The Super Bowl is a cultural phenomenon, drawing an audience of roughly 200 million viewers across 130 countries. This year, the spectacle extends beyond Earth, as NASA plans to beam the Super Bowl LX showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots to the three astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew consists of NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency. Their numbers have dwindled recently following the return of SpaceX Crew-11 – Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov – in the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. This unprecedented event necessitated a temporary reduction in the station’s crew size.
NASA is accommodating the crew’s desire to watch the game, despite the logistical challenges of broadcasting it to the ISS. Dina Contella, Deputy Manager for NASA’s International Space Station Program, stated during a press briefing that the agency would make the broadcast available, “If they’d like to watch the Super Bowl, we’ll give them that chance. We’ll have to see how that overlaps, and if there’s any critical events for ISS, but certainly we could record it and if necessary, play it back.”
However, the astronauts won’t be tuning in at the same time as viewers on Earth. Life aboard the ISS operates on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), meaning kickoff, scheduled for on , will occur at for the orbiting crew. The ISS travels at approximately 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h) roughly 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, adding a unique perspective to the viewing experience.
This year’s Super Bowl LX, taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, isn’t just a sporting event; it’s also a showcase for advertising. Companies are already releasing commercials ahead of the game, including a Kinder Bueno ad featuring a sci-fi theme with “intergalactic travel, astronaut babies and cute little aliens.” The commercial landscape is also evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence into ad campaigns.
For those wanting to watch the game from outside the United States, a VPN service like Surfshark may be necessary. Surfshark is currently offering discounts of up to 80%.
The ISS itself is a remarkable feat of engineering, roughly the size of an entire NFL football field. The ability to broadcast a live event like the Super Bowl to the station highlights the advancements in communication technology and the ongoing efforts to maintain a connection between those on Earth and those exploring the cosmos.
While the astronauts’ team allegiances remain unknown, Christopher Williams has ties to both coasts of the United States, having been born in New York City and earning his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, located near the Super Bowl venue. The Roscosmos cosmonauts, raised in Russia, may have different sporting preferences, but are free to support either team.
The Super Bowl LX is scheduled to air on NBC and stream on Peacock. For viewers outside the U.S., utilizing a VPN service can provide access to the broadcast. Regardless of location – on Earth or in orbit – the Super Bowl continues to be a unifying event for millions of fans worldwide.
