Origami spaceplane to launch from space station

First ever paper airplane space flight! I hope they post the file so you can fold up your own, Pink Tentacle writes –

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.

Origami spaceplane to launch from space station – Link & more (Japanese site).

Related:

Paper Airplane Contest – Make: Video Podcast – Link.

Fantastic Flight – Link.

Making a paper airplane a day… for 300 days – Link.

HOW TO – Supercharge a paper airplane – Link.

The Online Paper airplane museum – Link.

Electric paper airplane launcher kit – Link.