Category Archives: Mars Colony

KOUROU, French GuianaOne of the first things that the project manager of the worlds most powerful space telescope wanted to show me was the sloth.

Bill Ochs, a longtime manager at NASA, had already seen the animal a few times, hanging out in a strip of rich-green jungle, across the street from a hotel. You see this kind of weird-looking tree right here?" Ochs said, pulling the car over. And there was the sloth, motionless on a high branch, nearly hidden, with only a patch of gray, wiry fur peeking through the leaves.

Ochs does photography in his spare time, and although he enjoys bird-watching in the wildlife refuge near his home in Maryland, he is not here, thousands of miles away in French Guiana, for the local wildlife. Ochs is here for the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, years in the making.

So are hundreds, even thousands, of others from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, which are working together on the project. Employees from Arianespace, the European launch company providing the rocket, are here too, and everyone is working alongside the local staff at the Guiana Space Center, the spaceport from which the observatory will lift off. Theres no exact count, but its a lot of people, all focused on the safe departure of a telescope that, when it opens its mirrors toward the cosmos, will see farther than Hubble. This is a mission that will peer deep into the universe and capture the light from the first stars and galaxies. A machine that is traveling so far into space that astronauts wont be able to repair it. So all of these people know they had better get this part right.

The Webb project has recently experienced a few final schedule delays, thanks to a mix of technical problems and weather constraints. As of now, launch is planned for the morning of December 25. Scientists around the world had organized in-person watch parties, but many have recently been called off because of the fast-moving Omicron variant. Kourou, the home of the spaceport, might have been even more packed with space folks if so many hadnt canceled at the last minute, because of the coronavirus, the new schedule, or both. The people who did make the trip are now committed to this spot, and they wont leave until the telescope does. On Christmas Day, there may be more people fixated on this historic mission here than anywhere else on the planet.

Im 100 percent confident that weve done everything we can to maximize the probability of success, Ochs told me. But that doesnt mean you dont get nervous.

The Webb observatory was assembled in the United States and, too large to fit on an airplane, sailed by ship to French Guiana, a French territory on the northeastern coast of South America. Technicians have been preparing the observatory for launch ever since. The spaceport, managed by the European Space Agency and CNES, Frances space agency, opened in 1968. Here, a few hundred miles north of the equator, rockets have an easier time sending their payloads into orbit, stealing a bit of momentum from Earths spin. The spaceport has dispatched a variety of cargo over the years, including communications satellites, a Mercury-bound probe, and now a $10 billion space telescope.

Kourou is a small coastal town of about 25,000. Mango and palm trees line the streets. Daytime is punctuated by the squeaky chirps of the bananaquit, a small black-winged bird with a yellow belly, and nighttime, at least where Im sleeping, with the chanting of frogs. The Webb-focused signs about seeing farther and pushing technology, attached to streetlights, can feel removed from the relative poverty of French Guiana, where income inequality is significantly worse than in mainland France. In Kourou, many of the red-roofed, white-stone homes are surrounded by security gates. Residents of Kourou have twice protested working conditions and pay at the spaceport. From the beach, empty on a weekday afternoon except for some plovers pecking in the sand, you can see a trio of islands interrupting the blue expanse. One of them is Devils Island, the penal colony that held Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, who was wrongfully convicted of treason in the 1890sa reminder that this place has long been used by powerful figures for their own purposes.

Some of the out-of-towners working on the Webb mission have been in Kourou for weeks, and when theyre not needed at the spaceportif, for example, a technical problem temporarily halts preparationstheyre getting to know the area. They have gone to the zoo and seen blue butterflies the size of a pair of hands, or to Monkey Mountain, a hiking trail that lives up to its name. Like Ochs, many have their own wildlife stories: Arnaud Marsollier, a spokesperson for the European Space Agency who is here from the Netherlands, told me about a snake he saw slithering across the road, so long and gigantic that Marsollier decided to turn his car around and come back later.

The morale is okay to good, Ochs said, when I asked about the NASA team working on Webb. Theyre just tired. Theyre psyched about the launch, they want to get going, but they miss their families.

The rainy season is just beginning, and in the past few days, the rain has arrived suddenly, pelting the lush landscape in short bursts before returning the sky to the sun. Officials recently delayed the Webb launch by a day because of bad weather, but the rain isnt the problem. Its high-altitude winds. The Ariane rocket cant launch in such conditions, because if an anomaly occurs and the rocket explodes, the winds could carry debris, spacecraft propellant, and other hazardous materials toward the residents of Kourou.

