The Future of Space Sports (25 April 2008):
Astronauts, by necessity, work hard in space. But during their precious time off aboard the International Space Station (ISS), some spaceflyers are picking their brains to come up with the future of space sports.
Space station astronauts are scheduled to work an average of about 6 1/2 hours each day, with about two hours set aside for exercise and about 8 1/2 reserved for sleep. But astronauts, like the rest of us, will squeeze in some fun during their off-hours.
In addition to their space treadmill and stationary bike, they've played weightless basketball, Frisbee and tossed boomerangs, to name a few. But the rules change in the absence of gravity.
"It definitely takes skill to be able to throw objects in space," said Whitson, adding it has to be developed just like the ability to move in weightless. "Overcoming an opponent requires some skill. I think there'll be a lot of new games that they come up with."