Home run in orbit: Elon Musk shares video of astronaut playing baseball game inside ISS

Elon Musk has shared a captivating moment of space-based entertainment which has taken the internet by storm. The Tesla CEO has shared a video of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata playing baseball inside the International Space Station (ISS) – by himself.
The footage, originally posted by Wakata on X (formerly Twitter), showcases the astronaut effortlessly pitching, hitting, and catching a ball within the microgravity environment of the ISS.
“It's baseball season - the @MLB season opener is kicking off in Japan. During Expedition 68 I played a solo game of baseball. In microgravity you don't need a whole team, you can play all of the positions!” he said in a post.

The same video was later posted by Chris Hadfield, who has returned to Earth after completing three space missions.
“That's friend @Astro_Wakata inside the @JAXA_en module of the International Space Station - Japan plays great baseball!” he said in a post, which was subsequently reshared by Musk.
The video shared by Musk has garnered over 115 million views, sparking widespread admiration and amusement across social media platforms. Viewers were particularly captivated by the sight of Wakata seamlessly transitioning between all baseball positions, a feat achievable only in the weightless environment of space.
Koichi Wakata, a renowned figure in Japanese space exploration, retired from JAXA in 2024 after a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades.
Throughout his five space missions, he accumulated over 500 days in orbit, achieving milestones such as becoming the first Japanese commander of the ISS during Expedition 39. His final mission, Expedition 68, provided him with a unique opportunity to connect with audiences on Earth through engaging and inspirational content.