|
 |
London:
Who needs a multi-billion-dollar spacecraft to study the earth
when you can use a paper plane?
The plane, with a wing span of three feet and made of paper
straws, was launched using just a large helium balloon.
The craft soared to 90,000 feet before the balloon exploded, after
which the plane glided back to the ground, taking photographs as
it descended.
Named Operation PARIS (Paper Aircraft Released Into Space), the
project cost 8,000 pounds, reports the Daily Mail.
It was the work of space enthusiasts Steve Daniels, John Oates and
Lester Haines, who said they came up with the idea after being
inspired by an equally ingenious project - of sending a lump of
cheese into space.
The team launched the balloon from a remote spot around 50 miles
west of Madrid. It took an hour-and-a-half to climb to 90,000
feet, before bursting.
The team tracked the plane using a GPS navigation system as it
took another 90 minutes to glide back to earth and landed in
woodland 100 miles from the release point. But for a hole in a
wing, their creation was undamaged.
Software consultant Daniels, 42, of Paignton, Devon, said the team
had embarked on the project "for a laugh". Although they spent
around 8,000 pounds to make it a success, he said he would happily
do it all again
The married father of two added: "Somebody launched a bit of
cheese out of a balloon, which we thought was a bit stupid. We
thought we could do something more technical than that.
"We decided to launch a paper plane because nobody has done that
before. It seems really silly but it was brilliant fun."
The three enthusiasts got together after discussing the project on
tech website The Register, and were sponsored by Peer One
Networking.
|
|
RSS holds
nationwide protests against Hindu terror tag
Hundreds of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists, led by their top leaders, Wednesday
staged protests in several places across India against the central
government's alleged "political conspiracy
» |
A teacher
who lost her voice awarded 150,000 pounds
A teacher, who lost her voice after regularly shouting in the
class in a school in Britain, was paid over 150,000 pounds. The
amount was given to 50-year-old Joyce Walters who had to give up her
job after years of making herself
» |
|
CWG Organising Committee issues ad to 'reveal facts'
Amid charges of corruption, the organising
committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games Wednesday issued full page
advertisements in leading newspapers about its budget and expenditure
in conducting the
» |
Rajya
Sabha panel holds Justice Sen guilty of corruption
A three-member committee formed by the Rajya Sabha to enquire into
a impeachment motion against Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra
Sen has held him guilty of corruption.
The panel, constituted by Rajya Sabha Chairman
» |
|
Bihar
honours Super 30 founder with top award
Anand Kumar, who founded Bihar's free coaching centre Super 30
that has helped many to enter the Indian Institutes of Technology
(IITs), was conferred Wednesday the state's highest award in
education.
Anand was given the
» |
Winter Session: Opposition targets government
over scams
Barring a few noisy scenes
over alleged scandals involving corruption, peace largely prevailed in
parliament Tuesday - the first day of the month-long winter session as
opposition parties targeted the government over
» |
|
Comment on this article
|
Quick links