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Watch: Astronaut plays ping pong in space with ball of water

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Jan 24, 2016

NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly might have discovered the next popular sport: water ping pong.

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Kelly, who will spend a year at the International Space Station, celebrated his 300th day in outer space by posting a video of the ping-pong-like discovery on his Facebook page.

In the video, Kelly tosses a ball of water between two super-hydrophobic polycarbonate paddles. According to the 51-year-old astronaut, the paddles' material repel water much like a rain coat, allowing the water to bounce off the surface of the paddles.

The video, which has been viewed nearly 300,000 times, garnered comments from social media users asking if the game could be played across long distances or if the ball of water could be hit with hard force.

Kelly has also documented amazing photos from space of storms, the northern lights and a flower he grew inside the spacecraft.

Try this, Mary Poppins! Super-hydrophobic polycarbonate ping pong paddles and a water ball in space! #YearInSpace

Posted by NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly on Thursday, January 21, 2016

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