Japanese Origami Paper Airplane
From LoveToKnow Origami
Japanese origami paper airplane experts have teamed up with a group of Japanese scientists to create and drop some 30 paper planes from the International Space Station. If this sounds strange to you, it could be quite impressive if the paper airplanes make it back to Earth.
Japanese Origami Paper Airplane Experiment
The project is to occur sometime in 2009. At that time, 30 paper planes will release from the International Space Station and will casually glide down to reach Earth. It is an expectation to take several months for all of the planes to traverse the distance and most will burn up in the atmosphere at re-entry. Nevertheless, if one of these airplanes does make it to Earth, it will have made the longest flight ever by a paper plane by covering some 400 km.
How can such an experiment happen? In a study conducted in February of 2008 by these scientists, a plane that was 2.8 inches long and 2 inches wide flew as a prototype. It was able to survive in 200 degrees Celsius at speeds of Mach 7 for ten seconds in a hypersonic wind tunnel. It is still important to note that the materials currently used to protect space shuttles reentering Earth have a design to withstand temperatures of 2200 degrees Celsius.
How will it work? One of the methods under development is to use paper coated with a thin layer of glass. This specialized glass increases the resistance of the paper to heat exposure. The application of the glass would still allow the paper to fold easily. Other research is occurring in terms of increases to the paper's heat resistance. To further the research, the Japanese Space Agency, JAXA, contributed some $285,700 US to the project per year for a maximum of three years worth of experimentation.
Smithsonian Magazine offers more information about the project and is tracking its progress. The idea for the planes started with Takuo Toda, the present of the Origami Paper Airplane Association located in Japan. Toda had the idea of the possibility of a paper airplane re-entering the atmosphere. It was his idea and Shinji Suzuki, a University of Tokyo aerospace engineer, worked to make it come true.
There is no method available to track the planes as they attempt to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Mr. Suzuki planes to write a message within each one. If they do make it through the atmosphere, he hopes that those who find them will contact him to let him know.
Inspired to Create Origami Paper Airplanes
If the Japanese origami paper airplane project has inspired you to dive into making paper airplanes using the techniques that have been in use for decades, you are not alone. You do not need a manual to learn how to fold a paper airplane. Children can tackle this task with just a few pieces of paper and some creativity. Yet, if you want to be impressed while creating paper airplanes, you may want to check out some of these designs.
- Best Paper Airplanes: Some of the paper airplanes found at BestPaperAirplanes.com are very impressive. Planes like the Deltry, Moth, Tumbler and Canada Goose are found here. The illustrations sometimes include instructions, too. Numerous other plane designs are also available here to try out.
- Origami Resource Center: For even more plane choices, visit Origami Resource Center. This website offers numerous planes including a Bat Plane, a Paperang, a Dart Plane and a Cluster Plane. Each plane has full instructions available to origami beginners.
- Fighter Plane Origami: Perhaps some of the most impressive origami paper planes are those from Fighter Plane Origami. The website does require the purchase of a book to get the templates and instructions to create these paper airplanes. The website offers great pictures, even pairing up various real fighter planes with paper models.
You can also find more information on how to make paper airplanes. You may even want to check out some other paper weapons.
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