This week, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an interstellar agreement was reached making basketball the first Inter-Galactic sport. This was ratified by having a Harlem Globetrotter’s basketball launched into space aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, which is on its way to a rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA has taken pieces of historical and pop culture significance on an array of voyages in their 50-plus-year history. The Wright Flyer got only a few feet off the ground during its maiden flight in 1903, but wood and fabric from the Flyer was carried to the moon 66 years later by Apollo 11. A lightsaber prop used by Mark Hamill in his role as Luke Skywalker in “Return of the Jedi” was taken on Discovery’s trip to the International Space Station in 2007. And, of course, there are the two golf balls that astronaut Alan Shepard carried to the moon on Apollo 14 in 1971 and hit with a makeshift club.

“It is only fitting that the team that has seen more of the world than any other in history would have a presence beyond the stratosphere,” stated Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “This Globetrotters basketball will serve as an intergalactic symbol of accomplishment.”

With this most recent accomplishment, it is highly speculated that more teams will have its eyes on top NBA talent. Rumors quickly began to fly regarding a strategic move by the Mars Attackers (Galaxy – Independent League) to clear cap space room in anticipation of a run at Cleveland Caveliers guard LeBron James (Earth-NBA League). Additionally, shocking most NBA fans, the Utah Jazz (Earth-NBA League) received notice from Power Forward Carlos Boozer, that he has chosen to opt out of the final year of his contract and instead of agreeing to a previously rumored contract with the Detroit Pistons, will sign instead with the Mercury Firestorm (Galaxy – Independent League), the subject of the contract was undisclosed.