OSGC Educational Resources Blog

(From MSNBC)
“KASHIWA CITY, Japan – A spacecraft made of folded paper zooming through the skies may sound far-fetched, but Japanese scientists plan to launch paper planes from the International Space Station to see if they make it back to Earth.

On Wednesday the University of Tokyo researchers tested small, origami planes made of special paper for 30 seconds in 482 degrees Fahrenheit heat and wind at seven times the speed of sound. The planes survived the wind tunnel test intact.

The theory is that paper craft, being much lighter than space shuttles, may escape the worst of the friction and heat that much heavier space shuttles face on re-entry to the atmosphere.”

Japanses scientists hope to launch experimental paper planes from the International Space Station to test their theory. Read more about it at msnbc.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23029202/wid/11915829?gt1=10939