Space guitar

[OldSausage]

If those rocket scientists were smarter they'd have sent a mandolin up. Commander Hadfield is up there right now playing his L'arrivee.

[JeffD]

Now that is cool.

[azflyman]

I wonder if there is a difference in resonance or sustain in a zero gravity setting.

[shortymack]

Now all he needs is a tuner.

[journeybear]

If those rocket scientists were smarter they'd have sent a mandolin up.

You have to match the instrument with the player. The astronauts aren't the brains of this outfit; the rocket scientists are on the ground. It has been shown by generations of rock 'n' rollers and old folkies that any durn fool can play a geetar, so they would send one up with the fly boys, while there might be a mandolin picker or two among the smart guys on the ground.

OK, kidding aside, the first sentence is really all that matters. If the commander played mandolin, they'd have sent one up with him.

I wonder if there is a difference in resonance or sustain in a zero gravity setting.

Interesting question. I think anything involving moving air would not be affected (assuming the air mixture, density, and pressure in the cabin are comparable to earth standards), but there might be slightly more sustain, as the effect of gravity working against the strings' vibrations would have been removed. I believe that is a pretty negligible amount, though. Some interesting observations regarding playing adjustments.

[mandocrucian]

[Stephen Perry]

Space station does operate at regular earth pressure.

[strings777]

Cady's hair is mesmerizing!

[Tim2723]

Whatever the effect of gravity, you have to admit that astronauts are just cool people!