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Space golf shot's a shank, but goes 1-million miles

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 23, 2006

WASHINGTON - Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin was late for his tee time in space Wednesday, but still managed to launch a super-lightweight golf ball into orbit - even if he shanked his shot.

Tyurin hit the golf ball 77 minutes behind schedule after delays to fix an overheating spacesuit and a stuck exterior hatch.

Using a gold-plated six-iron and an American astronaut in the role of caddy-and-safety-holder, Tyurin hit the drive from a spring-like tee outside the international space station, 220 miles over the northwest Pacific Ocean. The shot, which veered to the right, kicked off a planned six-hour spacewalk.

So, how far did it go? It depends on who you talk to.

The drive went 1-billion miles - or will by the time it eventually comes down in a couple years - said Nataliya Hearn, president of Element 21 Golf Co. The Toronto firm is paying the Russian space agency an undisclosed amount for the stunt to promote its new golf club.

That's a huge exaggeration, according to NASA's lead spacewalk flight director, Holly Ridings. She said NASA's calculations are that golf balls would only stay up two to three days, which would put the drive closer to a mere 1-million miles.

Tyurin spent several minutes trying to get comfortable addressing the ball, but unlike his Earth-bound counterparts, at times he was upside down. He was tethered to the space station and had astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria holding on to him.

NASA commentator Rob Navias noted that Tyurin's shot sliced to the right. An agitated Tyurin opted not to take a planned second or third shot.

[Last modified November 23, 2006, 00:13:50]