05:31 pm - Wednesday
Origami in outer space
Tokyo, Japan - Astronautr Koichi Wakata will launch a paper airplane from the ISS
(WAPA) - Curiosities from Japan. Aeronautical engineers from the university of Tokyo, led by professor Shinji Suzuki, as heirs of the ancient tradition of origami, will build a paper airplane that will try an experiment never seen before: next November, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata will launch from the ISS (International Space Station) a 20-centimeter airplane. The tests carried out on the ground in a wind gallery suggested this little space plane might survive the descent to the Earth.
In the experiment, born from an idea of Takuo Toda of Japan Origami Plane Association, also the speed will be monitored, which should reach Mach 20. For keeping it intact, the plane will be treated with chemical agents to avoid it from going up in flames.
"With this experiment we will try to study a new model of space airplane", declared professor Shinji Suzuki.
We asked ourselves many questions regarding this astounding experiment, for example how it will be monitore3d and where it will land should it make it to the Earth, so we will follow the steps of this enterprise that many already consider impossible. (Avionews)
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Direttore Clara Moschini