Space Sports
Space sports are coming sooner than you think.
Space tourism is finally happening within the next couple
of years. Space hotels will
soon be established to house tourists and as space travel
becomes less and less expensive, space
habitats will most likely crossover as permanent dwelling
houses for space residents.
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Space Sports |
Though even before the first tourists can even blast-off
beyond the Earth's atmosphere, a few of our more adventurous
brothers are already thinking about what space sports will
be appropriate given the circumstances.
For centuries, the gnawing feeling of conquering the vast
outer space is coming to fruition, as modern technology has
developed space vehicles that could be employed for a trek
into space. Soon, we will be able to experience the vivid
images, the feeling of zero-gravity or the stuff that only
astronauts are privy to, because everybody else will get a
feel of space travel. While becoming a space tourist today
may be still expensive, the future beacons tourists with limited
capabilities.
With space colonies eventually becoming a reality, expect
migration to follow suit. The next big question would be:
what are the forms of recreation in space, or the type of
space sports that everybody else can take an interest in and
enjoy? Will competition be as rigid as what we have on Earth?
Space sports will pre-occupy enthusiasts and they will most
probably be ready with answers once the inevitable happens.
Several questions come to mind when we think of space sports.
For one, can basketball and football, among others be played
in space? According to scientists, the popular sports played
on Earth are still possible in space.
Nevertheless, the accessibility of courts would be limited
since creation would require huge funding. Remember that everything
in space would operate under a controlled Earthly environment.
Thus, expensive facilities will be devised and maintained
in order to sustain a balanced ground, a form of artificial
gravity must be introduced so that players and the audience
can stay put; otherwise there will be chaos in the arena.
In order for space sports to maintain a competitive edge,
sports rules need to be adjusted to fit the new environment
while devising measures that would lessen the intended investment
for new sports facilities. Besides, would sports still appeal
to your senses under a totally different environment?
A good question though would be what kind of space sports
could be established considering the expected zero gravity-environment
of outer space? Basically, the simplest would be gymnastics
because this sport would apply to everybody else regardless
of weight and height. People can effortlessly train and enjoy
the sports by simply maintaining their balance and by controlling
their movements. Another exciting space sports would be wrestling.
Can you imagine wrestlers in space? The game would be funny
but thoroughly entertaining. Furthermore, water space sports
could be created wherein people can enter a room filled with
floating water blobs; and actually hurl water blobs against
each other. Or what about a modified track and field facility
that races to the finish line. Think that would work?
There are countless possibilities concerning sports that
can be feasibly played in space. Astronauts have already played
golf on the moon. And, there has been talk of extreme space
diving, where a space plane will take tourist to the edge
of Earth's atmosphere and let them jump and parachute back
to solid ground. Racquetball may be a more reasonable request
for those who want to give their adrenal glands a rest.
But then again, we shouldn't expect everything else to be
patterned after the games played on Earth. What's probable
is that some new sporting events and games will evolve due
to a different and challenging environment. Furthermore, whatever
transpires in the future, space sports of many kinds will
surely be a part of it.
External Links
Felix Baumgartner completed a record breaking
space jump from 128,100 feet in a helium filled balloon
on October 14, 2012. See the Youtube video: http://youtu.be/YIj9XGLTGH8
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