I was with Ochs on Tuesday night when he got the news that the launch had been pushed again, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. As he looked at his phone, I waited for Ochs to react. A quiet scream, perhaps, or at least a deep sigh. The tension surrounding this launch has seemed to me as thick as the humidity here. But Ochs was unfazed. The weather cant be controlled, after all. And this isnt the kind of project you rush. Ochs has been in this business for years, and he knows how it works. He joined NASA in 1983, and managed Hubble operations when the observatory launched in 1990. He oversaw two astronaut missions to Hubble to fix the telescopes mirror, which had launched with a flaw that blurred its view of the cosmos. The Webb project has been in the works for more than 25 years now. It has been running behind schedule, and over budget, for almost as long. Another day is a small difference in the grand scheme of the project.

So far, Christmas looks like a good day for launch. Today, a small blue truck, crawling along at a maximum speed of four kilometers an hour (2.5 miles an hour), pulled the giant rocket, with Webb stacked on top, to the launchpad The rocket wasnt secured to its moving platform; its so heavy that it cant tip over, even in windy conditions, Bruno Grard, Arianespaces vice president of French Guiana operations, told me as we stood looking up at the Ariane 5 before its departure. The last time anyone laid eyes on the observatory was last week, when Webb, all folded up, was tucked inside the Arianes nose cone. The next time the nose cone opens, Webb will lurch itself toward its destination 1 million miles from Earth and begin the most complicated robotic deployment in the history of space exploration, unfolding itself piece by piece.

Sarah Kendrew, an astronomer at the European Space Agency who is based in Baltimore, tries not to think too much about the process, and what could go wrong. You can lie awake at night, going through all the scenarios of, like, What if this happens, what if that happens? Kendrew told me when we met up in Kourou. We just try to be really excellent at the parts that we control. Shes ready to see what Webb might reveal about the universeabout the first stars and galaxies, yes, but also about exoplanets and black holes and other wonders. As someone who works on one of Webbs sensitive scientific instruments, Kendrew reviewed some of the research proposals that had been accepted for the missions first observations. They described so many intriguing ideas, so many new ways to look at the universe. Its just like, I really want to see what happens with this one. And, Thats really cool. And, Wow, this is really interesting, Kendrew said.

The Webb mission is so close to liftoff now, to really beginning. As project manager, Ochs can stop the launch just seconds before liftoff if his team notices something troubling in any of the readings. Hes already rehearsed for the big day, but when he pressed the button, nothing happened. It turns out that he would have to press a little harder for the command to register.

So its on you, I said. You are the last defense against and I waved my hand in the air to illustrate the immense, invisible stakes around us.

I wasnt nervous about it until you said that, Ochs said. And then he cracked up. He was kidding, of course. He takes this project extremely seriously, and he trusts that his teams have built the best instrument they could. But its important to laugh often, Ochs said, so he does. If were not laughing, then wed be crying about some of the stuff thats happened to us over the years, he said.

No one involved in this projectnot the engineers turning the screws, nor the scientists preparing for the first, fresh observationscould have imagined that Webb would launch in the middle of a pandemic. Or that the officials in the launch-control room would have to get tested for a virus before they entered, and wait for the results to decide whether theyd miss the moment they had imagined for so long. They dont know how much longer theyll be here, but theyre keeping their fingers crossed. For as long as it takes, theyre focused on a singular goal: getting this thing off the ground and into space, where it belongs.

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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Is on the Launchpad - The Atlantic

360 million km. This is how far Mars is currently from Earth. Even if the two planets come closest in their orbits, the distance is enormous. And then, there are a total of 55 million kilometers between them. So its hard to believe that early humans would make the long journey and land on the Red Planet while were still alive. Even more unimaginable: that people could form colonies on our neighboring planet in the future.

Scientists from Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems Preparation (IBMP). As part of the Sirius project, theyre looking at how isolation affects spirit Astronauts. The researchers conducted an experiment: Between 2017 and 2019, two crews of six people each were isolated in a replica of a space station for 17 days and 120 days each.

The Red Planet is the focus of many space missions in the next few years

Quelle: Getty Images / Science Photo Libra / MARK GARLICK / Science Photo Library

The research team has the results now in the specialized journal Frontiers in Physiology chest. A particularly noticeable trend is: cosmonauts are becoming more and more independent during solitude and are detaching themselves from the command center on Earth. cause for concern? Is there a risk of rebellion against the leadership of the mission?

Instead of a trip to Mars, the moon mission was imitated in both cases: first the launch of the rocket, then the flight and landing on the space object. When they got there, the crew locked themselves in a kind of lunar space station with minimal supplies.

The Moon is also very far away a whopping 384,000 km away

Quelle: Getty Images / Image Source / Henglein and Steets

While isolated, the test subjects also had to perform tasks similar to those of a real space mission. They must drive a spacecraft on the lunar surface, conduct research, and perform maintenance. Participants followed these activities. But the more time passes, the less they communicate with the mission leadership:

Crews on simulated missions tend to have less contact with mission management while in isolation and share their needs and problems less and less.

