|
Author
|
Topic: From the ISS to Earth: Origami spaceplane to be launched from space station
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 01-16-2008 02:00 PM
   
Asahi via Pink Tentacle:
Origami spaceplane to launch from space station Researchers from the University of Tokyo have teamed up with members of the Japan Origami Airplane Association to develop a paper aircraft capable of surviving the flight from the International Space Station to the Earth's surface.The researchers are scheduled to begin testing the strength and heat resistance of an 8 centimeter (3.1 in) long prototype on January 17 in an ultra-high-speed wind tunnel at the University of Tokyo's Okashiwa campus (Chiba prefecture). In the tests, the origami glider -- which is shaped like the Space Shuttle and has been treated to withstand intense heat -- will be subjected to wind speeds of Mach 7, or about 8,600 kilometers (5,300 miles) per hour. A large spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle can reach speeds of up to Mach 20 (over 15,200 mph) when it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere, and friction with the air heats the outer surface to extreme temperatures. The much lighter origami aircraft, which the researchers claim will come down more slowly, is not expected to burn up on re-entry. No launch date has been set for the paper spaceplane, but Shinji Suzuki, an aerospace engineering professor at the University of Tokyo, is thinking ahead. "We hope the space station crew will write a message of peace on the plane before they launch it," says Suzuki. "We don't know where in the world the plane will land, but it would be nice to send a message to whoever finds it." Unless of course, it, um, lands in the water... |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
|
posted 01-16-2008 02:50 PM
I hope they write..."Please return to Tim Gagnon Titusville, FL" |
LCDR Scott Schneeweis
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 01-16-2008 03:10 PM
Its not clear from the write-up if the Japanese will use supplemental propulsion to support timely deceleration/reentry or if they are going to just wait quite a while for nature to take its course... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 01-21-2008 10:27 PM
Some additional details from New Scientist:
Origami spaceplane aims for space station descent A paper plane might not seem ideally suited to space travel, but a Japanese engineering professor is collaborating with origami masters to design a small paper spacecraft that could be launched from the International Space Station and survive a descent to Earth.A prototype was successfully tested in a wind tunnel last week. "This origami airplane might some day actually fly," says Jim Longuski, an expert in aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in the US. |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 01-22-2008 07:11 AM
Mach 7 paper Airplane.... Kick @ss |
Bernasconi
Member Posts: 47
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 04-07-2008 04:55 PM
I am coordinating a paper airplane festival here in San Diego and would love to be able to include something like this in it. Does anyone know the design or have the instructions for this space exploring paper airplane? Thanks! |
LCDR Scott Schneeweis
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 04-07-2008 05:00 PM
Try contacting one of the designers, Shinji Suzuki. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 10-08-2008 01:13 PM
According to Japanese precision machinery manufacturer Castem's website, nine origami spaceplanes were shipped on Monday, October 6 to JAXA's offices in Houston in preparation for Koichi Wakata's launch to the International Space Station in 2009. The mini-shuttles measure 9 inches wide by 14 inches long and are each folded from a single sheet of chemically-treated, A2-size, sugar cane fiber paper. On the bottom of each plane is a message repeated in 10 languages to contact JAXA. 
|
music_space
Member Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 10-08-2008 03:30 PM
Boy! I wish the folding instructions were found on the site... |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
|
posted 10-08-2008 06:08 PM
How many were they going to toss out? I skimmed the messages above but didn't see anything. Glad I got a double lot in my backyard. I plan on finding one on top of my observatory roof. Hehe! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 10-08-2008 06:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tegwilym:
How many were they going to toss out?
I don't believe that has been decided, though at present the reports suggest all nine might fly. JAXA, working with its international partners (including NASA) still need to grant permission for the project. It is also not yet known how they'll be deployed, either during an EVA or using Kibo's robotic arm.By the way, it's estimated that it will take at least two years for the paper spaceplanes to reach the ground, assuming they survive reentry. |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 353
From: Chattanooga, TN
Registered: Dec 2007
|
posted 10-09-2008 09:15 PM
What's the message on the bottom?"I Will Not Throw Paper Airplanes In Class."
"I Will Not Throw Paper Airplanes In Class."
"I Will Not Throw Paper Airplanes In Class."
"I Will Not Throw Paper Airplanes In Class."  |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 02-16-2009 04:23 PM
I found a Japanese Booklet with the folding instructions on how to fold the paperplane that Koichi Wakata will throw into space from the ISS.The booklet even has the paper you can use to fold the plane and it is treated with silicones to make the paper fire and water resistant just like the paper plane they are going to use in space.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-16-2009 04:38 PM
Unfortunately, after receiving the sample origami planes in Houston, JAXA decided not to fly the origami spaceplane(s) with Koichi Wakata. In an interview with collectSPACE, Wakata explained that the future of the spaceplane project has not yet been decided but may see them deployed from an H-II unmanned rocket. That said, that's a cool book, Henk. Where did you find it? |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 02-16-2009 05:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
That said, that's a cool book, Henk. Where did you find it?
Actually my wife found it... She is a Japanese and on her last trip to Japan she brought it home as a gift to my son. The booklet has lots of papers to fold the plane and shows how to fold the plane. The ISBN number is ISBN978-4-576-08122-9. |
advertisement