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Scientists plan paper planes

Tokyo: Countless paper planes have been launched across classrooms by mischievous pupils. Now scientists are preparing to unleash, from about 250 miles above the earth, a hi-tech plane — made from the same material.

Aeronautical engineers from Tokyo University believe planes made from heat-resistant paper treated with silicon will survive the fiery descent back to the earth after they are released by an astronaut on the International Space Station this year.

In tests, during a 30-second phase inside a hypersonic wind tunnel, the planes, designed by the Japan Origami Airplane Association, survived temperatures of 250 degrees C and wind speeds of mach 7 — seven times the speed of sound.

“Paper planes are extremely light so they slow down when the air is thin and can gradually descend,” said Shinji Suzuki, the Professor who leads the team. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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