The research team assesses this development in part as positive, as it suggests that the crew adapted to living conditions in space and in isolation. Rather than relying on instructions from the ground, the crew learned to work together independently. Only at important stages of the mission, such as a landing on the moon, that were simulated in the middle of the experiment, did the researchers record an increase in contact between the crew and the mission manager.

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But the independence of the alien colony can also become an obstacle. Co-author Dmitriy Shved gave the American mediator cnetto consider:

The Chief of Mission can no longer understand the needs and problems of the crew, which in turn affects the Chief of Missions ability to provide assistance.

Shved estimates the risk of an eruption fairly low: While Martian colonies will still depend on supplies and people from Earth, the likelihood of a diplomatic severance appears rather low.

Ten years ago, the IBMP conducted a study on isolation with the European Space Agency ESA: the Mars mission 500. A crew of six from France, Italy, Russia and China was supposed to live in a replica of the spaceship for 520 days, simulating a trip to Mars and landing on the Red Planet.

Researchers want to know how best to deal with the isolation of astronauts

Source: Getty Images / Nisian Hughes

Until then, IBPM and who which Encapsulation of the crew from the mission line. The experience was criticized, among other things, because the crew consisted exclusively of men. To verify the results, the scientists of the Sirius project put together a team of men and women.

The next spaceflight simulation is in full swing: On November 4, 2021, an eight-month isolation experiment began under the command of Sirius. Lets see what new science discovers.

Speaking of extraterrestrial colonies what about extraterrestrial life? The US space agency is preparing for the first discoveries:

For astronauts in training

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Space simulation: 120 days of isolation - this is how the crew reacted - Socialpost

SpaceX Starship is already a "next-level" spacecraft, but it is still not the ultimate version of itself, as it has a long way to go, says the founder and CEO, Elon Musk. The Starship is meant for interstellar explorations and interplanetary missions that would help bring humans to Mars and create a colony in the neighboring Red Planet.

The SpaceX CEO commented on a post by a fan that praises the company for its many contributions to the world, especially in ramping up the space mission in modern times.

Musk and SpaceX receive praises from a fan who says they were responsible for speeding up the space program in the world. The current space program is also popularized of the many missions of SpaceX, reigniting the space race, now for private companies.

Musk saidthat the Starship is already a "next-level" spacecraft that focuses on many features and technology that completes the famous spacecraft of the planet. However, it is not yet at its best or ultimate version, as it has a lot to improve on, bringing more features and better capabilities for when it launches.

Read Also:SpaceX Render of Starship, Super Heavy Rocket 'Launch, Land, Repeat' is the Same as the Actual, Says Elon Musk

SpaceX's Starship still has a long way to go, says the CEO, and it is intended for Mars that have a massive travel time to get to the planet and back. Nevertheless, the company is looking into the many missions it would soon do, from the autonomous flight to bring the Starship to Mars down to the first humans to arrive on the planet via SpaceX.

SpaceX tested many versions of the Starship, with its first landing version can maneuver what the company aims to bring for future releases, the SN15. Since then, Starship evolved to understand that it can fully use its landing maneuvers and not have any problems upon descent with its latest SN20 prototype.

The Starship did not show most of its colors and looked through its development. Still, several fans and enthusiasts have already demonstrated many renders of the spacecraftand its look in future missions. Of course, these renders give a general take on what the task would look like, especially as the public would not be able to watch it fully once it is in space.

Musk is right about one thing: the Starship is already a next-level spacecraft known for its intended Stainless Steel body to avoid rust and corrosion once on Mars. The CEO noted that there would soon be changes to it, and it is for the better.

The spacecraft still has a lot to improve on, and it would soon bring the public what it wants, the first mission to Mars.

Related Article: Two SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Successfully Send 52 Starlink Sats! Booster Recoveries Done on the Same Day

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SpaceX Starship is Next-Level, But Has a Long Way to Go; Says Elon Musk for Interstellar Explorations - Tech Times

According to NASA, no humans have ever had sex in space, but with the swift ascent of private space tourism, you can bet that humankind will soon join the 62-mile-high club.

This impending achievement, coupled with renewed efforts to populate Earth orbit, build a colony on the Moon, and travel to Mars, lay bare the urgent need for scientific research into all aspects of sex in space, a team of Canadian researchers from Concordia University and Laval University argue in a paper just published in the Journal of Sex Research.

The team, led by Simon Dub, a Concordia University PhD candidate in psychology specializing in human sexuality, sextech, and erobotics, calls for space programs to seriously explore space sexology, defined as the comprehensive scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy and sexuality.

Until now, space agencies like NASA have ignored the topic of sex almost entirely, perhaps fearful of generating a controversy that could jeopardize their funding. When queried about sex, NASA officials have brushed the matter aside. Astronauts are apparently prohibited from having sex or developing intimate relationships onboard the International Space Station.

