An alliance of experts in space, sports and the entertainment industry are working on games for low or microgravity playing fields.
The Space Games Federation has identified a number of potential game concepts, from guiding a magnetic ball through hoops in space to space dodgeball, as well as racing the clock to tie an increasingly complicated series of knots while tethered to a teammate.
Linda Rheinstein told Space.com that the focal points of the Space Games Federation are entertainment, engagement and education.
"We see new playing fields, new rules and taking new and traditional competitive organized sports to space stations, the moon, Mars and beyond," said Rheinstein, who is a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. "They are all our playing fields."
The first space tourists.
The Space Games Federation has a logo. The Space Games Federation has an image.
The Equal Space Challenge competition was launched by the Space Games Federation to encourage the public to design and develop games for low or microgravity environments.
The playing field is affected by the absence of gravity.
The Federation's Equal Space Challenge was open to all ages, genders, levels of ability and nationalities. Space sport concepts were evaluated based on four key factors: concept and feasibility, game strategy, community engagement and submission execution.
Competition has always been the way that you forward education. "Anything is a competition," Rheinstein said. "It's time to redefine sports, create new jobs and new idols called 'astroletes' that take on competitive sports in space that are more challenging than anything on Earth."
An astrolete is an individual with the core skills of an athlete and the spirit of an athlete, which can be applied to athletic endeavors in space.
The moon's one-sixth gravity is an excellent environment for athletic competition. The image is from NASA/Pat Rawlings.
Fans are looking at something.
The greatest thing about sports is the fans. She said that sports fans will watch sports in space even if they don't want to. They want to watch sports in space.
Space sports could be used for good-faith negotiation, communication and cooperation.
The International Space Station is being recognized for what it has done over the past two decades. She advocated that the outpost be nominated for the peace prize.
"In light of the many challenges humanity is currently facing, the ISS remains steadfast in its commitment to global cooperation," Rheinstein said.
The Space Games Federation embraces fun, tourism and competition, but it's also committed to education, science and collecting data for the greater good as we explore our universe.
Bright future.
John Spencer is an architect with an eye toward outer space and is a supporter of the Space Games Federation.
The Space Tourism Society was founded by Spencer. He will speak about how to make money from the space experience economy at the Society's conference in Los Angeles.
Alan Shepard hit two golf balls on the lunar surface in 1971 in the beginning of real space sports. Shepard said they traveled in the low gravity and no atmosphere.
Red Bull sponsored a skydive in a space suit from a balloon floating more than 100,000 feet above Earth.
He said that the outer space yachting industry is starting to scope out futuristic plans for racing solar-sailing yachts close to the lunar surface in America's Cup-style competitions.
Spencer said to toss in dune buggy racing on the moon. The concept is in the early stages. There are ideas for skiing on the moon and on Mars.
"All of these amazing future competitions off-world will capture Earth-wide audiences with great entertainment that highlights courage and imagination and super-advanced technology," Spencer said.
The organization's website has more information. There is a video about the Space Games Federation.
The book "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" was published by National Geographic. David has been reporting on the space industry for more than 50 years. Follow us on social media.
