Chess in Space!

08/09/2008 by Nikita

How do astronauts pass the time in between whatever it is that they do whilst they are up there in space? There’s not much room to move about, so physical activities are pretty much out. You could listen to music or read, but what if you feel the need for a bit of friendly competition with ground control?

Greg Chamitoff is a 46 year-old American astronaut currently orbiting the earth as one of the crew of the International Space Station. He also happens to be a keen amateur chess player and didn’t want a little thing like being in space to stop him playing a game or two. He therefore took a lightweight chess set into orbit with him and challenged all the various mission control centres on earth to a joint game.

Millions of miles and 30 moves later, Greg was victorious. Buoyed by his success, he has now challenged each mission control centre to an individual game.

Read more about Greg Chamitoff here on his Wikipedia site and the his flight here on Nasa’s site.
Original article on Chess com where you can play through his game! This post entry was post no 980!

Image rotated specially for LittleIndian…

Posted in Chess, chess games, Greg Chamitoff, NASA, skaak, space, space flights | Tagged chess games, Chess in Space, chess in space youtube movie, Greg Chamitoff, NASA, space, space flights | 15 Comments

15 Responses

on 08/09/2008 at 23:26 tony

Is the board magnetic ? or velcro ? : ))
on 09/09/2008 at 09:29 Wipneus!

Ja die bord is sekerlik velcro of magneties!!
He he hierdie ou gaan met hulle mors, hy het baie tyd vir skaak speel!! 😛

Ek sien jy is nou naby jou 1000ste inskrywing, ek tel saam af tot by 1000!!! Amper daar!
on 09/09/2008 at 22:12 Nikita

hi Tony/Wipneus…I believe it’s magnetic… 🙂

Ja, Wippie, ek het gehoop ek kan 1000 maak voor vandag! 🙂
on 10/09/2008 at 00:32 littleindian

That is unfair,
if the player floats, so should the pieces. No board.

That would be real zeroG chess. 😀
on 10/09/2008 at 08:06 Paula

Sjoe … baie interressant!
on 10/09/2008 at 11:52 Nikita

@littleindian… 🙂

@ Paula, dankie vir jou besoekie hier weer!
on 11/09/2008 at 01:44 littleindian

Could you try rotating the picture 180° – I bet it will be an amazing picture – and not inaccurate
on 11/09/2008 at 10:42 Nikita

Hi littleindian…done…specially for you! 🙂
on 11/09/2008 at 13:10 littleindian

Thanks friend,
Now it does look like chess in space, do you not agree?

I was reading some amusing facts about zero-G medicine.

The commonest minor problem in a space station is dust in eyes – because dust does not settle ‘down’.

Intravenous fluids cannot be run simply by (gravity induced) infusion, it has to be ‘pumped in’.

The funniest was – to give external cardiac massage – the resuscitator has to be fixed – feet strapped to the ‘floor’ or with each compression they would shoot off in the opposite direction. – Talk of hitting the ‘roof’. 😀

Sorry, its not appropriate on this blog,
but just wanted to share it.
on 12/09/2008 at 07:18 Nikita

hi Littleindian! My Pleasure! 🙂
Very interesting facts! and no, I don’t mind if! This is appropriate as it’s all about space! very interesting, thank you!!
on 14/09/2008 at 13:10 littleindian

Hi just to say I have moved my blog to my own domain.
Its at http://littleindian.awmyth.net
Thanks
on 14/09/2008 at 16:14 Nikita

hi Littleindian! I’ve got your link on my blogroll, thanks! 🙂
on 02/10/2008 at 23:13 Nikita

Update: Now you all can see the chess-in-space-movie too!
on 03/03/2009 at 10:49 Alexwebmaster

Hello webmaster
I would like to share with you a link to your site
write me here preonrelt@mail.ru
on 03/03/2009 at 17:18 Nikita

hi Alexwebmaster
Thanks for your visit and welcome to my blog. You can leave me the link here in a message box, unfortunately, I won’t have time to drop you an email now!