How origami is helping nasa in space exploration

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Origami is used in space exploration to: 

  • Fold large structures into smaller spaces, making it easier to launch them into space 
  • Increase the flexibility of spatial structures 
  • Improve the accuracy of robotic motion 
  • Organize luggage for space travel 

Some examples of origami being used in space exploration include: 

  • The James Webb Space Telescope, which uses origami to fit its mirrors and sunshields into the rocket 
  • NASA’s starshade prototype, which uses origami to wrap the inner disk into a cylinder for launch 

Origami is also used to solve space travel challenges, such as: 

  • Squeezing a bladder at least 100 times without breaking or leaking under cold conditions 
  • Designing a crease pattern to fit given stow requirements, boundary conditions, and material

Origami is used in many other areas of technology, including: 

  • Designing prototypes for spacecraft and pill-sized robots 
  • Developing a robot that can fold into a pill capsule and unfold inside the body 
  • Improving the protection of face masks 
  • Modeling the mobility of gears and cells 
  • Manufacturing miniature models of bridges and stadiums 
  • Modeling DNA samples 

Origami is also used in car airbags and packaging

The physics of origami is the relationship between creases and the mechanical response of a thin sheet. Origami can transform a flat material into a strong and flexible 3D object. Engineers have used origami principles to design everything from vehicle airbags to satellite components. 

The algorithms and theorems of origami design have solved practical engineering problems and shed light on long-standing mathematical questions. For example, the Miura-ori fold was conceived by astrophysicist Koryo Miura in 1970. The pattern of creases forms a tessellation of parallelograms, and the whole structure collapses and unfolds in a single motion. 

Origami can also be studied mathematically as a method for geometric constructions. Applying mathematics to paper folding allows us to narrow down how many and what type of folds we should use to properly create flat folding models

Here’s some science behind folding paper: 

  • Folding paper is a physical change because the paper’s size changes, but it doesn’t change into another substance. 
  • A fold or crease in paper remains because the paper’s fibers are irreversibly damaged. This happens when the paper is bent or compressed beyond its elastic limit. 
  • Each fold in a piece of paper changes the paper’s memory, shape, and least energy state. 
  • Folding or rolling paper creates thickness, which allows the paper to reinforce itself and not collapse so easily. 

It’s commonly accepted that you can’t fold a single sheet of paper in half more than 7 times. This is because: 

  • Every time you fold the sheet, you reduce the total surface area by half. 
  • The number of layers of paper doubles with each fold. For example, after the sixth fold, you’re left with 64 layers of paper.

NASA has had success using origami already. One example is the powerful James Webb’s telescope’s main mirror and sunshield. It had to be folded up so it could be launched into space, then unfolded when it was finally in position. And the pictures James Webb is sending back can only be inspiration for starshade

Here are some ideas for space model projects: 

  • Solar system model: Use a cardboard box, foam balls, and paint to create a solar system model. 
  • Edible solar system: Make an edible solar system. 
  • Play-doh solar system: Create a scale model of the solar system using play-doh. 
  • Space station model: Learn how to make a working model of a space station. 

You can also try these space model projects: 

  • Create a solar system on a paint stick. 
  • Build a space snow globe. 
  • Use plastic lids as planets. 
  • Build a solar system out of LEGO.

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4 thoughts on “How origami is helping nasa in space exploration

    1. In Science Fiction, Frank Herbert (famed author of the Dune Series) posited that space could be “folded” in order to create a “wormhole” that transports a ship from one distant point in space to the next, within a fraction of time yes sir it’s is possible in future, we are working on warp technology like seen in Star Trek movies

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