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PM Jacinda Ardern won’t confirm whether Government planning to scrap mask mandates, says they’re under review – Newshub

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Speaking with media on Friday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wouldn't confirm whether the Government was planning to scrap mask requirements but said they were being reviewed.

"We are reviewing our COVID rules so we have a regular process of looking at what our current case numbers are, pressure on our hospital system," Ardern said.

"We are also looking at our settings more broadly. We've been working with the traffic light system for upwards of a year now so now is the time for us to look at whether all those settings are fit for purpose. We include mask use in this analysis."

When asked why the disability sector was only given 24 hours to respond to the proposal to drop mask mandates, Ardern said she "cannot speak to that".

"We work on the process of receiving public health advice so that public health advice actually builds over quite a period of time.

"You might be speaking to a particular sector who may have been engaged by our departments as they work on our advice as they prepare for us. We have not formally concluded or received the formal advice yet."

Ardern said the Government is yet to decide whether to drop mask requirements because the final advice is still being considered.

She also offered assurances to the disability sector after industry leaders raised concerns about the impacts of removing mask mandates.

"The only thing I would say is that whenever we receive advice we do take into account the range of different interests in our settings and of course, they span from everything in our disability sector to those in our education sector, the business community, a range of interests," Ardern said.

"It is our job as a Government to factor all of those in alongside, of course, the public health advice.

"We are very aware of the concerns within our disability community and we have been throughout our COVID-19 management."

It comes after Ardern hinted earlier in the week the country might soon be moving to the green COVID-19 traffic light setting.

The Prime Minister revealed on Monday, Cabinet would review Aotearoa's traffic light settings and broader COVID-19 rules in a fortnight, with ministers considering whether to shift the country to the green setting.

"Obviously you will have heard us say that we are going to look at our settings post-winter and so that is what we are going to do," Ardern told reporters.

"We've got to make sure the frameworks we are working in are fit for purpose at any given time. We did that obviously with the alert level system and we will do the same [again]."

New Zealand is currently in the orange setting and has been for some time. But over the past few weeks, COVID-19 cases have been steadily dropping with just 2066 new community cases announced on Thursday.

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PM Jacinda Ardern won't confirm whether Government planning to scrap mask mandates, says they're under review - Newshub

Government outlines new laws to crackdown on hidden criminal wealth – Stuff

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The Government has confirmed the new tools police will be given to help seize illicit assets of organised crime, which is expected to rake in $25 million each year.

As reported by Stuff on Monday morning, the Government plans to amend the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act to force associates of known criminals prove that they were able to afford their assets by legal means.

However, National says the Government is scrambling to deal with an out of control gang situation, and people are more worried about gun crime than stolen money being hidden in Kiwisaver accounts.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern provided more details on the measures during the post-Cabinet media conference on Monday, which she said would raise about $25 million per year.

READ MORE:* Government to toughen laws on illegally gained wealth of criminals* Bling-dripping drug dealer didn't claim three Harley-Davidsons * Hamilton stores count the cost after five raids in one night

The new laws aim to prevent organised crime figures form hiding their wealth by putting it in the names of associates. The changes are targeted at gangs in an attempt to ensure that crime doesnt pay.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke about new measures to crackdown on crime, at the weekly post-Cabinet press conference.

If someone is associated with an organised criminal group, and its suspected they couldnt have funded their assets legitimately, then they can now be required to prove to the court how they came to possess them or face having them seized, Justice Minister Kiri Allan said.

Currently, organised criminals structure their affairs to avoid their illicit assets being restrained and forfeited. This is done by creating distance between themselves and the assets by putting property into associates names, Allan said.

The new rules allow the official assignee a government agent who manages seized assets to hold onto them until the courts determine their future, rather than just for 28 days.

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff

Justice Minister Kiri Allan outlined changes to make it tougher to hide ill-gotten wealth.

A new court order will also be introduced meaning that criminals overseas who have assets in New Zealand could lose them in two months unless they provide proof they were obtained legally.

The Government also announced changes that will allow funds in KiwiSaver Scheme to be subject to civil forfeiture orders. This means criminals will not be able to hide illegal funds in KiwiSaver.

The Kiwisaver changes come after convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison was able to keep and access Kiwisaver funds that she had stolen from the Ministry of Transport.

However, National Partys justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith said the Government were scrambling to deal with an out of control gang situation, almost five years since coming into power.

Today's announcement will help, but it has to be part of a clear, consistent and forceful response to gangs. And we are just not getting that - we are getting very mixed messages, he said.

I think people are more worried about being shot at, than about gangs using KiwiSaver to salt money away.

The new policies are part of a suite being introduced by the Government next week to help to bolster its law and order credentials.

Labour has been under significant pressure from National and ACT parties for being soft on crime.

The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was passed in 2009. An illicit asset is an umbrella term for property derived from significant criminal activity.

Polices experience with criminal proceeds investigations tells us that use of intermediaries, third parties, relatives or friends are a feature of many cases now investigated, Police Minister Chris Hipkins said.

The steps taken today continue the Governments multi-faceted approach to tackling the harm caused by gangs and other organised criminal groups.

Continued here:

Government outlines new laws to crackdown on hidden criminal wealth - Stuff

NZ government’s Working with Survivors continues cover-up of Pike River mine disaster – WSWS

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

On August 30, the New Zealand Labour Party government unveiled an 11-page document entitled Working with Survivors, outlining minimum expectations for state agencies dealing with survivors of large-scale catastrophic events, including both natural disasters and those caused by people.

Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes developed the guidelines in collaboration with a minority of the families of the 29 workers killed in the 2010 Pike River coal mine disaster. The authors also sought input from some survivors of the 2019 White Island volcanic eruption (in which 22 people died), the 2011 CTV building collapse in Christchurch (115 deaths), the 1995 Cave Creek scenic viewing platform collapse (14 deaths), the 1990 Aramoana mass shooting (14 killed) and the 2019 far-right terror attack in Christchurch (51 killed).

Those who took part in this consultation clearly feel strongly that something must change. While the circumstances of these events vary, in many cases the victims families have been disempowered, kept in the dark about official investigations, given inadequate financial and mental and physical health support, and frequently misled and lied to by those in power.

Working with Survivors, however, will not lead to any fundamental improvement, regardless of the hopes of those who made submissions. It is a product of the Labour-led government of Jacinda Arderna government dedicated to the defence of big business, in opposition to the interests of the working class, including the survivors of industrial and other disasters.

The document sets out three key elements to guide the response of state agencies to disasters: Empower survivors, Be upfront and Work together. These slogans are vaguely defined and open to interpretation.

Under the heading Be upfront, for example, the call for open and honest communication with survivors is qualified by the statement: Where it is not possible to provide certainty or to answer questions that have been asked, survivors are provided with an explanation and reasonable expectations are set. Of course, it is the government agencies which decide whether it is possible to release information and what constitutes reasonable expectations of transparency.

The fact that Labour presents its handling of the Pike River victims families, in particular, as the model for future cases, should be taken as a warning by all workers. It exposes the hollowness of the governments claims to be guided by the interests of survivors.

For nearly 12 years, the previous National Party government and current Labour Party government have buried crucial evidence in the underground mine and prevented the prosecution of the company leaders who placed profit ahead of workers safety and turned the mine into a death trap.

This was an entirely preventable disaster. A 2012 royal commission determined that it was caused by the companys pursuit of profit ahead of workers safety, and the regulators refusal to shut down the mine, despite numerous warnings about breaches of health and safety rules. The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) played a critical role in paving the way for the underground explosion: it refused to call strike action or even to speak publicly about the appalling conditions underground.

In the 2017 election, the Labour Party and its alliesthe Greens, NZ First, the Maori Partyall promised to re-enter Pike River mine to recover human remains and to look for evidence that could be used in criminal prosecutions. Late last year, however, the re-entry was aborted after workers had only explored the drift, or entry tunnel. The mine workings, where there is crucial evidence and bodies, have not been re-entered.

Minister for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little gave the main speech at the official launch of Working with Survivors. Little was the EPMU leader at the time of the explosion in November 2010, and his initial response was to cover up the companys safety record, saying there was nothing unusual about the mine.

Little falsely declared in his speech: A fundamental purpose of the Pike River re-entry was to give the survivors closure and promote accountability. That required every part of the project to be conducted in partnership with the Stand With Pike Families Reference Group (FRG) and the wider families.

In fact, nobody has been held to account and the families and wider working class have not received any closure, thanks to the actions of Little and his government in sealing the mine. The Minister ran roughshod over the objections of 22 of the 29 families, backed by international mining experts, who insisted that the mine workings should have been re-entered to examine the underground fan, suspected of sparking the first explosion, and to find human remains.

The Working with Survivors document falsely states that the FRG, established as part of the Pike River Recovery Agency, is an example of share[d] decision-making between the families and the government. This echoes Labours fraudulent 2017 election promise that the families would be consulted on every decision relating to the re-entry.

In reality, the FRG represented only a small minority of the Pike River families. It was led by three family membersAnna Osborne, Sonya Rockhouse and Rowdy Durbridgeplus two state-appointed advisors. When the FRG announced in March last year that families accept the governments decision not to re-enter the mine workings, the majority of the families immediately objected to this anti-democratic decision.

The most outspoken family members, who campaigned against the governments decision and sought to challenge it in the High Court, were not consulted on the development of the Working with Survivors framework. They include Carol Rose, whose son Stu died in Pike River mine, Dean Dunbar, whose son Joseph was killed, and Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the disaster.

We were totally excluded, Rose told the WSWS. So how can they base this on the Pike River families when only a select few of them have been chosen to take part?

Rose said she laughed out loud when she read an FRG email saying that the new standards will empower survivors by allowing them to walk alongside government agencies [and] the person leading or in control of the disaster will be straight up and honest.

Yeah, of course they will! Especially if theyve got a shitload of stuff to hide, Rose said. She summed up Working with Survivors as lip service and the government patting each other on the back.

In response to Littles statements, Monk said: The reason we took Andrew Little to court was he did not come to us to consult about sealing up the mine. Little put the FRG in place so he could use them as a tool to cover up what the government were trying to do.

Dunbar told the WSWS: It needs to be said that Andrew Little does not speak on behalf of the majority of the Pike River families, nor do Anna [Osborne] and Sonya [Rockhouse]. There was a deal made behind the backs of the majority of the families to pull the pin on the re-entry of Pike River, he explained, and warned that this speaks volumes about what to expect in future disasters. Anybody that got in the way of the sealing of that mine were absolutely ostracised, in every way, shape and form, Dunbar said. Every bit of information was cut off.

The Labour government used the Pike River families as pawns in the 2017 election, he said, adding that this is continuing today. After sealing the mine, the government was now trying to create an atmosphere of: We did our absolute best, we care about people, no stone was left unturned, etc.

At the launch of Working with Survivors, Prime Minister Ardern declared that while we cant always prevent catastrophic events, we can reduce the risks, and we must, and we can better support those who navigate a recovery after them.