But, again, as humankind increasingly begins to embrace the prospect of colonizing low-Earth orbit and beyond through private missions, disregarding research into a basic human drive is growing less tenable. Dub and his co-authors outlined a number of potential risks related to space sex that merit study.

For starters, ionizing radiation could interfere with sexual reproduction by altering the DNA of sperm cells, egg cells, and even human embryos (though one study suggested that mammal embryos can develop normally in space). Moreover, microgravity could make sex both difficult and messy a big problem in a setting where cleanliness is paramount. Space habitats are also cramped, remote, and not always private, making sexual needs hard to satisfy. Thinking even farther into the future, small settlements with limited intimate partners will undoubtedly breed stress, conflicts, and even sexual harrassment or assault. The further people are from Earth and the longer they are in space, the more likely that sexual and relationship-related problems will arise, Dub and his colleagues write.

They make the case for researching solutions to these risks right away. As technology makes extraterrestrial life and travel more accessible to the public, the people who go into space in the future from scientists to tourists may not have to undergo the same kind of stringent training or selection process as current astronauts, they argue. Producing quality science and implementing systemic changes take time, so why not start immediately, rather than wait for problems to arise?

Dub and his co-authors have already fleshed out a few potential areas for research. The first is designing systems and spaces that allow for eroticism to be safe, private, and hygienic. This effort may also include preliminary planning for delivering babies in space and treating any sex-related health issues. The second is creating training programs that prepare space travelers for intimacy, sexual activity, and any social problems that may arise. The third is engineering sexual technologies like toys or robots that permit clean and satisfying sexual experiences.

Ultimately, if properly researched and planned for, intimacy and sexuality like leisure could help endure and normalize life in space by making it more enjoyable and less lonely, the researchers say. Sexual activity relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, and helps with sleep, among many other benefits.

Facilitating intimacy and sexuality in space could improve the life of astronauts and future space inhabitants, Dub and his colleagues add. Intimate and sexual activities can arguably help people adapt to space contexts and normalize spacelife.

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Space sex: the trouble with joining the 62-mile-high club - Big Think

An artistic vision of a wind turbine on Mars/The Mars Society of Canada

Mars is viewed by many as an excellent planet for colonization. And theoretical and practical means are already being developed that would help to survive on the Red Planet.

So far, only relatively small and low-power artificial vehicles Mars rovers and stationary platforms operate on Mars. Scientists at the future base (and then the colonists) will need much more energy. And scientists are looking for methods to extract this energy.

This is how wind turbines look in the computer game Surviving Mars/Photo by Paradox Interactive Forum

Nuclear power can be used on Mars. But this method is quite expensive, technologically complex and probably not suitable for mass use on a distant planet. Another situation is solar panels.

The sun is a constant source of energy that has proven itself both on Earth and beyond. But there are problems with solar energy on the surface of the Red Planet.

The crews of the station on Mars will be able to clean solar panels, but their area must be huge in order to provide power to the base. Therefore, scientists wondered if the power of the Martian wind could be used to generate energy.

Mars before and after the start of a global dust storm/Photo Space

Wind energy is widespread on Earth. On Mars, it would become very auxiliary, especially when a global or local dust storm begins and access to solar energy is very limited.

Our planet has everything it needs to harness wind energy: comfortable atmospheric pressure and powerful winds. But on the Red Planet this is a problem. Winds on Mars blow well, but low atmospheric pressure does not give hope for the use of windmills. Yet the Ingenuity helicopter makes it clear that you can rely on Martian air.

Scientists have calculated that windmills on Mars can also be used. But to ensure the production of 80 kilowatts of energy (the average amount of energy required for the functioning of a hypothetical base), it is necessary to build three windmills with rotor diameters of 50 meters or 142 windmills with a rotor diameter of 10 meters. On Earth, such a task would be easily solved.

But for Mars, it is a very difficult task, because materials for giant wind turbines need to be delivered millions of kilometers away and collected. And for this you need to have qualified workers in a certain number. In addition, appropriate devices are needed, for example, a giant crane all this also needs to be delivered to Mars. As if these disadvantages are not enough, you should know that the main and powerful wind flows blow on the Red Planet during the day and disappear at night, so the constant receipt of energy from the wind is almost impossible.

Well, as you can see, getting energy from winds on Mars are possible, but this process is very energy consuming and expensive. Therefore, perhaps for the first decades, specialists and colonists will use exclusively solar panels.

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Is it possible to use wind farms on Mars? - The Times Hub

Netflix has been coming out with some awesome originals, and one of those is the amazing sci-fi drama, Lost in Space. A remake of the classic sci-fi TV show from the 1960s, this Netflix original tells the story of humans who are, as you would guess, lost in space, and struggle with a strange alien universe as they try to overcome issues as they arise.

