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In October 2012, Felix Baumgartner jumped from a platform into the edge of space in nothing but a spacesuit and parachute. He free fell for just over four minutes, breaking the speed of sound at an estimated speed of 843.6 mph (Mach 1.25). A government space program didn't sponsor the mission. Red Bull sponsored it. The Red Bull logo was on Baumgartner's suit, parachute, and capsule that lifted him to the edge of Earth's atmosphere.

Red Bull Stratos, the team behind the mission,live streamed the event on YouTube, generating millions of views. Then, in 2020 SpaceX partnered with NASA to launch the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. The possibility of space travel and tourism for those who are not highly trained astronauts seems closer than ever.

Millennials, Gen-Z, and even the youngest generations tend to value experiences over things. They spend their money on trips, experiences, and exploration. For many, being able to post an adventure to Instagram has more value than buying a new car. Imagine the possibilities to meet that need for adventure where very few have gone - space.

Space marketing offers a unique opportunity for companies to reimagine themselves outside Earth. Commercial companies see the opportunity and are taking the leap into space. These early ventures into space will change how companies do business and possibly influence where we choose to vacation in the future. Now is the time for CMOs to start thinking about space tourism, travel, and marketing.

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While space makes us want to look to the sky, we can't lose sight that most of humanity still on Earth. The idea of space marketing has to start on Earth, where people can get an idea of what the future holds. Recreating space travel and planets can plant the seed in people's heads that space travel is not only possible but a likely reality in their lifetime.

Before we launch into the atmosphere, brands should take note of the opportunities here on Earth to venture into space. Take Mars, for instance.MarsWorldis a new exhibit coming to Las Vegas. Inside the world's largest dome (the Rose Bowl can fit inside), people can experience what it will be like to live in a city on Mars. Much like the metaverse, brands now have a chance to be part of the world building that is space, interplanetary travel, and futuristic city development.

The Chief Designer and EVP of MarsWorld is John Spencer. He is also the founder of the Space Tourism Society. The Space Tourism Societydefines space tourismas Earth orbit and suborbital experiences, beyond Earth orbit (such as Lunar and Mars) experiences, Earth-based simulations, tours, and entertainment experiences (like MarsWorld), and cyberspace tourism experiences.

When we think of extraterrestrial life, we usually look to the stars. In the movie Pacific Rim, monsters emerge from an interdimensional portal that happens to be at the bottom of the ocean. While aquanauts like Fabien Cousteau don't expect to find interdimensional monsters at the bottom of the ocean, they see it as a place that needs exploration and research. The best way to do that? Withan underwater space station.

Fabien Cousteau is stepping into his grandfather's shoes intending to create a modular,underwater space stationfor "researchers, universities, and corporations who "rent" the habitat to conduct scientific research on just about anything except research related to warfare."

Traditionally, underwater living happened in small pods no bigger than a bus. Cousteau's station, named Proteus, will be about 4,000 square feet. It's large enough for "a laboratory, a medical bay, the video studio, living and sleeping quarters, and even a hydroponic greenhouse so that aquanauts can have fresh food."

In the tradition of Cousteau's grandfather, Proteus station will have a video production facility, capable of broadcasting in 16k from the ocean. Cousteaualso plans on"releasing VR/AR content that can help spread the word about an area of research he sees as much more important to the future of our species than space research." The opportunity for CMOs here is to take a page out of Red Bull's book. By funding research or ocean missions, they can take advantage of the unknown, break records, and inspire people around the world.

SpaceX plans on doing more than launching rockets and shuttles into space. They want to develop Boca Chica, their latestlaunch site, into a 21st-century Spaceport. SpaceX is looking for talent to develop and oversee SpaceX's first resort from inception to completion. SpaceX's ultimate mission is to enable life on Mars. Starting with a resort on Earth could be the perfect opportunity for brands to get experience in the space tourism industry.

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Space exploration isn't just for the billionaires of the world. Venture capitalists likeMetatron Capitalsee the value in the space industry and are ready to invest in startups working on early-stage space technology.

More than funding space technology startups, Metatron created Metatron Media Partners to identify and manage "marketing opportunities across various space exploration around the globe, connecting brands with the next frontier of space discovery and travel." Partnering brands with international and U.S. space entities will help offset the enormous costs of space travel and exploration.

"Think of space as an entirely new marketing and media platform where the right brands can associate in innovative and purposeful ways by aligning with the new space frontier," said Allan Finehirsh,co-head of Metatron Media Partners, in a recent interview. They are possibly the first agency wholly devoted to private-sector space marketing.

From space buses wrapped in Rocket Mortgage signage, sponsored space suits (like Red Bull), to Space Coke, and McDonald's lunar fries, theseare all examplesof how the agency believes brands can align themselves with the space industry. Metatron's leadership thinks of space as an entirely new marketing and media platform where the right brands can associate in innovative and purposeful ways by positioning themselves within the new space frontier.

Zach Rosenberg, the former president of media agency MBMG and co-head at Metatron, suggestsbrands interested in spaceshould align themselves with lunar mining, cutting edge research, and space industrialization. He said, "Think of it as product integration in space."

Another pioneer in the space is Cosma Schema a space design and branding agency. According to their website the agencys mission is to connect more humans to space by utilizing basic design and branding principles. Clients include ABL Space Systems, World Space Week and The Planetary Society.

Gr@vity Marketing is another agency working in this space. According to their website, they are planning to take brands to space for marketing activations with the use a satelite that will be launched in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Marketing in space takes a new way of thinking. Just like how the Internet transformed the way businesses marketed their products and interacted with customers, so too will space. Space isn't another physical space to throw up a billboard (space billboards are not met with acceptance, but the concept of space tourism is becoming more interesting by the minute). Space is a place where companies can help tourists reach a dream people have wondered for centuries - to know what it's like to travel among the stars.

Space conferences are a great way to be introduced to the space industry and meet the people who've been envisioning the future of space tourism and marketing. Conferences are a low-risk option for companies to immerse themselves in the industry and start thinking about how their brands can fit into a space marketing theme.

Still not sure where to begin with a space marketing strategy? Maybe participating in a space tourism event could help you take off.

The Space Tourism Conferencewill take place in 2021 in Los Angeles (or possibly virtually). According to the event's website, attendees will learn the ways space tourism is thriving, what the future of space tourism has to offer, and what the major players are doing in the industry.

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From 2001 to 2009, Space Adventures took sevencivilians to the International Space Station. While that's a small number, we know that number will possibly increase in the next decades. Since then, their space offerings have expanded to more space experiences and on Earth experiences. Space is quickly becoming a place for anyone with a flair for adventure to make their mark on this upcoming industry.

CMOs always have to keep one eye to the future as mechanisms for storytelling and where customers are is ever-changing. The Internet morphed into social media, which is morphing into the metaverse. People are becoming more eco-friendly and socially conscious. Target audiences are more diversified, and options to reach potential customers seem to expand continually.

Space marketing is no exception. It's one area that fascinates the human mind at its core. From a young age, we look to the stars, memorize planets, learn the moon's phases, and reach the mythology of space described by humans of the past. Now is the time to break free of the "what ifs" to build a true understanding of space and be part of the destination it is soon to become.

