Origami in Space

BBC News: Can Japan's paper plane fly in space?

Professor Shinichi Suzuki of the University of Tokyo is the latest slightly eccentric pioneer.  His team is testing a paper aeroplane they want to launch from the International Space Station to glide back to earth.  The plan is to ask a Japanese astronaut who will travel to the ISS later this year to throw about 100 of the planes into space.

The planes have been tested at wind speeds of Mach 7 and heat of 300C to ensure they will survive re-entry.  They are around 8 cm long and weigh less than 30g.  They may have notes on asking people who find them to mail them back to Japan.  If a plane survives re-entry, it will be the longest paper aeroplane flight ever.