Scientists Answer Vital Question: What Happens If You Throw A Paper Airplane In Space?

A pair of astronautical engineers at the University of Tokyo, Maximilien Berthet and Kojiro Suzuki, have conducted a study to determine what would happen if a paper airplane were thrown in space. Using a numerical model and a wind tunnel, they explored the trajectory of an A4 “origami space plane” if it were released from the International Space Station 250 miles above the Earth.

The numerical model showed that the paper plane would dive towards the Earth, taking around 80 hours to hit the atmosphere, and would keep its orientation until nosediving suddenly and violently. However, the model is only accurate above 75 miles, and below that, the thicker atmosphere makes the math fall apart.

To overcome this, the scientists created an actual paper plane and tested it in a wind tunnel, where it withstood Mach 7 speed and 710 degrees Fahrenheit conditions, but got slightly singed at the edges. The study concluded that a paper plane would indeed burn up in the atmosphere.

Despite this, the low cost of a paper space plane could make it possible to conduct multiple deployments at the same time, potentially carrying small research instruments to collect data. The study was published in Acta Astronautica and provides a unique insight into the behavior of a paper airplane in space.