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What CMOs Need To Know About Space Marketing - Forbes

Spacecraft made of carbon-foam bubbles could zoom from Earth to Alpha Centauri in 185 years, driven solely by the power of the sun, a new study finds.

A swarm of these probes might help discover and study our solar system's mysterious Planet Nine, if this hypothesized world exists, scientists added.

Conventional rockets driven by chemical reactions are currently the leading form of space propulsion. However, they are not anywhere close to efficient enough to reach another star within a human lifetime.

Related: Superfast spacecraft propulsion concepts (images)

For example, Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to Earth, lies about 4.37 light-years away more than 25.6 trillion miles (41.2 trillion kilometers), or about 276,000 times the distance from Earth to the sun. It would take NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, which launched in 1977 and reached interstellar space in 2012, about 75,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri if the probe were headed in the right direction (which it is not).

The problem with all conventional spacecraft thrusters is that the propellant they use has mass. Long trips require a lot of propellant, which makes spacecraft heavy, which in turn requires more propellant, making them heavier and so on. This problem becomes exponentially worse the larger a spacecraft gets.

Previous research has therefore suggested that "light sailing" might be one of the only technically feasible methods to get a probe to another star within a human lifetime. Although light does not exert much pressure, scientists have determined that what little it does apply could have a major effect. Indeed, numerous experiments have shown that "solar sails" can rely on sunlight for propulsion, given a large enough mirror and a spacecraft that is light enough.

The $100 million Breakthrough Starshot initiative, which was announced in 2016, aims to launch swarms of microchip-size spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, each of them sporting extraordinarily thin, incredibly reflective sails. The plan has these "starchips" flying at up to 20% the speed of light, reaching Alpha Centauri in about 20 years.

A drawback of the Starshot project is that it requires the most powerful laser array ever built to propel the starchips outward. Not only does the technology to build this array currently not exist, the project's estimated total costs may reach $5 billion to $10 billion.

In the new study, astrophysicists suggested that a cheaper option could involve bubbles made of carbon foam. Probes made of this stuff could make interstellar journeys faster than any rocket while powered solely by sunlight, without the need for a giant laser array, the researchers found.

In order to develop a way for sunlight to propel a light sail to useful interstellar speeds, researchers analyzed previous scientific research looking for strong, lightweight materials. They settled on aerographite, a carbon-based foam 15,000 times lighter than aluminum.

The scientists calculated that a hollow aerographite sphere about 3.3 feet (1 meter) in diameter with a shell 1 micron thick (about 1% the width of an average human hair) would weigh just five millionths of a pound (2.3 milligrams).

Related: Breakthrough Starshot in pictures: Laser-sailing nanocraft to study alien planets

If such a sphere carrying 0.035 ounces (1 gram) of payload were released about one astronomical unit (AU) from the sun, sunlight would push it to a speed of up to about 114,000 mph (183,600 km/h) three times that of Voyager 1. Such a sphere would take about 3.9 years to reach the orbit of Pluto. (One AU is the average Earth-sun distance, which is about 93 million miles, or 150 million km.)

If such a sphere were released about 0.04 AU from the sun the closest that NASA's Parker Solar Probe gets to our star the more intense sunlight there would accelerate the spacecraft to nearly 15.4 million mph (24.8 million km/h). It could travel the 4.2 light-year distance between Earth and Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system, in 185 years, the researchers said. The larger the sphere, the faster it could go, or the more payload it could carry. (Proxima Centauri is one of the three stars in the Alpha Centauri system.)

"What I find amazing about our results is the fact that the power output of a star, in our case the sun, can be used to propel an interstellar probe to the nearest stars without the need of an additional onboard power source," study lead author Ren Heller, an astrophysicist at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gttingen, Germany, told Space.com.

"We don't need a billion-dollar ground-based laser array to shoot at a sail in space," Heller said. "Instead, we can use green energy, so to say."

The researchers noted that a few grams of electronics or other payload is not a lot to bring aboard a mission. Still, they argued the payload for these craft would be 10 times the mass of the spacecraft, whereas the payload on chemical interstellar rockets would typically be one-thousandth the weight of the rocket.

The researchers suggested these spacecraft could potentially carry a 32-watt laser weighing only two-thousandths of a pound (1 gram). Analyzing any disruptions from this laser beam might help researchers detect gravitational effects, which might in turn help reveal the presence of worlds otherwise too dark and cold to spot, such as the hypothetical Planet Nine, Heller said.

The scientists estimated that developing a prototype bubble craft might cost $1 million. They calculated each foam ship might then be built for about $1,000 or less, and a rocket launch to deploy and test these craft might cost $10 million.

The biggest caveat of this work right now "is that no one has ever built an aerographite structure larger than a few centimeters, while we need something that's a few meters in size," Heller said. Still, the researchers are in contact with experimentalists who suggest that creating such large structures is possible in principle, he noted.

Another point of caution about this concept is that there is currently no way to control the trajectory of the spheres once they are deployed. "In order to reach a certain target, this needs to be rectified," Heller said.

If onboard electronics and equipment could enable active maneuvering, "then it might be possible to transport small masses 1 to 100 grams between Earth and Mars within weeks," Heller said.

The scientists envision conventional rockets bringing the bubble craft to space and then deploying them for sunlight to propel. It remains uncertain how well these bubbles would survive transport.

"One good thing about aerographite is its compressibility," Heller said. "Even after extreme compression, a sample of aerographite can reinflate to its initial state. So if we compress a meter-sized aerographite sail in the laboratory, maybe we can ship it into space and reinflate it there prior to launch. The question is, what happens to its onboard electronics?"

The scientists are now running experiments to test how well aerographite absorbs and reflects light. They detailed their findings online July 7 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Could carbon-foam probes bring interstellar flight within reach? - Space.com

14:45 24/08/2020 Compiled by Gabi Zietsman

As humans are gazing towards the stars and more specimens are brought back from space to study, there might be some unwelcome stowaways that bring new diseases to our fragile planet.

Or worse, it might jeopardise the health of astronauts exploring the farther reaches of our universe, whose immune systems are already taking a beating from space travel.

READ | Nasas new space toilet makes it easier for women astronauts to go to the bathroom

Germs are quite resilient creatures and have been found on certain types of meteorites and bodies of water found off-planet, and their genetic makeup is quite unknown in our planet's ecosystems.

Synthetic space germs

Scientists created synthetic amino acids similar to those found on these meteorites but not commonly found on Earth and studied whether a mammal-type immune system would be able to recognise and respond to these alien invaders.

They replicatedisovaline and -aminoisobutyric acid into peptides two strands that are not common on Earth, but have been found on meteorites and could be a basis for life outside our planet.

"If microbial life evolved outside Earth, it is conceivable that the composition of such organisms may include such unusual, but available, organic molecules."

Their findings published inMicroorganisms indicate that while our T-cells do activate an immune response to these extraterrestrial-like antigens, the system was more ineffective than usual with reduced T-cell activation and proliferation.

READ MORE | Clots in space: How an astronaut's blocked vein brought medical insight

Astronauts' compromised health

An astronaut's immune system is especially compromised during and after space travel, where studies have proven decreased T-cell effectiveness, even without the introduction of foreign microorganisms.

This could put the biosecurity of humans and life on Earth at serious risk, especially as more planets with water bodies are discovered and become potential destinations for space missions.