The reality is that far from doing anything to reduce the risks to workers, the Ardern government has done the opposite. In the COVID-19 pandemic, it enormously increased the level of severe disease, hospitalisation and death by removing public health restrictions and allowing the virus to spread. About 2,000 people have died since the government abandoned its COVID elimination policy late last year, at the behest of big business, and adopted the let it rip agenda that has killed more than 20 million people worldwide.

As for industrial disasters, the Working with Survivors document takes for granted that there will be more events similar to Pike River, White Island and the CTV building collapse. The root cause of such events is the capitalist system and its intensifying drive for profit, at any cost, which is defended by all the parliamentary parties. The only issue for the state is how to suppress the anger that such events trigger, not only among survivors, but the working class more broadly.

A full account of the Pike River disaster and the campaign waged by the Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand in collaboration with the families of the miners killed is published as a book Pike River: The Crime and Cover-up available from Mehring Books Australia at https://mehring.com.au/product/pike-river-the-crime-and-cover-up.

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NZ government's Working with Survivors continues cover-up of Pike River mine disaster - WSWS

She has the power! – The Tribune India

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Mona

As Liz Truss is set to become the Prime Minister of Britain, she joins an impressive company of first women currently ruling as many as 18 countries. Recently, Droupadi Murmu becoming the 15th President of India makes for an inspiring story. The first-ever President from the tribal community, Murmu has overcome many challenges, personal as well as professional, to emerge as an inspiration to many across the globe. Celebs talk about their favourite women leaders and what makes them shine.

Flying high

While China, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Saudi Arabia along with the US, still await a woman president/prime minister/monarch, as many as 18 countries have women premiers. Sheikh Hasina is currently heading Bangladesh, Bidhya Devi Bhandari Nepal, Mette Frederiksen Denmark, Katerina Sakellaropoulou Greece, Jacinda Ardern New Zealand, Halimah Yacob Singapore and Samia Suluhu Hassan Tanzania, among others.

Know Liz Truss

Daughter of a mathematics professor and a nurse, Liz Truss is going to be third female Britain Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. Truss read philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford. She started her political innings in student days and was president of Oxford University Liberal Democrats. Truss joined the Conservative Party in 1996. Married to accountant Hugh OLeary, they have two daughters.

Good leaders

Women are surely more capable of being good leaders. Women are emotionally stronger and understand things at the root level, which translates into effective leadership. My favourite is the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern. She joined the Labour Party at 18. And worked hard, growing step by step. She represented the youth as well. She worked actively to combat Covid-19 pandemic. Her sincerity is quite impeccable.

Delnaaz Irani, actor

Fresh perspective

Being at the forefront of Indian politics for decades, Indira Gandhi left a powerful but controversial legacy in Indian politics.

She is also the second longest-serving Indian Prime Minister after her father, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Women demonstrate superior leadership values with fresh perspective.

Jay Zaveri, actor

Learning curve

Michelle Bachelet, who served as the president of Chile is my favourite leader. She was the first female president of Chile. She instructed the government to lay away the gains when the price of copper, one of Chiles primary exports, reached its peak. Bachelet worked towards lowering poverty and enhancing early education prospects. It appears that women have a distinct advantage over men when it comes to leadership. However, male and female leaders can mutually benefit from one anothers expertise.

Nasirr Khan, actor

Likeable & logical

Former British PM Margaret Thatcher was one of the most powerful leaders and I admire her courage. And while many would have surrendered to societal pressure to choose a less difficult path, she continued heading straight for her aims.

The Iron Lady stood for uncompromising politics and her style of leadership was impeccable. She was viewed by her supporters as a revolutionary leader who restored Britains declining economy, and regained the nations status as a major power. Women tend to be likeable, straightforward and logical. And they probably take pride in leading, achieving goals and encouraging the development of others.

Nyrraa M Banerji, actor

Symbol of will

Women are stronger and fight back in every situation in life. They stand up to challenges each time. Our President Droupadi Murmu ji is my favourite leader among women.

She has endured so much in life, but still stood tall with dignity. People look up to me as an epitome of will and determination, but I look up to our President as a symbol of will, determination, courage and dignity. At the time when education was not given to adivasi women, she took up the cause and created a niche for herself, becoming the governor of Jharkhand. Now, as she is the President of this country, not only is it a great achievement but also truly inspiring for all the citizens.

Sudha Chandran, actor, dancer

#bangladesh #China #Droupadi Murmu #England #new zealand #Russia

She has the power! - The Tribune India

7 Women To Watch At The UN General Assembly – Forbes

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General ... [+] Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2021 in New York. (Photo by JOHN ANGELILLO / various sources / AFP) (Photo by JOHN ANGELILLO/AFP via Getty Images)

The 2020 United Nations General Assembly was deemed the ultimate Manel by Fortune Magazine because the first day did not contain a single speech by a female politician. In fact, delegates had to wait until about the 50th time slot for the first female participant to deliver her speech. I think the General Assembly just always is a inordinately male affair, isn't it? Richard Gowan, the U.N. expert at the Crisis Group, said.

While the number of women attending the assembly hasnt risen significantly, women are claiming earlier speaking slots and will likely have an impact on the proceedings of the discussions. This year Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova is in the 14th time slot, a far cry from the 50th time slot that women leaders had to wait for in 2020.

Topics-wise, Ukraine will likely remain at the top of the list, but the General Assembly also tends to offer a few surprises. Many female leaders in Europe have been setting the tone on the war in Ukraine, and as such, female politicians could be at the center of this years debate. There are also new faces that will come, and some movers and shakers.

The following list is based on both a provisional list of speakers and the independent confirmation of U.N. diplomats. The list of leaders attending is likely to change.

Here are a few names to watch out for:

Mia Mottley of Barbados

Wherever the Barbadian prime minister Mia Mottley goes, she tends to draw peoples attention. That was certainly the case in New York City last year, when the Caribbean leader made headlines for delivering a Bob Marley-inspired speech on climate change.

Mottley is a confirmed speaker at the debate this year and Richard Gowan expects nothing less this time around: she has proved highly effective at seizing the headlines, he said of Mottley. I imagine that we will hear her articulate the concerns of developing countries over the inadequate U.N. response to climate change and the challenges of the global food crisis, or other divisive issues probably in a pretty powerful fashion again.

Mottley has fundamentally changed her countrys political trajectory since her last U.N. speech as she recently transformed Barbados into a Republic. As such, it is worth watching her speech to see if she mentions the British crown or even just to hear which reggae song she could use as a rallying cry this time.

Then-Britain's Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss delivers a speech during the 49th session of the UN ... [+] Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, on March 1, 2022. (Photo by SALVATORE DI NOLFI / various sources / AFP) (Photo by SALVATORE DI NOLFI/KEYSTONE/AFP via Getty Images)

Liz Truss of the United Kingdom

Liz Truss still has a pretty significant hurdle to overcome before making it to the U.N. General Assembly: she must win the leadership race of the Conservative Party next Monday. However, she is by far the favorite and if she does indeed win, she can expect to be in the spotlight at the General Assembly. I think one thing to listen out for in her speech is what she says about China. She is known to be extremely hawkish on China and she sees China as a sort of a challenge to the UK on par with Russia, according to Gowan, adding that chances are high that she will also use the U.N. podium to once again try to justify Brexit

A U.N. diplomat confirmed that it is expected that the new UK government delegation will be led by the new Prime Minister. Truss has attended the high-level week in New York City before as foreign secretary.

If she does speak on behalf of the country later this month, diplomats and expert can probably expect a change of tone and delivery style from her predecessor, Boris Johnson. There is a contrast to Johnson who used to make very jokey speeches in New York. In his speech last year, for instance, Johnson surprised the world by mentioning Kermit the frog in front of a room full of dignitaries while talking about climate change. Truss is much more straight down the line, Gowan adds, some would say she has a slightly wooden political performance but there'll be a focus on her.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Moldova's President Maia Sandu addresses the United Nations ... [+] General Assembly on September 22, 2021 in New York City. More than 100 heads of state or government attended the session in person, although the size of delegations are smaller due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Justin Lane- Pool/Getty Images)

Maia Sandu of Moldova

When Maia Sandu was elected President of Moldova in 2020, she probably didnt expect to be dealing with an existential threat while in office. But that is what is happening as her small, land-locked country, a neighbor of Ukraine, is perceived as a potential future target of the Kremlin, or at least in its sphere of influence.

A representative from Moldovas ministry of foreign affairs confirmed that Sandu will attend the event. Sandu's overall rapprochement with the West and her move to join the EU is now central to Moldovas foreign policy, and the question is how she's going to use her platform at the U.N. podium to continue that work. She'll certainly get extra attention, Gowan said, given that there have been a lot of concerns through the course of the year that Moldova could be collateral damage in the Russian-Ukrainian war. She will certainly be out there making the case for Moldova to get the maximum amount of aid and the maximum amount of European support.

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS - NOVEMBER 28: Xiomara Castro, President of Honduras.

Xiomara Castro of Honduras

Xiomara Castro is a somewhat familiar political figure at the U.N. and in her home country of Honduras, but she is new to the role of president. The former First Lady became President a few months ago, following the path of her husband, Manuel Malaya, who led Honduras from 2006 to 2009 before being ousted by a coup. As the first woman President of Honduras, Castro is poised to set the agenda for her country's diplomacy at the U.N. Local newspaper La Prensa confirmed the news of her attendance on Thursday.

For Gowan, Castros approach to the U.N. is rather different from that of many other developing countries, which will make her speech worth watching. Honduras is interesting because it has asked the U.N. for help and it hasnt received a lot of attention in New York at all, he said. At a time when a lot of governments, whether its Mali or Myanmar, are doing everything to keep the U.N. out of their business, she could actually make quite a compelling case about why the U.N. can actually help states with their domestic problems. Honduras has asked last February the U.N. to help the country fight corruption.

Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia waits to speak during the 74th Session of the General ... [+] Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York on September 26, 2019. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia

With more than 20 million food insecure people and a war still ravaging the Tigray region, Ethiopias President, Sahle-Work Zewde has a lot on her plate. Given that the war is resuming after an extended truce, if the President comes, she will in a pretty ugly position having to defend the return to conflict, Gowan said.

While her role is ceremonial, she is a former high-level official of the U.N., and as such she understands the ins and outs of the institution.

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova addresses the general debate of the 76th session of the United ... [+] Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2021. The General Debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly kicked off on Tuesday. (Photo by Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia

The Slovak President is enjoying a lot of firsts this year: She is, as of now, the first woman and the first EU leader to speak at the debate.

Because Slovakia is a member of both NATO and EU and a neighbor of Ukraine, her prime-time spot could allow her to set the tone for debate on Russia and Ukraine.

Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and National Security ... [+] and Intelligence of New Zealand holds her daughter Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, as her partner Clarke Gayford looks on during the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit September 24, 2018, one a day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP) (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)

Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern already made U.N. history in 2018 by bringing her then-baby Neve to the U.N. compound. Ardern recently signed an op-ed warning the world of the danger of a nuclear catastrophe surrounding the war in Ukraine, and how it affects the Pacific region. She declared a climate emergency in her country in 2020, and Ardern could be heading to New York with a similar message for the world this time around - with or without young Neve.

