Liquid Ping Pong in Space - RED 4K

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who marked day 300 of a historic year in space on Jan. 21, 2016, shows off another fascinating feature of life in microgravity. Kelly used two paddles with hydrophobic, or water repellant, features to pass a sphere of water back and forth. Scientists use the microgravity environment of the space station to advance scientific knowledge in Earth, space, physical, and biological sciences that otherwise wouldn't be possible down here on the planet.

The paddles are polycarbonate laser etched so that the surfaces are actually arrays of 300 micrometer posts (0.3mm). The surfaces were then spray coated with a Teflon coat. The combined effects of surface roughness and non-wettability produce a super-hydrophobic surface capable of preventing water adhesion in dynamic processes. The larger the drop, the less force it takes to break it up. The smaller the drop, the harder you can hit it. Scott is demonstrating about a 4 mL drop (over 100 times larger than a rain drop).

Learn more and follow along with the one-year mission online or using #YearInSpace

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(Video: NASA)

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[adam]

Anyone else find that far more entertaining than they feel they should? It's like being a kid again.

[Adriano_leal]

I just realized that because his mission is so long, by the time he comes back, most of his cells would be new and made in space, so Scott will be the closest thing to a person born in space so far :D Cool

[enderjacket]

More videos with the potential to go viral will increase interest in space exploration. Keep it up!

[TheTranimal]

I want to see what happens when he hits the water harder.

[walcXP]

What I find the most interesting is that they must actually plan ahead and bring all the props for these sorts of videos. No amazon shipping on space station (yet).

[WilliamSouza]

Several electrical equipment and you playing ping pong with a ball of water? Great Scott!

[jamjr]

if you could put a seed in it and watch it

[triciahenry]

Okay, I'll admit, this is the coolest thing ever

[spacepd]

Haha, great! And when you're done playing and work up a sweat you can drink the ball! :D

[enderjacket]

Good video NASA Johnson! More videos with the potential to go viral will increase interest in space exploration; keep it up!

[djAnakin]

Who would win in a ping pong match? Scott Kelly or Scott Kelly?

[atardigrade]

I wish I could give you something that no one could. Thank you for being "insane" and having love for all of humankind.

[mattaze]

the blob of water is stationary while the camera, station, paddles and Scott Kelly are all moving up and down.

[KatilCivciv]

if you re a 40 year old man playing with water on earth they ll probably call you a weirdo but if you do the same thing in space you get to be called an astronaut :D

[scottstirland]

This is awesome. The things you can do in space make you wonder on how far you can take and change earth style activity's

[testtest]

That's really cool. I would not have thought they would bounce off like that, I expected them to absorb all the energy and just stop in front of the paddle.

[OmegaMultiplayer]

This is pretty neat, though I'm not sure what more you could do with it besides just slowly passing a sphere of water back and forth. The surface tension wouldn't hold to anything more than a gentle push.

[wurmplesippysoup]

This was so awesome and amazing that my science teacher showed us and put it on her school webpage!!

[chasecomeau]

Imagine if someone would come out of nowhere and smash the bubble of water lol

[tevexqe]

Roses are red
Voilets are blue
The ping pong is at 0:52