"We, therefore, speculate that the encounter of putative exo-microorganisms of an unusual antigenic repertoire might pose an immunological risk for space missions aiming to retrieve potentially biotic samples from exoplanets and moons."

Importance of containment

This is especially important when it comes to samples taken from alien bodies of water.

"On Earth, the boundary conditions under which life can exist have shown that microbial life is possible even at extremes of temperature, pH, pressure, radiation, salinity, energy, and nutrient limitation, as long as there is liquid water."

And who knows what kind of dangerous microbes these liquid havens could be harbouring, which creates the need for strict containment protocols when the likes of SpaceX or Nasa start collecting these types of extraterrestrial samples.

However, that is not to say that these germs would actually have any effect on the human body, and might not even be able to adapt to their host's biology. They could, however, be toxic in some form or trigger an allergic reaction.

The next step for this first-of-a-kind research would be to test the immune system's response to other microorganisms, sugars and proteins that hail from the stars.

READ | Learning to live on Mars

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Germs from space could cause havoc in human bodies - Health24

by K.-P. Ludwig, Sonay Sarac, Dr. Christian Langenbach DGLR-Space Science & Application

In view of Germanys specific role in the international markets for space products and services, in which national organisations have long been active as well-positioned providers and diverse users -, consideration has been given for years to the question of whether there is a need for national space legislation that goes beyond the national implementation of UN treaties. In addition to the globally applicable economic and trade agreements (e.g. the WTO) and in compliance with other sets of rules like export controls, new space policy legislation should cover all topics that should, in particular, regulate the operation of private space activities today, and in the foreseeable future.

Nowadays, space is notably an economic sector which physically has no territorial boundaries. Any national legislation therefore can primarily only regulate business activities that are carried out by German operators. This includes, for example, launch services from rocket launch sites or the control of individual satellites or fleets from ground control stations. In view of emerging developments (e.g. congested orbits and stationing of space weapons) it should at least be considered whether laws also cover the technical development or manufacturering of space systems and their components as well as the development or sale of services in earth observation, telecommunications, and navigation.

When taking a closer look at all market segments, it quickly becomes clear that before any regulation can be introduced, it would first be necessary to gain clarity about what intention or rather what strategy German policymakers are pursuing with their legislation. In view of the comprehensive technology funding of space travel since the mid-1960s, primarily by BMBF and BMWi, many things are conceivable, but perhaps not everything is intended. For example, a rocket launch in the Northern Hemisphere (i.e. > 90%) usually takes place in a N-NE-E direction, which for safety reasons requires flying over uninhabited territories or water, so that a possible accident in the flight direction would not cause or at least limit damage. In addition, High-Energy-Fuels are extremely toxic and the question of a development or production site (see German Environmental constitutional law) will be as difficult to answer as the search for a final repository for nuclear waste is difficult to accomplish.

This strategy development should also include, among other things, the political question in which technological sectors the exporting nation Germany wants to act autonomously or wants to license private space operations. The current COVID-19 pandemic has made it painfully clear to us that we are suddenly becoming frighteningly dependent on global suppliers as a result of cost-cutting and production relocations to other regions of the world. Even if they wanted to or were allowed to supply us, it should be possible to do so via functioning transport routes. After more than 50 years of active space history in Germany, the key question is: In which technology, product, or system fields should national competence be maintained, built up, expanded, or newly developed? This question can be applied above all to the national demand for scientific, commercial and military applications where Germany is bound by international agreements and partnerships (e.g. with the European Space Agency ESA and NATO). Here, the desired structures are gradually being formed and expanded in terms of industrial policy by means of appropriate sovereign contract awards. With regard to the prospects in the commercial markets, the national development and production priorities are rather determined by the involved companies.

Finally, it is necessary to determine which state structures should represent German space interests on the international stage or accompany and control the corresponding developments on the national level. For example, research policy interests could continue to be represented by experts from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). With regard to security policy interests and military space applications, competencies will be gradually built up in the German Army. Whether an umbrella organisation in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is needed for commercial business certainly requires further political consideration.

The content of legislation based on this must ultimately translate the political and strategic guidelines into operational rules, for example for private activities. Based on a first draft, which was developed a few years ago in the BMWi, following regulations should be laid down, among other things:

The final question of whether and if how far a set of facts require national, proactive and pro-competitive legislation is a political decision and will also depend on the respective legislation of other space-faring nations and their understanding of the necessity for some of the issues mentioned to require supranational agreement (e.g. at UN/ITU/EU/NATO level).

In view of current military armaments by individual states and the complex geopolitical dynamics, the latter will certainly be a real diplomatic challenge, especially since the major space faring nations, USA, Russia and China, either make no secret of their attitude towards multilateral agreements or try to embed their geopolitical self-interests into resolutions.

German original version named: Deutsche Weltraumpolitik: ihre Strategiefindung und Gesetzgebungon LinkedIn here.

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#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: German space policy: the need for a strategy and a corresponding legislation - SpaceWatch.Global

A beautiful sunrise lights up the sky over the Indian River Lagoon. (FLORIDA SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM)

When a fourth-generation Florida homesteader says sunrise is the best time to take a wildlife tour on the Indian River Lagoon, take heed. Youll see everything change as the animals wake up and the birds leave their rookery to start to feed, says Jonathan Smith. For most people, arriving by 6 a.m. requires spending the previous night at a property on the south end of the Space Coast. This 17-mile stretch of narrow barrier island between Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet State Park divides the Atlantic Ocean from the ecologically rich Indian River Lagoon.

To get to Honest Johns Fish Camp, turn off A1A at the Old Florida Trailabout 4.5 miles north of Sebastian Inletwhere a Florida Heritage Site sign recognizes the Smith Family Homestead, deeded in 1887. A short drive toward the river is like going back in time. First, youll cross land that is in the process of being returned to its natural state, a project by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. Then youll pass through a gate and continue down an unpaved road, past a significant two-story cracker house (built by Smiths great-grandfather in 1899) until you reach a small marina, where chickens roam free and a pig named Gator may greet you.

Captain Clark, who lives just across Mullet Creek from Honest Johns, takes up to six guests, by reservation, on a two-hour narrated wildlife tour. Clark, who intimately knows the Indian River Lagoon and its residents, peppers the tour with trivia such as, the old-timers used to call the woodpeckers `log-knockers. He knows the money shot to capture the sun rising over the island and where to maneuver to spot a manatees nose popping up like a periscope. Clark seemingly signals a mother and baby dolphin to play in the boats wake, finds horseshoe crabs and jellyfish in the shallows, and identifies some 20 species of birds including a nesting pair of bald eagles. This is just a sliver of the 500 native and migratory species that find food and shelter in one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America.

A cruise with Captain Clark is one way to immerse yourself in natures simple pleasures along this largely undeveloped stretch of barrier island. All along A1A, youll see words such as preserve, sanctuary and refuge in signage. For instance, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting sites in the world. Volunteers lead nighttime turtle walks during June and July, and turtle-dig programs to watch hatchlings emerge from their nests in August and September (carrrefuge.org).

