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Spinoff story
Golf Aerodynamics
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
A former Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems engineer, Robert T. Thurman went from analyzing airloads on the Space Shuttle External Tank to analyzing airloads on golf balls for Wilson Sporting Goods Company. Using his NASA know-how, Thurman designed the Ultra 500 golf ball, which has three different-sized dimples in 60 triangular faces (instead of the usual 20) formed by a series of intersecting parting" lines. This balances the asymetry caused by the molding line in all golf balls. According to Wilson the ball sustains initial velocity longer and produces the most stable ball flight for "unmatched" accuracy and distance."