[HN Gopher] Origami Space Planes Could Solve a Major Problem in ...
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       Origami Space Planes Could Solve a Major Problem in Orbit
        
       Author : Bluestein
       Score  : 12 points
       Date   : 2025-07-19 14:42 UTC (3 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (gizmodo.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (gizmodo.com)
        
       | daveguy wrote:
       | It seems the wood-structure cubesat format would be better for
       | this. [0] The stated goal is to "solve the space trash problem"
       | with space planes that burn up easier in the atmosphere. It seems
       | like it doesn't need aerodynamics if the goal is to burn it as it
       | reaches the part of the atmosphere where aerodynamics start to
       | matter. The LignoSat was surprisingly functional in a near-vacuum
       | and a second prototype is expected to deploy in 2026.
       | 
       | [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LignoSat
        
         | Bluestein wrote:
         | These also immediately came to mind also, have got to say -
         | there's something inherently cool about "space wood"...
        
       | ashton314 wrote:
       | I wonder if having a big origami paper sail that unfolds as the
       | satellite nears EOL would increase drag significantly enough to
       | help the satellite de-orbit faster. How does de-orbiting usually
       | work anyway? Shoot a thruster in the direction of travel and slow
       | down?
        
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       (page generated 2025-07-22 23:00 UTC)