Tidepooling at Sebastian Inlet tidepool (FLORIDA SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM)

The beachfront Barrier Island Sanctuary is a free, interactive education center operated by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (eelbrevard.com) and is dedicated to the creatures and ecosystems of the Indian River Lagoon. Kids love to play with the interactive exhibits and press the buttons to hear the sounds made by creatures such as a bottlenose dolphin and an oyster toadfish (some of them sound like farts and, yes, its funny). You can find events such as a dune-to-lagoon hike with a naturalist or information on how to upcycle various materials into a bird feeder on the Brevard County Barrier Island Center Facebook page.

If you roused early for Captain Clarks pre-dawn tour, enjoy breakfast afterward. Drive to the nearby Long Point Cafe for a reliably good breakfast in a simple dining room with one exquisite feature: a stained-glass window featuring the hyper-local underwater wildlife (hammerhead sharks are found in this area).

Otherwise, if youre planning to spend the day at Sebastian Inlet State Park, go straight there and have a breakfast burrito at Surfside Grill and Adventures, where you can eat on the deck overlooking the ocean and watch the surfers on one of Floridas top breaks (world-champ Kelly Slater grew up surfing here).

If youve made it as far as the inlet, theres little reason to leave: ample parking, spacious beaches, food service and watersport rentals (on the north side of the inlet) with plenty of places to fish and explore. The tidal cove on the north side is ideal for families. Tucked away and protected by a large wave break, the cove is both shallow and placid without the threats of the open water, such as riptides.

Grant Island Farm, also known as Vacation Island Paradise, can only be reached by boat. (MEGAN PADILLA)

Where the shoreline continues through the inlet to the river side, large seagrass beds attract manatees who feed there. The best way to see them is by kayak. Surfside Grill and Adventures will set you up from their Bayside Marina location, just outside the north entrance of the park (you will need to drive there). The riverside bays, lined with mangroves, are calm, shallow and easy to paddle. Before trying the narrow creeks and channels toward the inlet, you need to know your tide charts, or go with a guide.

Dont paddle like youre on a race to somewhere. Stop often to look and listen. Youre just as likely to spot an osprey on the highest tree as you are to hear the exhalation of a dolphin clearing its blowhole before it slips under the waters surface. See what happens after you hear the splash of a pelican dive-bombing for fish. That is when it begins its dinner ballet, perched on a mooring post and then elegantly tilting its head back to swallow its catch whole.

Shoreside Stays

Mostly mom-and-pop efficiencies and small resort hotels line this section of A1A. Check out the two-bedroom suites at Seashell Suites Resort, offering such amenities as a pool, sauna, barbecue grills and bicycles. A few miles north of the Melbourne Causeway is a cluster of brand hotels with loyalty programs such as the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront and its sister property, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Melbourne Beach Oceanfront, where each guest room is a two-room suite with an ocean view.

The Real Deal

Honest Johns Fish Camp is as Old Florida as it gets. Call ahead (321-727-2923) to make a reservation for an Indian River Wildlife Tour. Owner Jonathan Smith also rents fishing boats, kayaks and Gheenoes (a locally manufactured hybrid canoe/fishing boat). Closed Tuesdays.

First Stop

This is the perfect trip to visit Melbournes Eau Gallie Arts District, located on the mainland riverfront just north of the Eau Gallie Causeway. Artists and entrepreneurs have created dozens of murals and revitalized a nearly-forgotten town founded in the late 1800s. Download the Florida Stories app for a 12-stop, one-mile-long audio tour. Be sure to stop and enjoy a slice of cherry or apple pie at Joans Perfect Pie.

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Travel: South Side of the Space Coast - Orlando Magazine

Neil deGrasse Tyson may be facing his greatest challenge yet.

As a world-renowned astrophysicist, he has taught millions of science neophytes about the intricacies of space through his 13 books and numerous TV appearances, including his return as host of the docuseries Cosmos: Possible Worlds (which makes its primetime network debut on Fox on September 22). Hes also helped guide skeptical politicians by serving on various government commissions on the future of space travel.

But teaching his kids to drive? That may require more skill (and patience) than even he can muster.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Tyson, 61, head of New Yorks famed Hayden Planetarium, has spent recent months living with his wife and two grown children as a pod in their spacious loft apartment in Downtown Manhattan, a few blocks from the World Trade Center. This summer, he said they were still taking seriously the precautions of medical experts, right on down to disinfecting grocery packaging that enters the home, and leaving delivered packages untouched for one, two, or three days, depending on the exterior material.

Hes used the additional at-home time to hone his cooking skills and make headway on writing a new book. Next on the agenda: those driving classes, though he suspects his kids would just as soon wait for driverless cars.

Tyson explores such possible future worldshere on Earth or on some distant planetin Cosmos, the third installment of the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning series originated in 1980 by Tysons mentor, Carl Sagan.

The themes of Cosmos are eternal, Mr. Tyson said. Is the world mature enough, capable enough, cooperative enough to handle a threat to our species? The answer might seem grim, given the patchwork of international response to the current pandemic. But if anyone can find light at the end of our tunneleven light-years awayits Tyson, who can wax poetic on the beauty of a supernova as easily as he can the arrival of Shake Shack and Krispy Kreme to his neighborhood.

Covid-19 was a shot across our bow, he warned, assuring that his new series (which aired on the National Geographic Channel this spring) is nonetheless filled with hope at every turn.

As for what fills his shelves, Mr. Tyson shared with Mansion Global some of his most treasured possessions.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson Reveals the Wonders of Space, and His Personal Space at Home - Mansion Global

If you're a fan of science fiction, chances are you encountered a few franchises where humanity has spread throughout the known Universe. The ships that allow them to do this, maybe they use a warp drive, maybe they "fold space," maybe have a faster-than-light (FTL) or "jump" drive.

It's a cool idea, the thought of "going interstellar!" Unfortunately, the immutable laws of physics tell us that this is simply not possible.

However, the physics that govern our Universe do allow for travel that is close to the speed of light, even though getting to that speed would require a tremendous amount of energy.

Those same laws, however, also tell us that near-light-speed travel comes with all sorts of challenges. Luckily for all of us, NASA addresses these in a recently-released animated videothat covers all the basics of interstellar travel!

To summarize, according to the immutable laws of physics (specifically, Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity), there's no way to reach or exceed the speed of light.

This means that if you're going to attempt interstellar travel, your best bet is to either settle in for the long haul (i.e. a Generation Ship) or find a means of propulsion that can allow for constant acceleration until a fraction of the speed of light (relativistic speed) is attained.

For the sake of this video, titled "NASA's Guide to Near-light-speed Travel" (shown above), it is assumed that the interstellar traveler (who appears to be an alien creature) has built a spacecraft that is capable at traveling at 90 percent the speed of light (0.9 c).

The video is presented as an information video for an interstellar traveler. It is introduced with the following message:

"So, you've just put the finishing touches on upgrades to your spaceship, and now it can fly at almost the speed of light. We're not quite sure how you pulled it off, but congratulations! Before you fly off on your next vacation, however, watch this handy video to learn more about near-light-speed safety considerations, travel times, and distances between some popular destinations around the universe."

Putting aside the question of how the spacecraft is able to reach this kind of speed, the video then moves directly to tackle the big issues that come with traveling around in a relativistic Universe.

These include time dilation, the need for shielding in the interstellar medium, and how long it would take to travel to even the nearest destinations, like the nearest star (Proxima Centauri) the nearest galaxy (Andromeda), or the farthest one (GN-z11).