With fun effects, a great story, cool-makeup and much more, Lost in Space was one of Netflixs best shows, in my opinion. But, with all these episodes coming out all at once, one might wonder what to watch once theyre done binging the latest season. Look no further, because we have some awesome shows that are like Lost in Space that you just might want to see next.

In this one-season sci-fi show, Firefly tells the story of a group of humans who are a part of a crew aboard a Firefly-class ship, showing their adventures in a different solar system, far away from the world we know now.

Firefly is one of those shows where I will never forgive the network for cancelling it. While I was too young at the time of its original airing, watching it now makes me so mad because this could have been great. Firefly could have been the Star Wars saga of television for its effects, the Firefly cast, and more. For fans of Lost in Space, this show is perfect, as it not only has the space adventures you would expect, but a great cast as well. I want it to come back so badly.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.

Disney+ has a runaway hit with this one. The Mandalorian, taking place after Return of the Jedi, follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, whose life is turned upside down when he encounters a strange alien creature (who looks like a little baby Yoda), and takes it upon himself to try and return it to its home.

The Mandalorian has become immensely popular for a reason. Jon Favreau created a masterpiece with this show, with not only a talented cast but an essential story that feels like its ripped right out of the Star Wars movies. For fans of Lost in Space, youll love the story of Din Djarin and his space travels, but what really makes this show so good is the relationship he has with Grogu - otherwise known as baby Yoda. With plenty of jaw-dropping moments, this is one you cant miss.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Another classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica is a re-imagining of the '70s series of the same name. In this world, humanity is in another star system, where humans are settled on planets, called colonies. However, their homes are attacked by Cylons, humanoid machines that wish to take over. The last of humanity escape and are led by the Battlestar Galactica, one of the last battleships, as they try to survive constant attacks, while looking for a new home. This is their story of survival.

For a long time, I only ever really knew this show from that The Office quote (Bears, beats, Battlestar Galactica), but after actually giving it a watch, its such an entertaining series. For fans of Lost in Space, youll love the human connections that are formed here. Its all about survival and trying to make sure that their loved ones are okay, something that fans of the Netflix series can relate to. Plus, the visual effects are really cool. There just might be a new series coming soon, so keep an eye out for it.

Stream Battlestar Galactica on Peacock.

Ever wondered what it will be like when humans make it to Mars? The First explores that, telling the story of how humans are trying to settle the planet, and the trials and tribulations it takes to do it.

To me, The First feels like a much more grounded look into space travel. Its not the most edgy or action-filled show, like Lost in Space is, as it focuses on that human connection at a more naturalistic level. It shows the stresses of trying to do what is best for humanity, while moving forward with innovation rather than letting setbacks continuously stop them. Sean Penn gives a great performance as the lead character, along with the rest of the cast. Its a shame it only last for one season.

Stream The First on Hulu.

One of my favorites on the list. The Expanse is an Amazon Prime original series, telling the story of humans hundreds years in the future, where we've colonized our solar system. But, as a strange disappearance arises and unlikely allies have to come together to solve the issue, the threat of interplanetary civil war rises, exposing more dark secrets that could threaten everyone's very lives.

This is one of those shows I dont want to say too much about before you watch it. For fans of Lost in Space, The Expanse has plenty of awesome space travel, cool set designs, and everything else you would expect, but what I really love about it is the story. From the first episode on, theres so much to love, and youll want to watch the next episode every time.

Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime.

You gotta love Futurama. In this hilarious sci-fi sitcom, Futurama tells the story of Fry, a normal pizza delivery boy who is accidentally frozen, and then reawakens in the year 2999. Now, he must adapt to working in a new place, living in a new world, and having new friends.

When I think of adult animated shows, Futurama is one of the first that comes to mind. Its so funny and features such fun stories that you cant help but love it. For fans of Lost in Space, there are plenty of great moments that scream sci-fi that youll enjoy, but its all about that human connection again, and creating valuable relationships that youll want to root for until the very end. I mean, you even learn to love a wise-cracking robot. Its such a fun show.

Stream Futurama on Hulu.

If you ever wanted a cool alternate-reality show, For All Mankind is the way to go. This Apple TV+ original series asks this question: what if the Soviet Union had beaten the U.S. to the moon in the 1960s? But, instead of the space race dying down, the discovery of water leads to it being more high stakes than ever.

Apple TV+ has been knocking it out of the park with their original series, from the beloved Ted Lasso, to its animated shows like Central Park. However, For All Mankind is such an interesting one to watch. Ive always been a huge fan of alternative histories and this one takes it to another level with the amount of detail, lore, and effects it uses. For fans of Lost in Space, I think youll enjoy the exploration and the stories about the missions to the moon. But, you should watch it regardless. Such a cool, interesting take.

Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

This popular cartoon is always a hit. Steven Universe tells the story of Steven, a young boy who is also half-Gem. The Gems are alien fighters who are tasked with keeping humanity safe from threats of terror and monsters. Steven looks to these Gems to learn how to understand his powers, growing as a person while doing so.

Steve Universe is a masterclass in animation. For fans of Lost in Space, there isnt much space exploration, but youll love the stories that are told, often with special powers, cool graphics, and beautiful animation. Not only that, but Steven Universe teaches valuable lessons about love and family (like Lost in Space) and learning to accept yourself for who you are. The series is such a great watch for both kids and adults alike.

Stream Steven Universe on HBO Max.

In this Netflix original series, Away tells the story of a group of astronauts, led by Emma Green. Their main goal is to become the first crewed spaceflight to Mars after years of trying to make it happen, but in order to do so, they have to commit to being away from their loved ones for three years.

Away is the perfect one-season binge for fans of Lost in Space. Not only does it deal with space travel, it also shows the effects of being away from the ones that we care about, and what were willing to do to protect them. Something I also adore about Away is its cast. Led by the talented Hilary Swank, the cast has wonderful chemistry, compelling story arcs and plenty of interesting character moments that will keep you entertained. Its a shame the series didnt last long.

Stream Away on Netflix.

You cant have a sci-fi list like this and not include Star Trek: Voyager. This popular sci-fi series is a part of the Star Trek franchise, follows the Starfleet vessel, aptly called Voyager, as it tries to return home after being stranded for many, many years. But of course, as every Star Trek crew does, they run into problems along the way.

Star Trek is just one of those franchises that Im sure most sci-fi fans have watched. For viewers of Lost in Space, this series has a lot of the same beats and character moments you would expect, with several different storylines and relationships for you to root for. And, when it comes to Star Trek, you know theres always going to be some ridiculously campy villain at some point, but theyre so much fun to watch and see our protagonists fight against. Starring Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager is a ton of fun.

Stream Star Trek: Voyager on Hulu.

Last but not least, we have Raised by Wolves. This HBO Max original series follows two robots who look human, named Father and Mother. Together, they are programmed to raise young human children after Earth was completely destroyed by war, alongside a human colony. Soon, the robots learn that the older humans are volatile, and its not easy to keep them from harming each other, whether because of religious differences, or more.

Raised by Wolves is such an interesting concept for a sci-fi show. For fans of Lost in Space, this also shows humans in a completely different environment, trying to adapt, but its so much more than just that. Famed director Ridley Scott serves as an executive producer, and even directed the first two episodes, so you know its really good. Both Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim give amazing performances as Mother and Father, and with a second season on the way, now is the perfect time to watch.

Stream Raised by Wolves on HBO Max.

There are truly so many amazing sci-fi shows out there for you to watch if youre feeling up to the challenge after finishing Lost in Space. Maybe you just might have found a new TV series to love. Regardless, youll have a fun time watching no matter what you pick.

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Lost In Space: 11 Other Shows To Watch If You Like The Sci-Fi Netflix Series - CinemaBlend

In 1994 , a bungalow owner in Devon called pest control to report that a mysterious white ant had chomped through her conservatory. Investigations eventually revealed the culprit was in fact a colony of millions of subterranean termites, the first and only colony ever recorded on UK soil.

The call marked the beginning of a 27-year saga involving hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money and considerable headaches for the property owner and her neighbours in Saunton on the north Devon coast.

Many experts thought the UKs Termite Eradication Programme (TEP) was doomed to failure. Once imported, usually in something as innocent as a wooden wine crate or an antique pine wardrobe, the tenacious insects inevitably triumph and become endemic, thanks to their superior burying and reproduction skills.

But now in Devon, human ingenuity and British bloody-mindedness have prevailed. After no signs of termite activity were detected for the past 10 years, the Saunton termite colony has officially been declared dead by a panel of international experts, saving the nation from a future where homeowners have to worry about termite infestations as well as wasp nests and rising damp.

A final field inspection in May found no signs of termites in a zone 100 metres long and 30 metres deep, and the TEP is now in decommissioning mode, said Dr Ed Suttie, the termite terminator who has been involved with the TEP since it began in 1998 and has run it since 2003. No other country has ever won the termite war, he said: Its a world first.

There have been false dawns before in this battle of the beasties. Going into the new millennium there were no sightings of the termites for nine years. Then their beadlike antennae were again spotted rooting around in the soil, resulting in the eradication and monitoring programme being extended repeatedly until this year.

The colony had made its home under two neighbouring bungalows, which were effectively condemned by the invaders. In 2012 one of the owners applied to demolish her property and start again, but was denied planning permission after a two-year battle.

So crucial was the matter deemed to national biosecurity that the final decision was taken by the then communities secretary, Eric Pickles. He refused it on the grounds that the demolition and construction work could risk the termites spreading to a wider area, causing potential catastrophic economic, environmental and social consequences.

