Games that Astronauts Play in Space

Astronauts spend a sufficient portion of their time in space.

However, after working hours, they need to spend their time doing something worthwhile.

Glazing at the awe of space might be great, but – for how long?

Sooner or later, they will suffer boredom. How do they spend their time in space? Several space agencies, including NASA, advise on playing games during their spare time.

For this, here are several options available for the astronauts.

Astronauts play various kinds of games, that entertains them and keeps them in shape.

These games can also help them to spend quality time with their fellow astronauts after a hard day of work.

Some of the games that astronauts can play while they are in space are as follows – 

Games that are playable in space

1. Board Games

Most “board games” are played in space on a velcro board to keep them from drifting loose due to the lack of gravity.

They might damage systems as they float around.

Earth-to-Space chess competition takes place as an online board game competition.

Humans play with each other from two different places.

A pair of pilot-cosmonauts with names – Vitaly Ivanovich Sevastyanov and Andriyan Grigoryevich Nikolaev played chess with people from Earth for the first time.

The year 2020 was the half-century of that match which ended up in a draw.

2. Baseball

The baseball game, in general, requires a minimum of 9 players, but it transforms into a "one-man game" in space.

Satoshi Furukawa, a JAXA astronaut from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, proved that baseball is a single-player game that is playable in microgravity.

3. Football

Like baseball, football in space can turn into a three or even two-player game. NASA astronauts like Steve Swanson have proved that it's fun playing “space soccer” with your astronaut partner.

4. Gymnastics

Some video calls over the ISS (International Space Station) have shown several astronauts carrying out somersaults.

The presence of zero-gravity makes such gymnastics interesting.

So, as the astronauts enjoy their "spare time" from work, they can keep themselves fit whilst having fun.

Astronauts are also found making complex moves like twists and flips or simple ones like a handstand.

5. Golf

Imagine playing golf on Earth and experiencing the same game on the Moon.

In the year 1971, on the 6th of February, Alan Shepard converted the “landing site” on the Moon into a “golf hotspot”.

The weak gravity in the Moon, which is six times lower than that of the Earth, made the ball fly further and further.

Work and fun time or break time need to go hand-in-hand with each other.

Astronauts have to work very hard in their profession.

They have to train both - their mind and their body to survive under the harsh conditions of space.

Games can prove to be a great initiative that not only takes care of their physical health but can also help to sharpen their intellect.

Such games can help them to stay fit with their physical body and sharp with their mental health.