Recreation and Sports in Zero-Gravity Ar Aynul Inaya* Ar Imaad Nizami** Ar Asma Hamid*** *Student, IV Sem, M. Arch, Recreation Architecture, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi **Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi *** Contractual Faculty, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Abstract Mankind has been dreaming and aspiring to live in other extraterrestrial planets and celestial bodies for quiet a few decades now. The vision to travel in space and create new homes, cities and civilizations in space has become an inherent topic of discussion in today’s sci-fi movies, novels and even in professional discussion platforms. But is life just about eating, sleeping, working and living? We, humans have always yearned for leisure times, invented new and exciting activities, sports and contests for our recreation. So, what becomes of our sports and recreation when we move to another home ground? Can our beloved football, hockey, cricket still be a constant in the lives of our future generations? This paper aims to question and explore the answers to them. The types of sports that can be played in zero gravity, the spatial requirements and the possible transformations of the present-day stadiums, pitches and playgrounds for zero gravity. Keywords: space, zero gravity, weightless, sports, recreation, futuristic architecture.
1. Introduction
the ozone layer, melting of glaciers, pollution and contamination of air, water and soil, etc. will lead to a time where humans will be forced to live near the polar regions, which although pose a harsh climate at the present, will be the only habitable place then. But surviving is one thing and living is another.
Scientist, researchers and experts around the world are concluding everyday that life on Earth might end sooner than expected. With the ongoing climate change, disasters, urbanization, food scarcity, water scarcity, etc. the said end is not far. A study in Geographical Research Letters states that humans might survive for some 1.5 billion years only. The urbanization and its consequent effects like the forming of urban heat islands, depletion of
Space Tourism Space exploration and colonization has been making headlines for more than a few decades now. With the many international organizations like the SpaceX, looking to explore and creating new boundaries in space, a few billionaires are now spending their money on leisurely holiday in space. Travelling to the International Space Station and experiencing the few minutes of weightlessness is the up and coming activity taken up by billionaires like Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Yusaku Maezawa, proving man’s insatiable thirst for recreation and adventure. True enough, the intriguing and ever-increasing desires of man to explore the unknown and
Fig 1. Santiago Dystopia. SRC: Mancilla, M. (2009, May 19). Post Nuclear Santiago [Illustration]. Deviant Art. https://www.deviantart.com/sith-x/art/Post-Nuclear-Santiago-123015185
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with no gravity and no friction, we might be getting nowhere even after running for hours.
challenge their boundaries has made man to reach the highest peaks and deepest trenches in the ocean floor. Now, space tourism and adventure is the next big thing.
Although gravity-less sports sounds very fictitious and far-fetched. Something similar to zero gravity sports was tried in 1980 as under-water sports: the first World Underwater Hockey Championship. Water that was limited to just swimming and deep diving was explored as an opportunity for land sports. Soon enough underwater football, wrestling, gymnastics, etc. followed. Similarly, gravity-less sports could be dreamt of in the future as a major form of recreation and entertainment, taking into account the trends in space tourism.
Space is a wide expanse of opportunity for mankind to make the ‘giant leap’. We look forward to building societies and civilizations in new planets. Our movies, TV series, books and even video games are highly influenced by how life will be in a new planet. The struggles for living with extra-terrestrials, in new atmospheres, etc. But most importantly they throw a lot of light on the lack of Earth’s gravity on whichever planet.
Importance of Gravity
2. Zero Gravity Spaces
Gravity to mankind is seldom noticed, but yet is a very important necessity for life on Earth. Unlike air, that can be artificially provided to our system during medical emergencies, a gravity-less condition never arises as it is always just there. An average human being has been in a situation without water, food or air, but gravity is above all that, he has never felt the need to understand its importance or the need to imagine life without it.
It is widely accepted and proved that creating antigravity on the Earth’s surface is almost impossible. Even the renowned space research organization, NASA itself has been training its astronauts as well as conducting microgravity experiments on earth using drops towers and aircraft flying parabolic trajectories.1 Many other companies and big names in the field of adventure sports have tried creating zero-gravity spaces, where people can pay to experience it. These facilities are listed under adventure sports, as the activities involved can be physically exhausting.
