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Why we still need NASA

Clicking about the interweb this afternoon, I learned something new. (As often happens; I credit my neutering for allowing me to devote my online time to productive pursuits.) NASA has set itself on a truly compelling, much-needed course of research. Read on:

NASA TUNNELS TEST TENNIS BALLS; EXPAND STUDENT MINDS

NASA aerodynamics technology may well help create more competitive tennis matches between the world’s top players while stimulating student interest in science and engineering.

. . .

"The concern is that today’s top pros can serve a tennis ball at almost 150 miles per hour. On faster surfaces, such as Wimbledon, that ensures an increasing number of shorter rallies and tie-breaker sets," said Mehta, a world authority on the aerodynamics of sports balls. "A larger ball will slow things down; the trick is to figure out how much. That was the objective of experimental testing conducted in England and at Ames," he said.

(Link here.)

This is most welcome news. I am not certain I desire a slower tennis ball -- if anything they ought to go faster, to my mind -- but that NASA is studying tennis ball aerodynamics at all, why that simply gladdens my heart.

In closing, the photographs are delectable:

O, sweet globe of green ecstacy
Fly to me! Fly to me!
Soft whistle, one bounce
And --

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by Zuma

Posted by FLOG at October 21, 2005 2:22 PM