Watch | ‘You can play all positions’: Astronaut Koichi Wakata’s zero-gravity baseball at ISS sends internet into frenzy

Astronaut Koichi Wakata posted a clip on X, formerly Twitter, where he could be seen playing baseball effortlessly and enjoying it solo. He pitches, hits and catches the ball while floating in microgravity inside the JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) module of the International Space Station (ISS). The video has taken the internet by storm, garnering more than a lakh views.

He captioned the 28-second video post, saying, “It's baseball season - the @MLB season opener is kicking off in Japan. During Expedition 68 I played a solo game of baseball. In microgravity you don't need a whole team, you can play all of the positions!” The clip showcases the physics involved and impressive sportsmanship.

Elon Musk's attention to Wakata's video

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk reacted to the viral video and posted Wakata's clip on his X handle.

‘Japan plays great baseball’

Colonel Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to command the International Space Station (ISS) and a worldwide renowned figure in space exploration, shared Wakata's video, stating, "That's friend @Astro_Wakata inside the @JAXA_en module of the International Space Station - Japan plays great baseball!Japan plays great baseball!”

Hadfield worked as a tactical fighter pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces, where he flew more than 70 types of aircraft. His remarkable skills gained him the distinction of Top Test Pilot in both the US Air Force and Navy, and he became part of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

Netizens have showcased massive interest with amusement seeing the display of incredible baseball activity in zero gravity. One of the users said, “Only in space can you be the pitcher, batter, and fielder at the same time!”

Who is Koichi Wakata?

Wakata, 61, pursued a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987, a Master of Science in Applied Mechanics in 1989, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in 2004 from Kyushu University. He was employed as a structural engineer for Japan Airlines prior to joining JAXA.

He took part in missions such as STS-92 in 2000 and STS-119 in 2009. Wakata was a flight engineer for Expeditions 18, 19, and 20. He served as the first Japanese astronaut to command the ISS during Expedition 39 in 2014. He went on his fifth space mission as part of SpaceX Crew-5, achieving a record for Japanese astronauts. He retired from JAXA in March 2024 and became a part of Axiom Space as an astronaut and Chief Technical Officer for the Asia-Pacific region.