Don Pettit, astronaut of the POThas found in a Yo-Yo an educational tool on board the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit, a chemical engineer and astronaut since 1996, used the simple toy to break down the principles of physics in a microgravity environment. “It is good to understand the physics of recreational activities”Pettit said, while demonstrating several yo-yo tricks.
Pettit confirmed that he brought with him several models of Yo-Yos manufactured by Kuhns and YoYo Factory. Apart from being a source of entertainment, Pettit had several benefits of this activity in space. According to him, one of the main benefits is: “It allows you to start charming conversations about scientific topics.”
Among the Yo-Yos that Pettit brought to the ISSthey were found Silver Bullet II, Roller Woody, Pocket Rocket, Tom Cat and YoYo Factory DNA. Pettit mentioned that he modified one of his Tom Cats with custom internal components and anodized it in a deep gold color known as “NASA Gold,” used in other NASA projects. POT As the Robonaut and prototypes of lunar rover. This process was carried out in a local workshop in charge of anodizing.
Pettit is no stranger to experimenting and creating in spatial conditions. Among his inventions is the “microgravity coffee cup”, designed to allow you to drink coffee in space without the liquid floating out. In addition to his technical achievements, he has also made quite important contributions in terms of scientific communication, his technical prose being descriptive and accessible.
Since arriving at NASA, Pettit has spent more than a year living in space, contributing to projects of great importance, such as assembling technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars. However, his yo-yo demonstrations not only serve an educational purpose, but also provide a moment of recreation and relieve tension in the ISS environment.
Originally, the term Yo-yo comes from the language Tagalog from the Philippines and means “return”. Approximately 400 years ago, Filipinos used the Yo-Yo as a weapon, a very different application from the recreational use it is given today. Although it was popularized in the Philippines, it is known that this toy has its origins in China. Furthermore, there are records of its use in Greece at least 2,500 years ago.
In the 19th century, the Yo-yo It came to Europe from the East. In England he was known as bandalore, quiz or the Prince of Wales toyMeanwhile in France took names like emigrette or incroyable.
Petitt’s video has sparked particular interest due to the complications involved in manipulating objects without the influence of gravity. In space, every movement must be calculated, and the Yo-Yo string presents an additional challenge.
The history of yo-yo It is varied, reflecting its evolution from a tribal weapon to modern entertainment. This interesting contrast is highlighted by the video of Wisemanwho in his free time decided to explore the mechanics of the toy in a completely new and challenging environment such as International Space Station.
Pettit expressed his enthusiasm for the use of Yo-Yo in space: “Hubstacks are essential for getting a fast initial turn, so that later tricks can be performed, all in slow motion”. Furthermore, he mentioned that his YoYo Factory DNA already came with hubstacks and was anodized in yellow, adapting perfectly to the environment of the ISS.
Pettit affirms the importance of recreational science, showing that even something as simple as a yo-yo can serve as a tool for learning and experimentation in space. “Yo-Yo tricks in microgravity are just a source of intense fun”assured Pettit, which highlights the dual educational and recreational purpose of this type of activities.