With the increase in space travel as a leisurely holiday, life in space is now an important discussion that is being addressed in the 21st century. Building cities in space, creating an artificial Earth’s atmosphere, etc. are the hot topics that are being deliberated. However, much less talk has been made about the sports, games, recreation and leisurely play during our life in space, while it has been stressed time and again about their importance for our mental, social and physical well-being.
Gravity-less Sports? This said, sports without gravity will be another scenario in itself. Various earthly games and activities will be challenging to be pursued in a gravity-less scenario. For instance, its hard to imagine water games in zero gravity, as water floats as blobs in spaces. And ball games or badminton will be just as hard, the ball when kicked might float in the air for eternity and never touch the ground. Athletics will just be another next to impossible attempt as
Fig 2. The 2004 astronaut candidates float inside the KC-135 aircraft. SRC: NASA. (2004, October 29). The 2004 astronaut candidates float inside the KC-135 aircraft. [Photograph]. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/ preparingtravel/ascans_kc135.html
1 NASA Glenn Research Center. (2020, January 21). Zero Gravity Research Facility. Glenn Research Center | NASA. https://www1.grc.nasa. gov/facilities/zero-g/
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Zero-G Zero-G was founded by a former astronaut and a NASA engineer to give gravity-less experience within the Earth’s atmosphere with the help of an aircraft. The American company, Zero-G, uses a modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft called the G-FORCE ONE®, to zoom through in unconventional ways including parabolic manoeuvres dives and pulls in mid air.
Fig 4. iFLY center in Houston. SRC: An, Y. (2018, October 5). iFly. Magical Winter Lights. https:// magicalwinterlights.com/essential_grid/ifly-indoor-skydiving/ifly/ Fig 3. How parabolic flights work. SRC: Air Zero G. (n.d.). How parabolic flights work [Illustration]. AirZeroG.Com. https://www.airzerog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/parabole-seule-EN.png
atmosphere. And, for mankind in today’s times, Zero Gravity = Weightlessness
Clearly, it isn’t really a zero-gravity situation but the experience of weightlessness is almost the same. The 30 second weightless feeling that the plane promises is reportedly very exhausting, with stomach upsets, etc. This is also why the plane also goes by the name ‘vomit-comet’.
it can be thus said that, in spite of man’s dreams to colonize space and the near future, zero gravity spaces have not come into existence yet. This also implies that, if we were ever to move to Moon, Mars or Kepler, mankind will need to be trained and new ways of recreation and sports will need to be invented, discovered or existing sports will need to be modified to micro-gravity.
iFLY Another recreation and adventure sports team called the iFLY has come up with a free floating experience called the indoor skydiving. The participants enter a pressurized wind tunnel with high-pressure air blown from the bottom, literally making them float in mid-air. The participants can perform rolls, turns and even synchronized aerobics with practice.2 This too isn’t entirely defying gravity, it still creates a much more safe, weightless and free-falling environment than the aircraft.
3. Activities in Space While, creating anti-gravity has been impossible for now, humans have already been to space, and by man’s nature all work and no play will just lead to a dull day as we see on the surface. By play, it can be any activity, passive or active, that takes the mind off the work and allows the astronauts and researchers to manage their work-life balance. Especially in outer space with very little contact with family, friends and society, their level of stress and depression will be high. Hence, recreation and leisure are very important aspects of life in space, away from the rest of mankind. So what are the recreational activities that are pursued by the astronauts in the International Space Station?
Evidently, man has yet to invent, create or achieve the phenomenon of anti-gravity in the Earth’s
2 Shu, L. (2016, February 12). Not just for astronauts and OK Go: How you too can experience zero gravity. Digital Trends. https://www.digitaltrends. com/cool-tech/5-places-to-reach-zero-gravity-within-earths-pull/
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GMT Time
Duration
Activity / Schedule
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM
1½ hours
Wake up; check day’s schedule; get ready and breakfast.
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM
12 hours
Work-day: science experiments as scheduled by the ground team; preventive and emergency maintenance.
twice a day
2½ hours
Daily Exercises: running a treadmill or bike for cardiovascular health; a machine that resists and functions as a makeshift weightlifting for maintaining bone and muscle strength.
once a day
1 hour
Midday meal during work-days.
