Football and space. At first glance, there is a chasm between them. One is a game of millions on green grass. The other is the silent infinity. But it's not that simple. Astronauts play football in orbit, and footballs float in zero gravity. Technologies created for space help footballers, and football brands inspire space missions. On Russia Day, a country that opened the way to space and has always loved football, we will link these two passions. Football in orbit: how to play in zero gravity Imagine: you are flying to the ISS. You are sad, missing Earth. Then you turn on a projector, inflate a soft ball, and have a match in the "Zvezda" module. Yes, astronauts play football in zero gravity. Not like on the field: the ball doesn't fall, it floats. The rules change: you can push off the walls, headbutt the ball stuck under the ceiling. The goalkeeper is replaced by a hatch. Real football in space was held on the "Mir" station: the crew played with the Mission Control Center (via telemetry). Today, on the ISS, there is a mini-ball and gates made of tape. When tourists arrive, they also play football. The space ball: from leather to super-technology The modern football is space. The materials used (carbon, microfibers) come from the aerospace industry. The Telstar 18 World Cup ball of 2018 had an NFC chip, and the Al Rihla ball of 2022 had an inertia sensor. The next ball may have nano-sensors for tracking hits, like sensors on spacesuits. The panel shape is optimized with aerodynamic modeling, like rockets. Footballers' equipment: the legacy of space Boots with carbon soles, breathable jerseys with moisture-wicking — all this came from space suits. Materials that wick away sweat were created for astronauts who can't change their underwear often. Cooling systems in jerseys are from technologies for extravehicular activity. Even the shaving gel that footballers use before games has a space version. So space affects the game. Space clubs and names: Zvezda, G ... Read more