The World Cup has kicked off and to celebrate, three astronauts play football in the International Space Station. Although there are only three currently on mission, playing in zero gravity makes the game significantly more difficult. American astronauts Reid Wiseman and Steve Swanson, and German astronaut Alexander Gerst are seen spinning and floating as the soccer ball passes by them calmly.
Released by NASA, the video footage also features a few words from the astronauts themselves, "We want to wish all the teams and fans on the ground in Brazil a great World Cup. Have fun and have peaceful games. May the best win." Yet if astronauts play football more on the International Space Station, perhaps people would be tuning into them instead of Brazil and their favorite teams. Nothing beats space.
Space Station Soccer Matches
Astronauts Play Football in Zero Gravity to Celebrate World Cup
Trend Themes
1. Space Sports - Creating organized sports and competitions in zero-gravity environments could lead to new and exciting forms of athletics that are unique to space travel.
2. Entertainment in Space - As space tourism and travel continue to increase, creating unique and entertaining experiences for travelers that incorporate the zero-gravity environment could establish new industries in entertainment and recreation.
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Industry Implications
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3. Sports Broadcasting - As interest in space sports grows, opportunities will arise for new sports broadcasters and media outlets to bring these unique competitions to audiences on Earth.