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Paper aeroplane launched into space captures breathtaking images

BRITISH space enthusiasts have made history by launching a paper aeroplane into space which captured a series of breathtaking images on its glide back to earth.

The team crafted the aeroplane from sheets and straws of paper, fitted it with a camera and attached it to a helium weather balloon to lift it into the atmosphere.

After drifting 17 miles into space, the balloon exploded, allowing the 3ft wingspan aircraft to soar back to earth while taking pictures of its descent.

Code-named Operation PARIS (Paper Aircraft Released Into Space), the project saw the aeroplane take off from a remote area 50 miles west of Madrid, Spain on October 28.

Steve Daniels, Lester Haines and John Oates, who designed the plane, monitored its flight during its 90-minute ascent to 90,000ft using a GPS navigation system.

After the expanding helium caused the balloon to burst, they then tracked it as it glided downwards for another 90 minutes.

Remarkably, it landed only 100 miles from its release point in an area of woodland and was intact, save one small hole in its wing.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .