Astronauts on the International Space Station held their own Olympic Games, with a weightless twist.
As the world’s best athletes battled it out for glory down on Earth in Tokyo, the space explorers put their lack of gravity to hilarious use in a series of disciplines.
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet shared videos of the lighthearted competition online on Friday.
As the world’s best athletes battled it out for glory down on Earth in Tokyo, the space explorers put their lack of gravity to hilarious use in a series of disciplines.
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet shared videos of the lighthearted competition online on Friday.
There was the lack-of-floor routine event:
Space #Olympics 1/4:
Lack-of-floor routine – much ? to Pyotr for completing his routine without touching anything, a difficult feat!
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Gym hors-sol – on ne dirait pas comme ça, mais les immobilisations en plein vol de Piotr requièrent une grande expérience#MissionAlphapic.twitter.com/gXAHSHHmcu
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) August 6, 2021
No-handball, where astronauts had to blow pingpong balls through hatches:
Space #Olympics 2/4:
No-handball – we had to adapt the rules a bit during the match, much investment on both sides for the win.
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Handball sans les mains – les règles ont dû être adaptées au cours d’un match que nous décrirons sobrement comme intense. pic.twitter.com/dVOv3GRThD
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) August 6, 2021
Synchronized space swimming:
Space #Olympics 3/4:
Synchronised space swimming – an opportunity to show teamwork and crew cohesion.
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Flottation synchronisée – l’occasion de démontrer une des plus importantes compétences un astronaute : l’esprit d’équipe #MissionAlphapic.twitter.com/Ljo65AkzNQ
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) August 6, 2021
And weightless sharpshooting:
Space #Olympics 4/4:
Weightless sharpshooting – concentration and skill (or luck) proved necessary to reach the target.
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Tir sans gravité – concentration et persévérance ont dicté cette épreuve pour bien négocier la trajectoire des élastiques#MissionAlphapic.twitter.com/eV2cSxEWQ5
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) August 6, 2021