Tokyo Researchers Simulate 4-Gram Origami Plane Reentry From 400 Km, Eyeing Atmospheric Sensing
Updated
Updated · ZME Science · Jun 25
Tokyo Researchers Simulate 4-Gram Origami Plane Reentry From 400 Km, Eyeing Atmospheric Sensing
1 articles · Updated · ZME Science · Jun 25
Summary
A University of Tokyo team modeled an origami paper plane released from the ISS and found it could stay passively stable for several days before burning up during reentry.
At about 120 km altitude after roughly four days, thicker air would make the 4-gram craft tumble uncontrollably, with heating expected to trigger combustion or pyrolysis.
Mach 7 wind-tunnel tests on a scaled model backed the simulations: the nose bent into a 3 mm ridge, the tip darkened and wing edges charred, though the plane briefly held together.
The researchers argue such low-mass, high-drag designs could serve as passive probes of air density at 200-300 km, a hard-to-measure region, while also pointing to cleaner disposal concepts for lightweight space hardware.