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Scientists Answer Vital Question: What Happens If You Throw A Paper Airplane In Space?
Jalopnik • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers Maximilien Berthet and Kojiro Suzuki from the University of Tokyo studied the behavior of a paper airplane thrown from the International Space Station using numerical models and wind tunnel experiments.
- Their model predicts the paper plane would orbit Earth for about 80 hours before rapidly nosediving and re-entering the atmosphere, similar to the flight pattern of a paper airplane on Earth.
- Wind tunnel tests simulating reentry conditions showed the paper plane could withstand high speeds and temperatures but would ultimately burn up upon atmospheric re-entry.
- Despite the plane’s destruction, the low cost of paper planes suggests the possibility of deploying multiple units simultaneously for scientific experiments, though practical applications remain uncertain.
