, "Absolutely fascinating. Floating around like that must feel surreal. Thanks for sharing this moment." Another wrote, "Stunning! Thank you for sharing this. This must inspire people to pursue stillness consciously and intentionally." "Being still is a challenge, with or without gravity-well said, Captain," wrote the next. Mr Shukla was among the four crew members who flew aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25 as part of the Axiom-4 mission. They conducted over 60 experiments from 31 countries. He is only the second Indian to visit space. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the first to do so in 1984. He returned safely to Earth on July 15 after spending approximately 18 days aboard the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down off the coast of San Diego.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
'Kaju Katli & One Tight Hug': Shubhanshu Shukla's Parents Await His Return To India On August 17
'All I need is just one tight hug…" – These heartfelt words from Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, seem enough to describe the emotion building quietly inside a modest home in Lucknow. After spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and nearly 35 days in post-mission rehabilitation in the US, Shubhanshu is expected to return to India on August 17. 'He's still in America… It's been a year since I hugged him," his father told News18, his voice filled with anticipation. Shubhanshu, who was part of the international Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25 and docked with the ISS the next day. His return capsule splashed down safely off the California coast on July 15. But the return to Earth is not the same as a return to life. He is still re-learning to walk, move, and function as his body adapts back to Earth's gravity. 'He's learning to walk again' 'Walking is still a struggle," said his father. 'Every day, he practices for three to four hours. He has to walk slowly, and he gets dizzy if he overdoes it. Doctors say it will take 8 to 10 more days before he's fully recovered," his father said. Extended exposure to microgravity can weaken bones and muscles, disrupt balance, and alter cardiovascular function. Shubhanshu has been undergoing daily physiotherapy under medical supervision. In a recent social media post too, he wrote: 'Learning to walk again…" 'Just as your body changes when you go into space, it changes again when you come back. Even walking straight becomes difficult. Balance weakens. These effects cause mental stress too — but they're all temporary. The body slowly finds its rhythm again," he wrote. A mother waits with food — and emotion For his mother Asha Shukla, the countdown isn't to a landing capsule, but to the moment her son walks through the front door. 'He always says on video calls, 'I'm fine, don't worry,' but I can see the tiredness in his eyes. A mother knows," she said. To keep herself busy — and hopeful — she has taken refuge in her kitchen. 'I've already started planning what to cook for him. His favourite dishes — dal baati, kadhai paneer, matar pulao, kaju katli — I'm making everything. When he comes home, he shouldn't have to ask for anything," she said, with her eyes moist. 'Just watching him eat happily… that's the moment I'm living for," she said. A reunion that felt like home After landing, Shubhanshu briefly reunited with his wife Kamna and six-year-old son Kiaash in the US. Hugging Kamna and lifting Kiaash into his arms, he posted on Instagram: 'Space is magical. But reuniting with loved ones — that's equally magical. When I hugged my family, it felt like I was truly home again." He urged others to cherish their own bonds: 'Find someone you love today and tell them. We often get too busy with life and forget how important our people are. Space missions are magical — but it's people who make them magical." Yoga in space — a metaphor for balance A few days ago, Shubhanshu shared a video of himself performing yoga aboard the ISS. 'In the beginning, it was hard to stay still in microgravity. I just wanted to be centered, but even the tiniest movement would send me drifting," he wrote. Drawing parallels with daily life, he said, 'Staying still in space is an art — just like finding peace in a fast-paced world. Sometimes, to run fast, you must first slow down." Homecoming: Lucknow or Bengaluru? Shubhanshu will land in India on August 17, though it's not confirmed if he will directly come to Lucknow or stop first in Bengaluru, home to key Indian space institutions. 'If he doesn't come to Lucknow, we'll go to him," said his father. 'But I hope he walks through our front gate. Just one tight hug — that's all I need," he added. The city waits for its hero But it's not just the Shukla family counting down the days. Shubhanshu's entire locality in Lucknow — neighbours, childhood friends, schoolteachers — is buzzing with excitement. Streets where he once cycled to school are now draped in tricolour buntings. Children carry tiny flags, and families discuss plans to welcome 'their astronaut" with flowers, garlands, and dhols. Many residents in the area still remember the humble, soft-spoken boy who once dreamed of space. 'He's not just their son any more — he's all of ours," said a local shopkeeper, adding, 'We've never had anyone from here go that far, and now he's coming back." Even the city administration is considering a formal civic welcome, should he arrive in Lucknow. top videos View all From the narrow lanes of his childhood to the vast silence of space, Shubhanshu Shukla's journey has come full circle. And as the countdown to August 17 continues, not just a family — but an entire city — waits to embrace their son, their astronaut, their pride.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Sun Pharma's ILUMYA delivers positive psoriatic arthritis trial results
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced that its psoriasis drug ILUMYA (tildrakizumab 100 mg) delivered positive results in two late-stage clinical trials for active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), potentially paving the way for regulatory filings in the United States. The Phase 3 INSPIRE-1 and INSPIRE-2 studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of ILUMYA over a 24-week period. According to the company, both trials achieved statistically significant improvements in ACR20 response rates—a standard measure of arthritis treatment effectiveness—compared with placebo at Week 24. INSPIRE-1 included patients with prior exposure to anti-TNF therapies, while INSPIRE-2 focused on anti-TNF naïve patients. More than 800 adult participants were enrolled across clinical sites in the US, Europe, and Asia. ILUMYA was administered at Week 0 and every 12 weeks thereafter, with no induction dose. Consistent safety profile supports regulatory case Sun Pharma stated that the safety outcomes in the psoriatic arthritis trials were consistent with ILUMYA's established safety profile from earlier studies in plaque psoriasis. No new safety signals were identified. ILUMYA is currently approved in the US and other countries for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Its use in psoriatic arthritis remains investigational and has not yet been evaluated by regulatory authorities. Detailed results from the INSPIRE studies will be presented at upcoming medical conferences and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Targeting IL-23 in chronic inflammatory pathways ILUMYA is a monoclonal antibody that targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23), thereby inhibiting inflammatory pathways associated with chronic autoimmune conditions. Common adverse reactions reported in previous studies include upper respiratory infections, injection-site reactions, and diarrhoea. The drug carries warnings related to hypersensitivity, infections, and tuberculosis risk. Psoriatic arthritis affects an estimated 2.4 million people in the United States. Approximately one-third of psoriasis patients may develop the joint condition, though many cases remain undiagnosed. Strategic pipeline strengthens global presence Sun Pharma is India's largest pharmaceutical company and one of the world's leading generic drug manufacturers. The company operates in over 100 countries and has a growing specialty portfolio in dermatology, ophthalmology, and onco-dermatology.