Admittedly, these challenges are pretty tough and the greatest scientific minds in the world are still looking for a work-around. A good example is Breakthrough Starshot, an initiative that hopes to send a laser-powered lightsail to Alpha Centauri in the coming years. Relying on directed-energy propulsion, the proposed spacecraft would reach 20 percent the speed of light (0.2 c) and make the trip in just 20 years.

Naturally, this plan involved considerable research into the hazards of interstellar travel and led to some creative solutions of how to deal with them.

These include (but are not limited to) shielding, communications, the types of cameras and instruments that would yield the best scientific returns, the type of sail employed, and the shape of the sail itself, and how the spacecraft would slow down once it gets there.

In the meantime, it is good to have educational resources that let people know the scientific realities that underlie (or in many cases, undermine) our favorite franchises!

It's also helpful when it comes to aspiring physicists and scientists who hope to see interstellar travel happen within their lifetimes. You have to know what the challenges are if you're planning on beating them!

The video was the work of scientists and media experts from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Goddard Media Studios (GMS). The effort was led Chris Smith, a multimedia producer and member of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) within Goddard's Astrophysics division. He was joined by fellow-USRA member Krystofer Kim, who was the video's lead animator.

NASA Goddard has also made shorter clips of the video and printable postcards available for download here:https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13653

This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.

Originally posted here:

This NASA Animation Shows What It's Really Like to Travel Close to The Speed of Light - ScienceAlert

On Aug. 10, Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) sold 23.6 million shares of SPCE stock to investors at $19.50 a share. The public offering raised gross proceeds of $460.2 million.

Source: Tun Pichitanon / Shutterstock.com

If you believe in the commercialization of space as I do, this is one more step in the time-consuming and costly process and is to be applauded. It should not be viewed as a move necessitated by a shortage of cash. If biotechs with zero revenue can appear hat-in-hand before investors time and again, I see no reason why Virgin Galactic is any different.

The goals that the company has set for itself include a commercial program for human spaceflight, the expansion of its fleet, the reduction of its operating costs, and the expansion of its products and services beyond the U.S. are lofty but obtainable.

The $460 million raised from public investors is a reaffirmation that Richard Branson, George Whitesides, Michael Colglazier, and the rest of the Virgin Galactic team are on the right track. By continuing the test flights required by the Federal Aviation Administration its completed 27 out of 29 needed for the federal government agency to begin commercial flights it has gotten one step closer to achieving the first of its four primary strategic goals.

Branson, the visionary behind Virgin Galactic, is expected to be on its first commercial flight into space in the first quarter of 2021. Just as I was excited for Elon Musk and SpaceXs Crew Dragon spaceships test launch in May and subsequent return to earth in early August, Ill be very excited for Virgin Galactics first flight.

To value SPCE stock like some industrial firm that builds tractors or backhoes is merely ridiculous. The kind of innovation its commercializing is beneficial to all, not just the wealthy 1%, who will likely be the only paying customers for the foreseeable future.

If you can see the forest and not the trees, youre likely to be bullish about Virgin Galactics future. If, on the other hand, you see this as some billionaires crazy waste of money, than SPCE is most certainly not your cup of tea.

I choose to see the big picture, which will ultimately lead to Virgin Galactic making money. In the meantime, the hiring of Colglazier, a former Disney (NYSE:DIS) senior executive, tells me that everyone at Virgin is serious about making commercialization work.

Like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) many years ago, the valuation wonks are going to continue to argue their case, but they will be wrong.

My InvestorPlace colleague, Patrick Sanders, recently argued that there is no logic in buying Virgin Galactic stock. While he is willing to admit that space is an intriguing canvas for business, investors ought not to be so idealistic with their money. Valuation, here on earth, Saunders argues, still means something.

Hes not wrong.

This is one of the reasons Disney hired Colglazier. Its one thing for Richard Branson (billionaire) and George Whitesides (a veteran of the aerospace industry) to argue the benefits of space travel; its another for someone whos spent his entire business career making people happy through entertainment, make the same argument.

In the future, when Virgin Galactics CEO says he can envision space hotels that receive daily flights from New Mexico and elsewhere, you will believe in the idea because hes helped create meaningful customer experiences on behalf of Disney.

No, Virgin Galactic doesnt currently have revenue. Yes, its losing upwards of $50 million a quarter on an adjusted EBITDA basis. Yes, its diluting shareholders with every $460 million share offering. It truly defies logic as my colleague so eloquently argues.

And thats the beauty of it.

Is a $50 million quarterly loss too much for a company thats going to generate revenue as soon as the first quarter of 2021? During the novel coronavirus, weve seen many biotechs burn through far more capital in search of a vaccine that might work on a significant portion of the population, even though we know most will fail in their endeavors.

Now, Im not saying that we shouldnt support the scientific work of these companies, because we should. But to argue that its illogical to invest in a company thats got tangible evidence that commercial space flights will work, is very shortsighted in my opinion.

For me, the $460 million raise is a stamp of approval by investors. It also says SPCE stock is a long-term buy.

Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications where hes appeared include InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and several others in both the U.S. and Canada. He particularly enjoys creating model portfolios that stand the test of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the time of this writing Will Ashworth did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

See the original post here:

Virgin Galactic Just Got $460 Million Reasons to Stay the Course - InvestorPlace

When my partner and I decided to spend six weeks in his hometown of Copenhagen, we knew the flight would be the most stressful part of the experience. Because Denmark currently allows citizens (like my partner) and their domestic partners (like me), we were lucky enough to be given a pass into Europe. That being said, hopping on an airplane was far more complicated and different than ever before.

Not only did we need to leave much earlier than we usually would, but many of the amenities travelers have grown used to lounges, restaurants, bars were closed. On the plane, there were no choices for meals; you were simply served what they offered you. (And you guessed it: No booze either for our six-hour red eye.)

Generally speaking, the overall energy for flying right now is stressful: People are worried about maintaining a proper distance; anytime someone coughs, everyone goes on high alert; and using the restroom was scary to say the least, with many high-touch areas to navigate. It makes the pleasure of air travel a little less exciting and a little more anxiety-driving.

If you intend to book a flight, its important to think carefully and critically about what you put in your carry-on. Not only do you want to keep yourself safe and comfortable, but you also want to prepare to not have as many goods at your fingertips at the airport. Below, we spoke with doctors about how to pack and prepare in the age of Covid-19:

Though all airlines require a face covering to board, a face shield is another safe way to protect yourself. However, sometimes wearing an oversize, bulky plastic device for a few hours in a confined space doesnt sound cozy.

Thats why Dr. Jennifer Haythe, a critical care cardiologist at Columbia University Center, suggests wearing glasses instead. Even if you dont need a prescription and have perfect 20/20 vision, cheap frames can provide an additional barrier of protection, since Covid-19 may be communicated through droplets.

Try these: ArtToFrames Protective Face Shield ($9.99; amazon.com)

ArtToFrames Protective Face Shield PHOTO: Amazon

MeetSun Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses, 2-Pack ($14.98; amazon.com)

MeetSun Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses, 2-Pack PHOTO: Amazon

Among the most obvious necessities is a face mask, which can be either fabric or disposable. Keep in mind that its best to use a freshly washed or brand-new face mask every time. And in instances like this where you could be running quickly through an airport, the idea of a breathable face mask meant for exercise isnt a bad idea either.

