Super Bowl LIX Reaches Orbit: NASA Streams the Big Game to the ISS

Forget the stadium snacks and crowded sports bars! This year, Super Bowl LIX took the concept of “worldwide broadcast” to a whole new level – literally. NASA beamed the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles showdown straight to the International Space Station (ISS). So, while millions of fans on Earth gathered for Super Bowl LIX, a select group of spectators had a truly out-of-this-world viewing experience. NASA ensured that astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had the chance to watch the game live, offering a rare slice of home while orbiting 250 miles above the planet.

As you can see below, they had quite the view.

A Late-Night Kickoff in Space

The Super Bowl is a cultural giant, drawing millions of viewers across the U.S. and beyond. Even in space, NASA recognizes the importance of keeping astronauts connected to events back home. The crew could tune in thanks to a live uplink, though they would have to stay up late to do it.

The ISS operates on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which does not align neatly with prime-time broadcasts in the U.S. For the astronauts, kickoff happened at 11:30 p.m. UTC, long past their usual work hours. While their daily routine includes breathtaking views of Earth and groundbreaking scientific research, the option to unwind with one of America’s biggest sporting events brought a small sense of normalcy to life in orbit.

By the way, did you know that the International Space Station is about the same size as an American Football field?

Who’s on Board?

At the time of the game, five astronauts and cosmonauts made up the ISS crew, including four from NASA. Expedition 72 commander Suni Williams and flight engineer Butch Wilmore have been on the station since June, originally arriving for what was meant to be a short-term mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner. Don Pettit and Nick Hague joined them later via Russian Soyuz and SpaceX Crew-9, alongside cosmonaut Alexandr Gorbunov.

How Expedition 72 is Celebrating the Super Bowl?

The question of how Expedition 72 is tailgating for the Super Bowl has been answered. According to Nick Hague, astronauts are preparing a space version of hot wings while projecting the pre-game coverage onto a big screen. The big question – “do the wings taste as hot in space as they do on Earth?” – remains unanswered, but rest assured, we’ve asked!

Beyond Football: Space Connectivity Expands

While streaming the Super Bowl from orbit is a fun perk, it also highlights the progress in space communication. A Super Bowl ad featuring Starlink and T-Mobile showcased efforts to improve satellite-based connectivity, a development that could benefit astronauts and, eventually, deep-space travelers by keeping them connected to life on Earth.

For now, the ISS is the only place where you can experience microgravity while watching a football game. As technology advances, future spacefarers may enjoy even more access to live events, no matter how far they travel beyond our planet.