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
2 hours
Conclusion of work-day; dinner; phone calls to family and friends on the surface.
9:30 PM
-
Scheduled sleep time.
Table 1. The typical schedule of a work-day in Shannon Walker’s life in the International Space Station. SRC: May, S. (2021, May 27). Shannon Walker: A Day in the Life on the International Space Station. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/stem/feature/shannon-walker-a-day-inthe-life-on-the-international-space-station.html
Life in Space
15, 2020 and May 2, 2021, had accounted her daily activities and expeditions. Her schedule in space included 5 days a week of work, Saturday for house-keeping and exercise and Sundays are off with only exercising on the schedule. As recreation, her free time is occupied by contacting family and friends through emails or phone calls, reading and observing the planet through the window.
One particular NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker, who spent 168 days in ISS, between November
Recreation in Space Recreation and leisurely activities in space with zero-gravity will be challenging yet adventurous and fun. Defying the laws of gravity, friction will need a lot of preparation and calculation of mass, velocity, force, etc. However, astronauts who reached the Moon in 1971, have already played golf,
Fig 5. NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker conducts her experiments. SRC: May, S. (2021, May 27). Shannon Walker: A Day in the Life on the International Space Station. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/stem/feature/shannonwalker-a-day-in-the-life-on-the-international-space-station.html
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of 2018, complete with its rules and regulations. It was supposed to be based on basketball, except with more bounce and floating in the air. He also stated that with the negligence of gravity, while it will be difficult to move our body, much rather play, it will be equally tough for most games on the surface to make it to outer space.5 Sports that can be played and enjoyed will be mostly under the categories of water-sports and ball sports. Sports like baseball cricket, etc. would not be feasible as the force exerted would require the players to stand more than 1000 feet away to field and catch the ball. The following are a list of sports that is possible in micro-gravity.
Fig 6. Alan Shepard playing golf on the Lunar surface. SRC: Scrivener, P. (2021, February 4). Images reveal how far Moon golf shot went 50 years ago. BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/55927727
thrown javelin, etc. on its surface.3 Also, NASA has released quiet a few pictures of them playing catch ball, tag, baseball, etc. inside the ship in zero gravity. So sports in zero gravity is not anything impossible.
Basketball and Football: Games with bigger balls can be changed a little to accommodate in the gravityless scenario. Also, the balls will have to be made from a more softer material. Because, one unit of force will convert into more than 100 units in space. Once kicked or thrown normally, it can seriously injure the other player who tries to block or catch it.
Other forms of recreation pursued by astronauts include watching movies, listening to music, reading books, playing cards and talking to their families on the ground.4 They make sure to exercise and keep themselves physically healthy on all days.
Potential Recreation in Space
Water Sports: Water floats in space as blobs. Although, zero gravity rejects friction, water will still have its volume and consistency to allow friction to a certain amount. So, people can easily float in it just as they do here. Water aerobics, swimming, etc. can be enjoyed as water sports in micro-gravity.
People have now taken interest and have made occasionally comments on the what-ifs of zerogravity sports, especially former astronauts, recreational experts and even some NASA researchers.
Fig 7. NFL Player and former astronaut, Leland D. Melvin. SRC: Wikipedia contributors. (2022, April 21). Leland D. Melvin. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Leland_D._Melvin
An NFL player and former astronaut, Leland Melvin had declared that a few astronauts have already played badminton in the International Space Station and that one of his close acquaintances has already started talking about a game called ‘Float Ball’ that he invented in the February
Fig 8. Quidditch still from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. SRC: Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match (1991). (n.d.). Harry Potter Wiki. https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Gryffindor_vs_Slytherin_Quidditch_match_ (1991)
Quidditch: The fictional sport from the Harry Potter book turned movie, can be looked forward
3 David, L. (2005). Zero-gravity sports are close to reality. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10396560
5 Litman-Navarro, K. (2018, April 17). Will There Be Sports in Space? Former Astronaut and NFL Player Says Yes. Inverse. https://www.inverse. com/article/43753-will-there-be-sports-in-space
4 May, S. (2021a, April 28). Free Time in Space. NASA. https://www.nasa. gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_free_time/
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to become a reality in zero-gravity. The balls like Quaffle, Bludger and Snitch, along with the various players, all can be made into actuality, realizing a fan’s dream.