Try these: Everyday Nonmedical Masks, 5-Pack ($30; athleta.gap.com)

Everyday Nonmedical Masks, 5-Pack PHOTO: Athleta

Assacalynn Disposable Face Masks, 50-Pack ($12.99, originally $27.88; amazon.com)

Assacalynn Disposable Face Masks, 50-Pack PHOTO: Amazon

Variety 5-Pack of Triple-Layer Cloth Face Masks for Adults ($12.50; oldnavy.gap.com)

Variety 5-Pack of Triple-Layer Cloth Face Masks for Adults PHOTO: Old Navy

Since our red eye was poorly timed departing at 5 p.m. on the East Coast and arriving at 7 a.m. in Denmark we knew it wasnt likely wed be sleepy enough to catch zs in the sky, so we prepared to watch movies by packing our own headphones. Sure, the airlines will provide these, but they may not be as hygienic as bringing a comfortable pair from your home, according to Dr. Nabeel Chaudhary of Manhattan Specialty Care. Remember to bring a pair that will plug into the screen, since no airlines offer Bluetooth technology (yet).

Try these: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 ($59.99; amazon.com)

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 PHOTO: Amazon

Once youve reached cruising altitude and the cabin pressure normalizes, you settle into your seat, only to suddenly feel freezing. The cool temperatures on a plane are part of the travel experience, but you may feel uneasy taking a blanket from a flight attendant during current circumstances.

And in some cases, airlines have stopped providing them to decrease possible contamination. To be on the safe side, Beverly Hills, California-based Dr. Shawn Nasseri says to bring your own travel blanket or scarf.

Try this: Easeland Soft Travel-Size Blanket ($19.90; amazon.com)

Easeland Soft Travel-Size Blanket PHOTO: Amazon

You cant have too many gloves when youre getting from point A to point B via plane, according to Haythe. She says one easy way to be cautious is to pack many pairs of gloves for the journey.

Wear a few layers of gloves and peel them off as you go through the airport, she continues. Remove one pair after security, another after boarding and finally when you arrive at your seat.

Try these: Dre Health Powder-Free Disposable Gloves, 100-Pack ($29.98; amazon.com)

Dre Health Powder-Free Disposable Gloves, 100-Pack PHOTO: Amazon

If youre someone who is constantly applying and reapplying lip balm, you may be doing more for your health and safety than you realize. As internal medicine urban health resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital Dr. Tala Robledo-Gil explains, airplanes are very dry places, and the dryness affects our moist mucus membranes. By applying balm or cream, we protect some of that moisture to prevent breaking down one of our respiratory systems of immunity.

Try this: Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Formula, 3-Pack ($5.18; amazon.com)

Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Formula, 3-Pack PHOTO: Amazon

Is there anything H20 cant do? Its essential and something you want to think about while flying. Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth, the director of clinical and scientific research at Essentia Water, says hydration assists the first line of defense for the body, and its essential to keep our immune system strong.

Mucus requires water for formation, he says. Every cavity in the body is lined with cells that produce mucus, including cells in the ears, nose, throat, lung and gastrointestinal tract.

When we dont have enough water in our system, we lose the ability to fight back against bacteria. Be sure to keep a water bottle on hand, and those with a straw are even better since you dont have to remove your mask to take a sip.

Try this: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottle (starting at $15.50; amazon.com)

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottle PHOTO: Amazon

Before Covid-19, you probably made sure to have your boarding pass downloaded on your phone and a copy of your passport in your email just in case. Looking forward, though, Dr. Sarma Velamuri, the founder of the health care tech company Luminare, predicts health certifications may be part of the boarding process.

Not to be confused with immunity passports, which have been roundly panned, Velamuri recommends carrying proof youve conducted syndromic surveillance for 14 days and youve tested negative before flying. In other words, being hyper organized before flight right now is essential. Because my partner and I had to prove we were, in fact, romantically involved, we carried a copy of our lease and domestic partner certificate.

Try this: Skydue Expanding File Folder ($8.99; amazon.com)

Skydue Expanding File Folder PHOTO: Amazon

Much like bringing a blanket along for the trip, layers are an easy way to stay warm while up in the air. Be sure to grab a sweatshirt and a super comfy outfit before flight, since chances are youre even less comfortable grabbing a last-minute item from an airport shop.

Try these: Doublju Basic Lightweight Pullover Hoodie ($26.99; amazon.com)

Doublju Basic Lightweight Pullover Hoodie PHOTO: Amazon

Hanes Sport Womens Performance V-Neck Tee (starting at $7; amazon.com)

Hanes Sport Women's Cool Dri Performance V-Neck Tee PHOTO: Amazon

Its been preached to us time and time again over the last six months, but heres another reminder: Wash your hands. Velamuri says this practice is more effective than hand sanitizer and should be prioritized during your travel day. Anytime you come in contact with high-touch areas, ensure you properly scrub with soap. And in the event the airplane or airport is running low, consider packing portable soap sheets to come in for a rescue.

Though having extra hand sanitizer is never a bad idea either.

Try these: Kiseer Mini Portable Travel Soap Paper Sheets ($9.99, originally $11.99; amazon.com)

Kiseer Mini Portable Travel Soap Paper Sheets PHOTO: Amazon

Suave Hand Sanitizer, 6-Pack ($26.94; amazon.com)

Suave Hand Sanitizer, 6-Pack PHOTO: Amazon

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers listed prices at the time of publication.

See more here:

What you need to buy if you have to get on a plane right now - CNN

Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel is teaming up with Jessica Drew to embark on an intergalactic journey in the upcoming issue of Spider-Woman.

Two of Marvel's most iconic heroes are teaming up once againina much anticipated, out-of-this-world road trip! Since theiroriginal team-up inAvengersAnnual#10,Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel) and Jessica Drew (akaSpider-Woman) havebuilt up quite the fan base. Readers have been keeping an eye out for theleading ladies, patiently awaiting anystorylineupdating their iconic friendship. Spider-Woman #6has brought just that: another spotlight feature on the two Marvel femme fatales as they embarkon a new, intergalactic expedition.

Theupcoming issue follows Jessica as she aims to discover more information about some unforeseen secrets regarding her family. She now must find the one person who can tell hermore: the High Evolutionary! Divingintoher origin story a little deeper, Jessica has a lot to learn, but not without a little help from her bestie.

Related: Spider-Woman Just Lost the Super Power Keeping Her Alive

The logistics of thetrip seem to be up in the air; after all, Jessica's story has been limited to Earthsofar. Shemay have super strength and agility, but her spidey powers surely don't do so well with space travel. Carolseems to be the perfect girl for the job, enablingJessica to see whether or not shecan hold herown on other planets. The beautifully done cover art for this issue byJunggeunYoonfeatures a confident Carol leading her less assured gal palthroughthis unfamiliar territory.

The two have always cared for and supported each other to an incredible degree. It comes to no surprise that Jessica would turn to Carol for help in a mission that goes beyondher area of expertise. The two, as usual, will have to rely on each other heavily. Hopefully, their friendshipwill onlygrow stronger alongthis nextadventure.