Ardern confirmed in a press release that she will travel to New York for the event, and she said: Its an important opportunity to set out New Zealands continued commitment to the multilateral system and international rules based order. As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, climate change, the Ukraine and geopolitical tensions, international cooperation is more important than ever. Its going to be Arderns first time attending the high-level week in New York since 2019.

She will also co-host, alongside Frances president Emmanuel Macron, the Christchurch Call to Action Leaders Summit that will take place on Sept. 20. The Call to Action is a meeting between tech and world leaders that will work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.

This story has been updated to reflect New Zealands priorities at the U.N. General Assembly

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7 Women To Watch At The UN General Assembly - Forbes

School lunches: Mum’s photo of school lunch shows what some school kids are offered – New Zealand Herald

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The free school lunch provided at one North Island school had parents wondering what it was. Photo / Supplied

A mother has shared a photo of her daughter's supplied school lunch saying it was so disgusting she couldn't figure out what it was.

The photo, sent to the Herald, appears to be a bread roll with onion, corn, and other fillings wrapped in tinfoil.

"She brought it home and I thought 'if that is what they are getting at school I'm not surprised they are getting thrown out'," said the woman, who didn't want to be named.

"I opened it up and I tried to pull it apart to figure out what it was.

''I couldn't even get the bun apart. I'm still not sure if it was a sandwich or a burger. It was really disgusting."

The lunch was served at school two weeks ago.

"My daughter ended up with her friend's lunch as well because she wouldn't eat it either.

"It was pretty disgusting so I took a photo and threw it out."

The teenage girl is at a central North Island school where lunches, fruit and milk are supplied.

The mother contacted the school and the office of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and emailed the photo to them.

"I heard back from Jacinda's people straight away and they said it wasn't acceptable and they would look into it."

The woman was also told to email the Ministry of Education which she did.

"I got an email back from them and even they couldn't figure out what it was. I haven't heard anything back since."

The email from the ministry read: "We have scaled up the monitoring of the supplier to your daughter's school as a result of your feedback, and will be working with the supplier to understand what quality control processes they currently have in place, and what they need to implement to improve their provision.

"If we do not see adequate improvement in the lunch quality this term we will look to a formal improvement process as a next step."

Yesterday the Herald revealed the staggering amount of food thrown out each day because of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme.

Individual suppliers are contracted by schools that are part of the programme.

In July 2020, the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund (CRRF) was tapped for $216 million, to expand the school lunch programme from a pilot scheme.

In 2021, a further $515.8m was allocated from CRRF to extend the provision of free school lunches until the end of 2023.

One Northland parent said lunches were hit and miss with children describing lunches as 'gross, stale, soggy, dry and tasting yuck'.

This was no surprise to the central North Island mum who said she had started packing lunch for her daughter again because the meals were so bad.

"I just give her a sandwich, some home baking and some chips or crackers because they get fruit at school.

"At least I know she will eat it rather than go hungry because of the lunches in schools."

According to the Ministry of Education website the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches funds a million lunches each week.

In the two years to August 2022 more than 63 million lunches have been delivered in 950 schools and kura to over 220,000 learners.

Some schools have opted out of the programme and some supply their own lunches prepared on site.

For many, the programme has been a huge success - depending on the contracted supplier.

Principals at those schools said pupils are more focussed, settled and enjoy bonding over the same lunch.

Leftover lunches were shared with the immediate community and whanau of pupils.

Rachel King who owns lunch provider, Kainui Brunch Shack, said success was about providing a choice and variety and listening to what the children wanted.

Parents from the two schools she provides lunches to can go online the night before and choose what lunches they wanted.

The food boxes arrived the next day with food ranging from wraps, sandwiches, a hot meal, and always a muffin or baking, fresh fruit, and either milk or water.

"The kids can choose what they want and if there is something they don't like there are other options," King said.

King said the lunches are tasty and nutritious and she sources much of her produce from local growers, a marae, and suppliers at the Mngere Markets.

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School lunches: Mum's photo of school lunch shows what some school kids are offered - New Zealand Herald

Ardern horrified as New Zealand faces record housing crash – MacroBusiness

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Goldman Sachs has released modelling on New Zealands housing market, which forecasts huge declines in both dwelling construction and house prices on the back of the Reserve Bank of New Zealands (RBNZ) aggressive monetary tightening, alongside the lagged impact of macroprudential tightening.

Goldman notes that mortgage rates have risen, although the impact of this increase on most households wont fully realise until mid-2023, given the majority of mortgages in NZ are on 1-2 year fixed terms. In turn, these rate hikes have significantly reduced mortgage demand:

Activity in new construction has also slowed, with Goldman tipping building consents to fall by around 30% from peak-to-trough by end-2024, before stabilizing at around 2019 levels. In turn, Goldmans base case is that residential investment will peak in 2H2022, before falling by around 13% by late 2024.

New Zealand dwelling prices have already fallen by 11% from the 4Q2021 peak (with Auckland prices down 16% from peak), whereas sales volumes have eased to levels last seen in 2011. And Goldman believes that dwelling prices will continue to decline alongside higher mortgage rates. It therefore, now expects a peak-to-trough price decline of around 20-25% before stabilizing around late 2023 or early 2024.

The forecast 20-25% decline in New Zealand house prices based on the REINZ house price index would be the largest on record (see right-side chart directly above), surpassing the 2008-09 Global Financial Crisis crash.

It would also arrive just in time for next years election, and could see Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern thrown out of office.

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also Chief Economist and co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.

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Ardern horrified as New Zealand faces record housing crash - MacroBusiness

Space Agriculture and Eye Checks Promoting Healthy Crews – NASA Blogs

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The International Space Station flies into an orbital sunrise 261 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northwestern Spain.

Space botany and eye checks were at the top of the research schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. Life support system upgrades also continued during the middle of the week for the Expedition 67 crew members.

Understanding how plants and humans are affected by long-term exposure to microgravity is key to prolonging mission success beyond low Earth orbit and to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASA and its international partners are learning how crews can sustain themselves independently of ground support for longer periods of time.

Growing vegetables on space missions is critical so astronauts can feed themselves without the support of cargo missions regularly launching from Earth to replenish crews. The XROOTS space agriculture study does not use soil and is exploring growing radishes and mizuna greens on the station using hydroponic and aeroponic methods. Today, NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren recirculated fluids for the botany experiment and checked the condition of the growing plants. The study takes place inside the Columbus laboratory module and may inform ways to grow crops on larger scales during missions farther away from Earth.

Lindgren later assisted his fellow astronauts Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins of NASA, including Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), as they wrapped up two days of life support system upgrades. The quartet moved the oxygen generation system (OGS) rack from the Tranquility module to the U.S. Destiny laboratory module, then moved the Life Support Rack (LSR) from the Harmony module to Tranquility. The foursome finished rack power and data cable connections as well as fluid umbilical installations. The LSR is demonstrating capturing carbon dioxide from the cabin air and recovering 50% of its oxygen for crew use. New sensors are also being tested to detect hydrogen and protect the OGS rack.

The orbiting labs three cosmonauts from Roscosmos began and ended their day with eye checks. Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineers Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov took turns in the morning scanning each others eyes using the Ultrasound 2 device, part of the stations Human Research Facility-1. In the afternoon, Korsakov took charge as Crew Medical Officer and used medical imaging gear to picture Matveevs retinas. The eye exams help doctors understand how weightlessness affects vision and the shape of the eye. The trio then spent the rest of the day stowing spacewalk tools, working on life support and electrical systems, and analyzing the Zvezda service modules atmosphere.

Learn more about station activities by following thespace station blog,@space_stationand@ISS_Researchon Twitter, as well as theISS FacebookandISS Instagramaccounts.

Get weekly video highlights at:http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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NASA Captures A Gorgeous Display of Auroras Aboard the International Space Station – Tech Times

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The International Space Station captured this amazingly stunning time-lapse video of an aurora, which was witnessed from above rather than below after a powerful solar storm slammed the Earth's atmosphere, as reported first by Futurism.

Even though this display is not a rare sighting, it remains to be a delight in the eyes. In the time-lapse video, NASA's space station passes over the Indian Ocean while the Moon rises in the distance like a huge beacon of light hidden behind the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

The planet is blasted by highly charged particles as the Sun enters the most chaotic phase of its 11-year cycle. These particles collide with our planet's magnetosphere and release energy in the shape of light.

Astronauts may occasionally find themselves flying directly through the aurora itself since some of these auroras take place at an altitude that is similar to that of the ISS.

"Absolutely SPECTACULAR aurora today!!! Thankful for the recent solar activity resulting in these wonderful sights!" NASA astronaut Bob Hines, who was on board the space station at the time, said in atweet.

According to NASA, in a recent Instagram post, when solar particles interact with air oxygen they produce the vivid red and green hues shown in this photograph. On the other hand, if these same particles strike nitrogen in our atmosphere, the sky will light blue and purple.

Read Also: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Snaps A Perfect Shot of an 'Einstein Ring'

NASA's Parker Solar Probehas recently zipped past the Sun, opening a plethora of research about the Sun that scientists could conduct in the future.

This perihelion occurs at a time when the Sun has been extremely active, with a Sunspot the size of Earth and recent geomagnetic storms and solar flare eruptions.

Hence, scientists are anticipating more solar activities to come such as the aurora display that the ISS has witnessed.

When Parker was launched in 2018, the Sun was at solar minimum, an inactive phase of the 11-year solar cycle. The Sun, however, is already more active than scientists had estimated, and activity is quickly returning to solar maximum, which is anticipated to happen in 2025.

Related Article: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Sets Historic Milestone With First-Ever Image of an Exoplanet

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That time astronauts on the International Space Station printed beef in space – ZME Science

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The Russian lab aboard the International Space Station (ISS) used a tissue-making 3D printer to print a little beef in 2019.

Didier Toubia, the head of the Israeli startup Aleph Farms which provided cells for the tests, said that the technology can help make long-term travel possible and renew space exploration, to far-away places such as Mars. However, he added that the companys main goal is to provide such animal-free meat to markets on Earth, and that it is just a matter of time before these products arrive in supermarkets.

The idea is not to replace traditional agriculture, Toubia says. Its about being a better alternative to factory farming.

Mark Post, a Dutch scientist from Maastricht University, created and presented the first cow-stem-cell-derived burger in 2013. Since then, there has been quite a lot of interest from both industry and consumers to bring lab-grown meat to the market. However, production costs are still high, which prevented such products from hitting shelves near you. Nevertheless, as research progresses and production is scaled, the price of lab-grown meat could soon become competitive.

While were still debating what to call these products laboratory, artificial, cell-based, or cultivated meat have all been proposed the public has been invited to taste them and provide feedback. This would suggest that commercialization, at least on a small scale, of this type of meat, is not far away. At first, cost is still going to be a limiting factor and these products will likely only fill a niche role. However, industry estimates say that lab-grown meat at reasonable prices could hit supermarket shelves in 5 to 20 years.

But thats all happening down here; what about in space? Israeli startup Aleph Farms has partnered with several 3D printing companies to conduct an experiment on the ISS. The end result, they say, is the first-ever case of synthetic meat produced in space.

Their method mimics natural tissue-regeneration processes, the company explains. This is intended to reproduce the structure and texture of beef, to produce a piece of meat that feels more realistic. However, this has proven challenging on Earth; Aleph Farms hopes that the space-borne experiment can help guide further development on the planet.

Russia-based 3D Bioprinting Solutions provided the printer for the experiment carried out in the Russian lab onboard the ISS. US-based Meal Source Technologies and Finless Foods also took part in the experiment. The bio-ink used is a mixture of animal cells and growth factors. In space, the process has the potential to be much faster since the ink can grow in all directions and doesnt need a support structure (a lattice is needed on Earth).

While Aleph Farms cant yet 3D-print meat at competitive prices, the cost of launching things to space is very high. It would make sense then to give astronauts a way to produce at least some of their meat on board. It would help reduce logistics costs, free up storage space, and enable longer missions.

Laboratory-grown meat can help us reduce the environmental burden of our agriculture, as it uses far less water and land than traditional farms. It also means fewer cows in farms and slaughterhouses. However, there is still some debate on where the increased use of energy would affect its real environmental impact, and on issues related to the nutrition of the resulting product.

In-Space Production Applications on the ISS – ISS National Lab

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

September 1, 2022 By Amy Thompson, Staff Writer

This piece is part of our ISS360 series highlighting the 2022 International Space Station Research and Development Conference.

The unique conditions on the International Space Station (ISS) allow companies to create products in space that cannot be realized on Earth or that could be superior to their terrestrial counterparts. In a panel session at the 2022 ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC), industry leaders discussed how the orbiting laboratory can provide valuable benefits for in-space production applications such as tissue engineering, advanced materials production and characterization, and therapeutic development.

The past 10 years of the ISS were the decade of utilization, where NASA, its partner agencies, and the ISS National Laboratory were learning how best to use this powerful platform in low Earth orbit. Now, in this next decade, were seeing the benefits of all the experiments that have been carried out onboard.

We are living in an exciting era on the ISS, said Ken Shields, director of business development at Sierra Space, during the panel session. As we begin to transition from government control to commercial, we are starting to see new capabilities that weve never seen before.

Shields says that were on the cusp of something incredibly exciting: the next great industrial revolution, only this time its in space. Through the ISS, companies and research institutions will be able to make advancements in technology, robotics, and even artificial intelligence. In the not-too-distant future, we will see a transition from one space station to multiple, commercially run space stations that will act as mini space factories, manufacturing new products ranging from medicine to new materials and maybe one day organs for transplant.

This is truly an exciting time in space, said John Vellinger, executive vice president of in-space manufacturing & operations at Redwire, during the panel session. Weve worked really hard to get to the point where were working to turn our research into products.

According to Vellinger, Redwire was able to leverage the ISS to create an industrial protein crystal for use in optics and other industries that is superior to the crystals grown on the ground. This is one of the first examples of how the space station can be used to create products for Earth-based industry.

During the panel, Paula Grisanti, CEO of the National Stem Cell Foundation, discussed the value of doing research in space to better understand degenerative brain disorders. Using organoids derived from the donated stem cells of patients with Parkinsons disease, Grisanti and others hope to be able to understand what is happening to the brain.

In space you can actually see the cells talking to each other and interacting in ways that are not possible on Earth, Grisanti said during the panel. We are hoping to be able to identify the point at which that conversation goes south, and you could intervene with a new drug or cell therapy that would halt the progression of these types of degenerative diseases.

A recording of the full panel session is now available. ISSRDC is an annual conference hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the ISS National Laboratory; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). For more information on research sponsored by the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

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Experiments in space | UDaily – UDaily

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Valerie Moore, a senior studying mechanical engineering, holds up the first prototype of her research teams zero-gravity turbulent flow facility, which has been selected as one of a handful of projects to make a journey into space on the International Space Station.

Article by Maddy Lauria Photos courtesy of Tyler Van Buren and NASA | Photo illustration by Joy Smoker September 01, 2022

The International Space Station isnt just for astronauts exploring the great beyond. It also offers an opportunity for scientists of all ages and disciplines to test the limits of their research, if theyre able to propose a project worthy of the 200-plus-mile trek into space.

A small team of researchers from the University of Delawares College of Engineering, largely students, will soon be among the lucky few to send their own ideas to the ISS to further their research on how particles move in turbulence.

Ive always been interested in space, so its really cool to come onto a project that will hopefully be going to the ISS, said lead student researcher Valerie Moore, a senior studying mechanical engineering.

UD is one of five universities selected to receive $100,000 in grant funding through the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for an experiment to be conducted on the ISS.

Each of these projects has the potential to contribute to critical innovations in human spaceflight on the International Space Station and beyond, NASA EPSCoR Project Manager Jeppie Compton said in a press release. Were very impressed with the ideas put forward in these investigation concepts and look forward to seeing how these technologies perform.

Evan Battaglia, a recent electrical engineering graduate, solders critical motor components and control systems to autonomously drive the von Karman flow facility, named in part for the aerospace engineer Theodore Von Krmn, who used math to study fluid flow.

Since Spring 2022, several undergraduate engineering students, led by Department of Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Tyler Van Buren, spent months designing a device that will fit within a CubeSat that will be sent to the ISS, where it will collect information about how turbulence affects particles in a zero-gravity environment. A cubesat is a small (100-by-100-by-300 millimeters), rectangular compartment that holds experiments like theirs like a suitcase of science headed for space.

Things on Earth that want to sink or rise really fast, in space, theyll stay put, Van Buren said, adding that their experiment will require no intervention or assistance from astronauts. The goal is it would go up, plug in, run un-crewed and wed get status updates.

The datasets theyre hoping to collect with their small zero-gravity turbulent flow facility are impossible to get on Earth, but are necessary to confirm Earth-based simulations exploring turbulence in fluid mechanics.

Think about swimming somewhere shallow, close to the bottom of the waterway, and how the kicks of a flipper or in the case of a fish, fins kick up particles. Researchers would like to know how particle sizes interact or suspend.

This kind of fills that gap where we start to understand how particles impact the fluid flow without worrying about the gravity being involved, Van Buren said.

The rotor for the zero-gravity turbulent flow facility prints on a Prusa 3D printer.

Basically, explained Moore, their device is made of two cubes, each with a cylinder cut out of the center. The ends can spin in opposite directions to create the flow the researchers need, and eventually they will put liquid, bubbles and both heavy and light sediment inside. Theyre utilizing something known in mechanical engineering as the Von Krmn flow, named for the aerospace engineer Theodore Von Krmn, who used math to study fluid flow and eventually helpd found the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. More informally known as the French washing machine, to create the turbulence needed to study how their materials react.

In between the two cubes is a data collection brain, explained Van Buren. The set-up also includes cameras that are used to record the flow.

Because the device houses water albeit purified, deionized water, which is less conductive and safer than regular old H2O mechanisms are needed to ensure the water stays put without human interference. Their hands-off experiment may have given them an advantage in gaining NASAs approval for the idea, but they also have to make sure that it doesnt break when met with the strong G-Forces that come during a rocket launch.

Joining the project team as a junior allowed Moore to learn such complex concepts that she hadnt even encountered in her studies yet.

Recent mechanical engineering graduate Hannah Wiswell works on the zero-gravity turbulent flow facilitys fluid subsystem with a custom designed magnetic torque transmission.

I didnt take fluids yet, so it was really cool to go into class and already know what theyre talking about, she said. Van Buren said the project wouldnt exist without Moores work.

While Moore handles the fluid mechanics side of their work, honors electrical engineering student Evan Battaglia, who graduated in spring 2022 and is headed to Columbia University for graduate studies this fall, helped drive the programming. For the small facility to work, it needs a control system for the moving parts, for when researchers need motors to spin on lights to turn on. That will be controlled by Arduino technology. Then theres the brain on the system, which is a Raspberry Pi miniaturized computer-on-a-chip (and definitely not the dessert) that allows the researchers to collect data and categorize it as needed.

These electronic devices, each with their own particular features and capabilities, will be the part of the experiment that handles instructions from operators, collects data and runs the cameras during the six months the device is in space. During that time, Van Buren said they will likely collect more than 10 terabytes of data. Theyre working with NASA to determine how theyll retrieve the data either through transmission from space or by having a small component, such as the hard drive, sent back to Earth once the mission is completed.

In summer 2022, Van Buren and recent honors mechanical engineering graduate Hannah Wiswell were the only members of the team actively working. Over the summer, Wiswell who dreams of becoming an astronaut herself worked on all of the subsystems of the device, from the motors that drive the rotating flow to image processing to the particles themselves.

Im more of an interim editor, swooping in to help, she said, noting that she didnt know shed be working on a project at UD that will someday soon go to space. Its crazy that you could be doing something so small that could have such a giant impact. Im incredibly happy to be here.

When Wiswell leaves for Princeton to pursue a doctorate in mechanical and aerospace engineering in the fall, Moore and a new team of students will step back in to take over the final year of designing the device.

As the school year gets underway, another small group of senior engineering students will be handling the thermal management, including 3-D printing the frame for their device out of flame-resistant material for their senior capstone project. Meanwhile, the team is planning an outreach effort with the Early Learning Center in Newark, where young children could learn the basics of fluid dynamics (more simply, flow, mixing and what a liquid is) and possibly even contribute a small note to be sent into space along with the experiment.

If all goes well, the device should be in working condition by the end of Summer 2023. Then it has to go through NASAs safety testing before it can be approved for space travel. It will likely take at least another year (or more) until their device is approved to exit Earths atmosphere.

Once its ready, then you get in line for a flight, Van Buren said. We could learn a lot about a very difficult problem, and this project can also just help bring eyes to fluid mechanics in general.

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Largest Gift in UCSD History to Fund Stem Cell Research on Space Station – Times of San Diego

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

Scanning electron micrograph of cultured human neuron from induced pluripotent stem cell. Photo via Mark Ellisman and Thomas Deerinck, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, UC San Diego

UC San Diego will use the largest single gift in its history to fund an institute tasked with expanding stem cell research and regenerative medicine, it was announced Tuesday.

The $150 million gift from businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford follows up on his $100 million gift in 2013, which established UCSD as a leader in developing and delivering the therapeutic promise of human stem cells.

The special cells have the ability to develop into many different cell types which, when modified and repurposed, have the potential to treat, remedy or cure a vast array of conditions and diseases.

Dennys previous generosity spurred discoveries in stem cell research and medicine at UC San Diego that are already benefiting countless patients around the world, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said. His most recent gift adds to our portfolio of stem cell research conducted in Earths orbit that will help us better understand the progression of cancer cells and aging.

New programs to be established at the UCSD Sanford Stem Cell Institute aboard the International Space Station include:

We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute with Denny Sanfords generous support, said Dr. Catriona Jamieson, who will direct the institute. This will allow us to keep pace with the growing need for regenerative and stem-cell based therapies and accelerate translational stem cell research and discoveries that will transform human health for years to come.

According to the university, exposure to radiation and microgravity in low-Earth orbit can simulate and speed up aging in stem cells, as well as their transformation into cancer cells. Space-related research may have applications that create better treatments for various cancers and diseases on Earth, including blood cancers, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

This investment enables the team to dream beyond what is possible, Sanford said. The sky is no longer the limit.

In addition to his investment to create the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center at UCSD Health in 2013, Sanfords gifts established the T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion in 2019, which focuses on research into the neurological basis of compassion, with application toward developing compassion and empathy-focused training for future generations of medical professionals, the university said.

He also recently made a $5 million gift to support the Epstein Family Alzheimers Research Collaboration, a partnership between UCSD and the University of Southern California to spark collaborative efforts to discover effective therapies for Alzheimers disease.

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Research, spacewalks, and maintenance: Expedition 67’s final month aboard the ISS – NASASpaceFlight.com – NASASpaceflight.com

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The seven members of the Expedition 67 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had yet another action-packed month in August 2022. From spacewalks to research to cargo vehicle departures, the crew aboard the orbiting laboratory and mission teams back on Earth stayed busy.

Expeditions are long-duration, research-based astronaut missions aboard the ISS. Each Expedition lasts around six months, typically beginning and ending with Russian crew rotations. Expedition 67 began in March upon the departure of the Soyuz MS-19 crew and is planned to continue until the Soyuz MS-21 crew departs the station in September. The seven international crew members of Expedition 67 come from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Roscosmos.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev, and Sergey Korsakov arrived at the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft in March, with Artemyev assuming command of the ISS and Expedition 67 in May when Thomas Marshburn returned to Earth with the SpaceX Crew-3 mission. NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti arrived at the ISS in April aboard Crew Dragon Freedomas part of the SpaceX Crew-4 mission.

The crew kicked off August by performing health tests, preparing experiments, and transferring cargo. On August 1, Watkins and Hines worked to adjust the plant growth chamber aboard the ISS, which monitors vegetables grown in microgravity aboard the ISS. Meanwhile, Lindgren retrieved cargo items and took images with them for outreach purposes.

Cristoforetti collected air samples for the ANITA-2 (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2) device and was later joined by Lindgren to prepare the Rodent Research-22 experiment. Cristoforetti and the other NASA astronauts also completed remotely-guided eye exams. The three Roscosmos astronauts exercised using the advanced resistive exercise device (ARED), VELO ergometer bike, and Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS) devices.

The Expedition 67 crew. (Credit: NASA)

The experiment preparations and science sample collections continued on August 2, with Hines setting up and photographing the Genes in Space-9 experiment and Watkins collecting samples of carbon dioxide from the Thermal Amine Scrubber.

Cristoforetti also joined in on the science fun as she prepared the Biofilms-2 experiment, which characterizes the mass, thickness, structure, and associated gene expression of biofilms that are formed in space by analyzing fungal species that are grown on different materials. Lindgren changed the media inside the Life Sciences Glovebox for specific samples. ISS commander Artemyev tested a 3D printer while Korsakov and Matveev took microbial samples from various areas aboard the ISS.

On August 3, Lindgren worked to set up the free-flying Astrobee robots for a student robot competition. Hines continued his work with the Genes in Space-9 study by preparing and photographing sample returns from the experiment, which aims to evaluate how cell-free technology could be used in microgravity environments. Watkins also continued to purge and take samples of carbon dioxide from the ISS using the Thermal Amine Scrubber.

Cristoforetti spent the day talking with students before transferring cargo from the SpaceX CRS-25 Cargo Dragon vehicle with Watkins. Roscosmos Artemyev and Matveev located, photographed, and stored equipment and tools. Meanwhile, Korsakov performed regular station maintenance.

August 4 saw the Expedition 67 crew perform installations and inspections, as well as complete training exercises. Watkins prepared a drain for an installed recycling tank for the stations Environmental Control and Life Support System and made configurations for the Plant Habitat Facility. Hines worked with the Cerebral Autoregulation investigation, which assesses how the human brain regulates blood flow in microgravity environments.

Lindgren performed a photo survey of fasteners on the ISSs airlock close-out panel and later worked to reconnect parts and inspect a leak for the Solid Combustion Experiment Module.

Cristoforetti focused on the Ring Sheared Drop investigation, installing a sample into the hardware being used for the experiment. Artemyev and Matveev staged spacewalk equipment and tools while Korsakov photographed microbial samples.

At the end of the day on August 4, the entire Expedition 67 crew gathered together to train on how to respond to an emergency aboard the ISS. The crew used a simulator to practice communication skills, execute procedures, and make smart decisions in the event of an emergency.

Bob Hines works on the Genes in Space-9 experiment. (Credit: NASA)

The crew wrapped up their first week of August on August 5, with Hines scrubbing cooling loops and reconfiguring loop scrub hardware for EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) spacesuits. Lindgren and Cristoforetti removed and stored sample carries for various experiments. Lindgren later joined Watkins and continued packing the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon in preparation for its undocking. The three Roscosmos cosmonauts mainly performed and completed basic maintenance on the Russian segment of the ISS.

After taking the weekend to rest, the Expedition 67 crew got back to work on Monday, August 8. Hines and Cristoforetti cleaned hardware and samples for the Rodent Research-22 experiment, which aims to explore the ways skin heals in space. Hines later installed seed cartridges and root modules in the XROOTS space agriculture study. Lindgren opened the airlock in the Japanese Kibo laboratory module and installed small-satellite deployer hardware on an external science platform, which will release small satellites once deployed outside of Kibo.

Watkins connected cables in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR), a research rack, and assisted Lindgren with installing a barrier on the Quest Airlocks vent relief and isolation valve. Cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveev serviced a pair of Russian Orlan spacesuits while Korsakov performed maintenance and inspections in the Nauka and Zvezda modules.

August 9 would see Lindgren and Hines work with a slew of experiments studying the benefits of humans living both on and off Earth, with Lindgren investigating how our immune systems age in microgravity and Hines working to swap carbon dioxide bottles and filters inside the ISSs Plant Habitat facility. Watkins and Cristoforetti worked together to swap cargo inside the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon. After transferring cargo, Watkins processed samples for the Rodent Research-22 study while Cristoforetti tested a vest designed to transmit health data wirelessly. Commander Artemyev and Matveev continued maintenance on the Russian Orlan spacesuits. Korsakov, meanwhile, continued to work on ventilation in Nauka and Zvezda and later imaged microbe samples.

On August 10, Watkins investigated how the human immune system ages in space by looking at tissue stem cells through a microscope in the ISSs Destiny module and would later move to the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon to continue readying the spacecraft for its departure and return to Earth later in the month. Lindgren installed a full small satellite deployer instrument onto an external science platform inside the Kibo modules airlock, where it was later moved into space for deployments.

Cristoforetti studied the dynamics of several materials in microgravity specifically foams, droplets, and granular materials and what implications they present for future planetary travel. Hines transferred U.S. EVA equipment to the stations Russian segment and later serviced hardware for the Ring Sheared Drop experiment. Artemyev and Matveev installed the U.S. EVA equipment onto the Russian Orlan suits while Korsakov concentrated on network cable connections in Nauka and Zvezda.

Jessica Watkins prepares cell samples for viewing under a microscope. (Credit: NASA)

Preparations for an upcoming spacewalk continued on August 11 as Artemyev and Matveev continued to service the Russian Orlan spacesuits and prepare necessary tools and the Poisk module airlock for their journey outside the ISS. Korsakov, who will assist his fellow cosmonauts during the spacewalk from inside the ISS, configured the European robotic arm (ERA) the new robotic arm that will be used to move payloads and equipment outside the Russian segment of the ISS. Meanwhile, Lindgren prepared hardware in the Life Science Glovebox for the Rodent Research-22 study, Hines inspected seeds and fluids in the XROOTS experiment, Watkins worked on orbital plumbing in the Unity module, and Cristoforetti serviced research gear and swapped components on a microscope. Additionally, Hines and Watkins drew blood samples while Cristoforetti continued departure preparations for the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon.

As the second week of August drew to a close, the Expedition 67 crew continued tending to experiments and preparing for spacewalks and spacecraft departures. Friday would see the four Crew-4 astronauts gather together to practice surgical techniques to heal wounds in microgravity. Following this, the four astronauts worked to gather and transfer frozen science samples from science freezers to the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon spacecraft. Whats more, Watkins and Cristoforetti collected blood samples to store in a freezer, Lindgren investigated the usefulness of the Butterfly IQ Ultrasound device, and Hines completed orbital plumbing tasks and spacewalk gear inspections. Roscosmos Artemyev and Matveev tried on their spacesuits, checked for leaks, tested equipment, and practiced movements. Korsakov assisted his Russian crewmates during their EVA preparations and dry run.

Following a weekend break, mission managers met and gave the go for Artemyev and Matveev to exit the ISS to configure the ERA, which will operate outside the Russian segment of the ISS. On August 15, Russian cosmonauts Artemyev, Matveev, and Korsakov continued to prepare for the spacewalk, with Korsakov managing to fit in some ventilation maintenance work in Nauka and research on exercise techniques that will help astronauts maintain physical fitness in microgravity.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. segment of the ISS, Watkins and Cristoforetti continued to pack the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon with station gear and experiments planned to return to Earth with the spacecraft. Lindgren and Hines worked with experiments that focus on improving human health in space and on Earth, with Lindgren preparing tissue stem cell samples in the Life Science Glovebox and Hines working with the Rodent Research-22 study.

Lindgren processes samples in the Life Science Glovebox. (Credit: NASA)

August 16 would see mission managers give the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon the go to depart the ISS later in the week. Lindgren and Watkins kicked the day off by working with experiments in the Life Science Glovebox in the Japanese Kibo module, with Hines and Cristoforetti taking their place later in the day. Whats more, all four Expedition 67 astronauts would take turns investigating how microgravity environments and spaceflight conditions (weightlessness, radiation, etc.) affect the genetic expressions that drive the human bodys healing process. The experiment, the Rodent Research-22 study, was later packed up and placed inside the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon the following day to return to Earth. As the astronauts were tending to experiments, the Russian cosmonauts continued to prepare for their upcoming spacewalk, the seventh of the year, by finalizing task lists and spacesuit checks.

Commander Artemyev and Matveev officially exited the ISS at 13:53 UTC the following day on August 17, beginning the planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to continue the configuration of the ERA robotic arm. The goals of the EVA were to install cameras on the ERA, relocate an external control panel for the arm, remove launch restraints, and test a mechanism that will be used to facilitate the grasping of objects.

However, approximately four hours into the spacewalk, Roscosmos Mission Control in Moscow, Russia instructed Artemyev and Matveev to return to the Poisk airlock due to Artemyevs spacesuit showing abnormal battery reading ending the spacewalk early. Before being instructed to return to the ISS early, the cosmonauts were able to install the two cameras onto the ERA. Fortunately, the Russian duo was never in any danger during the excursion, and the ERA was placed into a safe configuration by Korsakov inside the ISS.

Furthermore, the departure of the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon spacecraft, at the time scheduled for August 18, was delayed by a day due to unfavorable weather conditions at splashdown sites off the coast of the United States. With the delay in the departure of Cargo Dragon, the four Expedition 67 astronauts continued to pack the vehicle with research samples and other science experiments until the hatch was closed Friday morning. Additionally, on August 18, the three Russian cosmonauts continued working through post-EVA tasks, such as removing components and tools from the Russian Orlan spacesuit.

Artemyev and Matveev work outside the ISS in April. (Credit: NASA)

At 15:00 UTC on August 19, flight controllers sent commands to the ISS and the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon to release the spacecraft from the forward-facing docking port of the stations Harmony module. Cargo Dragon was released from the ISS at 15:05 UTC, packed with more than 4,000 pounds of science samples, station equipment, and other materials. The following day, Saturday, August 20, the CRS-25 Cargo Dragon successfully splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Canaveral, Florida at 18:53 UTC.

After taking a well-deserved break from spacewalks and spacecraft departures, the Expedition 67 crew jumped back into doing their daily tasks on August 22. The four Expedition 67 astronauts (Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti) spent the majority of the day practicing surgical techniques for how to heal wounds in microgravity providing advanced skin healing therapies that can be used both in space and on Earth.

Afterward, Lindgren and Cristoforetti worked to set up an AstroPi science computer in the Harmony module, which will allow European students to take imagery of the Earth. Watkins also helped Lindgren and Cristoforetti by recording videos of the AstroPi activities. Hines performed a routine checkup on the XROOTS botany experiment by checking on the plants being grown and checking fluid levels in the hardware.

Cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveev continued with their post-EVA duties before researching how weightlessness affects blood circulation throughout the body. Korsakov participated in the cardiac research as well, and would later join forces with Artemyev to study how to pilot spacecraft and robots on future space missions.

Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti would get together again the following day, Tuesday, August 23, in the Japanese Kibo module to continue their study into surgical techniques that can be used to heal wounds in space. Following the completion of the medical research on Tuesday, Lindgren reviewed procedures for a night photography session using the newly-installed AstroPi computer in the Harmony module, which aims to inspire and guide European students toward science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

Commander Artemyev worked on several experiments on Tuesday, investigating space exercise methods, photography using ultrasound sensors, and the human digestive system in space. Matveev performed maintenance on power systems in the Russian Zarya module and checked radiation detectors. Korsakov analyzed urine samples and collected air samples from the Russian Zvezda, Poisk, and Nauka modules.

The surgical techniques studied continued on August 24, with Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforettie learning how to perform biopsies, suture splints, and wound dressings, all inside of the Life Science Glovebox in the ISSs Kibo module. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that occur during tissue regeneration in a microgravity environment can offer advanced therapies and insights into how advanced skin aging in space affects an astronauts healing capabilities.

Whats more, NASAs three Expedition 67 astronauts Lindgren, Hines, and Watkins practiced robotically capturing a spacecraft via a simulation for the Behavioral Core Measures study, which aims to understand how astronauts will perform in stressful situations, such as capturing a spacecraft from orbit. Roscosmos cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveev investigated how microgravity affects the digestive system of humans by taking ultrasound scans of their digestive systems. Korsakov spent Wednesday tinkering with the ERA arm, which is attached to the Russian Nauka module.

Cristoforetti swaps research samples inside the Soft Matter Dynamics experiment. (Credit: NASA)

Furthermore, the ISS received an orbital boost on Wednesday night from the Russian Progress 81 cargo spacecraft, which is docked at the Zvezda modules aft port. This orbital boost was conducted in preparation for upcoming crew and cargo spacecraft that are expected to visit the ISS in September.

On August 25, Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti continued their medical research on how skin heals in microgravity in the Life Science Glovebox in the Japanese Kibo module. Meanwhile, station commander Artemyev and flight engineer Matveev continued to research how zero-gravity environments, like space, affect the human digestive system by performing ultrasound scans of their digestive system. Their Russian colleague, Korsakov, participated in an ear, nose, and throat study, later moving to learn how to communicate with international crews and ground controllers better.

The week drew to a close on August 26, and much of the same research and everyday tasks the Expedition 67 crew had worked on all week were done on Friday. Flight engineers Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti continued their medical research on how wounds heal in microgravity environments. As it had been done all week, the medical research was performed in the Life Science Glovebox in the stations Japanese Kibo module. Cosmonauts Artemyev, Matveev, and Korsakov began reviewing procedures for another spacewalk that would continue their work on configuring and setting up the new ERA robotic arm on the Russian segment of the station.

The Expedition 67 crew kicked off the final week of the month on August 29 with research and spacewalk preps. Lindgren and Hines started the day by collecting muscle measurements in the stations European Columbus module to understand how weightlessness affects muscle tone, body stiffness, and body elasticity, allowing doctors to develop more effective space fitness strategies. After completing their measurements in Columbus, Lindgren collected and stored urine samples while Hines moved over to the Kibo module and joined Watkins and Cristoforetti in continuing to research how wounds heal in space. Artemyev and Matveev continued to prepare their Orlan spacesuits and equipment for a spacewalk while Korsakov performed maintenance in Nauka.

Bob Hines replaces a carbon dioxide bottle inside the Plant Habitat Facility. (Credit: NASA)

NASAs three flight engineers, Lindgren, Hines, and Watkins, took turns scanning one anothers veins in their necks, shoulders, and legs in the Columbus module on Tuesday, August 30. After collecting the ultrasound imagery, Lindgren gathered his blood samples and spun them in a centrifuge for the Phospho-aging study, which aims to understand accelerated bone loss and muscle atrophy caused by space.

Cristoforetti drew her blood samples before swapping samples inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace high-temperature research facility. Additionally, Cristoforetti and Watkins serviced a U.S. spacesuit in the Quest airlock before cleaning cooling loops. Hines charged and updated computer devices around the station on Friday while Artemyev and Matveev inspected and activated their Orlan EVA spacesuits. Korsakov maintained electronic systems and other life support hardware in the Russian segment of the ISS.

The final day of August saw the crew continue to conduct research and preparations for future station events. Lindgren and Watkins, with assistance from Hines and Cristoforetti, continued researching how wounds heal in microgravity environments in the Japanese Kibo module. When not assisting Lindgren or Watkins, Hines worked in the European Columbus module on the XROOTS botany study by mixing nutrient solutions and recirculating fluids to the plants and vegetables in the experiment. Cristoforetti performed station maintenance by completing light plumbing tasks and checking fire extinguishers around the ISS. Cosmonauts Artemyev and Matveev continued to prepare and study for their spacewalk while Korsakov maintained laptop computers and other systems in the Russian segment of the ISS.

Assuming all goes to plan, August should have been the final month of the Expedition 67 mission. Both Crew-4 and Soyuz MS-21 crews are expected to depart the station following the arrival of the Crew-5 and Soyuz MS-22 crews in mid-September.

(Lead image: the International Space Station in November 2021. Credit: ESA/NASA/Thomas Pesquet)

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Research, spacewalks, and maintenance: Expedition 67's final month aboard the ISS - NASASpaceFlight.com - NASASpaceflight.com

Bhuter Goli to International Space Station: Fazlay Rabby’s exciting radio world – The Business Standard

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

"This is Sierra 21 Romeo Charlie, from Bangladesh. Do you copy? Over."

"I copy Bangladesh. This is the International Space Station, this is Yury."

This is part of a short conversation between a Bangladeshi youth Fazlay Rabby and Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov. This communication took place in 2009 between the two over a VHF (very high frequency) radio while the cosmonaut was circling the planet Earth at a speed of 27,000 km/hour onboard the International Space Station (ISS), and Fazlay Rabby was in his residence at Bhuter Goli in Dhaka.

Isn't it exciting?

Most of the astronauts (US trained) and cosmonauts (Russian trained) aboard the ISS have amateur radio licences, and they use the station's ham radio to contact amateur radio stations on ground in their free time.

Fazlay Rabby, who is also an amateur radio operator, has been pursuing this hobby for more than two decades now.

Amateur radio, or ham radio, is the use of two-way radio equipment for various purposes such as private recreation, non-commercial communication, wireless experimentation and emergency communication.

In an interview with The Business Standard, Rabby shared his story, described how this century-old hobby survived in the age of internet and mobile phones, and how someone new can start practising it.

"Since my childhood, making electronics has been one of my hobbies. In 1997, in a scout camp in Sylhet, I first saw an amateur radio station, and I was fascinated. While I often dreamt of making a wireless transmitter and communicating with friends like Kishore, Musa and Robin [from Tin Goyenda] did, those guys with amateur radios were talking to the world with their own personal wireless sets," reminisced Rabby.

"In 1997, I came to Dhaka for higher studies and later in 1999 I found that the same person, Manju Haque (call sign S21AM), who was operating that station in Sylhet almost two years back. He mentored me in his lab at Lalmatia. I sat for an exam in 2000 and got my ham radio licence the same year. At that time, the former BTTB (Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board) was the authority issuing licence from their Tejgaon office," Rabby added.

The hobby

There are multiple branches of ham radio that the hobbyists can pursue: some only converse with others for longer time (called 'rag chewing' in ham radio parlance), some focus on trying to communicate with another ham radio operator who is in distant places around the world (called Dxing), some pursue new technical challenges like making Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite and launch it with the help of universities and space agencies like NASA and ESA. And there are even some who use the moon as a reflector to bounce their signal to be received by another operator sitting on the other side of the world.

"There are some other popular and internationally recognised activities such as Dx-expedition, Islands On The Air (IOTA) etc. In the latter case, solo operators or groups of operators set up amateur radio stations in a remote island. In Bangladesh, I did IOTA from St Martin's Island (2009), Char Kukri (2021) and am planning to do it in Dhal Char this year," said Rabby.

"When you start radio transmission from such a place, millions of operators from around the world will try to talk to you at least once. Because it is a 'rare' station," Rabby added.

There are specific rules, and often prior permissions are required for these activities. There are awards for those as well. New amateur radio enthusiasts need to apply to BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) for a Licence. BTRC takes Amateur Radio exams every few years and issues licences.

"After passing the exam, one will get an internationally recognised unique call sign. Once you have the licence to operate radio equipment in amateur bands (frequencies), you can either buy a commercially made radio equipment as per your choice or start building one if you have that expertise. Both require prior permission from BTRC," explained Rabby, shedding light on the path to becoming a ham radio operator.

Rabby's radio world

Apart from communicating with the help of radios, Rabby is into building his own radio equipment as well. As he planned to contact the ISS back in 2009, he spent many days buying suitable wires and PVC pipes from the Hatirpool hardware market to make a suitable antenna. Once he sent the log file, ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) sent him the acknowledgement certificate which is called a QSL card.

Rabby also has some other remarkable achievements so far.

"My hobby gained momentum during the Covid pandemic as I had much time staying at home. By this time we have our own geostationary satellite transponder [Es'hail 2 Sat, Launched by Qatar]. I started making my own SDR [Software Defined Radio] radio and antenna system to communicate with the QO-100 [Qatar Oscar 100]," said Rabby, adding, "it took me almost a year to finally speak with other ham operators via that satellite. It was like a hurricane when they first heard my callsign, S21RC.

They [European stations] were very astonished to find that someone from Bangladesh [a Rare DX station to them, number 28 in worldwide most wanted list] managed to make his own station and accessed the satellite with crystal clear signal."

For building the system, most of the parts were procured from Daraz and the antenna came from DTH TV system (Akash).

Some of his circuit designs and codes have become popular among the international community, often called S21RC design.

A dying art?

When asked how this century-old hobby is faring in the age of internet and mobile phones, Rabby said, "there is a popular way to answer this: 'Not your grandfather's ham radio.' When the contemporary world is working with 2 to 5 GHz for the latest 5G mobile amateur radio operators started using 247 GHz frequency decades ago."

However, Rabby added that in real life the hobby is declining worldwide.

"The younger generation do not find it as exciting as we did in our time. Most of the hobbyists are old timers. But still there are some perks remaining: many universities often built Low Earth Orbit Satellites; getting an OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) designation is a pride for them. It also helps them as they can use the internationally allotted amateur radio frequencies, often get free slots for launch vehicles with NASA, get free millions of earth stations for monitoring the telemetry etc, and of course the most precious orbital slots as well," Rabby explained.

In this part of the world, China and Japan have their own LEO OSCAR launched multiple times in the past. From Bangladesh, the LEO satellite launched by Brac University was not an OSCAR, Rabby informed.

Another motivation is the pride one takes to be able to deploy a small radio station quickly and establish communication with the world without internet or mobile phone infrastructure in case of disasters. Radio is still the most reliable medium in such times, which is why humanitarian organisations and law enforcement agencies still use two-way radio devices called wireless sets, said Rabby, who works for an international humanitarian organisation as an ICT Officer.

"If one really wants to understand telecommunication practically from scratch, tries to make a radio transmitter which can transmit thousands of kilometres, getting a licence for amateur radio is his/her ticket to this fun world," said the hobbyist.

"It's a purely technical hobby and a gateway to telecommunication. I feel bad that none of our universities, even Buet, has amateur radio clubs. In other countries like Japan, the US, and many European countries, schools and universities have their own club stations. It should be mentionable that apart from educational institutes, organisations such as NASA, UN, ITU (International Telecommunication Union) all have their own amateur radio club stations," said Rabby.

There are two registered amateur radio clubs in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Amateur Radio League (BARL) and Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh (ARSB) who can help anyone looking forward to starting this hobby.

However, although BTRC is supposed to take licence exams regularly, the last one was held in 2018.

"They should organise exams more often. As this hobby creates technically advanced human resources, one day it might prove helpful for the country," the ham concluded.

Americas Moon Dreams Are on Hold – The Atlantic

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

By now, the spaceship should have been on its way to the moon. By now, NASA had hoped, the gumdrop-shaped capsuledesigned to carry astronauts somedaywould be sending all kinds of data back home, showing engineers how its first journey to space was going.

But the capsule is still here, sitting atop a giant rocket that has so far refused to leave Earth. NASA spent weeks hyping up the inaugural flight of the Space Launch System, the rocket at the center of Americas ambitious effort to land astronauts on the moon again in this decade. Celebrity appearances and musical performances were lined up. There were enough Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the Kennedy Space Center to feed the whole state of Florida. Even the vice president flew in. And yet, the rocket has stayed put.

Plenty of natural factors can lead to a launch delay: nearby lightning, hovering cumulus clouds, the rotation of the planet itself. But in the case of the Space Launch System, the problems were with the rocket. NASA postponed its first attempt, at the end of August, after a sensor indicated an issue with one of the main engines. The agency called off its second attempt this weekend after the liquid-hydrogen tank sprouted a leak too big for engineers to contain. NASA will have a chance to make a third attempt in late September or October, after engineers have pulled the rocket off the launchpad and back indoors to inspect the system and reset its batteries. Were not going to launch until its right, Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, told reporters this weekend. The moon will have to wait a bit longer.

Folks in the rocket business werent surprised that the Space Launch System didnt take off on its first, or even second, attempt. Delays happen, and so do leaks; the Space Launch System is a new vehicle made partially out of old, familiar parts from NASAs now-retired fleet of space shuttles, which experienced their own frustrating share of escaping hydrogen. But two scrapped attempts in one week is a disappointing setback for the countrys new moon program, named Artemis (for Apollos sister in Greek mythology).

Read: America is trying to make the moon happen again

The rocket program is already years behind schedule and many taxpayers dollars over budget. NASA no longer faces a geopolitical space race, but it does have to contend with competition at home from private rocket manufacturers that have vowed to fly more often and at a lower cost than the government. A series of delays could bolster the argument that maybe NASA, the only organization to ever put human beings on the lunar surface, shouldnt be in the business of launching moon rockets at all. The successful operation of the Space Launch System is as much about going back to the moon as it is about demonstrating that NASAs approach is worth it.

The first Artemis mission involves the Space Launch System lofting the astronaut capsule, called Orion, on a weeks-long trek around the moon and back. Its a technical demonstration, a test of countless parts and components to make sure the vehicle is safe for people. If Orion performs as designed, survives the blazing reentry through Earths atmosphere, and ends up back in the hands of engineers, NASA will move on to the next stage of the program: another test-drive around the moon, this time with a crew of four astronauts. If that goes well, the next mission will culminate in a landing on the surface.

Humankind has done this kind of thing before. From 1969 to 1972, NASA put men on the moon six times, using technology with less computing power than the little devices that manage our 21st-century lives. The astronauts descended to the surface and explored, ate, and slept while the rest of humanity chugged along nearly 240,000 miles away. This time, NASA wants to do things a little differently. The next crew to set foot on the dusty regolith, for example, will not be solely composed of white men; NASA has promised that the group will include the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. And the landings are meant to bring about a sustained presence on the moon, a future with habitats and rovers on the surface and a small space station circling overhead.

At the Kennedy Space Center, along the countrys Space Coast, people were buzzing with anticipation in the days before both Artemis 1 attempts. Astronauts dressed in blue jumpsuits milled around, sneaking glances at the rocket that could someday be their ride. When I asked Victor Glover, a NASA astronaut who might very well be part of the first crew to land, which Artemis trip hed want to take, he said, I don't know, but if they want me on a mission, Ill be ready when my time comes.

Read: Why is NASAs hold music so catchy?

A rocket built for the moon hasnt flown since 1972. After the crew of Apollo 17 returned, the American space program, subject to political whims and budget fluctuations, turned closer to home. NASA built space shuttles, and astronauts rode them into orbit and helped assemble the International Space Station. The development of the Space Launch System got under way in 2010, and, fueled by bipartisan support and liquid hydrogen, the effort managed to survive several presidential administrations and reach the launchpad this year, bringing the country closer to a moon return than it has been in recent memory.

All that history, though, might be slowing NASA down. The Space Launch System design relies on hardware that was used in NASAs shuttles, which were retired in 2011 after 30 years of operations. The rockets fuel includes liquid hydrogen, which, although more efficient, is also more prone to leaks than the methane that other rocket manufacturers have begun to use. And after every launch, NASAs rocket must ditch some very expensive hardware into the ocean, with no hope of reusing any of itsomething that commercial companies have demonstrated they can do.

One of those commercial companies, SpaceX, is developing its own moon rocket, known as Starship. A decade ago, the public might have scoffed at the idea of Elon Musks rowdy start-up doing anything very historic. But today, SpaceX is NASAs only ride to the International Space Station, and the agency has signed with the company to launch several of its upcoming missions, including a new space telescope and a probe to study one of Jupiters icy moons. Not only that, NASA has also hired SpaceX to produce the lander that future Artemis astronauts will use to ride down to the moons surface, plus the spacecraft that will help nudge it toward lunar orbit. In a future where SpaceX technology could do all that, the government rocket might seem almost superfluous. Of course, like NASAs rocket, Starship will likely face its own issues. But if a Starship explodes, Congress isnt going to haul in SpaceX officials and demand a formal explanation. The private company can keep going in a way that a federal space agency can't.

Read: Someone show NASA a calendar

NASA has set some very ambitious timelines for the Artemis program, and each one should be taken with a grain of moon dustespecially the working target for the first landing, in 2025. The landing technology from SpaceX is still in the works. The spacesuits have yet to be completed. Even the toilet that will eventually be installed in the Orion capsuledont laugh; its a crucial piece of technology!is still being tested on the International Space Station, and according to a NASA engineering manager, its running into some problems. NASA budgets havent begun to account for the habitats and rovers that astronauts would use after theyve perfected landing on the surface. America could certainly put astronauts on the moon before this decade is out, but were a long way from lunar glamping.

This early in the Artemis story, high-profile delays raise all sorts of questions that NASA would rather not answer, ranging from Whats taking so long to get back there? to Why are we even going at all? The American space program has always received mixed reviews. NASA doesnt talk about it now, but many Americans didnt support the Apollo program, which unfolded during the late 1960sa chaotic and painful era in the countrys history. The United States had enough work to do here on this planet without pouring money into leaving it, people argued. Mark Kirasich, the NASA deputy associate administrator in charge of outlining the Artemis program, was 9 years old when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, and he remembers thinking that, after a feat like that, people would soon travel even deeper into space. In fact, NASA officials envisioned that, after the moon feat, astronauts could reach Mars by the early 1980s. When you looked at my coloring book, it had all kinds of space vehicles going all over the universe, Kirasich told me.

This time around, NASAs budget is much smaller, and the agency is selling the public on several reasons for going back to the moon: scientific exploration, economic opportunities, inspiring a new generation. At the Kennedy Space Center, the wrapper of a special launch treatan Artemis-branded chocolate-covered, marshmallow-topped biscuitdeclared that the launch was for the benefit of all humanity. The unofficial slogan for Artemis 1We are goingis, in a way, perfect. It offers no immediate explanation; it is free of justification.

Whatever the rationale, a triumphant return to the moon can only begin in one place: on the launchpad, with a successful liftoff of a rocket. NASA must now wait for technicians to complete various repairs, including replacing a seal that would prevent liquid hydrogen from flitting out. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe, which makes it difficult to contain, even with the best materials on the market, Jim Free, NASAs associate administrator for exploration-systems development, told me this weekend. Free joined NASA in 1990, when the agency spent months trying to find the source of a hydrogen leak in one of the space shuttles. They couldnt get off the ground without resolving it. When I asked Free whether he thinks that the Space Launch System could face its own frustrating seasonthat a tiny molecule could stall the nations attempt to reach the moon this yearhe gave a nervous laugh. I hope not, he said.

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Americas Moon Dreams Are on Hold - The Atlantic

Robotic space arm successfully completes test by moving a suitcase-sized object around the International Space Station – ABC News

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The European Space Agency (ESA) is celebrating another milestone for the European Robotic Arm (ERA), which "effortlessly" completed a test on the International Space Station last week.

The 11-metre arm completed its first transfer following commands from cosmonauts inside the space station as teams from Russia and the Netherlands watched on from Earth.

Cosmonauts roused the robotic arm from hibernation, stretched it out and moved a payload about the size of a small suitcase from one side of the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module to the other and back again.

After this, the ERAwent back into hibernation.

It might sound minor, but the whole operationtook aboutsix hours.

The ESA called it "one small step for robot" but spoke of its significance.

"The test proved what the European Robotic Arm was built for: to move and latch payloads and equipment outside the Russian segment of the Space Station with an accuracy of 5 mm, saving time and work for the crew," the agency said in a statement.

It said the arm completed the task "effortlessly".

The test was carried out on August 26 ahead of a spacewalk scheduled for later on Friday.

Roscosmos astronauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev will step out of the station to keep working on the robotic arm after last month's spacewalk was cut short when one of their spacesuits had battery power problems.

"Oleg and Denis will relocate the arms external control panel, remove some restraints near the two end effectors or 'hands' of the arm, and test a rigidising mechanism that will facilitate the grasping of payloads," the ESA said.

The arm will be testedagain later this month in a performance mission that the ESA said would "push the arm'scapabilities to the limit".

Space engineers will evaluate the arm's brakes, motions and force control.

The ESA will also be scrutinising the quality of images captured by the cameras on thearm's "elbow", to work out if they're good enough to guide operations during the orbital night.

Launched in 2021, the ERA is the International Space Station's newest robotic arm.

TheCanadian and Japanese robotic arms were already functional, but were unable to reach the Russian segment of the station.

Forming a V shape, the ERA has one elbow joint and two limbs, with both ends of those limbs acting like a hand and a foot as it is able to effectively "walk"around the Russian segment.

Itshome base is theMultipurpose Laboratory Module but it was designed to anchor to the station at multiple points.

It can handle payloads of up to 8 tonnes, can withstand temperatures from between -150 and 120 degrees Celsius and has the capacity to transport spacewalkers around the outside of the stationlike acherrypicker crane.

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Robotic space arm successfully completes test by moving a suitcase-sized object around the International Space Station - ABC News

Why household robot servants are a lot harder to build than robotic vacuums and automated warehouse workers – The Conversation

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

With recent advances in artificial intelligence and robotics technology, there is growing interest in developing and marketing household robots capable of handling a variety of domestic chores.

Tesla is building a humanoid robot, which, according to CEO Elon Musk, could be used for cooking meals and helping elderly people. Amazon recently acquired iRobot, a prominent robotic vacuum manufacturer, and has been investing heavily in the technology through the Amazon Robotics program to expand robotics technology to the consumer market. In May 2022, Dyson, a company renowned for its power vacuum cleaners, announced that it plans to build the U.K.s largest robotics center devoted to developing household robots that carry out daily domestic tasks in residential spaces.

Despite the growing interest, would-be customers may have to wait awhile for those robots to come on the market. While devices such as smart thermostats and security systems are widely used in homes today, the commercial use of household robots is still in its infancy.

As a robotics researcher, I know firsthand how household robots are considerably more difficult to build than smart digital devices or industrial robots.

One major difference between digital and robotic devices is that household robots need to manipulate objects through physical contact to carry out their tasks. They have to carry the plates, move the chairs and pick up dirty laundry and place it in the washer. These operations require the robot to be able to handle fragile, soft and sometimes heavy objects with irregular shapes.

The state-of-the-art AI and machine learning algorithms perform well in simulated environments. But contact with objects in the real world often trips them up. This happens because physical contact is often difficult to model and even harder to control. While a human can easily perform these tasks, there exist significant technical hurdles for household robots to reach human-level ability to handle objects.

Robots have difficulty in two aspects of manipulating objects: control and sensing. Many pick-and-place robot manipulators like those on assembly lines are equipped with a simple gripper or specialized tools dedicated only to certain tasks like grasping and carrying a particular part. They often struggle to manipulate objects with irregular shapes or elastic materials, especially because they lack the efficient force, or haptic, feedback humans are naturally endowed with. Building a general-purpose robot hand with flexible fingers is still technically challenging and expensive.

It is also worth mentioning that traditional robot manipulators require a stable platform to operate accurately, but the accuracy drops considerably when using them with platforms that move around, particularly on a variety of surfaces. Coordinating locomotion and manipulation in a mobile robot is an open problem in the robotics community that needs to be addressed before broadly capable household robots can make it onto the market.

In an assembly line or a warehouse, the environment and sequence of tasks are strictly organized. This allows engineers to preprogram the robots movements or use simple methods like QR codes to locate objects or target locations. However, household items are often disorganized and placed randomly.

Home robots must deal with many uncertainties in their workspaces. The robot must first locate and identify the target item among many others. Quite often it also requires clearing or avoiding other obstacles in the workspace to be able to reach the item and perform given tasks. This requires the robot to have an excellent perception system, efficient navigation skills, and powerful and accurate manipulation capability.

For example, users of robot vacuums know they must remove all small furniture and other obstacles such as cables from the floor, because even the best robot vacuum cannot clear them by itself. Even more challenging, the robot has to operate in the presence of moving obstacles when people and pets walk within close range.

While they appear straightforward for humans, many household tasks are too complex for robots. Industrial robots are excellent for repetitive operations in which the robot motion can be preprogrammed. But household tasks are often unique to the situation and could be full of surprises that require the robot to constantly make decisions and change its route in order to perform the tasks.

Think about cooking or cleaning dishes. In the course of a few minutes of cooking, you might grasp a saut pan, a spatula, a stove knob, a refrigerator door handle, an egg and a bottle of cooking oil. To wash a pan, you typically hold and move it with one hand while scrubbing with the other, and ensure that all cooked-on food residue is removed and then all soap is rinsed off.

There has been significant development in recent years using machine learning to train robots to make intelligent decisions when picking and placing different objects, meaning grasping and moving objects from one spot to another. However, to be able to train robots to master all different types of kitchen tools and household appliances would be another level of difficulty even for the best learning algorithms.

Not to mention that peoples homes often have stairs, narrow passageways and high shelves. Those hard-to-reach spaces limit the use of todays mobile robots, which tend to use wheels or four legs. Humanoid robots, which would more closely match the environments humans build and organize for themselves, have yet to be reliably used outside of lab settings.

A solution to task complexity is to build special-purpose robots, such as robot vacuum cleaners or kitchen robots. Many different types of such devices are likely to be developed in the near future. However, I believe that general-purpose home robots are still a long way off.

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Why household robot servants are a lot harder to build than robotic vacuums and automated warehouse workers - The Conversation

Robots Go to Work in Japanese C-Stores – NACS Online

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

TOKYOIn Japan, robots are restocking the shelves of some of the countrys conbini, which are small stores that sell snacks, drinks and miscellaneous items, reports the Associated Press. The robot is called TX SCARA, and the units are in 300 out of the 16,000 FamilyMart stores in Japan. There are about 56,000 conbini in Japan.

The TX SCARA has a hand on one end of its mechanical arm, and it grabs beverages from stacks on the sides of the shelves and then restocks the shelves correctly, using AI and cameras to figure out what beverages on the shelf need to be replaced. The robot can restock up to 1,000 beverages a day.

We want to automate all the repetitive jobs and boring jobs done by humans. That is the direction we are going. And the best way to do that is to use the robots, said Jin Tomioka, CEO of Tokyo-based Telexistence, which created TX SCARA told AP.

Many of the Japanese conbini are open 24-7 and have thousands of products but few workers. The robots by Telexistence are meant for established retailers, and theres no need to change current store layouts. The robots are reportedly more affordable than industrial robots and are designed to coexist and collaborate with people, completing routine tasks.

The robots allow for remote control, and Telexistence employees can remotely see problems with the robots as they happen, such as a dropped beverage in the case of the TX SCARA robot.

Japans population is aging, leaving the country with a labor shortage that is expected to worsen. FamilyMart CEO Tomohiro Kano referred to the Japanese expression seeking even a cats paw for help to describe how the labor situation might escalate.

At FamilyMart, we are seeking a robots arm for help, he told the AP.

In the U.S., robot labor is growing amid the countrys own labor shortage. Robot orders for workplaces increased 40% during the first quarter of 2022 compared with the first quarter of 2021, which is a record amount. The U.S. has been slower to embrace robotics than other industrialized countries. The number of robots deployed in the U.S. per 10,000 workers has traditionally trailed countries such as South Korea, Japan and Germany. But Americas attitude is shifting.

With many industry observers stating the pandemic has triggered a fundamental reset of retail, new technologies including robotics, machine learning and AI also are being more rapidly deployed to enable operators to respond to the new norm. Read more in the NACS Magazine feature, Robots Deliver.

Mark your calendars for February 28 to March 2, 2023, when NACS Convenience Summit Asia heads to Bangkok, Thailand, where youll be transported into the epicenter of retail disruption and innovationAsiafor an immersive look into the future of convenience retailing. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.

Robotics hiring levels in the offshore industry rose in August 2022 – Offshore Technology

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Danzig

The proportion of offshore oil and gas industry operations and technologies companies hiring for robotics related positions rose in August 2022 compared with the equivalent month last year, with 24.7% of the companies included in our analysis recruiting for at least one such position.

This latest figure was higher than the 19% of companies who were hiring for robotics related jobs a year ago and an increase compared to the figure of 18.5% in July 2022.

When it came to the rate of all job openings that were linked to robotics, related job postings dropped in August 2022 from July 2022, with 0.9% of newly posted job advertisements being linked to the topic.

This latest figure was an increase compared to the 0.6% of newly advertised jobs that were linked to robotics in the equivalent month a year ago.

Robotics is one of the topics that GlobalData, from whom our data for this article is taken, have identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years. Companies that excel and invest in these areas now are thought to be better prepared for the future business landscape and better equipped to survive unforeseen challenges.

Our analysis of the data shows that offshore oil and gas industry operations and technologies companies are currently hiring for robotics jobs at a rate higher than the average for all companies within GlobalData's job analytics database. The average among all companies stood at 0.6% in August 2022.

GlobalData's job analytics database tracks the daily hiring patterns of thousands of companies across the world, drawing in jobs as they're posted and tagging them with additional layers of data on everything from the seniority of each position to whether a job is linked to wider industry trends.

You can keep track of the latest data from this database as it emerges by visiting our live dashboard here.

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Robotics hiring levels in the offshore industry rose in August 2022 - Offshore Technology

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