A compromise was struck whereby she was allowed to build an annexe that Suttie says is the UKs only termite-proof building. Burning down the infected buildings was not an option, he explained: Termites were not actually living in the house the wood in there was just their food source. They live underground, often many metres under the surface.

Suttie said both property owners had shown amazing cooperation over the decades, banned not just from most home improvement but also from removing any soil or wood from the site.

They also had to let TEP officials plant timber bait in their gardens essentially wooden stakes made out of aged pine, termites favourite food, which they could monitor for nibbles. Termite eradication involved the targeted deployment of insect growth regulators, a kind of hyper-intelligent insecticide that would stop the termites reaching maturity and reproducing.

Had successive governments since 1998 not invested considerable amounts of public money in the effort, it could have been a very different story, said Suttie. Termites could have become endemic, eating their way through floor boards, door frames and beams across southern England, just as they do in Australia, parts of North America and southern Europe.

The stakes are high: each year, termites cause more than $5bn (3.8bn) in property damage in the US, according to the National Pest Management Association.

Though the termites were first confirmed in Saunton in 1994, Suttie believes they may have been imported to the site as many as 70 years earlier: Anecdotally, weve heard stories of gardeners referring to white ants and a greenhouse that had to be replaced.

Nick Harvey, who was the local Liberal Democrat MP from 1992 to 2015, remembers the great anguish of the bungalow owner who discovered the colony. His constituent believed a previous occupant had accidentally imported the termites in soil brought from the Canary Islands via some non-native plants, he said.

Damian McBride, a special adviser to the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, who drew attention to the termite war in a Twitter thread, said he thought Suttie and others should be given honours for their unglamorous but essential public service.

Whats the moral of the story? he asked. You can make up your own, but for me, this is public service in its finest form unseen, largely unknown and rarely heralded but done with selfless dedication year after year simply because of what would happen to the rest of us if it wasnt.

In forests and grasslands of their native tropics, termites are regarded as soil engineers that are vital to the maintenance of soil structure and ecosystem balance, according to BRE, which has run the governments Termite Eradication Programme since 1998. But imported into urban environments, they are considered pests because of their ability to severely damage timber in buildings.

Subterranean termites the kind that caused havoc in north Devon are now endemic in southern Europe, thanks to globalisation and the warming climate. If you live in a termite-infested area in France, you must, by law, supply a termite-free certificate when you sell a house and any building work must be certified termite-proof.

Much of the UK is too wet for a subterranean termite colony to establish. But unluckily for the bungalow owners in Saunton, their properties were built on very light, sandy and well-draining soil among maritime pine trees that termites love. The houses were also built using a lot of pine timber, a delicacy for the greedy insects, which can chomp away undetected for months, hollowing out wood from the inside.

Sometimes mistaken for white ants, worker termites are typically 4-6mm in length, are pale or whitish in colour, have beadlike antennae and lack a waist (a constriction of the first or second abdominal segments). A colony can form in the space of a match box but can be vastly bigger, as in the Devon case, comprising numerous mud tubes or tunnels that connect food sources and nesting sites.

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A world first: Devon calls victory in 27-year war on termites - The Guardian

Kerbal Space Program 2 is the path to being a stay-at-home astronaut exploring the vast beauty of the universe and attempting to unveil its secrets.

Kerbal Space Program 2 brings players a better experience than the highly-popular original Kerbal Space Program, with Kerbal Space Program 2 being up to modern quality standards and bringing a plethora of exciting new features to the game.

Giant space station. Imageby Kerbal Space Program 2.

Players must build up their own space program, design and build rockets and spaceships and send crews of astronauts into space to do research, build new colonies, and explore. Kerbal Space Program 2 brings not only modernized game quality but modernized technology and machinery.

Kerbal Space Program 2 provides the perfect challenge for players who wish to try their hand at managing, designing, and developing a space program, spaceships, interstellar travel, resource procurement, and colony development and construction.

A couple of friendly Kerbonauts. Image by Kerbal Space Program 2.

Kerbal Space Program 2 supports modding, as well as a multiplayer mode that will allow players to work together in teams and to organize the development and settlement of outer space and other planets through the delegation of tasks and teamwork.

Kerbal Space Program 2 is developed by Intercept Games and published by Private Division. The game will be available on Steam.

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Kerbal Space Program 2 Provides a Gateway to the Universe for Those Destined to Unveil Its Secrets - Gamers Decide

In the decade before the pandemic, coworking became popular among startup tech companies and workers without a home office, such as sales people. But when the pandemic forced everyone to isolate at home, the coworking sector lost many clients, closing millions of square feet nationally of unused space. New York-based coworking rental company Knotel filed for bankruptcy in January.