Some fans have been awaiting the day when Marvel maytake thisrelationship to a more romantic level. Many arehopeful that their favoriteship may become canon in these upcoming issues. Others hope to see the pure-hearted friendship stay platonic. The fan base seems split on this one, torn between seeing them asbffs or something more. For now, it seems the latter may have to stick to fan art, but who knows what the future ofSpider-Womanhas in store!

Fan theoriesaside, these two are undoubtedly a powerful duo. They have taken on some tough villains in their time. Earth knows Captain Marveland Spider-Womanare not to be underestimated when teamed up... and now, the rest of the galaxy will as well!

Next: Olivia Wilde Directing Sony Marvel Movie, Possibly Spider-Woman

Alfred Returns From The Dead To Help Batman (Wait, What?)

Caroline is a writer and photographer out of Worcester, MA. Both of her passions began as a high school student and she has spent the years since growing as a content creator, exploring different styles and fields, working with other talented artists, and loving every second of it all. She is an avid punk rock listener, comic book collector and gaming enthusiast.

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Spider-Woman is Heading To Space With Captain Marvel - Screen Rant

The woman who lost her husband and two children in a horror car crash has pleaded with mourners to hug their loved ones and tell them how much they love them.

Mourners outside St Pius X Church in the seaside town of Moville, Co Donegal, wiped tears from their faces as Geraldine Mullan said a final farewell to her family.

All three died when the family's car plunged into Lough Foyle at Quigley's Point last Thursday evening on the way home from a family day out.

Mrs Mullan managed to escape from the car but husband John (49) and children Toms (14) and six-year-old Amelia died.

Ms Mullan thanked all those who had comforted her in recent days and paid tribute to the three most important people in her life - her late family.

"Go home and hug and kiss your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you. John did that every morning for me and he will do it again when we are together again," she told mourners.

Ms Mullan recalled the moments when her life changed forever, but stressed there was no way John could be blamed for the tragedy.

"Everything was against us. There was a high tide, water on the road, roadworks and slippery road conditions," she said.

"John was the safest of drivers. There was no speed or no reckless driving.

"I have no answers, but I can picture that night, second by second. In seconds, our lives changed completely. At 9.30pm on Thursday, August 20, my life was irrevocably changed for the worse.

"We landed upside down in the water and my dear husband could not get out and was pinned in due to his injuries."

She also spoke about how her son had been the perfect big brother to Amelia - even in their final moments.

"Everyone knew Toms was the perfect big brother and, when the divers found him, he had his arms wrapped around his little sister.

"Thanks for minding Amelia, right up to the end," she said, looking down on his coffin.

She paid a special tribute to her husband, whom she described as her best friend.

She said he would have been 50 in two weeks. It was his dream to go to Cape Canaveral in America, as he was fascinated by space travel, but due to Covid-19 they couldn't go.

"Instead, we had 50 little presents hidden all around the house for him. Now, I have no one to give those presents to, but I will go out to Ballybrack (cemetery) and sing him a happy birthday."

She paid tribute to the emergency services, including Kevin Barr of the RNLI.

"He had a hard job of getting me out of the water and I screamed at him, 'Would you let me go so I can be with them'. I was left behind for a reason, but I don't know what that reason was."

Ms Mullan said she would continue helping out with Moville GAA club every Saturday morning.

Earlier, the funeral cortege carrying the three coffins made the short journey from the Mullan family home less than a mile away in glistening sunshine. Ms Mullan (45), supported by two friends, led the funeral cortege as it made its way to the church.

Parish priest Fr Pat O'Hagan told Ms Mullan that if love could take away her pain then she would be pain-free.

Before the Mass started, her father Martin Connuaghton thanked the emergency services and the people of Moville for comforting Geraldine.

He paid a special tribute to local man Conor McDaid, who was first on the scene and was described as a "guardian angel" who helped to rescue Ms Mullan from the water.

Tributes were then paid to Amelia, Toms and John by members of both families.

Irish Independent

Originally posted here:

'Go home and hug and kiss your loved ones,' lake tragedy mother tells funeral - Independent.ie

Nearly everyone loves the idea of space travel. But that doesnt mean that you should be investing in Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) stock.

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

That is, unless you really want to throw your money away. Or if you get some sort of pleasure in funding one of Sir Richard Bransons schemes to let the ultra-rich have a few moments to float around in space.

All in all, I dont see the appeal in a product like Virgin Galactic. And I sure dont see any compelling argument as to why investors should sink their money into SPCE stock.

On the surface, its an appealing notion and theres no surprise why SPCE stock and Virgin Galactic attracted a lot of attention.

First, take Branson himself. The founder of the Virgin Group that included Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic airlines, among others, Branson is a charismatic, brilliant entrepreneur who has accomplished more in a decade than most people will in their entire lives.

Now 70, Branson has been knighted by the Queen of England and has appeared on television shows ranging from Shark Tank to The Simpsons.

No doubt, hes a compelling, interesting guy. Hes Elon Musk before Twitter (NYSE:TWTR).

Next, consider the very appeal of space travel. Its the idea that sparked the space race of the 1960s and President John F. Kennedys commitment to put a man on the moon. Its been romanticized in science fiction in shows like Star Trek that continue to draw a passionate audience more than 50 years after they debuted.

Put the two together and call it Virgin Galactic, and its an interesting idea. But thats where it ends, at least for me.

Any startup is going to be slow to bring in revenue, and that certainly goes for a space tourism company like Virgin Galactic, whose biggest appeal is selling tickets on spacecraft that dont exist yet.

The company reported second-quarter earnings in August that included zero revenue and a quarterly loss of $54 million, with an adjusted loss per share of 30 cents. That was 4 cents per share worse than analysts expected.

Not surprisingly, the company announced it would fail to meet Bransons stated objective of having commercial flights this year and pushed that goal back to 2021.

During the period, our operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, despite our efforts to minimize disruption, Chief Space Officer George Whitesides told analysts.

Customers would pay $250,000 each chump change, really, right? to fly on SpaceShipTwo Unity and have a few moments in space.

But that didnt stop the company for offering a proposed 20.5 million new shares of stock in an attempt to raise another $460 million in revenue.

The only interesting thing about Virgin Galactics earnings call was an announcement that its Mach 3 aircraft finished its mission concept review program milestones and received approval from the FAA for certification framework.

The Mach 3 aircraft could conceivably carry as many as 19 people at an altitude of 60,000 feet. Twelve-hour flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo could be accomplished in three or four hours.

Thats very cool but the price tag for each passenger is still expected to be more than $100,000, which makes this a luxury item rather than something for the masses.

My biggest problem with SPCE stock is that its a toy for the rich and famous. Its not for everyone, at least for now. And the research can lead to some interesting innovations, such as the Mach 3 aircraft, that wont have any practical applications for the business community either as long as tickets remain in the six-figure range.

Bransons company already diluted shareholder earnings by 10% by announcing the 20.5 million new stock shares. You can probably expect more share dilution moving forward.

The companys very small potential market makes it a no-go in my book. I would rather put my money into a company that has a product or service that can be bought by millions and potentially scales around the world.

All in all, SPCE stock is a bad investment. As Star Treks Mr. Spock would say, its just not logical.

