Could you imagine playing a football match on the Moon?
What would kicking a football on the Moon be like? How far would the ball travel?
And what kit and equipment might future footballers need to have a successful game on the Moon?
With NASA set to return humans to the Moon via its Artemis program, and the Lunar Gateway planned to lead the way for a permanent settlement on the Moon, perhaps we'll see a football match on the Moon within our lifetime.
A team of engineers and scientists from the Institution of Engineering and Technology say the first game of football on the Moon could happen as early as 2035, and have devised a set of rules and guidance to facilitate a football match on the lunar surface.
So according to the Lunar Football Rule Book, what would a football match on the Moon look like?
A guide to playing football on the Moon
On the Moon, football players would have to deal with dusty, unforgiving terrain, a lack of oxygen and potentially fatal risks of collision.
Lunar football would need to be a much safer non-contact sport, according to the IET.
Here is some of their guidance on key aspects of the game.
Gravity
Gravity on the Moon is 1/6th that of Earth, and the Moon of course lacks wind and air resistance.
A football kicked on the Moon would travel the same speed as on Earth - around 70mph - but about 6 times further.
The pitch
A football pitch on the Moon would have to be created using 'laser sintering', say the IET, which would involve a laser being fired at the surface to melt particles, fusing them together in a single layer.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to achieve an level football pitch that won't erode during the match and cause potential harm to players.
Football kits
The IET Lunar Football Rule Book also says football players on the Moon would need a flexible, airtight suit with in-built elbow and knee pads.
The rule book calls for a cooling and heating system in players' suits to adjust to the Moon's climate, and a flannel to absorb sweat.
Football helmets
Of course, on the Moon, helmets would have to be worn to protect players from the harsh conditions and lack of oxygen.
These lunar football helmets would be required to enable communication between players and managers, feature a 180° - 270° view and an internal display to communicate referee decisions and red and yellow cards.
The referee would be stationed in a basecamp, but be on the pitch in the form of a hologram.
Tackling
A football match on the Moon would need to be 5-a-side and no-contact, in order to ensure players' safety.
This would mean possession of the ball would have to be gained through interception alone, as opposed to tackling.
Pitch dimensions and match duration
And to avoid exhaustion, the IET rule book says a football pitch on the Moon would need to be 32x25m, making it 8 times smaller than a regular football pitch on Earth.
The rule book says matches should be played in 4 x 10-minute periods, with a 20-minute break between quarters for maintenance.
Goalposts and ball size
Football goalposts on the Moon would need to be 36ft wide and 9.6ft high (1.5 x wider and 1.2 x higher than on Earth, respectively).
This is to account for an enlarged football, which should be 1.5 x times the size of a regular football and marked in black and white, in order to stand out against the extreme brightness experienced by players on the lunar surface.
If you've ever heard football described as a 'funny old game', it seems that transferring the sport to the lunar surface would take things to the next level.
Download the full IET Lunar Football Rule Book and, if you're aged between 4-13 years old, enter the IET competition to design a Moon United Football Kit.
