Japan To Throw Boomerang In Space

The excitement never seem to end for the Japanese Space Programme. This time Astronaut Takao Doi, 53, will be attempting to throw a Boomerang inside the International Space Station, while his main purpose of the trip up into space in March is to lead the construction of a Japanese scientific testing room.

Astronaut Takao Doi will be throwing his Boomerang in space to see if it will return to him under a zero-gravity environment. My assumptions is (and I’m willing to hear your opinions) that the Boomerang will still fly back to its throwing spot as long as there’s air in its surrounding for it to propel through.

The idea of throwing a Boomerang in space came to Mr Doi when he received a request from Yasuhiro Togai, a world boomerang champion from the western Japanese metropolis of Osaka. Of course, with the request came training on throwing a Boomerang from the world champion too!

“Mr Doi said he will personally carry a paper boomerang for the upcoming mission and we presume he will try it when he has spare time,” said an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. - ABC News

But, I’m sure many will still find the Japanese origami plane from space more spectacular!

Source:
ABC News
Space-Travel
Photo Courtesy of science.ksc.gov

1 Comments

1. Dave, May 21, 2009:

   The boomerang is designed to create lift as it spins to counter gravity. Surely in a zero-gravity environment all it will do is shoot up to the ceiling? It may do a loop but vertically seems more likely than horizontally like usual.

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