Patrick Sanders is a freelance writer and editor in Maryland, and from 2015 to 2019 was head of the investment advice section at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter at@1patricksanders. As of this writing, he did not have a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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There's No Logic in Buying Virgin Galactic Stock - InvestorPlace

Masks have emerged as unlikely fashion heroes as the COVID-19 pandemic has developed. Every conceivable colour and pattern seems to have become available, from facehuggers to Darth Vader to bejewelled bridal numbers.

Many show how brevity and style can combine to protect the wearer, offsetting the fear the sight of a respiratory or surgical mask usually inspires.

Some, like those produced by not-for-profit enterprises including the Social Studio and Second Stitch, use on-trend fabrics and benefit both the wearer and the makers. Meanwhile, an Israeli jeweller has designed a white gold, diamond-encrusted mask worth US$1.5 million (A$2.1 million).

Yet, masks remain fundamentally unnerving. Mostly intended to either protect or disguise, they are designed to cover all or part of the face. In societies where emotions are read through both eyes and mouth, they can be disorienting.

In many places around the globe, masks have played an important role in conveying style, spirituality and culture for thousands of years. They have been a part of western fashion for centuries. Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights) of masks as fashion items.

Read more: How should I clean my cloth mask?

And make our faces vizards to our hearts/Disguising what they are Macbeth

One of the most bizarre accessories in 16th-century fashion was the vizard, an oval-shaped mask made from black velvet worn by women to protect their skin whilst travelling.

In an age where unblemished skin was a sign of gentility, European women took pains to avoid sunburn or significant sun tan. Two holes were cut for the eyes, sometimes fitted with glass, and an indentation was created to accommodate the nose. Disturbingly, they did not always have an opening for the mouth.

To hold the mask in place, wearers gripped a bead or button between their teeth, prohibiting speech. To the contemporary feminist, the mask raises associations with the scolds bridle: a method of torture and public humiliation for gossiping women and suspected witches.

During the following century, masks continued to be fashionable although the guise of protection gave way to mystique and desire. The small domino mask seen in a 17th century Netherlands example below and still worn by superheroes from Batman to Harley Quinn covered the eyes and tip of the nose. It was usually made from a strip of black fabric. For warmer months, a lighter veiling could be substituted.

Read more: Beware of where you buy your face mask: it may be tainted with modern day slavery

Venice has long been associated with masks, thanks to its history of carnival and masquerade. Their theatrical nature might lead to an assumption masks were always worn to deceive or seduce. Travellers expecting a masked amoral free-for-all in the early 18th century were surprised at how innocent the accessory really was in everyday life.

When worn at a masquerade, masks encouraged safe contact between the sexes bringing them close enough to mingle but maintaining the social distance between strangers that etiquette required. In this scenario, masks also encouraged a kind of egalitarianism by allowing people of disparate social classes to mix a freedom never allowed in normal social gatherings.

The gnaga mask, with its cat shape, allowed men to dress as women and skirt Venetian homosexuality laws. Venetian prostitutes were at various times prohibited from wearing or required to wear masks in public, yet married women were required to wear masks to the theatre, fostering an association between masks and sex.

Conversely, the infamous Harriss List of Covent Garden Ladies, published annually between 1757 and 1795, provided a catalogue of prostitutes to hire in London. One entry from 1779 described a woman who

by her own confession has been a votary to pleasure these thirty years, she wears a substantial mask upon her face, and is rather short.

John Clelands controversial 1748 book Memoirs of Fanny Hill describes Louisa, a prostitute, being made violent love to by a gentlemen in a handsome domino as soon as her own mask was removed.

A mask tells us more than a face, wrote Oscar Wilde in his 1891 dialogue Intentions, yet by the 19th century the mask as fashion accessory was dmod. Masks were generally only mentioned in newspapers and fashion magazines when referring to fancy dress and masked balls, which still took place in the homes of the wealthy.

Society is a masked ball, wrote one American columnist in 1861 mirroring Wildes famous quote, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.

Although masks were no longer recommended for maintaining a pale complexion, womens faces were still covered by veiling in certain situations: including, for the first time, weddings. Ironically, one Australian fashion column in 1897 decried the fashion, stating:

Veils are largely responsible for poor complexions This fine lace mask for it is nothing else hinders the circulation but does far more injury by keeping the face heated.

As if this were not enough, veils blew dust from the street into open pores and retained dirt, redistributing it onto the skin every time it was worn.

Veiling still had some fans, who touted its health and beauty benefits, and connotations of intrigue and excitement. It suggests such charming possibilities beneath it, a columnist in The Australasian wrote in 1897.

Fashionable or not, some masks were still worn behind closed doors. Enter the most bizarre masked accessory since the vizard: the toilet mask or face glove.

Devised by a Madame Rowley in the 1870s-80s, the rubberised full-face covering was advertised as an:

aid to complexion beauty treated with some medicated preparation the effects of the mask when worn at night two or three times in the week are described as marvellous.

Advertisements for these precursors to todays sheet mask beauty treatments contained testimonials from women who claimed to be cured of freckles and wrinkles.

The advent of the automobile in the early 20th century brought a whole new fashion range into the public arena. Motorists needed protection from weather, dust and fumes, so accessories had to be practical. For women, protection took the fashionable form of coats and face coverings.

Veils and hoods were wrapped around stylish large hats of the day, and fastened under the chin so that the entire face was safely covered.

Advertisements in the early 1920s describe a complete face mask for drivers ostensibly men as the accessory buttoned to the cap and [is] equipped with an adjustable eye shield against glaring headlights.

A design for women in 1907 was described as a window hood, which completely engulfed the hat beneath and closed with a drawstring around the neck. It had a gauze window for the eyes and another smaller opening at the mouth.

By the swinging 1960s, the cultural and sartorial landscape couldnt have been more different and yet, masks made an unlikely appearance in space age fashion championed by designers such as Andr Courrges and Pierre Cardin. Metallic mini dresses and one-piece suits were topped with space helmets that left an opening for the entire face or eyes.

More commonly adopted were plastic visors worn separately or as part of a hat, sometimes covering forehead to chin and taking on the appearance of a welders shield or indeed, the face shields worn by health workers today.

Sunglasses, a kind of mask in their own right, were taken to the extreme by Courrges with his infamous solid white shades with only a slit for light. Life described this as a built-in squint in 1965 - a design that dangerously narrows the field of vision.

Read more: The fashionable history of social distancing

Discussions during the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic around whether masks would be a fad, how long they would be required, and how to create your own at home, seem eerily prescient now.

This darkly comic mask from 1918 demonstrates the same wish for ingenuity and levity that exists today:

Lebanese fashion designer Eric Ritter has sported a similarly macabre aesthetic. He was already thinking and writing about masks on Instagram in January before coronavirus spread around the world

On growing up without a mask

On being forced to wear a mask

On ecstatically removing a mask

On picking a mask back up

In Australia, entertainer Todd McKenney has launched an online marketplace for costume designers to make and sell one-of-a-kind masks directly to the public.

Face masks dont have to be created by artists, designers or couture fashion houses to make them appealing. But a look through our fashion history shows that ingenuity and humanity have long influenced our face wear whether for the purposes of allure, space travel or pandemic protection.

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Friday essay: vizards, face gloves and window hoods a history of masks in western fashion - The Conversation AU