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Researchers at the University of Tokyo have joined with engineers at the Japan Origami Airplane Association for the design of a plane which would be released from the International Space Station and fall to the Earth without any major damage.


In a test outside Tokyo in February 2008, a prototype about 2.8 inches long survived Mach 7 speeds and temperatures of up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit in a hypersonic wind tunnel.


You can read the full ABC news article here. The one problem scientists are dealing with is that t*here is no way to track the paper craft or predict when or where they may land*.


“Just imagine, children around the world would be anxiously waiting for the return of our origami shuttle, perhaps looking up into the sky from time to time,” Suzuki said. “That would be great fun.”


What do you think?