One giant leap for space chess

Alan Boyle — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:33:32 GMT

Any bets on who'll be the first to bring a 3-D chessboard into space? We know it has to happen sometime before the 24th century:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Three-dimensional_chess

One giant leap for space chess

Ron Planesi — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:41:34 GMT

From six-player hexagon chess and two-player hexagon chess, including 3-D versions, to 3-D versions of "regular" square-based chess, I have a few suggestions: immortalstarmasters.com.

One giant leap for space chess

Bill Sheehan, Mill Creek Washington — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:01:35 GMT

Ok, let me see if I understand this: First, the current count of astronauts lost on the space shuttle is 14 and the last 7 die because of a piece of foam. Second, it cost $10,000 a pound to get anything into low earth orbit. Third, the total cost of the ISS is at $100 billion.

And they are playing chess???

We last went to the moon 39 years ago. Is this the best America can do? Please get that off the news. It's embarrassing.

One giant leap for space chess

Alan Boyle — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:18:46 GMT

Bill, I hate to break it to you, but they also watch DVDs up there ... and sometimes they talk with kids on a ham radio setup ... and sometimes they just look out the window. I hope I made clear that Chamitoff does this in his free time, and I hope you understand that these folks do need to have some free time.

One giant leap for space chess

Rich, Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:56:18 GMT

Maybe Bill doesn't remember that one astronaut took up a pocketful of mercury dimes, and another played golf on the moon. Geez, chill out and let people have a little down time.

Besides, the chess-playing grabs the interest of kids, shows them that astronauts are people too, increases awareness of the manned space program so that it doesn't vanish. I've met two astronauts face-to-face in my life, and even though I didn't have brain-bending questions, it was inspiring and thrilling to meet people who'd been places almost unimaginable, and they remained human and approachable.

One giant leap for space chess

Eric, Salinas, CA — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:12:26 GMT

Great article Alan. I have been seeing that chessboard on the station but haven't really been able to keep up witht he game. Having a game against some elementary school kids is good for getting the kids excited about space and chess. About time that a thinking person's game is being played and talked about instead of dumb old sports. More interaction between the space station and people on Earth makes it feel more like we're all involved in this great adventure.

One giant leap for space chess

Gordon Small, Charleston S.C. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:44:05 GMT

Alan, good response to Bill. By playing chess with those kids, he has probally taught them more about our space program than Bill could ever do. As a former science/math teacher, I say keep up the good work. Both you and the men and women in space.

One giant leap for space chess

Jim Hawk — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:24:56 GMT

What, it's not worth $5,000.00 to keep kids interested in the space program?

One giant leap for space chess

Loyd Eskildson - Scottsdale, AZ — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 01:26:47 GMT

Who needs this worthless space program - how are average citizens benefitting from these billions? President-Elect Obama wants to cut costs - NASA's a great place to start!

One giant leap for space chess

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:31:54 GMT

"And they are playing chess???"

Are you suggesting that *not* playing chess would change those issues?

The crews didn't design Shuttle or ISS but they do have to work with them. And like any other human beings, they need downtime. Save your displeasure for those actually responsible.

Note: I once had a chess set with magnetic pieces, and often wondered about possibly using it in space, one day...

One giant leap for space chess

Jeff, Atlanta, GA — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:29:12 GMT

Bill Sheehan & Alan Boyle,

Alan, you have one of the best jobs in the world and perform exceptionally well at the task. Bill Sheehan, I do not recall seeing your comments before but Alan only touched on the point I would like to make.

I want Earthlings and Martians to play softball in shirt-sleeves on Mars. Doing things that make you happy is what life is about whether that is growing a family or completing a science task to the best of your ability.

The lives lost in space were tragic and more than likely due to the lack of funding. Our politicians always seem to lean towards feeding us seed corn rather than doing the harder and longer term task of planting the seed corn. A solution to world hunger, Sun-derived energy for all and very long lives would all result if the politicians took the long-term approach.

And, if it took a million years or more to build a larger Mars and a Mars environment that allowed people to play softball in shirt-sleeves on Mars, that would be a fine result. Instead, we read about the continued and forever reports that end with references to history of water on Mars and whether life does or does not exist. I would just like to see our wonderfully engineered robots be discussed in terms of preparation for great engineering feats rather than as tools for historians.

On Earth, we frequently have fights over protecting habitats or preserving previously engineered constructions. On Mars, the politicians seem to feel protection and preservation of the entire planet is what should occur. That thinking will hold us back for many generations.

