The Longest Drive Ever

The golf company Element 21 manufactures shafts and clubs using scandium, the 21st element on the Periodic Table. And Element 21 has come up with a doozy of a publicity stunt: the company is willing to pay Russian cosmonauts to hit a golf ball off of the International Space Station using a scandium club.

The resulting shot would be launched into its own orbit around earth, eventually travelling millions of miles and staying aloft for four years before burning up upon its re-entry into the atmosphere.

Now that's a long drive.

It's also a really stupid idea. Oh, it's a great idea for Element 21 - look, the company is already getting free pub out of it. But with the recent history of space disasters, why would the Russian space agency and NASA even consider the possibility?

The BBC reports:

If Nasa gives the go-ahead, the attempt will take place during one of three spacewalks planned for 2006.

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Some experts warn a mishap could cause "catastrophic" damage to the station.

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NASA is currently studying the risks of the commercial deal, brokered by Russia with the Canadian golf company, Element 21.

The stunt depends on the ball being hit out of the space station's orbital plane. (There is) a "small risk" the ball could fall back onto the station or collide with it during a subsequent orbit.

The extent of the damage would depend on factors such as the impact angle and the speed of collision.

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In a worst-case scenario, the ball would remain at the same altitude long enough for its orbital plane to shift so it could hit the station side-on.

Nice try, Element 21, but NASA should just say no. This is one space ball we definitely don't need to see.