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.”
We must NOT allow American technological superiority to be trumped by Japan! We must develop our own paper spaceplanes!
That is reminiscent of one of the more far-out ideas of the past, human reentry without a spacecraft, MOOSE:
MOOSE was perhaps the most celebrated bail-out from orbit system of the early 1960's. The suited astronaut would strap the MOOSE to his back, and jump out of the spacecraft or station into free space. Pulling a ripcord would fill an inflatable heat shield with polyurethane. The astronaut would use a small hand-held gas to orient himself for retro-fire, and then fire a solid rocket motor strapped to his chest to return to earth. [...]
General Electric conducted a number of technology proving tests. A heat shield was manufactured and folded. Test subjects were foamed into place with various formulae of polyurethane (it was found necessary to add a little castor oil to the formula to allow the pilot to extract himself from the foam). In a final test the test pilot jumped six meters from a bridge in Massachusetts and successfully survived water impact and floated downstream (a competitor claimed there was a little bit of a difference between 6 m and 500 km). [...]
Tests of the ablative materials were conducted in the General Electric supersonic air arc tunnel and verified the heat of ablation of the flexible shield material. Studies of heat transfer during re-entry showed it was well within the limits that could be handled by a standard space suit backpack. [...]
But with the cancellation of the X-20 Dynasoar and military space stations, such concepts were shelved and faded into obscurity.
Wait, is this a parody or is it real? On the one hand, it would make sense to make a cheap re-entry vehicle that can be folded up for easy storage on the ISS, but on the other hand, WTF PAPER SPACESHIP!?!
"Stop! No one can survive these deadly rays!"
"These deadly rays will be your death!"
- Thor and Akton, Starcrash
"Before man reaches the moon your mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to England, to India or to Australia by guided missiles.... We stand on the threshold of rocket mail."
- Arthur Summerfield, US Postmaster General 1953 - 1961
When I was ten I always searched for tallest buildings to launch my paper airplanes from. A plane thrown from a 7 story house could float for about a minute. Launching it from the 15th floor of an apartment tower would give it 2 minutes in the air.
I guess these scientists are just taking this childhood dream to it's highest level.
I have to tell you something everything I wrote above is a lie.
That is reminiscent of one of the more far-out ideas of the past, human reentry without a spacecraft, MOOSE:
Hehe, that's great. I remember years and years ago, I had this book about space travel, astronauts and such, and it had some artist's rendering of a sort of survival sphere that one would climb into and somehow use to leave a damage spacecraft or station:
Inflatable Rescue Capsules
Abstract: Rescue spheres transfer people from disabled vehicle to rescue vehicle. Container, inflatable sphere, constructed of gastight thermalprotective fabric to provide protection during transfer.
There was also a photograph of a mockup of this device in the book I had, featuring the "astronaut" seated inside of it, knees bent and wearing an oxygen mask. I can't find any pictures of it, but I remember the image in my mind very well.
That is reminiscent of one of the more far-out ideas of the past, human reentry without a spacecraft, MOOSE:
Hehe, that's great. I remember years and years ago, I had this book about space travel, astronauts and such, and it had some artist's rendering of a sort of survival sphere that one would climb into and somehow use to leave a damage spacecraft or station:
Inflatable Rescue Capsules
Abstract: Rescue spheres transfer people from disabled vehicle to rescue vehicle. Container, inflatable sphere, constructed of gastight thermalprotective fabric to provide protection during transfer.
There was also a photograph of a mockup of this device in the book I had, featuring the "astronaut" seated inside of it, knees bent and wearing an oxygen mask. I can't find any pictures of it, but I remember the image in my mind very well.
I think I had the same book, as I remember the photo of the astronaut in the capsule. I'm pretty sure the book was the Star Wars Guide to Space, or something like that. It had R2D2 and C3PO presenting the information. It was one of my favourite books at the time.
Jesus, can you imagine the size of balls required to step off into nothingness and fall down to Earth in a paper aeroplane? Ridiculous-sized balls.
EBC|Fucking Metal|Artist|Androgynous Sexfiend|Gozer Kvltist|
Listen to my music! http://www.soundclick.com/nihilanth "America is, now, the most powerful and economically prosperous nation in the country." - Master of Ossus
Korvan wrote:I think I had the same book, as I remember the photo of the astronaut in the capsule. I'm pretty sure the book was the Star Wars Guide to Space, or something like that. It had R2D2 and C3PO presenting the information. It was one of my favourite books at the time.
Yes, I think that was the one! I wish I could find that book, but it's somewhere in storage. I think it was a largish, hardcover book. If I remember right, there were images and renderings of different "future" spacecraft ideas, space stations, things like that.
Zuul wrote:Jesus, can you imagine the size of balls required to step off into nothingness and fall down to Earth in a paper aeroplane? Ridiculous-sized balls.
I think this has less to do with balls than brains. If it's tested to work properly, then it'll work properly. But they're going to have to test it first.
Zuul wrote:Jesus, can you imagine the size of balls required to step off into nothingness and fall down to Earth in a paper aeroplane? Ridiculous-sized balls.
Balls large enough to complicate the reentry vehicle's aerodynamics, which is somewhat counterproductive.
Chronological Incontinence: Time warps around the poster. The thread topic winks out of existence and reappears in 1d10 posts.
Out of Context Theatre, this week starring Darth Nostril.
-'If you really want to fuck with these idiots tell them that there is a vaccine for chemtrails.'
