You Can Yo-Yo... in Space?
It may sound like a child’s toy—but in space, it’s a lesson in physics.
You can yo-yo... in space? Image source: Pexels
You might think a yo-yo needs gravity to go “down.” But astronauts have proven otherwise.
On several space missions, crew members brought yo-yos aboard and set them spinning, not toward the floor, but along the length of their own floating bodies.
The result? The yo-yo works... just differently.
Instead of dropping, it glides forward, powered by the force of the throw. With no gravity pulling it down, its movement becomes a quiet dance through the cabin. NASA even ran classroom experiments with it in microgravity, using it to teach young students back on Earth.
It’s a beautiful reminder: even the simplest objects can spark wonder when viewed in a new environment.
Read more about yo-yos in spaceDid you have a favorite childhood toy that still amazes you? Share a memory here. It might just bring back a few for someone else, too.