What happens next is unclear, with many people still working remotely. Many employers had planned to bring more workers back to offices around Labor Day, before the delta variant of COVID-19 put many plans on hold. The rise of the latest variant, omicron, could mean further return-to-office delays.

Still, the growing economy has coworking companies hoping for a rebound. They believe they give employers and workers needed flexibility as future office needs are sorted out and traditional work spaces are reimagined.

Credit: Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Some early signs are not encouraging. Coworking remains a tiny fraction of the total U.S. office market, and it has gotten smaller. Coworking represented about 1.5% of the office market in metro Atlanta as of June 2021, down from 1.8% in June 2020 and 1.9% in June 2019, according to real estate services firm CBRE.

WeWork, one of the largest U.S. coworking companies, recorded a loss of about $3 billion for the first six months of 2021.

But WeWork reported gains in occupancy of the U.S. office space it has retained. It rose from from 50% to 56% in the three months ending in September.

Errol Williams, vice president of WeWorks Atlantic region, said that in New York City, where it has only 1% of the total office supply, WeWork secured 13% of all new and renewed leases this fall. WeWork operates nine locations in metro Atlanta, but it declined to provide local numbers.

Most coworking providers are privately owned and arent required to report occupancy levels or financial results. Commercial real estate services firms like CBRE and JLL dont track market-wide figures for coworking.

But other factors suggest coworking could carve out a niche, said Julie Whelan, an analyst at CBRE. It can be cheaper than signing a long-term lease.

Organizations are grappling with a lot of uncertainty on headcount needs, she said.

The coworking companies are showing some signs of expanding again. Buildings in high-profile locations have successfully lured new coworking tenants. Industrious, one of the largest U.S. coworking providers, in October signed a lease for 20,000 square feet on the 31st floor of the recently renovated downtown 101 Marietta Street tower.

And the service fits a need for certain types of companies. Coworking works well for businesses where staff travel frequently.

Patrick Mundlin, managing partner of the financial planning firm 49 Financial, rents access to all of Roams Atlanta locations because his staff is often on the road meeting clients. It wouldnt make sense to lease a space for 20 people when typically there are only 10 in the office at once.

When youre stuck with a long-term lease, youre paying for something that youre not using, he said. It doesnt make sense to pay for office space if you wont be using it.

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Coworking offices hope for COVID-19 rebound - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

(Photo : Elon Musk via Twitter)

SpaceX has a new render of the Starship and Super Heavy Booster Rocket from fans and enthusiasts of the upcoming launch, showing the Mechazilla and how it would "Launch. Land. Repeat" the spacecraft. The CEO has confirmed that this would happen as the actual thing takes place in the future, and it is what people would expect for its arrival.

(Photo : Elon Musk via Twitter)

The SpaceX CEO and founder have acknowledged a videofrom the social media platform of Twitter, where it shows the future venture of Starship and Super Heavy Booster rocket for when it is time to use it. Elon Musk said that the video shows the plan of SpaceX for when it uses the tandem of these enormous spacecraft.

The video focuses significantly on the maneuvers of the rockets for when it launches and returns to the surface, focusing on the reusability focus.

The video showshow Mechazilla would help launch both spacecraft and catch them on either side: one side for the Super Heavy and the other side for the Starship before it brings it around the other side and stacking it again for its next mission.

Read Also:Elon Musk Gets Financial Times Person of the Year, Newsweek Disruptors HOF-Tech CEO's Recognitions

As discussed by the video creators, SpaceX would focus on "Launch. Land. Repeat" ventures for the Starship missions for when it is active and licensed to navigate the skies and space. However, that is yet to come as it still needs to obtain its license and practice its capabilities when the time is right.

SpaceX is known to border on full, rapid reusability for its spacecraft, and the Starship is not an exception.

SpaceX fans are only awaiting the company's announcements for when its next test launch will happen, exceptionally as the world awaits the Starship to spread its wings and show its might. It is known that a Starship update is comingfrom the tech CEO, and it would detail the many things that people wish to know about the spacecraft.

One of the top space agencies in the world, NASA, has been regarded that SpaceX is the only space companynow that is capable of bringing people to space, someone they can trust for their missions. NASA has selected SpaceX as one of the proprietors of the famous Commercial Crew missions that bring astronauts to the space station and supplies.

The space company from Elon Musk has been regarded as the top company for all space needs in the present, focusing on its goals to establish a colony on Mars and make life multi-planetary. This venture is not far from the company as they have already made the Stainless Steel spacecraft, also bringing its capabilities of being reused for a long time.

Related Article: SpaceX: CO2 to Rocket Fuel? Elon Musk Reveals New Program, Asks People to Join; Important for Mars

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SpaceX Starship, Super Heavy Rocket 'Launch, Land, Repeat' Render is the Same as the Actual Thing - Tech Times