In an exciting display of enthusiasm for Super Bowl LVIII, NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and a Canadian robotic helper joined in the pre-game celebrations. On February 10, Expedition 70 astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara were captured in a short video shared by NASA on X (formerly Twitter), tossing a football in the weightless environment of the space station.

The video, lasting just four seconds and accompanied by lively background music, showed Moghbeli throwing the football towards a camera while O'Hara floated alongside her, holding a microphone. The toss appeared to be challenging as they navigated their way through the packed module of the ISS, surrounded by equipment and cables. The football hilariously bounced off something off-screen and came floating back towards them, resulting in laughs from Moghbeli.

Not to be left out of the Super Bowl festivities, the Canadian Space Agency also released a short animated video on X, featuring its Dextre robot donning a football referee jersey and standing on the exterior of the space station's hull. In the clip, Dextre raised its arms in a touchdown sign, eliciting excitement from the crowd. The caption read, "A new referee has a fantastic view from space! Dextre, the Space Station Canadian robotic helper, wishes you a great Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday!"

This isn't the first time that NASA has celebrated the Super Bowl. In 2017, during Super Bowl LI held in Houston, NASA's Mission Control and Johnson Space Center organized a space-themed Super Bowl Live experience, including the space testing of NFL regulation footballs. Furthermore, in 2010, the opening coin toss of Super Bowl XLIV featured a coin that had flown in space.

It's worth noting that NASA has also had a unique connection with the sport, recruiting former NFL football player Leland Melvin as an astronaut. Melvin, who had a career as a wide receiver in the NFL before injuries forced him to retire, joined NASA in 1998. He went on to fly on two space shuttle missions and contributed significantly to the agency's endeavors before retiring from NASA in 2014.

With the Super Bowl LVIII now even reaching outer space, it highlights the universal appeal and excitement surrounding this mega sporting event. The involvement of NASA astronauts and the Canadian robotic helper serves as a reminder of the importance of human space exploration and the joy that can be found even in the farthest reaches of the cosmos.