4. Preparation for Space In the future of our sports and recreation industry, when we dive into space with our ideas for playing in zero-gravity, mankind will still need to prepare and get ready for space and the sense of weightlessness, just as the astronauts who train for around 2 years to 10 months before launch, in both technical and physical respects.
Fig 10. Scott Bleiseth, top, prepares to spin engineer Mike Hess during a test on the air-bearing floor. SRC: Mancini, M. (2020, August 20). 10 Surprising Facts About Astronaut Training. HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/10-surprising-factsabout-astronaut-training.htm
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory: This laboratory is actually a large swimming pool with the dimensions 62 × 31 × 12 meters. This trains here in full uniforms, for around 7 hours a day. The pool is designed as a mock-up for life-sized space vehicles.6
Astronaut Training The most exciting and demanding part in the life of an astronaut candidate is the training. The training includes medical procedures, emergency survival, public speaking classes, language classes, flight lessons, etc. along with the science and basics of the Shuttle and ISS. The following are the three ways in which astronauts are trained for zero-gravity. KC-135: This is the aircraft training that lets the astronauts experience weightlessness for less than half-a-minute as a practice for space. The working of the plane is what laid the foundation for Zero-G air-crafts that was discussed above. The Precision Air-Bearing Floor: This is a huge, metal floor smoothed to be as frictionless as possible. The floor is used to train astronauts to move objects in space.
Fig 11. Training the NBL SRC: NASA Content Administrator. (2017, August 7). Spacewalk Training in Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/ multimedia/gallery/jsc2013e021295.html
Other Possible Training Options for Players Once sports and recreation in outer space is normalized, there will be a requirement for other types of training facilities and spaces on the surface. Especially for players who will have to train in the long run to get accommodated to floating in space, Fig 9. UAE’s astronaut candidates try the parabolic flight for training SRC: Ryan, P. (2019, September 9). UAE’s astronauts in training try out zero gravity. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/science/uae-s-astronautsin-training-try-out-zero-gravity-1.818451
6 Canright, S. (2009, April 9). NASA - Astronauts in Training. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Astronauts_ in_Training.html
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zero gravity and zero friction.
around the same.
Sky diving and deep water sports like scuba diving, etc. could be some of the activities that they can try and use as a mean of training for space. Some realistic and existing centres like Deep Dive Dubai and para-gliding centres have the potential for such training spaces in the current world.
Keeping this in mind, the requirement list for the various spaces inside the ship could be, •
a stadium, preferably a spherical or domed space,
•
spectator deck from all sides,
5. Stadiums and Play Areas
•
player quarters, as they will have to practice and learn to live in zero-gravity.
While discussing about the types of sports that can be played in a zero gravity environment, it is necessary to contemplate on the types of spaces and structures that can accommodate these sports, the players and the spectators.
•
visitor quarters for a short time stay, so that they can experience the other aspects of space tourism other than the sports,
•
huge windows in all the rooms, looking outside the ship,
•
viewing decks in the common corridors along the wall of the ship, looking outside,
•
a cafeteria with induced gravity,
•
an arcade with some gravity-less indoor games that the spectators and player can relax to, and
•
a hangar for incoming pods carrying people to and fro.
The initial design pondered on the concept of a Floating Stadium outside the atmosphere as well as a Domed Stadium on the surface of the planet.
The design of the ship’s outer structure was referred from the sci-fi movie Star Trek7 and a SketchUp Warehouse model8. The ship is designed
Fig 12. Initial design concept SRC: Author
Through the research and background study above it was decided on the fact that creating a zero-gravity environment on the surface is impossible. So, the first idea of a Floating Stadium was researched on, which later turned into a Starship concept to adapt with space tourism and exploring.
Fig 13. Visualization model of the Recreational Starship with inbuilt spherical sports stadium, recreation arcade and staying quarters. SRC: Author.
