NASA astronaut launches Angry Birds in space

Astronaut Don Pettit teaches some basic physics principles using Angry Birds as Nasa help to promote the launch of a new space-based version of the popular game.

Using characters from the hit game as props, Nasa astronaut Don Pettit, gave a simple lesson in trajectory within zero-gravity on-board the International Space Station.

The physics lesson was a marketing ploy on behalf of Rovio, the Finnish company which produces the smartphone application, as they promoted a new version - Angry Birds Space - which is scheduled for release later this month.

The latest Apple App Store figures showed that Angry Birds, which a flock of irate wingless birds fired at pigs using a slingshot, was the most popular paid-for app during 2011 and two of its spin-offs - Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio - also featured in the top 10.

As well as astronaut Mr Petitt, the app can also count Prime Minister David Cameron among its many millions of fans worldwide and it is estimated hugely popular mobile phone game, is played by 30 million people every day for a total of 300 million minutes.