Earthlings, It’s Time to Keep Your Chess Pieces From Floating Away
Greg Johnson and Greg Chamitoff play chess
Shuttle Astronauts Play Chess: STS-134 astronauts Greg
Johnson and Greg Chamitoff ponder their next move for the Earth vs. Space chess
match. The shuttle crew members also discuss their activities aboard the International
Space Station and the benefits of playing chess. [Courtesy NASA]
After a brief postponement due to some electrical problems on the space shuttle
Endeavour, the latest Earth vs. Space chess match is now under way, and you
can post your suggestions on how to beat NASA astronauts Greg Chamitoff and
Greg H. Johnson on Facebook and follow the match there or on Twitter.
Chamitoff and Johnson launched on a mission to the International Space Station
on Monday, and have only two weeks to complete this match, so the action should
be as fast and furious as the busy mission to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
allows. They’re teaming up for this chess match challenge to the people
of Earth.
NASA and the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) hosted the first Earth vs. space
match in 2008 when Chamitoff lived aboard the International Space Station. The
public won that match thanks to help from chess champions at Stevenson Elementary
School in Bellevue, Wash.
"Chess is a great game that challenges the mind and helps young people
develop critical thinking skills that will serve them well in math, science,
and all aspects of their future careers," Chamitoff said.
He and Johnson will play the game during their 14-day space shuttle flight
to the International Space Station. The USCF is facilitating the match on
its website.
Chamitoff/Johnson,Greg/Greg - Earthlings [D11]
NASA Space Station, 27.05.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.c5 Bf5 5.Bf4 Nbd7 6.Nc3 e6 7.e3 Be7
8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 0-0 10.0-0 Nh5 11.Rfe1 Nxf4 12.exf4 b6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Rxe5
bxc5 15.Rh5
The position in the game on the morning of Friday, 27th May [click
for PGN] |
Previous ChessBase articles on chess in space

The weightless astronaut Gregory Chamitoff pondering a chess position on
the ISS

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Chess in Space: Houston, we have a checkmate
29.08.2008 – How's this for an unusual chess
match: US astronaut Greg Chamitoff, who is currently aboard the International
Space Station, is playing against the Ground Stations. The first game
was won convincingly by Chamitoff, who is a decent amateur player. Now
he is playing six simultaneous games against different Ground Stations.
We have pictures and an indepth
interview with the astronaut.
|

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Get Ready for Earth vs. Space
26.09.2008 – On Monday, September 29 Greg Chamitoff,
travelling 210 miles above the earth at five miles a second, will challenge
team earth to a ground-breaking Space Match. It is a unique event, pitting
the International Space Station astronaut against the residents of Earth,
guided by a team of schoolchildren. Rate of play is one move per day.
Press
release. |

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Swedish Astronaut to play Chess from Space
21.08.2009 – Remember American astronaut Greg
Chamitoff, who a year ago played chess against the NASA ground stations.
Well, now European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, Sweden,
is going to do the same, playing a game against the Swedish public. Right
now Fuglesang is in quarantine awaiting an August 24th launch. But the
game has already started, and you
can take part. |

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Astronaut Fuglesang in trouble – in space chess game
09.09.2009 – On August 28 Swedish astronaut
Christer Fuglesang blasted off into space, on the 128th mission of NASA's
Space Shuttle program. He conducted a seven-hour space walk at the International
Space Station, and also continued his chess game against the readers of
a Swedish newspaper. Both the astronaut, who has a tough position, and
his opponents have lovely
prizes waiting for them. |

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Astronaut Fuglesang receives his prize
22.10.2009 – After returning safely to Earth
from the 128th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, during which he
played a game of chess against the readers of a Swedish newspaper, the
astronaut Christer Fuglesang was given a prize (in spite of losing the
game). It was a Rybka program, signed by five World Champions. One of
his reader opponents received a similar prize. Illustrated
report with videos. |