On Earth, we talk about a financial crisis in terms of trillions of dollars. Exploiting Mars should be worth hundreds of trillions of dollars and it seems that neither government nor business has figured that out yet.

The solution to our problems on Earth is to exploit our solar system. Instead of politicians talking about the need to improve our math and science performance, our students would see the need for math and science immediately; today they just see the need to operate a cash register at Walmart - hardly an intellectual challenge!

The Federal Reserve can print money today without too much worry about inflation. Usually that is not possible, but the current financial crisis makes it so. Similarly, we could create circumstances where spending on the educational and engineering pursuits necessary to exploit Mars would be feasible simply because the return on investment would be so great.

But, if there are no plans that include playing softball in shirt-sleeves on Mars right after finishing a Chess match between Earth and Mars, what good is it?

One giant leap for space chess

Glennjamin, Minneapolis,MN — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:29:25 GMT

Way to go and Good Luck Greg! My bet is with kids from Stevenson Elementary!!! Chess adds one more reason this big kid wants to go to the Space Station and beyond. Play chess and such an excellant view of the Earth and the universe outside your window!
With that chess board Greg has added more kids to ISS and space dreams than we could hope for. This was a great article and good news to connect kids and adults.

One giant leap for space chess

Dianne DeHart Dallas Texas — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:07:06 GMT

I think it is a wonderful and unselfish act for the NASA crew members to engage in the game of chess with school children on earth. Not only does it peek there interest in the game of chess, but it also shows children that Chamitoff is a human. With interests just like them. Who knows, maybe this will produce a new generation of astronaunts that look beyond just the science of the mission into the human element of living in space. Maybe someday they can bring a private chef on board to spicen up the menu! GOD bless the entire NASA team and those they inspire!

One giant leap for space chess

Chris — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:22:17 GMT

I think that it's a good idea. It's better than spending millions of dollars on a pen that writes in space and extreme conditions when you could just use a pencil.

One giant leap for space chess

Carl, West Palm Beach, Florida — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:10:01 GMT

I love the Fact that theres a chess set in space. Kind of humanizes the station. Its great to hear news like this. Keep up the good work.

One giant leap for space chess

FT — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:34:53 GMT

Chris, actually I was looking into the "Spending millions of dollars on pen" issue. It turns out that pencils don't work in space because the graphite doesn't adhere to paper in zero gravity.

So much for "Just using a pencil".

One giant leap for space chess

Wayne, Las Vegas NV — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:32:07 GMT

Great article Alan. If America wants to improve its prospects for more home-grown scientists and engineers, you must first give the kids the inspiration and drive to pursue such endeavours. This is a great example of giving kids both. It shows them that being an astronaut is achieveable and a real thing and not just a concept in a book. They talk to them, interact with them and to some degree bond with them. This could push those kids to study that extra hour. Over time, those extra hours accumulate to better grades and hopefully with a little luck they will be able to realize their dream. I have a 9 year old and I plan to take him to Houston, Cape Canaveral and the Smithsonian before he turns 16. Mark Twain once said (forgive me if I paraphrase):
If you want to be great, surround yourself with great people.
When it comes to the success of our children, the motto in my family is "Do whatever it takes. Results count."

One giant leap for space chess

OneVoice, Frederick MD — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:26:04 GMT

Has Astronaut Chamitoff said whether he will be bringing the chess set back down with him or leaving up there for later crews to use? Speaking of which Alan, besides the chess set and computer games, what other forms of recreation are available for the station crew? When the compliment goes up to 6 next year, it will be even more important for them to have other diversions - to get away from each other sometimes - mentally, if not physically?

I wonder what magnetic darts would be like in zero-g.

[ALAN ADDS: NASA says the chess set was left behind on the space station. The astronauts also watch TV programs on DVDs, and I believe they watch some additional programs (including NBC Nightly News, if I recall correctly) that are beamed up to them. They also have a library that is growing (you may recall that Charles Simonyi brought up some additions, including Goethe's "Faust" and Heinlein's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress"). I think the astronauts have often said their favorite pastime is looking out the window at the matchless view. They also have an amateur-radio rig that they use to talk with schoolchildren and hams. Yes, there are computer games (and sometimes computer viruses to cope with). They have some Internet connectivity. And there are occasional video and phone links with loved ones on Earth. If anyone else wants to chime in here, go right ahead with your comments.]

One giant leap for space chess

Louis Launer, St. Peters, Missouri — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:47:43 GMT

I'd rather see them play chess than anything else on the ISS.

One giant leap for space chess

JC, Fairbanks, AK — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:21:44 GMT

Another milestone for the ISS. Worth every billion.