Earth vs. Space Match

NASA and the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) are teaming up to host the first public chess match between astronaut Greg Chamitoff, in orbit aboard the International Space Station, and the public. Key players in the game, set to begin on Monday, Sept. 29, will be the kindergarten through third grade U.S. Chess Championship Team and its chess club teammates from Stevenson Elementary School in Bellevue, Wash.

The K-3 champions will select up to four possible moves each time it is Earth's turn, and then the public will vote on which move will be made. NASA will transmit the winning move to Chamitoff, who will respond. The USCF will facilitate the match on its web site at: www.uschess.org/nasa2008

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A curious fact is that Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko are aboard the Space Station together with Greg. Sergei Volkov is also the name of a strong Russian Grandmaster.