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NASA astronaut to play first tennis match in space: How to watch it live

NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel will attempt to play the first tennis match in space: AFP/Getty Images
NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel will attempt to play the first tennis match in space: AFP/Getty Images

A NASA astronaut is set to take part in the first ever tennis match in space.

On the International Space Station, astronaut and tennis enthusiast Andrew 'Drew' Feustel will attempt to play a game of doubles with crewmates Ricky Arnold, NASA flight engineer, Alexander Gerst, European Space Agency flight engineer, and Serena Aunon-Chancellor, NASA flight engineer.

Fans will be able to watch the gravity-defying action unfold live from 8.30pm ET on Tuesday (1.30am BST on Wednesday) on the US Open’s Facebook page, YouTube and Periscope page on Twitter.

The match will also be projected live on to a 350-tonne steel globe at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

The USTA said the game has been in the works since December 2017, "to excite the next generation of tennis greats about space exploration while demonstrating that tennis is a springboard for unlimited adventures on and off the court".

Mr Feustel, ISS commander of expedition 56, predicted how he thought the match might go.

He said: "The fact that we don’t have gravity is hard. Balls won’t bounce, and gravity has no effect.

"To me, it’s going to seem like that old game Pong, where you hit the ball and the ball just goes straight; it doesn’t bounce on anything.

"So it’s going to be challenging. We might have to invent some new rules."

The USTA rocketed all the necessary apparatus to Mr Feustel on the ISS, including racquets and balls, ahead of the historic match.

Amy Choyne, USTA chief marketing officer, said: “Drew’s passion for tennis and space travel is inspiring our youth to serve to the moon and seek the unknown while also demonstrating the benefits of a fit and athletic lifestyle.”

Juan Martin del Porto, 2009 US Open men's singles champion, will also be on hand to help Mr Feustel prepare for play.

He will video chat with the tennis-loving astronaut to offer some tips as he orbits on the ISS on Tuesday from 12.35pm ET (5.35pm BST).

NASA will stream the chat on its website.