Mysterious Universe

Over eight months ago, I posted an article about hi tech origami and its potential for future space applications. Well, the future is now, because it appears that the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to launch a fleet of paper airplanes from the International Space Station later this year.

In late January, researchers from the University of Tokyo announced that they had successfully completed preliminary tests on prototype planes. Their 8-centimetre model, made from specially-treated paper, was able to withstand wind speeds of Mach 7 and temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius. The Japanese Origami Airplane Association assisted the researchers with the testing.

While earlier news stories reported that a formal partnership with JAXA was not confirmed, it now appears that prototype tests are complete and launch plans will indeed proceed.

Approximately 100 planes will be released from the Space Station. They’ll start their journey at a speed of Mach 20 and will eventually decelerate to Mach 7 as gravity pulls them towards the earth’s surface. Each plane will be roughly 20 cm long and weigh nearly 30 grams. Their specially-folded design is expected to enable them to enter the atmosphere with minimal damage. Scientists predict that it will take several months for the (surviving) planes to reach the planet after their 400 km trip. Since it is more likely that the planes will land in the ocean, it’s possible that they might float to a shoreline near you…unless they get caught in the mysterious and monstrously huge garbage-infested North Pacific Gyre. The current model does not include a tracking device, so planes will carry a printed multilingual return-address.

The purpose of the experiment appears to be two-fold. If the planes survive the trip intact, it raises interesting possibilities for lightweight spacecraft design. According to University of Tokyo professor Shinji Suzuki, “the attempt might also stimulate interests in science and technology for children as well, because they can create the planes on their own”.

We’ll let you know how JAXA’s plans unfold in the coming months. With luck, the next UFO you see just might be Unidentified Flying… Origami. 

Times Online: Japan to launch origami planes into outer space
MSNBC: Scientists to launch paper planes from space
New Scientist Space: Origami spaceplane aims for space station descent
Discovery Channel: ‘Mach 20′ paper airplane could launch from Space Station
Mysterious Universe: Hi tech origami
Independent (UK): The world’s rubbish dump: a garbage tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan