Focusing on the big picture and supporting equality – Santa Barbara News-Press

Posted on by

Having to put your personal dreams on hold is hard, even emotionally painful, but not as difficult or painful as the lack of equality people of color, the elderly, the homeless and others endure every day. What we are doing by peacefully supporting the cause of equality is creating more opportunity for everyone.

My personal goals are going to have to come second (or third) to the changes that our country and our world are going through. Its still a pandemic, and many people are still under quarantine and watching the world change on their televisions.

No, it is not over. More people will get sick and die, partly due to the issues that have divided our beloved country. Most unfortunately, it seems to be drawn along political lines, and not health, human nature, or even common sense is closing the divide.

The fight for equality is not over, and neither is the pandemic, but tens of thousands of mostly young people are risking it all to share their pain, and some may well be sickened and die. And they know it. Yes, some will pay the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. That is something we should all keep in mind.

The last time I saw as much civil protest was during the Vietnam War, and we got them to end that. Now the same methods will help change how people are treated and treat each other. When you get sad about your personal circumstances, please remember that you are making a sacrifice for a higher purpose, and that might make it a little easier.

If youve ever had a goal that didnt work out and, then a few years later, it happened bigger and better than you ever imagined, that would be a good example of what I am talking about. If we focus on the big picture and keep our talents honed, there will be more opportunity, some of which you never would have imagined if we were not going through all these changes.

Dont give up on your goals, because they are important.

In fact, you are happier by going after them than when you achieve them. The joy is mostly in the journey, and it is a ray of light in this very difficult time we are currently living in. By incorporating them into the big picture, you will find your place and the joy that comes with that.

I have a feeling Im not going to open for Ed Sheeran this year. I also think that I may have to wait a while longer for that Tesla, but that doesnt mean I have to give up on my dreams. Its just going to be a future thing.

Whats more important is that we stay healthy, become united, and get people back to work, so our lives can become somewhat normal again. And I believe that if we keep doing the right things, we surely will.

Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., LMFT, is an award-winning therapist and writer. He is a columnist, blogger and the author of seven books, including the newly released Visualization For Success 75 Psychological Empowerment Exercises To Get You What You Want In Life. Reach him via email at barton@bartongoldsmith.com

Read more:

Focusing on the big picture and supporting equality - Santa Barbara News-Press

We have to empower women in all aspects of life: Aaditya Thackeray – The Indian Express

Posted on by

By: Express News Service | Pune | Published: June 9, 2020 10:24:58 pm Aaditya Thackeray, son of Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. (Express photo)

STATE MINISTER of Tourism and Environment Aaditya Thackeray called for equal access and opportunities and empowerment of women in all aspects of life. We have to recognise the key role of women in every aspect of life. I am a feminist and I support equal rights for women, Thackeray said.

The minister was speaking at an online discussion organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) Pune Chapter on Tuesday.

Asked about reservation for women, he said, More than my personal opinion, there needs to be a larger debate in society. However, we need to listen to all voices that go unheard, whether its a man, woman or child. We must try our best to create a society where you would not even need a letter of recommendation. While it may take us an entire generation to do that, we have to work on equal access and opportunities.

He also said for sustainable livelihood development of people in Maharashtra, organisations like FICCI should collaborate with the government to implement schemes and policies and reach out to people. We have to commit ourselves and abolish prejudice in the name of caste, religion and culture. Education is the only way to do it, he said.

Talking about handling the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters like Cyclone Nisarga, Thackeray said it was necessary to stay calm and carry on while understanding the situation.

We have to make available more beds, oxygen support and ventilators and make ready all medical needs till the vaccine for the coronavirus is found. Also, we were lucky while dealing with Cyclone Nisarga, as it caused minimum damage to life due to precautions taken by the government, he said.

As the state government has received flak in its handling of the migrant crisis, Thackeray said the state government had done everything to help migrants. We set up multiple camps in the state, where about 6.5 lakh people were accommodated and provided with meals and medical attention. The decision for a lockdown was not easy and it required a lot of planning. Weve spent more than Rs 90 crore on paying for Shramik trains, which ideally should be paid by the railways ministry, he said.

Addressing environmental issues, Thackeray said with the current lockdown, there had been some positive changes in the environment. We want to aim at making Pune carbon neutral by 2030, along with efforts in other cities as well, and for that we have to act and move forward. The Indian civilisation began with worshipping elements of nature. This is what gives me hope that India will lead the way in fighting climate change crisis.

Asked about reviving tourism in the state, Thackeray said since Maharashtra was a unique place with various landscapes, hills, beaches and forts, and people from different backgrounds, culture and dialects, it was necessary to boost tourism here.

Unfortunately, tourism in the state is considered unimportant, and we have to change that mindset. We want to revive tourism and involve more students and young urban townplanners, he said.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Pune News, download Indian Express App.

The Indian Express (P) Ltd

More here:

We have to empower women in all aspects of life: Aaditya Thackeray - The Indian Express

Plight of LGBT community during Covid-19 pandemic – Northeast Now

Posted on by

Homosexuality was legalized in India by the Supreme Court of India in September, 2018. A five-judge bench of the top court declared Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code as unconstitutional and held that human sexuality cannot be confined to a binary.

The judgment heralded a new dawn for personal liberty and was like a major victory for the LGBT community. They possessed the same equality as other citizens. But the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the LGBT community.

They are struggling with lack of funds, stigma, and poor mental as well as physical health. The LGBTs are already a vulnerable group and this pandemic made their life a little more difficult. International Transgender Rights groups are warning that the global coronavirus lockdown restrictions have denied healthcare to them.

It is important to consider LGBT communities in this hour of crisis for two main reasons: firstly, there are several factors which may make LGBT people more at risk of contracting the virus and secondly, because of the inequalities faced by these communities they are denied even the basic healthcare facilities.

Although there is no evidence that suggest that LGBT people are more likely to contract COVID-19 but the grim reality still remains that their individuality is still made a mockery. The concern also remains about the reduced support for LGBT people, particularly those who are homeless and not accepted by families.

The Socio Economic and Caste Census, 2011 states that rural India has 75,008 transgender people. Two key measures in defeating COVID-19 are social distancing and the use of personal protective measures. However, as most transgender people are poor and live in small houses, they do not maintain these preventive measures.

LGBT communities are impacted by HIV and this result in weak immune system. Those begging or doing sex work for their livelihood are the worst affected because they have no income now. They live in small houses in unhygienic conditions, as a result of which these areas are likely to be a hotbed for COVID-19.

Transgender staying with unsupportive family during this lockdown are dealing with stress, anxiety and trauma specially those who have undergone surgery recently. They are prone to fall into the clutches of depression because of the lack of social acceptance since ages, and thus this pandemic has increased their plight.

Higher rates on anxiety, depression and poor mental health has been linked with behaviors detrimental to their overall health including extended use of substance abuse, smoking, drinking, self harm, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies. Often they are subjected to verbal as well as physical abuse by the family members because of lack of understanding and acceptance.

They are facing lack of access to therapy, healthcare as well as medications. Most LGBT people are uneducated as their family disowned them or they quit school due to social stigma, and thus lack proper documentation which makes their access to benefits more impossible. India currently has around 4.8 lakh transgender people, as per the 2011 census data, out of whom only around 10% have a voter ID.

Even before this pandemic there was already a significant level of economic, social, moral as well as mental instability and high rates of stigmatization with them and this pandemic has just added fuel to an already burning community. Medications delays, therapies and surgeries postponed, loss in income are all part and parcel of the LGBTs, who are used to being one of the last priorities of the government.

With the coronavirus outbreak, we cannot expect the old biases to automatically be wiped off. The LGBT Foundation received numerous complaints from trans-people that they are denied access to prescribed hormone injections, although the World Health Organization and European Commission guidelines on essential services include medications to the LGBT people.

Most transgender people who are undergoing gender reassignment are either out of medicines or on the verge of running out of stock. As Dr. Michael Brady, National Advisor for LGBT Health quotes: Wherever the question is asked, LGBT people experience poorer outcomes in healthcare.

Many NGOs are helping them cope with this crisis. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) are working to empower the marginalized communities. The Karnataka Government on April 8 announced that transgender people receiving pension would get it for two months upfront and also free medicines be provided to them.

The Assam Government also provided free rations to four transgender people in Lakhimpur district. Chhattisgarh is the only state with a working Transgender Welfare Board. The need of the hour is to break the stigma attached with the LGBT community and lend a helping hand to them at this hour of crisis.

Humans have seen enough fatality during the coronavirus pandemic, so we should understand the pain, which the LGBT people go through and not deny them the right to life.

To quote Supreme Court of India: Sexual orientation is one of the many biological phenomenons. It is natural and no discrimination can exist. Any violation is against freedom of speech and expression. Morality cannot be martyred at the altar of social morality. Denial of self expression is like death. Who decides what is natural and what is unnatural?

Shilapa Roy is a lawyer and writer based in Guwahati. She can be reached at: [emailprotected]

See the rest here:

Plight of LGBT community during Covid-19 pandemic - Northeast Now

First Lady takes campaign to Binga – The Herald

Posted on by

The Herald

Tendai Rupapa in BINGA

RURAL communities remain at the core of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwas empowerment programmes and yesterday she took her nationwide coronavirus awareness campaign to Binga as she leads the fight against the pandemic which has killed thousands globally.

Amai Mnangagwa is the countrys Health Ambassador, hence her interventions and efforts to mobilise resources through her Angel of Hope Foundation to prevent Covid-19.

Her visit here coincided with reports that at least 15 people who had escaped from a quarantine facility in Lupane were arrested and returned to confinement with the assistance of villagers and community leaders.

This proves that the First Ladys call for communities not to harbour escapees to prevent the spread of coronavirus is bearing fruit.

In her awareness message across the country, Amai Mnangagwa has urged rural communities to be vigilant and avoid harbouring escapees.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo, confirmed the development saying: In Matabeleland North, at Lupane quarantine centre, 15 returnees escaped. Villagers, chiefs and headmen from Binga worked closely with the police to identify the people who have since been taken back to the quarantine centre.

We are so happy with what the First Lady is teaching people in rural communities. She is reinforcing the message on Covid-19 and those who are here today will take the message back to their villages not to harbour escapees or border jumpers.

In all her programmes and projects, our mother is not being selective. She is visiting every corner of the country.

Zimbabwe, which is under lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in Covid-19 positive cases owing to people coming from affected countries.

In her message to the elderly in Binga, the First Lady emphasised the need for communities to work hand-in-glove with chiefs and headmen as well as health authorities to ensure quarantine measures were not violated.

As mothers, when we see our child whom we have not been staying with for a long time and coming from abroad, we sometimes fail to ask important questions like whether or not the child has been tested for Covid-19. Despite that motherly bond, let us follow the dictates of the law so as to prevent the spread of the virus.

In this time of Covid-19, this disease is not selective. It does not consider which church you go to or who your headman is. It is just affecting everyone hence it is everyones responsibility to play a part in the fight against it, she said.

Amai Mnangagwa kept her session interactive and allowed members of the community to ask questions and share ideas on what they knew about coronavirus.

The Angel of Hope patron, who donated foodstuffs, blankets and home-made face masks to the elderly and personal protective equipment, sanitisers, disinfectants and knapsack sprayers to Binga Hospital, took her audience through discussions on safe mask use and disposal.

These masks must be handled with care. The ones that are reusable must be washed and ironed, while the other ones must be disposed of in a hygienic manner. We are encouraged to place them in litter bins that have lids.

But I favour burning them so that young children will not play around with them and be contaminated by diseases, she said.

The First Lady spoke exhaustively on the pandemic and was satisfied her audience grasped her messages through the questions they posed. The villagers were thankful for the eye-opening sessions.

Amai Mnangagwa was at Binga District Hospital before she proceeded to Siabuzuba Clinic where she held similar interactive sessions.

Her programmes are non-partisan.

Sekuru Milisa Muleya from Kadyanyama Village said he was awestruck by the First Ladys humility and passion for the welfare of others, especially the vulnerable.

She is doing a great job. This shows she cares for every citizen. She is a true mother of the nation and we want to thank her for her teachings as we have learnt a lot today. This will save lives and ensure a nation keeps going forward, he said.

Gogo Filda Khumalo weighed in and thanked the First Lady for the foodstuffs, the teachings and the visit.

This place has been remembered by God. The fact that she has come to teach us, feed us and assess our needs means we are special to her. I thank the First Lady for her good heart. God bless her, she said.

The First Ladys visit here comes after she has toured eight other provinces, including the San community in Matabeleland South as she covers the length and breadth of the country teaching people about coronavirus and how best they can protect themselves.

On Monday, in Makhulela, Thwayithwayi Village, she handed over a modern fully-furnished hut and toilets she constructed through her foundation to the village head of the San community where she has also introduced a thriving nutritional garden, an orchard and a poultry project, among other several projects which the community had never embarked on.

She is transforming the people from being hunters and gatherers into farmers.

The First Lady, who is passionate about the development of marginalised communities, has brought massive development to the Doma people in Kanyemba where she has initiated income-generating projects, facilitated the construction of schools and also built a waiting shelter for expecting mothers there.

Amai Mnangagwa, who is also a champion for women empowerment, is not a newcomer to Binga.

She has previously worked with ZUBO Trust, an organisation for women based here and are involved in economic empowerment projects to improve the lives of families and contribute to the countrys macro-economic development.

Last year, she officially opened the ZUBO Womens Centre where most women from the area have transformed themselves and their communities through self-help projects such as jatropha soap production.

The jatropha has a ready market in Europe, particularly in Germany.

Through her foundation, a pilot goat-rearing project and reusable pad sewing initiative were introduced in Matabeleland North and the First Lady will soon launch them.

She has also been assisting childrens and old peoples homes in Binga and in 2018 she gave over 1 000 orphans and elderly people a Christmas treat when she hosted a party for them at Sunrise Childrens home.

Minister Moyo thanked Amai Mnangagwa for always remembering his province adding that it continued to benefit from her programmes and projects thereby improving peoples lives.

The rest is here:

First Lady takes campaign to Binga - The Herald

Student calls for isles to play active role in stamping out racism – Shetland Times Online

Posted on by

A student is writing to public bodies serving the isles as part of an effort to ensure Shetland plays an active role in giving racism the boot.

Fraser Tait is contacting Shetland Islands Councils chief executive with a call for a four-pronged approach to ensure the chances of any improper attitudes or behaviour gaining a foothold in the isles are immediately stamped out.

The 21 year-old scholar of Edinburgh University has already gathered over 60 signatures to his open letter to Maggie Sandison, and is hopeful of attracting more.

He also intends to dispatch the letter to NHS Shetland and local police representatives.

Mrs Sandison has insisted robust measures are in place within the council and insisted there is no place for racism within the authority.

It follows the launch of a local organisation in support of the pressure group Black Lives Matter, which has gained momentum in light of the international outrage over the death of George Floyd.

The new group Shetland Staands wi Black Lives Matter is planning to stage a number of lockdown-friendly walks this weekend.

Mr Tait, a former pupil at Sandwick Junior High School, says he wants Shetland to:

Foster a community which calls out those who discriminate against minorities. Hold folk accountable for their actions. Educate people to understand the inhumane realities of the British empire.Put in place zero tolerance

I decided to write a letter because I had seen open letters written by black students at university and felt this was a good way to voice concerns over racism and also show a good public backing behind the comments I made, he said.

Im also a key worker at the moment, so I didnt want to attend a protest and risk public safety.

I chose to write an open letter to Maggie Sandison because she is chief executive of the SIC and following her rapid and efficient response to Covid-19, she seems to have the concern for Shetland citizens at the forefront of her mind when making decisions and so would be likely to listen.

Thats not to say other people wouldnt, but she is in a position of power in Shetland and would be a powerful ally to have in the fight against racism here.

But Mr Tait has not sent the letter to Mrs Sandison as yet. He hopes to compile more signatures before sending it to the council chief.

He insists policies aimed at addressing racism must be upheld.

Its one thing to have it written on paper but another to actually act on the prejudice and racism within our local community.

Maggie Sandison

Mrs Sandison has told The Shetland Times the council was fully committed to working under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 to promote equality and inclusiveness.

I havent received a copy of the letter yet but I welcome that individuals and our community are uniting to fight racism and injustice, she said.

The council promotes participation and the empowerment of people as citizens to be more involved in shaping the future of our community and the services the council provides to the community.

The council is committed to fulfilling its duties under the Equalities Act 2010. The council promotes equality and inclusion in its organisational policies and considers the impacts on equality of all its decisions.

Any form of racism, discrimination or hate speech isnt welcome. Our values are about diversity, inclusivity and tolerance, and it is everyones personal responsibility to take a stand against racism and other inequality issues.

Our HR policies are designed to promote a culture and environment of equality of opportunity and to actively prevent discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

She added: Racism would be a disciplinary offence in the councils code of conduct for staff and would be reported to the police as a possible hate crime.

Link:

Student calls for isles to play active role in stamping out racism - Shetland Times Online

Squint and you might see the silver lining behind having less cash – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Posted on by

At the beginning of the year, I set a personal challenge to cut back on online shopping. I wanted to reduce my online orders from several times a week (insert embarrassed emoji) to a few times a month. As time passed, I realized I had fewer deliveries to track and more money left in my bank account at the end of the month.

But then covid-19 happened. And now eliminating online shopping is more than a fad or a New Year's resolution. For millions, cutting things out of the budget is an absolute necessity.

If you're having to scale back on discretionary spending whether that's shopping, travel or something else entirely here's how to give up that financial habit without feeling deprived.

The news is filled with fear, worry and sadness. But it helps to see the silver lining, says Denise Downey, a certified financial planner and owner of Financial Trex LLC, based in Spokane, Wash.

Depending on where you live, you could be forced to stop some spending on travel, sporting events, haircuts, entertainment and more. This involuntary saving can help you make changes you wouldn't have otherwise made on your own.

"Those decisions are being made for us right now," Downey says. "It's not a matter of, 'Do I cut the vacation this year or not?' It's cut. There's no decision to be made with that."

It's about perspective. So, if you can, focus on the benefits. For instance, you could find you're feeling a positive boost as you watch your bank account grow and your credit card bill stop climbing.

If you need help creating a budget, click here for tips.

So sure, my deliveries of clothing, makeup and the newest scented candles aren't as frequent. But much like the thrill of getting a delivery, I'm finding that not spending is also appealing.

Placing fewer online orders equates to saving more money, as long as you don't substitute an expensive activity in its place. The same goes for other types of spending. Cutting back any spending habit can lead to savings.

It can also give you a sense of empowerment, says Drew Harris, CFP, senior financial adviser at Greenway Wealth Advisors LLC, based in Charlotte, N.C.

"It's a good way to gain back some control by taking ownership of our spending," Harris says.

Cutting back means you're giving something up. But you're also gaining freedom from the financial stress that discretionary spending can cause, as well as the buyer's remorse that so often accompanies spending.

This sense of empowerment can help you feel better. L. Kevin Chapman, a licensed clinical psychologist, says people can "adopt a sense of mastery when eliminating something that has led to financial strain."

Basically, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment, which allows you to feel positive (rather than negative) about the changes you're making.

Don't get discouraged. Your decreased spending won't have to last forever.

But then again, you may find you don't necessarily want to return to your pre-pandemic spending habits. And that's OK, too.

Chapman says many people will become more accustomed to shopping less, especially if they've replaced their shopping habit with more cost-effective activities.

Take this time to learn some new habits in place of your old costly ones.

Harris suggests going for a walk, talking with family and friends or finding some other inexpensive activity you enjoy doing.

Another example? Downey says her children were constantly busy with extracurricular activities activities that cost money. But since the family has been home, she has noticed they're happy and entertained, even with a not-so-busy schedule. That has led her to rethink enrolling them in quite as many activities in the future.

Regardless of the specific substitutions you make, the changes you're implementing during these unprecedented times will help increase your savings and emergency fund. Best case scenario, when life returns to some degree of normalcy one day, hopefully that fund is more than you ended up needing, Downey says.

In that case, you can reward yourself by buying something you're putting off right now and paying for it in cash.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Courtney Jespersen is a writer at NerdWallet.

Style on 06/08/2020

See the original post:

Squint and you might see the silver lining behind having less cash - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Women Are Ready To Take On The World, But Where Are Their Jobs? – Outlook India

Posted on by

What will you be when you grow up? they asked. When she was younger, the answer changed a little every time the question was posed. It never once occurred to her that she wouldnt be something that she wouldnt be someone. Through countless hours spent thinking about the next step, the assumption of work remained. Find a job that makes you happy, and gives you choices, her mother said. Ten years later, armed with two degrees, she contemplates a third. Partly, to avoid going to another interview, only to hear a middle-aged man tell her he cannot believe that shes nearing 30. But you look so young no plans for marriage? he says, even as he mentally crosses her off a shortlist she was barely on. She knows shes one of the privileged ones. What of those women who have mouths to feed? Those with bills that wont stop coming? What of them?

The definitions of jobs, work, and workplaces may be evolving but, regardless of the parameters used, women are dropping out of Indias labour force at an alarming rate. Whereas several South Asia countries have increased their Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in recent years, Indias numbers have dropped steadily, despite an increase in the rate of economic growth and the education level of women in the same period. According to World Bank data, as of March 1, 2020, Indias FLFPR now stands above only a handful of countries and is lower than Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Egypt.

When confronted with this data, the reaction of many is that it cant be true: But I know lots of women who work! Anecdotally, of course, that feels right. Stories of women working are increasingly commonplace in the media and popular culture. However, as journalist Namita Bhandare put it, there is a tendency to celebrate the exceptional rather than face up to the reality. So the questions remain: is this trend real, why is it happening and, crucially, does it matter?

What does the data tell us or not?

From boardrooms to factories to call centres women seem to be everywhere. India has finally even seen its first woman fighter pilot. However, the data tells a different story. In 2005, Indias FLFPR was at 31.7 percent, but in the years since, has dropped sharply with current World Bank estimates suggesting that the rate is at 20.52 percent.

So, why are women dropping out of Indias workforce? The first answer could lie in the very definition of being in the labour force, and what kind of work is counted.

Indian women do more unpaid work in the home than their counterparts anywhere in the world. As Dr. Ashwini Deshpande said on episode 7 of the Women In Labour podcast, the real social norm that underpins Indias approach to womens work is the cultural assumption that domestic work is the responsibility of women and only after it is completed can they access the formal labour force. Given that women undertake the vast majority of unpaid work in India, with66 percent of womens work being unpaid, compared with 12 percent of mens, its not that women arent working; its that their work is done in private, hidden from what is formally counted. This hugely disproportionate burden of care taken on by women provides the first major clue as to why women arent as prevalent in the workforce as they could be.

Whats happening at home is played out in stark contrast within the workplace. While women have a duty to work in the home, they are not afforded the same opportunity outside. When considering who has the right to pursue gainful employment, Indians reserve that right almost solely for men. A 2010 survey found that 84 percent of Indian respondents reported that men have more of a right to work than women when jobs are scarce. This perception plays out when we look at the data too. As unemployment has increased across the country, a staggering 90 percent of the 36 million new jobs that have been created in industry since 2005 have gone to men. And, as economist Dr. Ritu Dewan shared on episode 5 of the Women in Labour podcast, in the aftermath of demonetisation, women lost a disproportionately large number of jobs compared with men.

So, despite our personal perceptions and the positive media stories highlighting the exceptional success of some women what emerges from the data is that, not only are women facing a deeply unfair burden of work in the home, they are also less likely to be hired than men and more likely to lose jobs when employment is scarce.

Why does it matter?

First, lets look at the financials. Currently, India has one of the youngest populations in the world. The next few years present a demographic window of opportunity. Not only can the country transform its economic landscape, there is also great scope for women to be a part of Indias success story. Reports tell us that harnessing the potential of Indias female workforce could add USD 0.7 trillion to the countrys GDP, representing an 18 percent increase, and that both productivity and male incomes rise as a result of womens inclusion in the workforce.

Second, and perhaps more fundamental, is decision-making. If women are working less and less, they will not be able to access leadership roles. India runs the risk of becoming a country that is run by men, to cater to the needs of men. Without female leaders across industries and halls of power, who represents half the countrys population? Who fights for policies that enable women to succeed? Autonomy and empowerment go hand-in-hand, and inclusive, sustainable growth cannot be achieved unless women have an equal voice.

The third critical truth is that of aspirations. Women want to work, and businesses benefit from their labour; therefore, this is about leveraging ambitions as much as it is about economic growth and industry. Young women today are increasingly empowered by the choices our mothers and grandmothers made, just as they were empowered by theirs. With every generation, there is progress. As young women with 21st century aspirations, we are ready to take on the world but where are our jobs?

(Sonakshi Chaudhry is Research & Editorial Lead at the Women In Labour Podcast. Views expressed are personal.)

Read more here:

Women Are Ready To Take On The World, But Where Are Their Jobs? - Outlook India

International Space Station to Pass Over DFW Again Friday and Saturday – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Posted on by

The International Space Station will be visible several times over the next few days as it passes over North Texas.

If you've never seen the ISS pass overhead, it looks a lot like a star but is moving incredibly fast -- about 17,150 mph (or about 5 miles per second). In low Earth orbit, at an altitude of 254 miles (1.3 million feet), it only takes the ISS 92 minutes to make a trip around the planet.

The ISS is generally visible within a few hours after dusk or before dawn, when the sunlight is able to be reflected off the space station and back to Earth.

Connecting you with your forecast and all the things that make North Texas weather unique.

So where do you look? It'll be visible Friday evening at 8:54 p.m. for about three minutes and again at 10:29 p.m. for about one minute. Friday's first pass will be 43 degrees off the horizon entering from the northeast to the southeast, but the second pass will be low at 12 degrees.

Saturday evening it will be visible for four minutes at 9:41 p.m., moving from the west to the south about 23 degrees off the horizon.

On Sunday, the ISS will be visible for three minutes beginning at about 8:55 p.m. at about 44 degrees off the horizon. The space station will be moving from the southwest to the southeast.

The last chance this week will be on Tuesday, June 9, at 8:56 p.m. for one minute. That trip will be low on the horizon at 12 degrees headed from the southwest to the southeast.

Since clock times vary, and when the ISS enters your field of view will vary depending on where you are in DFW, it's a good idea to go outside a few minutes before the expected arrival and to keep your eyes on the skies.

Online: More from NASA here

The rest is here:

International Space Station to Pass Over DFW Again Friday and Saturday - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

NASA will send another UC San Diego grad to the space station – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Posted on by

NASA said Wednesday it will send astronaut Kate Rubins back to the International Space Station this fall, making her the second UC San Diego graduate to serve aboard the orbiting outpost this year.

The 41-year-old Rubins spent 115 days on space station in 2016, during a mission in which she became the first person to sequence DNA in space. She was focusing on her specialty; Rubins earned a bachelors degree in microbiology at UCSD in 1999.

Rubins is now scheduled to fly back to the space station on Oct. 14 aboard a Soyuz spacecraft that will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

On Saturday, NASA sent astronauts to space station for the first time aboard the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft developed by SpaceX. It was the final flight test of Dragon. NASA will phase in the rocket-spacecraft for upcoming missions into space.

Rubins will conduct research using the Cold Atom Lab to study the use of laser-cooled atoms for future quantum sensors, and will work on a cardiovascular experiment that builds on an investigation she completed during her previous mission, NASA said in a statement.

The news about her new appointment comes five weeks after Jessica Meir returned to Earth after spending about seven months on the station. Meir earned a doctorate in marine biology at UCSDs Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2009.

During the mission, Meir was part of the first all-female team of spacewalkers. Meir, 42, also appeared in station-to-ground telecasts in which she told people who were sheltering-in-place from the novel coronavirus how to deal with isolation.

Both women are New Englanders. Meir was born in Caribou, Maine. Rubins was born in Farmington, Conn.

ICYMI

UC San Diego hires two star brain scientists who will bring at least $20 million in grant money to campus

Originally posted here:

NASA will send another UC San Diego grad to the space station - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Space Station Flyover Tonight – FOX Carolina

Posted on by

'); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append('"+val.ihtml+""); $("#expandable-weather-block .weather-index-alerts").show(); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body h2").css({"font-family":"'Fira Sans', sans-serif", "font-weight":"500", "padding-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body p").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body span.wxalertnum").css({"float":"left", "width":"40px", "height":"40px", "color":"#ffffff", "line-height":"40px", "background-color":"#888888", "border-radius":"40px", "text-align":"center", "margin-right":"12px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body b").css("font-size", "18px"); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body li").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"18px", "margin-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body ul").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body pre").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body img").css({"width":"100%", "margin-bottom":"20px", "borderWidth":"1px", "border-style":"solid", "border-color":"#aaaaaa"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).css({"borderWidth":"0", "border-bottom-width":"1px", "border-style":"dashed", "border-color":"#aaaaaa", "padding-bottom":"10px", "margin-bottom":"40px"}); }); } function parseAlertJSON(json) { console.log(json); alertCount = 0; if (Object.keys(json.alerts).length > 0) { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").empty(); } $.each(json.alerts, function(key, val) { alertCount++; $("#mrd-wx-alerts .alert_count").text(alertCount); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").append(''); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } else if (val.fips != "" && val.fipsimg != "") { // $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } // } //val.instr = val.instr.replace(/[W_]+/g," "); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(val.dhtml+"

Instruction

The rest is here:

Space Station Flyover Tonight - FOX Carolina

One More Chance to See the International Space Station! – WDRB

Posted on by

It has been almost one week sinceRobert BehnkenandDouglas Hurleylaunched into space! There are now 5 people on board the International Space Station. If you have never taken the opportunity to look for the ISS - it is really cool. And just think, you are watching something that is 230 miles above you, flying 5 miles per second! We have had some decent sightings of the ISS lately, but tonight will be the last chance to see it until at least June 16th.

The ISS will be visible once tonight at 9:53 pm for 4 minutes. The max height is not very high, at 25 degrees above the horizon, so it will be in the lower half of the sky.

It will appear at 9:53 pm in the western part of the sky at 17 degrees and move toward the south. It will set below the horizon in the southern part of the sky at 10 degrees above the horizon.

We have a chance for a few stray storms today, but that chance will be fading by this evening. Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy, warm and muggy!

See original here:

One More Chance to See the International Space Station! - WDRB

With an Internet of Animals, Scientists Aim to Track and Save Wildlife – The New York Times

Posted on by

The International Space Station, orbiting some 240 miles above the planet, is about to join the effort to monitor the worlds wildlife and to revolutionize the science of animal tracking.

A large antenna and other equipment aboard the orbiting outpost, installed by spacewalking Russian astronauts in 2018, are being tested and will become fully operational this summer. The system will relay a much wider range of data than previous tracking technologies, logging not just an animals location but also its physiology and environment. This will assist scientists, conservationists and others whose work requires close monitoring of wildlife on the move, and provide much more detailed information on the health of the worlds ecosystems.

The new approach, known as ICARUS short for International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space will also be able to track animals across far larger areas than other technologies. At the same time, ICARUS has shrunk the size of the transmitters that the animals wear and made them far cheaper to boot.

These changes will allow researchers to track flocks of birds as they migrate over long distances, for instance, instead of monitoring only one or two birds at a time, as well as far smaller creatures, including insects. And, as climate change and habitat destruction roil the planet, ICARUS will allow biologists and wildlife managers to quickly respond to changes in where and when species migrate.

Its a new era of discovery, said Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale, whose center is working with the project. We will discover new migration paths, habitat requirements, things about species behavior that we didnt even think about. That discovery will bring about all sorts of new questions.

As an added bonus, people all over the world will one day be able to log on with a smartphone app to whats known as the internet of animals to follow their favorite bird or tortoise or fish as it migrates and is tracked by the space station practically in real time.

The science of wildlife tracking, known as bio-logging, has come a long way in recent years. In the 1990s, researchers were still tracking large mammals using devices the size of lantern batteries. The technology has grown smaller since then, but many collars and tags are still too big for some three-quarters of the worlds wild creatures.

This space-based approach to uncovering the hidden lives of animals is led by Martin Wikelski, the director of migration research at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany, who pursued it with a passion for years to overcome gaps and drawbacks in current technologies. It has been funded primarily by DLR, the German space agency.

ICARUS combines off-the-shelf technology, which includes solar and GPS units, and new communication technology that was developed for this mission, and specifically designed for tracking small animals.

On the ground, researchers will attach solar-powered bio-loggers that are far smaller than other technology the size of two fingernails. They weigh less than three grams, about one-tenth of an ounce, and technicians say they will soon have one gram trackers.

Once secured an easy process that seldom harms the animal the sensors will hitch a ride on an array of animals and insects, like locusts, songbirds and baby tortoises. Most current wildlife tracking technologies cant be attached to creatures that weigh less than 100 grams, or about three and a half ounces. And while the new sensors are smaller and lighter, their advanced design will allow them to collect far more data by monitoring an animals physiology, including skin temperature and body position, and external conditions like weather metrics.

The technology can also be used to accomplish a range of goals beyond wildlife studies.

Dr. Wikelski has studied the ability of cows, domestic goats and sheep in Italy to sense earthquakes and volcanic eruptions hours before they happen. Behavioral changes can be picked up by the sensors, he said, so herd behavior may provide an early warning.

We think something smells wrong to them and there is static in the air, he said. So they move into wooded areas where they have shelter.

Why the animals react is not yet known.

Icarus could also help track elephants vulnerable to poaching in Africa, or keep tabs on species of bats, pangolins and other animals that have played a role in viral epidemics.

With skin temperature we can see in the ducks in China whether the next avian influenza is starting, Dr. Wikelski said.

The power of this new approach is partially based on the fact that the space station can pick up the signals of these animals almost anywhere on the planet (the station does not pass over Earths polar regions, however). And while other conservation projects have tracked sharks, birds and other migratory species with satellites, this one aims to be useful for a wide range of species that researchers can ask to have added.

The sensors it relies on, at about $500 each, are a fraction of the price of other widely used tags.

They can last an animals lifetime and even be reused. They are able to store up to 500 megabytes, an entire lifetime of data on an animal. A researcher need not retrieve the tag; its data can be downloaded with a computer or a smartphone.

ICARUS will truly change the study of animal migration, said Nathan Senner, a biologist at the University of South Carolina. He plans to use it for a study tracking the Hudsonian godwit, a shorebird that makes one of the worlds longest migrations, from southern Chile to Alaska.

We could get location estimates that are much more precise and help us develop targeted on the ground conservation measures, Dr. Senner said.

In Europe, studies show some 30 percent of migratory songbirds, or about 420 million, have disappeared. ICARUS may give a much more detailed answer to where and why the animals are dying and guide conservation measures.

Dr. Wikelski said he was asked by a farmer in the German village where he grew up why there were no swallows this year.

Its hard to say, Dr. Wikelski said. Did they die on the way south? Were they eaten in the Mediterranean? Were they hunted in North Africa? Were they poisoned in the Sahel? Was the weather really bad? Those are the kinds of things we will find out.

ICARUS will provide data on an individual bird, as well as a collective. In a study by Dr. Wikelski and others at Max Planck Institute, researchers are tagging 1,200 blackbirds in the hopes of better understanding the timing and route of their travels and where and why their numbers are declining.

In the Galpagos Islands, sensors will be used on baby tortoises to track their migration, a project of the Galpagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme.

No one knows how the hatchlings survive, said Dr. Wikelski, who works with the program. Those are the lost years of the sea turtles. Knowing where they go will allow us to protect them better.

Because ICARUS has the capability of tagging many more animals than other technologies do, Dr. Wikelski likened it to a smartphone traffic app that can track many cars on a highway at once. One phone can provide a lot of information about one car, but many phones sending information to one app can offer information about traffic patterns.

One of the goals of the project, Dr. Wikelski said, is to help conservation managers respond to a changing world. Protected areas like wildlife parks and forest preserves are defined by fixed boundaries. But many species are on the move as climate and other changes cause shifts, and protecting them will require an understanding of where they are going and where new protected areas and corridors may need to be created.

The system will be open to researchers around the world to use for research. And the data, with some exceptions, will be accessible to everyone. Dr. Wikelski said readings from ICARUS could be combined with other kinds of information, such as the eBird database, to make the data even more robust.

Another ambition of ICARUS is to allow anyone with a smartphone to follow tagged migrating animals. One app, called Animal Tracker, already exists as a way to tap into ground-based wildlife tracking systems.

Dr. Wikelski hopes that connecting people to a single charismatic animal whose movements they can follow will build support for conservation. If people hear Cecil the lion died its very real to them, he said, referring to a lion in Zimbabwe that was killed by an American hunter in 2015. But if you say 3,000 lions died nobody cares.

Mark Hebblewhite, a wildlife biologist at the University of Montana who has used wildlife tracking technology for decades, said ICARUS would have the capacity to fill in many gaps in our knowledge of the natural world.

Well get a lot of things from ICARUS we cant get any other way, he said. Its exciting.

But technology has downsides as well, he said. Birds may suddenly and unpredictably change their migration, for example, after years of traveling the same way, and Dr. Hebblewhite said there was a danger that conservation decisions could be made by people who dont know anything about birds except dots on a map.

Some might say nature should maintain a degree of mystery from an all-seeing eye in the sky, but Dr. Wikelski, not surprisingly, doesnt agree.

These animals are providing really important information, maybe for survival of humankind, he said. We should have this information.

Here is the original post:

With an Internet of Animals, Scientists Aim to Track and Save Wildlife - The New York Times

Versatile express rack arrives at Space Station | Military Scene – Theredstonerocket

Posted on by

When the Japanese HTV-9 Kounotori cargo ship lifted off May 20 to deliver supplies and science equipment to the International Space Station, a landmark chapter in the stations story drew to a close and a new chapter, helping to chart the course for Artemis-Generation voyages into the solar system, began.

Among the cargo the spacecraft delivered to the space station May 25 is the final NASA EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station multipurpose payload shelving unit. Better known as EXPRESS Racks, these permanent fixtures on the station support a variety of research experiments providing power, protective storage, cooling and heating, command and data communications and easy transport for up to 10 small payloads each.

Since our earliest ventures into space, weve sought more efficient, longer-term ways to conduct cutting-edge science in low-Earth orbit and beyond, said Bobby Watkins, manager of the Human Exploration Development & Operations Office at Marshall Space Flight Center. The EXPRESS Racks have been a cornerstone of science on the space station, and a vital part of our mission to make space exploration safer and more comfortable for our crews, and also reap untold scientific benefits back home on Earth.

Marshall oversees space station hardware development and implementation for NASA, and NASA personnel in Marshalls Payload Operations Integration Center monitor experiments continuously, every day of the year. At any given time, up to 80 experiments can be in process, controlled by station crew members or from the ground. The racks operate at near capacity around the clock, and data compiled by Shaun Glasgow, project manager for the EXPRESS Racks at Marshall, and his team reveals a staggering fact: Since installation and startup of the first space station rack in 2001, NASA has logged more than 85 total years of combined rack operational hours using these facilities.

The sheer volume of science thats been conducted using the racks up until now is just overwhelming, Glasgow said. And as we prepare to return human explorers to the Moon and journey on to Mars, its even more exciting to consider all the scientific investigations still to come.

Once the new rack is installed, 11 total racks will be on the station the eight original EXPRESS Racks and three Basic EXPRESS Racks, more streamlined and versatile modern versions. Each is about the size of a refrigerator and comes equipped with up to eight configurable lockers and two drawers to house payloads. Experiments can be conducted, removed independently and returned to Earth depending on varying time requirements.

The first EXPRESS rack was successfully tested aboard the space shuttle in 1997. The first two completed racks were delivered to the space station on STS-100 in 2001 and have been in continuous operation since as have all the subsequent added racks.

The new rack is expected to be installed and operational by fall.

The technology is a legacy of the space shuttle program, which conducted a raft of scientific investigations from its versatile mid-deck lockers slotted payload storage racks during more than 130 flights between 1981 and 2011. Those compact, standardized units became the model for developing the larger, more efficient racks we employ today, Glasgow said.

He speculates on how the EXPRESS Racks will carry on that engineering legacy, impacting future hardware development as humanity extends its reach ever farther into the solar system. Science leads, but engineering innovation is the true hallmark of NASAs accomplishments for more than a half-century, he said. The work we did over those years got us here. Now its our turn to chart the future, delivering the equipment to carry science and discovery missions into the next century and beyond.

A final example of that innovative spirit is ready to get to work.

Funded by NASAs Johnson Space Center, the EXPRESS Racks were developed by engineers at the Boeing Co. and Marshall, which jointly built and tested the racks at Marshall in the late 1990s.

Editors note: Rick Smith, an ASRC Federal/Analytical Services employee, supports the Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications.

See more here:

Versatile express rack arrives at Space Station | Military Scene - Theredstonerocket

America Once Planned To Send An Apollo Spacecraft To A Soviet Space Station – Jalopnik

Posted on by

Id think that even casual dorks interested in humanitys actual space programs would be aware of the very first joint mission between two spacefaring countries: the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project of 1975, where an American Apollo spacecraft and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked in Earths orbit, allowing the crews to have a famous space handshake, work together, and try out one anothers food-in-tubes. What I didnt realize was that, initially, the mission was supposed to me much grander in scope, with the Americans visiting a Soviet space station.

I mean, there must have been some point where I did realize this, since I was reminded about it when I found a PDF on my computer called INTERNATIONAL RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING MISSION (SD 71-700) from December of 1971.

Ill be honestI have zero memory of ever seeing this document before, but, here it is, and its fascinating. I knew immediately what it had to be about when I saw the extraordinarily crappy and degraded title page image on the second page:

G/O Media may get a commission

I know its really hard to make out there, but space geeks will find plenty in this infinitely-Xeroxed picture to get excited about: its clearly an American Apollo command and service module (CSM) approaching, with some sort of docking mechanism, a Soviet Salyut space station.

Now, if we slide a bit deeper into geekdom, we can note that the Salyut space station appears to have solar panels in a formation that only appeared on one Soviet station, Salyut 1, and since this is from late 1971 and Salyut 1 was launched in April of 1971 and an updated version of Salyut didnt launch until 1973 (well, a military one that was differentthe closest civilian one wasnt until 1974) then this makes sense.

What doesnt make sense is that the Salyut has a docking port at the rear, with what looks to be a Soyuz spacecraft docked to it, and Salyut stations wouldnt have two docking ports until Salyut 6 was launched in 1977, nearly six years after this report.

What the hell is going on here?

From what I can tell in this report, and from what this surprisingly little-told history confirms, is that back in late 1971, when the United States and the Soviet Union were planning their first joint space mission, the original plan was to send an Apollo crew to a Soviet Salyut space station.

To understand why this is a big deal, it helps to know a bit about the significance of the Salyut stations. These were the very first space stations ever, and, coming as they did right on the heels of the Americans remarkable moon landing triumphs, the Salyut was what the Soviets could point to and pretend they were never really interested in landing on the moon, since they were way more interested in space stations.

While this isnt really truethey absolutely wanted to land on the moon, but, for a number of reasons, couldnt quite pull it offthe creation of the first space station is, of course, a huge achievement.

The first Salyut was a mix of triumph and tragedy, though, as the three-person Soyuz 11 crew that first occupied and worked on the station set records for longest time in space22 daysbut all were killed when the atmosphere from their return capsule vented out during re-entry.

That makes the timing of this report even more interestingits being proposed after the tragedy of Soyuz 11, after the re-entry and destruction of the whole Salyut 1 space station in October of 1971, but long before the next Soviet space station launched.

Thats why the mission plan calls for three launches, the first to launch a presumably all-new Salut space stationthis one designed with docking ports fore and aftand two other launches to put the crews in orbit, one in an Apollo, one in a Soyuz.

All of this predates Americas first space station, Skylab, as well, and also seems to be the first time that an international docking module was proposed.

The final version of this docking module eventually flew on the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, but, as you can see, its essentially the very direct descendent of the module that was described in this 1971 Apollo-Salyut document:

Whats fascinating to think about is just how much more research and science and experimentation could have been done on the mission if the Apollo docked to a full space station instead of just a Soyuz, which, really, was a ship that was mostly used to ferry cosmonauts back and forth from the space stations.

Docking an Apollo to a Salyut would be like driving your car to a vacation home; docking an Apollo to a Soyuz was more like driving your car to another car.

The Soviets agreed with this assessment, and their scientists states that they felt docking an Apollo to a Soyuz would be no more than a space stunt.

It makes sense that the Soviets would prefer docking an Apollo to a Salyut as well, from a propaganda standpoint, as it showed, especially after the moon landings, that the Americans werent dominating everything in spacethe Soviets had a space station, and the Americans didnt.

Interestingly, even with the resources of a full space station at their disposal, NASA was only planning to stay docked to Salyut for two days, and would spend 11 more days orbiting the Apollo independently on an Earth resources study mission.

Of course, the Apollo never got those two days on the Salyut, and the reason seems to have been from the Soviet side, as they found that the addition of a second docking port to the Salyut would be more difficult than anticipated:

Kotelnikov told the NASA people that in re-evaluating the proposed test mission the Soviets had come to the conclusion that it would not be technically and economically feasible to fly the mission using Salyut. Salyut had only one docking port and the addition of a second port would be very difficult technically and very costly in both time and money. Therefore, the Soviets proposed to conduct the test flight using Soyuz, which could accept all the modifications necessary for such a mission. They were quite forceful in stating that there would be no changes in any of the agreements made thus far.

Surprise was perhaps the mildest word for the Americans reaction. Nevertheless, Low quickly responded and told Kotelnikov that barring any technical difficulties, the switch from Salyut to Soyuz would be acceptable. He turned to Lunney and asked him if he saw any technical reason for opposing such a change, and Lunney could think of none. Operationally, this would present a simpler mission since it would involve only two coordinated launches - Apollo and Soyuz and not three - Apollo, Salyut, and Soyuz. Low and Frutkin tried to think through any political implications and found none. It would still be possible to exchange crews, which would be the major public impact of the mission, and such a mission would give the Americans an added advantage - not calling attention to the fact that the Soviets already had a space station flying and NASA did not.

So, in the end, the Americans, while sacrificing the scientific and research benefits of working on a space station, got the benefits of more favorable PR and an easier-to-plan mission.

The Soviets difficulties in adding the second docking port I suppose are borne out by how long it took them to launch a station that had two portsSalyut 6 in 1982though that simple innovation was truly groundbreaking for long-term space travel.

After the Soviets had a station that could accommodate two docked spacecraft, that meant they could swap crews without abandoning the station between crews, and that also meant that crews could be re-supplied by uncrewed cargo vessels, like the Progress that they developed in 1978, which allowed for truly long-duration missions and the ability to repair and maintain stations in orbit, with parts and supplies sent as needed.

If the Soviets had pulled this off for the Apollo-Salyut mission, they would have had the ability to resupply and re-crew stations at least three or four years earlier than they did, which could have been significant.

The Apollo-Soyuz mission as it flew was, of course a great success and a milestone in international cooperation in space, including the first time anyone in space ate borscht while pretending it was vodka:

And, as far as an American spacecraft docking with a Soviet or Russian space station, that did eventually happen, with the Shuttle-Mir docking missions between 1994 and 1998 that helped the U.S. plan and train for the construction of the ISS.

Im still surprised I wasnt aware of this amazing Apollo-to-Salyut plan before; Ive always admired the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, but I had no idea how much more ambitious it could have been.

More:

America Once Planned To Send An Apollo Spacecraft To A Soviet Space Station - Jalopnik

The gravity of China’s space base in Argentina – The Interpreter

Posted on by

For most people, the first things that likely come to mind when imagining Patagonia in South America are mountains, glaciers, lakes and fjords. But there is also a lesser-known tourist destination: the visitors centre of a Chinese-owned space station in remote north-west Patagonia, Argentina.

In 2014, Argentine President Cristina Kirchners administration signed a secretive agreement for China to establish and operate a deep space station in the province of Neuqun. The agreement, which predates President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative, raised questions among analysts about its terms. The 50-year equity-free agreement restricts Argentinas sovereign control of the land and operations, provides exhaustive tax exemptions and enables the liberal movement of Chinese labour, working under Chinese labour law.

Unlike the civilian-run European Space Agency, which has a similar agreement with Argentina, Chinas space program is run by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The Patagonian deep space station is managed by the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC). The CLTC reports to the PLAs Strategic Support Force. Unsurprisingly, the United States has expressed its concerns over the potential for spying and the militarising of space.

A close look at the agreement reveals the following:

Collectively, these clauses significantly limit Argentinas sovereign rights and prospective economic benefits associated with a space station operated by a foreign military that uses technology with unknown application.

It is agreements like this one that raise scepticism among critics of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Signing this agreement six years ago was an attempt by the Argentine government to strengthen relations with China as a strategic partner. It might be argued that this was more successful than other attempts, such as in 2004 when former President Nstor Kirchner (Cristina Kirchners late husband) failed to secure US$20 billion in investment from Beijing.

When Mauricio Macri won Argentinas presidential election in 2015, he promised to review the countrys contracts with China. A very different kind of president to those before (and after) him, Macri was the only non-Peronist president to complete a full term of government since the rise of Peronist politics in the 1940s. Even Macri knew that a pivot entirely away from China was not in Argentinas interest, especially as its economy began to rapidly decline. Liberal, pro-trade Macri went on to sign agreements with both the US and China during his presidency.

The challenge now for Fernndez is not unlike what is often experienced by small and middle-power countries across the Indo-Pacific region: a potentially good economic deal rubbing up against a security challenge.

In 2020, President Alberto Fernndez is faced with this strategic challenge that is further complicated by the countrys protracted economic decline and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Argentine economy is, again, in crisis. In late May, the central government defaulted on a $503 million repayment towards $66 billion in foreign debt. It is the ninth sovereign debt default since independence from Spain in 1816, and its second in the last 20 years. Poverty has steadily increased in recent years, with more than a third of the urban population under the poverty line. In mid-May, pre-default, the government cut its economic forecast to contract by 6.5% in 2020.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also hit hard. In both the province and city (important distinctions) of Buenos Aires, Argentines are enduring some of the worlds strictest lockdowns, unable to leave their homes since 20 March for much more than food. International travel, including to other South American countries, is suspended until at least September, as is travel between domestic provinces.

While these events take up the attention of the Casa Rosada, there is little time for the government, or analysts, to focus on the increasing strategic competition between the US and China, and its implications for Argentina. In conversations, analysts are concerned that the US views Argentina as less important, especially as the US is less involved with Latin American more broadly.

The challenge now for Fernndez is not unlike what is often experienced by small and middle-power countries across the Indo-Pacific region: a potentially good economic deal rubbing up against a security challenge. On one hand, China might provide the necessary trade and investment that is desperately needed. On the other hand, the secrecy and lack of transparency that characterise the Patagonia deep space station could become an example for more autocratic political leadership.

For a country famed for its natural resources, beautiful landscapes and cultural richness, Argentina is yet again caught at a strategic crossroads with a mountain of challenges ahead.

A final word of advice for when borders open again and Patagonia is on your bucket list: call ahead for your visit to Chinas space station walk-ins are not welcome, so make sure you book in advance.

See the original post:

The gravity of China's space base in Argentina - The Interpreter

China Unveils Details Of Its Planned Tiangong Space Station – SpaceWatch.Global

Posted on by

An artistic rendering of the Tiangong space station. Image courtesy of the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO).

Chinese officials have unveiled details of, and launch timeline for, its Tiangong space station now that the Long March 5B launch vehicle has been successfully launched and Chinas crewed capsule has been tested.

According to Chinese news media, the Tiangong space station will be completed by the end of 2022 and will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 kilometres. Tiangong will operate for at least ten years and scientific, technological, and industry application experiments will be conducted on board.

The plan is to have three astronauts on board for six-month stints, and Tiangong will be able to accommodate up to six astronauts during crew transfers.

Tiangong will consist of three modules. Tianhe will be the core module that will provide the living quarters for the astronauts as well as the command and control centre for the space station. Meanwhile, the Tiangong-1 and Taingong-2 modules will be the space laboratories from which all experiments will be conducted.

The Tiangong space station will be T-shaped, with the Tianhe core module at the centre and the Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 laboratory modules on each side. Each module will have a mass of approximately 20 tonnes, and the entire orbital complex will have a combined mass of 66 tonnes.

The Tianhe will have two berth ports connecting to the Tiangong-1 and -2 space laboratory modules, three docking ports for crewed and cargo spacecraft, and an exit that will allow astronauts to conduct extravehicular activities.

The Tiangong space station has been designed to expand to a total of six modules if Chinese space officials deem it necessary and appropriate.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Tiangong space station is the ambitious timeline and launch cadence for its completion. Chinese officials are planning eleven launches over a 24-month period starting in early 2021 in order to fully assemble the space station.

The first launch will loft the Tianhe core module on board a Long March 5B on early 2021. This will be followed by the launch of a crewed Shenzhou capsule followed by a Tianzhou cargo launch.

By 2023 both Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 space laboratory modules will be launched, along with three other crewed Shenzhou and a further three Tianzhou cargo launches.

Once the Tiangong space station has been fully assembled, the Xuntian space telescope will be launched and will be capable of docking with the crewed orbital complex for maintenance and repairs.

Finally, Chinese space officials have also announced that up to 18 new Chinese astronauts will be selected in July 2020. These men and women will be selected from the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as well as civilians with exemplary scientific and engineering backgrounds and qualifications.

View original post here:

China Unveils Details Of Its Planned Tiangong Space Station - SpaceWatch.Global

Local astronaut on SpaceX shares amazing photo of view from space – KMOV.com

Posted on by

'); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append('"+val.ihtml+""); $("#expandable-weather-block .weather-index-alerts").show(); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body h2").css({"font-family":"'Fira Sans', sans-serif", "font-weight":"500", "padding-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body p").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body span.wxalertnum").css({"float":"left", "width":"40px", "height":"40px", "color":"#ffffff", "line-height":"40px", "background-color":"#888888", "border-radius":"40px", "text-align":"center", "margin-right":"12px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body b").css("font-size", "18px"); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body li").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"18px", "margin-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body ul").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body pre").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body img").css({"width":"100%", "margin-bottom":"20px", "borderWidth":"1px", "border-style":"solid", "border-color":"#aaaaaa"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).css({"borderWidth":"0", "border-bottom-width":"1px", "border-style":"dashed", "border-color":"#aaaaaa", "padding-bottom":"10px", "margin-bottom":"40px"}); }); } function parseAlertJSON(json) { console.log(json); alertCount = 0; if (Object.keys(json.alerts).length > 0) { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").empty(); } $.each(json.alerts, function(key, val) { alertCount++; $("#mrd-wx-alerts .alert_count").text(alertCount); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").append(''); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } else if (val.fips != "" && val.fipsimg != "") { // $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } // } //val.instr = val.instr.replace(/[W_]+/g," "); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(val.dhtml+"

Instruction

Go here to read the rest:

Local astronaut on SpaceX shares amazing photo of view from space - KMOV.com

International Space Station tracker: will you be able to see the ISS flying over Scotland in June? – The Scotsman

Posted on by

LifestyleOutdoorsThe International Space Station flies above our heads regularly, orbiting the planet every 90 minutes at a height of over 250 miles

Wednesday, 3rd June 2020, 9:27 am

Of course, it's impossible to see during the day, but at night - and with the space station's orbit passing over Britain just so - it takes on the appearance of a bright star moving across the sky.

It can actually be startling when you first spot it - a glowing orb without the telltale flashes of an aircraft's wing drifting silently through the dark - but the station passes overhead fairly frequently.

It goes through periods when we won't be able to see it for months, as its diagonal orbit crosses other parts of the planet, but every now and then, there comes a space of a few weeks when it flies overhead - and at night.

Heres everything you need to know:

You should have no trouble spotting the International Space Station when it drifts overhead - we say 'drift', but it's actually travelling at over 17,000 mph.

The station takes on the appearance of a bright star, and is usually much brighter than anything else in the sky.

Sometimes the station will rise over the horizon; other times it might 'fade' into view in the middle of the night sky as it enters into the sun's light.

It will always appear in the west, and will travel eastwards.

And just as it appears, it may disappear in the same way, growing fainter and fainter until its completely enshrouded by the Earth's shadow.

You'll easily be able to spot it with the naked eye (cloud cover permitting of course), though even modestly priced binoculars may be able to pick out some of the station's details, like its large solar panels.

So take a look up, there's a good chance you'll spot the International Space Station, and it can be amazing to think there are actually people living up there and conducting experiments within the space environment.

The experiments that they carry out would be almost impossible to replicate on earth.

Can you see the ISS fly over Scotland in June?

Unfortunately, as we head into June, NASA's Spot the Station website lists no visible sightings of the station, and its unclear as to when well be able to witness it passing through UK skies again.

Its still up there though it will just be flying overhead during daylight hours

If you still want to get a picture of where it is, you can use isstracker.com, which gives real-time updates on the orbital location of the station.

The rest is here:

International Space Station tracker: will you be able to see the ISS flying over Scotland in June? - The Scotsman

Heres how astronauts exercise in space without gravity – Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted on by

Living in space for an extended period of time isnt ideal for the human body. An absence of gravity in space leads to a loss of bone density and the risk of muscle atrophy. Therefore, astronauts who reside in the International Space Station (ISS) need a workout regimento offset those effects. While in space astronauts are required to exercise two hours a day, six days a week.

NASA Commentator Lori Meggs spoke with Gail Perusek of NASAs Exercise Countermeasures Lab to discuss how the ISS crew stays healthy in space. Typical resistance and aerobic exercises you see on Earth are still essential, but they do require a few upgrades to work without gravity.

Astronauts use a weight lifting machine called an Advanced Resistive Exercise Device or ARED. Dumbbells dont work in space because without gravity they dont weigh anything. Instead, an AREDuses canistersto create tiny vacuums that the crew can pull on with a long bar. Astronauts are able to do squats, bench presses and deadlifts this way.

Meanwhile, thespace stations treadmillrequires crew members to use harnesses and bungee cords to prevent them from floating away. ISS also has a stationary bike with no seat (since you cant actually sit down). Astronauts sit up against a back pad to stay in place, then grip handles as they pedal.

Were definitely learning more about the optimal regimen, the optimal equipment, Perusek said in the video. The ARED, the new Advanced Resistive Exercise Device, which was flown on station in 2008 provides a 600-pound resistive force and the previous IRED, Interim Resistive Exercise Device, was limited to 300 pounds. Since the ARED has flown weve seen crew members come back healthier than ever.

If you enjoyed this story, read why women may be better suited for space travel.

More from In The Know:

This matcha face mask magically melts from a powder to a cream

10 products that help treat your split ends at home

Wild One is the pet accessory brand going viral on Instagram

This $10 cap ensures that you always get the last drop of lotion

The post Heres how astronauts exercise in space without gravity appeared first on In The Know.

More:

Heres how astronauts exercise in space without gravity - Yahoo Lifestyle

Bezos’ wealth stacked in $1 bills would hit ISS space station 30 times – Wealth Professional

Posted on by

Name

$ bills stacked in km

# of Burj Khalifa buildings

# of Eiffel Towers

# of Empire State buildings

# of Mount Everest mountains

1

Jeff Bezos

12,342

14,906

38,092

32,393

1,395

2

Bill Gates

10,704

12,927

33,036

28,093

1,209

3

Bernard Arnault & family

8,301

10,025

25,619

21,787

938

4

Warren Buffett

7,372

8,904

22,754

19,350

833

5

Larry Ellison

6,444

7,783

19,889

16,913

728

With a total wealth of $413.5 billion, the five richest people in the world are all male and four out of five live in the US, with the exception of Bernard Arnault & family who are situated in France. If you stacked their wealth in $1 bills, it would reach the ISS space station and back 56 times.

Out of all billionaires, 241 (11.50%) are female, accounting for 12.31% of the total wealth of $8 trillion. The research also reveals that only one out of the 10 richest women in the world are self-made billionaires, compared to eight out of the 10 richest men.

The industry splitAcross the billionaires analysed, their wealth has derived from a total of 18 different industries. Out of the 30 richest people in the world, 33.3% acquired their wealth from technology and 30% became billionaires from fashion & retail.

Looking at the smallest industries for billionaires, gambling and casinos has the lowest number of billionaires overall. The sports industry also ranks low for both men and women, with construction and engineering as the third smallest industry for female billionaires. The telecom industry is the only sector that doesnt have billionaires of both genders and accounts for 29 male billionaires, making it the third smallest industry for men.

The country splitThe worlds billionaires spread across 72 counties, but where do you have the highest chance of becoming one? Analysing the country of residence, these are the top three countries with the highest number of billionaires:

Read more from the original source:

Bezos' wealth stacked in $1 bills would hit ISS space station 30 times - Wealth Professional