NASA and the USCF organized the correspondence chess match between astronaut Greg Chamitoff, in orbit aboard the International Space Station, and the kindergarten through third grade U.S. Chess Championship Team and its chess club teammates from Stevenson Elementary School in Bellevue, Wash. The game moves at a pace of one move per day on weekdays only.

Chess Match

The K-3 champions select up to four possible moves each time it is Earth's turn, and then the public votes on which move will be made. NASA transmits the winning move to Chamitoff, who then responds. Chamitoff has been playing correspondence chess in his off time with NASA’s control centers during his missions. He has added Velcro to the chess pieces to keep them from floating away in weightlessness. So far, he is undefeated.

NASA Astronaut Greg Chamitoff - Chess Player

Media Contacts

Kelly Humphries, NASA
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
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Glenn Petersen, USCF Chess Life for Kids
732-252-8388
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Coach David Hendricks, Stevenson Team
WA State Scholastic Coordinator
425-868-3881
425-269-7949
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Hal Bogner, Match Director
650-284-5062
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