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Japanese scientists and origami masters hope to launch a paper airplane from space and learn from its trip back to Earth.

It's no joke. A prototype passed a durability test in a wind tunnel this month, Japan's space agency adopted it Wednesday for feasibility studies, and a well-known astronaut is interested in participating.

A successful flight from space by an origami plane could have far-reaching implications for the design of re-entry vehicles or space probes for upper atmospheric exploration, said project leader Shinji Suzuki, a professor at Tokyo University's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Suzuki said he was skeptical a decade ago when he first discussed with experts the idea of sending into space a craft made in the tradition of Japan's ancient art of paper folding.
"It sounded like a simply impossible, crazy idea," Suzuki said. "I gave it some more thought, and came to think it may not be ridiculous after all, and could very well survive if it comes down extremely slowly."

In a test outside Tokyo in early February, a prototype about 2.8 inches long and 2 inches wide survived Mach 7 speeds and broiling temperatures up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit in a hypersonic wind tunnel - conditions meant to approximate what the plane would face entering Earth's atmosphere.

Having survived the 12-second test with no major damage or burns, the tiny plane theoretically could get back to Earth because re-entry from outer space involves passing through several layers that last only a few seconds each, said Osamu Imamura, a scientist who works with Suzuki.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, accepted it Wednesday for three years of feasibility studies and promised up to $300,000 in funding per year.

At this point, the proposal faces just one challenge, but it's a potentially crippling one: There is no way to track the paper craft or predict when or where they may land.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D8VLHQ882.html

who ever dream a paper shuttle fly in space ? i like to see the computer program needed to run these back to earth

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Markel

Made it with 5 degrees to spare!

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Prngr44

That's one expensive paper airplane!!

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DarkFury

You'd figure that a paper airplne wouldn't experience the same level of friction that a real one would encounter. Wouldn't it just glide down to earth?

It's not like it is powering down and accelerating to Earth.

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Markel

But you have to remember that it is traveling at 18,000 mph the same as any object in orbit. When it begins to encounter the atmosphere, it is subject to the same friction as the space shuttle (for example).

DarkFury

doesn't angle of decent have something to do with the friction level as well?

InfiniteNothing

You don't really have much to glide on up in space where the air is thin.
Nice

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ShawnLee

Imagine that paper airplane getting sucked into the jet engine of a real plane on its way down - way to lose an expensive piece of origami.
Oooh. Relative speed to earth. Narly paper cut.

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