Goddard Develops Gauges for National Marble Tournament

	(from lft) Al Diaz, astronaut Tony Antonelli and Wildwood Commissioner Fred Wager partake in crowning King and Queen tournament winners Jeremy Hulse and Jennifer Pinciotti

This year, NASA and NIST cooperated on the design and manufacture of a marble gauge, which is used to ensure the marbles are of official size. Goddard's Jack Shue presented several of these gauges, including one as a permanent display, to the Marbles Hall of Fame at this year's tournament. The gauges are arguably the most precise marble gauges ever manufactured and they were carried into space on a NASA Long Duration Balloon.

The 80th National Marbles Tournament was held in Wildwood, NJ and invited guest included Center Director Al Diaz and astronaut Tony Antonelli. The tournament consisted of several rounds of competition under blue awnings that barely sheltered the steady rainfall. Although the dampened weather kept some spectators away it had no affect on the prevailing winners Jeremy Hulse of Hagerstown, MD and Jennifer Pinciotti of Frederick, Md, crowning king and queen of the marbles tournament.