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Astronaut Takao Doi “threw a boomerang and saw it come back” during his free time on March 18 at the International Space Station…
Doi threw the boomerang after a request from compatriot Yasuhiro Togai, a world boomerang champion.
The space agency said a videotape of the experiment would likely be released later.
I can hardly stand the wait for the video.
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Perhaps they could also check if they can see a bear defacating in the woods back on Earth, using some good binoculars from up there.
I call shenanigans.
So boomerangs work in space. That’s a weight off my mind!
Try throwing it during an EVA.
I was in the “shenanigans” camp with #2, but checking a few other sources reveals that Doi tested a paper boomerang inside an experimental module on the space station, not outside the station with no atmosphere. Rather than saying this experiment was done “in space,” I think a better phrasing would be to say that it was done “in zero gravity.”
Although, I’m not quite sure why it works on earth this could be a big deal in designing spacecraft. Who knows.
Well, they said Space-Time was curved, so when you toss a boomerang …
In microgravity and a large pressurized vessel I’m sure the thing would do circles for quite a while.
Thanks for the details. It is no suprise at all that it works inside the space station, in an atmosphere. I was also in the BS camp when I thought it was in space.
Gee, an airfoil produces lift… Who would of thought…
Am I the only one that was under the impression that the space station was very cramped quarters?
@11 yeha same here
must see video
@eidard: title misleading see #9
Could it be because of the oxygen in the space station aids in creating lift? I doubt this would work outside of the space station in plain old space. Otherwise, what is the affecting the boomerang to come back? I would think it would just keep going and going in the direction which it launched in. Please elaborate as I’m curious of this and don’t have time to take all kinds of Physics and aeronautical engineering classes 🙂
Well, if the boomerang was thrown during an EVA, THAT would be an incredible result, since it would show that boomerangs don’t work on aerodynamic principles.
If it was thrown inside the ISS, then… what’s the point?
Anyway, remember this sort of ‘stunts’ can demonstrate valid scientific principles, as this, by the Apollo XV crew:
http://tinyurl.com/2runq3
Am I missing something? The astronaut was surprised to see the boomerang come back to him? In an atmosphere? What did they expect would happen? Don’t astronauts have to study aerodynamics and physics any more?
Anyway, would love to see video of it flying in endless circles in zero gravity.
Regarding the article’s misleading title, the writer is either woefully ignorant (if so, then why is he writing for a space & tech website), or he deliberately mis-titled his article to beef up a not-so-compelling story.
I’m dubious because the space station doesn’t seem nearly large enough for someone to throw a boomerang in. It would take several meters of open space to do such a thing.
#14 “Anyway, remember this sort of ’stunts’ can demonstrate valid scientific principles, as this, by the Apollo XV crew:”
Not possible. The moon landing were staged in the
Mojave!
#16, it depends on the design of the boomerang, the more effective the airfoil, the tighter the turn. Go find a boomerang tourny in your area and check out some of the events, there is one event where you have to throw and catch the same rang as many times as you can in a certain period of time.
I’ve built boomerangs and have some that fliy in a tight circle, i have one that when you have the arm strength to fly it will fly around in about a 1/4 mile path.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
But, did he hit the kangaroo?
Mmmmmmmm. Kangaroo and Tang.