Wednesday, 12th April 2006 (3751 views)

Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov is to drive a golf ball from a tee in the International Space Station, sending the small gold sphere into orbit around the earth, pending permission from NASA.

The latest publicity stunt in space has already been given the go-ahead by the Russian space agency after Canadian-based golf club manufacturer Element 21 paid them an undisclosed fee.

NASA is still weighing up the security implications of the stunt, including the risk that, if hooked, the ball may strike the space station, or that Cosmonaut Vinogradov may catch the craft on his backswing or follow-through.

NASA's space station deputy program manager Kirk Shireman sounded a positive note, tinged with caution: "Being a golfer, I'm interested in it too," he said, "but we're absolutely going to make sure it's a safe thing to do before we execute it."

The man to attempt the drive has been practising his swing already, which will be made tricky by the baggy spacesuit, in a training pool and an aeroplane that simulates weightlessness.

Element 21 says that it wants to promote its new collection of golf clubs whilst simultaneously commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 14 mission, when astronaut Alan Shepard hit golf balls on the moon.

 

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