As the paper is based on the recreational and architectural aspects of the project rather than the technical point of view, the design will revolve
7 Paramount Pictures Corporation. (2021, December 21). Video Landing Page. Star Trek. https://intl.startrek.com/videos 8 T., J. (2021, February 17). Space Ship. 3D Warehouse. https://3dwarehouse. sketchup.com/model/54fccd58-85c3-47dc-8c2e-980b2fb50051/space
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Fig 14. The program and space analysis of the starship. SRC: Author.
like a starship carrying all the engines, nuclear reactors and propellers. The primary hull will have all the major inhabitable spaces like the spherical stadium in the centre, surrounded by a spectator deck around it. The quarters as the bottom ring around the stadium and the viewing deck as the top ring near the ship command. The hangar port will be located at the rear end of the ship in the main hull. The main hull will also hold the recreational spaces like an arcade, a restaurant and other staying quarters. The hangar port for the escape will be located near the bottom of the secondary hull.
Staying in the starship, away from friends and family for long periods of time can have a toll on the mental well-being. So, a recreational arcade is designed where the players can connect with each other socially without the pressures of a scheduled match. The recreation arcade will have games like ping-pong, doll machines, theatres etc. The space will be common for both the players and spectators, during the game season. The hub will also have a restaurant with induced gravity, for safety and hygienic reasons. The quarters, located at the lowest tier in the primary hull, will have floor wise accommodation with one floor dedicated to the players to provide them with privacy and space.
The ship will orbit the planet Earth as well as travel to orbit the Moon, Mars and other nearby planets. This will open up the opportunity for space tourism along with the sports facilities in the premise. The people will reach the ship via space capsules or pods that will be tiny ships carrying around 50 people including with the pilots, guards and engineers.
The viewing deck will be designed like a concave open air theatre with stepped seating and induced gravity.
The starship’s stadium will have a capacity of around 200 spectators. Also, there will be only one sport played at one time. Due to the effects of microgravity, anti-friction and limitation in movement, the area required for practicing the sport will be more than the a normal terrestrial sport.
Conclusion Space Tourism, Recreation and Space Sports sounds very bizarre and unbelievable in today’s world. But, with the continuous evolution, discovery and inventions in science and astronomy, the outlook
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Collins, P., Fukuoka, T., & Nishimura, T. (1994). Space Future - Zero-Gravity Sports Centers. Space Future. https://www.spacefuture.com/archive/zero_ gravity_sports_centers.shtml
isn’t completely improbable. It will be possible for people to travel to Space just as they are on the surface. The change will be slow and tedious, but it is still possible and preparing for it in advance is a given as a fellow recreation expert. Starships dedicated to Space Tourism, Sports and Recreation will be a sought after project in the future of mankind, in some 50 to 100 years.
Sharma, Navdeep & Mahajan, Aman. (2013). Zero-g Games for Space Habitats. Research & Reviews: Journal of Space Science & Technology. https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/272158815_Zero-g_Games_for_ Space_Habitats
Opening up opportunities in the outer space should be the next most forward to, game-changing event in the field of Recreation and Sports.
References
Kuwahara, S., Collins, P., Fukuoka, T., Nishimura, T., & Kuwahara, S. (1996). Space Future Design and Construction of Zero-Gravity Gymnasium. Space Future. http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/ design_and_construction_of_zero_gravity_ gymnasium.shtml
NASA Glenn Research Center. (2020, January 21). Zero Gravity Research Facility. Glenn Research Center | NASA. https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/facilities/zero-g/ Shu, L. (2016, February 12). Not just for astronauts and OK Go: How you too can experience zero gravity. Digital Trends. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/5places-to-reach-zero-gravity-within-earthspull/
Paramount Pictures Corporation. (2021, December 21). Video Landing Page. Star Trek. https://intl.startrek.com/videos T., J. (2021, February 17). Space Ship. 3D Warehouse. https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/ model/54fccd58-85c3-47dc-8c2e980b2fb50051/space
David, L. (2005). Zero-gravity sports are close to reality. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/ wbna10396560 May, S. (2021a, April 28). Free Time in Space. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/ foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_free_time/ Litman-Navarro, K. (2018, April 17). Will There Be Sports in Space? Former Astronaut and NFL Player Says Yes. Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/article/43753-willthere-be-sports-in-space Canright, S. (2009, April 9). NASA - Astronauts in Training. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/ forstudents/5-8/features/F_Astronauts_in_ Training.html
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