(FORTUNE Magazine) – When it comes to portable DVD players, Sony's DVP-FX1 is literally out of this world. In February a pair of the Sony players, along with a library of donated DVD movies and audio CDs, were rocketed up to a grateful Expedition One crew of astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the new International Space Station, under construction 130 miles above the earth. Three more Sony DVD players and a fresh collection of disks were scheduled to be delivered to the Expedition Two crew via the space shuttle last week.

Most shuttle missions are so hectic that astronauts rarely have time to relax. But on a space station mission, according to NASA's Houston control center, astronauts get evenings and weekends off. "Movie night" is a favorite activity, since going out to a restaurant is problematic.

Following are excerpts from the Ship's Log on the Space Station, written by Expedition One crew commander William M. Shepherd. We pick up the log near the end of the 136-day mission.

Jan. 5: Finished 2001: A Space Odyssey. Something strange about watching a movie about a space expedition when you're actually on a space expedition.

Jan. 16: Lab delay is critical, as we are running out of movies that we have not watched. We will have to start the shipboard routine where we turn the sound down and everyone mouths the words, 'cause we know them so well.

Jan. 25: We watch Used Cars (we are definitely down to the movies you can't even find at Blockbuster).

Feb. 8: Last of the movies we have not seen yet. Tonight's selection: History of Navy SEALs.

Fortunately, a Russian service module delivers the new Sony DVD players and movie disks to a desperate crew. Commander Shepherd's log continues:

Feb. 19: We are most certainly enjoying the DVD players!

Feb. 20: We watch part of Frequency (strange movie, although not as strange as The Usual Suspects).

Feb. 24: We put the DVD player in the Soyuz...[and watch] the Austin Powers sequel. (Maybe a Soyuz first here.)

March 2: DVD players are awesome! Thanks again, guys!

The Sony DVP-FX1 (about $1,100) has a 7-inch, 16:9 format widescreen LCD display. Mission Control probably liked its magnesium-alloy casing, which can withstand the three Gs of liftoff and the knocks from floating around weightless better than plastic models, and the precision playback system, which is tolerant of slightly warped or scratched discs.

Once word got out that there was a DVD player in orbit, volunteer donations of movies poured in. Warner Home Video, for example, contributed Space Cowboys, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Contact, and Space Jam, among others. NASA said other movies are bought at Houston-area video stores. (The overdue rental fees would be astronomical.)