Category Archives: Space Travel

Space technology is one of the most exciting technologies that significantly impacts peoples lives in numerous ways, saving thousands of lives annually through disaster warnings, weather forecasting, and climate monitoring. The main objective of this field of space technology is to support design and development of satellites, facilitate space exploration, and space flight. Did you know space technology has influenced many modern and emerging technologies in your home even?

Students with a B.Tech degree often show a strong interest in space because this is an exciting engineering domain offering diverse application scenarios where engineering innovations can be applied both terrestrially and extra-terrestrially. Having specialist knowledge in space technology gives graduates an invaluable advantage for securing and following exciting career paths. In fact graduates with competencies in space technology will have opportunities for applying your knowledge to extreme environment scenarios as diverse which can range from exploring the depths of the oceans or the mysteries of outer space as well studying the multitude of planets and solar systems.

Space Technologys application to B.Tech students

With a B.Tech in space technology, you have endless possibilities for a rewarding career. ISRO and other leading Indian space institutions are growing rapidly and will flood the market with job offers. There is no doubt that there is a high demand for space scientists, and they are primarily hired based on their qualifications, skill sets and specialist domain knowledge. Institutions are always willing to offer you lucrative jobs if you are a passionate space science enthusiast ready to advance the boundaries of technology. For a space technologist, many career opportunities are waiting to be explored. Weather forecasting, remote sensing, satellite television, and long-distance communication systems are some industries with the most in-demand jobs.

Skills a space technologist needs to possess

Space technology is both difficult and exciting it is all about being a rocket scientist!! People who are driven by a desire to understand the universe have what it takes to be astronauts. To be qualified for this position, they must undergo rigorous training and meet specific physical fitness requirements, along with the following skills.

Space technology is currently pushing the boundaries of change and innovation by creating new applications to satisfy the expanding demands and needs. Numerous start-ups have begun to develop components and parts for satellites and vehicles in India to offer space-based services.

Can the likes of Elon Musk be far behind, given the rapid development of space technology? Elon Musks SpaceX, a space company, has developed a novel method of sending rockets into space and returning them to the earth by vertically landing them on a concrete pad. No aerospace agency has attempted this major technological leap before.

This cutting-edge technology has significantly reduced rocket launch costs, enhancing space travel and space tourism. Some advances achieved through space technology research include portable cordless vacuums, LED lighting, and freeze-dried foods.

Top recruiters for space tech

Some of the top employers of space technologists include data science companies like Amazon, LinkedIn, and Walmart Labs, as well as space research organizations like ISRO, NASA and ESA. Additionally, ISRO hires B.Tech Aerospace engineering graduates. Additionally, they are given advanced projects. A space technologists dream job is to work for these organisations, and a B.Tech in space technology can lead you on to achieving your dreams.

(The author is Professor Gurvinder Singh Virk, Dean, UPES School of Engineering and the views expressed in this article are his own)

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Rev up your career with a B.Tech. in Space Technology - CXOToday.com

The space race ended after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but it is now starting to rise up again because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up achieving a space travel related goal can bring a lot of prestige to countries. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the quest to conquer space is creating a unique new problem, namely that of space junk or space debris.

Every object that is launched into space and left there is coming together to create a massive debris field that might collide with active satellites and potentially trap humanity on earth for the foreseeable future. However, what country is most responsible for this debris? It turns out that there are three main culprits behind the massive increase in space debris, namely the US, Russia and China with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Russia is responsible for well over 7,000 spent rocket bodies and other types of junk that is now orbiting the planet. The number for the USA is around 5,216, and China is currently sitting at around the 3,850 mark.

This problem will become increasingly pertinent in the future as major corporations start trying to launch consumer oriented space travel in low orbit. These shuttles will be at risk of getting crashed into by orbiting debris. One might assume that the solution is to slowly bring these pieces of junk down, but that runs the risk of depleting the ozone layer, generating a lot of heat as well as whatever the damage at the crash site was look like.

This is an issue that has no easy fix, and major world leaders would need to come together in order to figure out how to handle it. Humanity is starting to look to the stars once again, but we will only reach them if we approach this new era of space travel in a responsible way with all factors having been considered.

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What Country Creates the Most Space Debris? - Digital Information World

Flight cancellations. Traffic jams. Train delays. Is any mode of transportation safe from massively frustrating obstacles? It seems not. Airline and train travelers alike have felt the effects of increased demand and staff shortages all summer, and this fall is shaping up to be no less chaotic.

If this is the new normal of travel, the only way to make it through endless hours stranded in a terminal is to plan ahead. By packing the perfect carry-on (complete with an extra outfit in the event of lost baggage), youll have everything you need to make the delay a little more tolerable. Heres the gear wed bring to get through the stress and frustration of a travel delay.

Most airports and train terminals have charging stations, but if the area is packed with frustrated travelers trying to juice up their devices, you may not be able to find a free outlet. Bringing along a portable power bank ensures that your devices dont die before your departure. Compact and lightweight, the Zendure SuperMini 20W doesnt take up much space in your carry-on, and it has the ability to charge multiple devices at once, so no need to play favorites between your phone and tablet.

This power bank may be the size of a deck of cards, but it still contains enough juice to charge most smartphones (and other small electronic devices) up to three times.

If you have hours (or an entire night) to wait out before a flight, a nap may help stave off crankiness. A cozy travel pillow, along with an eye mask to block out harsh fluorescent lights, can turn an uncomfortable situation into a slightly more comfortable one. The Trtl Pillow, ideal for side sleepers, supports your head from one side. Its essentially a scarf with a plastic plate in it, so it packs down to the size of a sandwich and lays flat against the back of your bag. The Alaska Bear sleep mask, made of soft mulberry silk, breathes even when pressed against the skin and blocks external light well. You might not get the best sleep of your life, but some rest is better than none.

This space-saving travel pillow is ideal for side sleepers: Its a fleece scarf with a built-in one-sided plastic brace. Its not ideal for folks who shift position while they sleep, but side-sleepers will love its comfort and convenience.

Certain video games can be a great way to relax. Trade the chaos of the airport for a calming island thats all your own. In the Nintendo Switch favorite Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you are plunked down onto a deserted island that you construct over time. If the idea of spending a few hours fishing, gardening, and catching bugs sounds like a soothing reprieve, this game (or something similar) may be for you.

If you lean on books to get you through bouts of boredom, an e-reader is monumental. We recommend the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids: It has waterproof hardware, a massive, affordable ebook catalog, and the ability to connect to your library. The Paperwhite Kids Kindle is also able to play audiobooks from Audible if youre a hybrid reader who likes to switch between the two. For folks who strongly prefer audiobooks, an Audible subscription is ideal. Each month, subscribers get access to one audiobook and two Audible originals. All you need is a good book and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to enjoy.

An audio subscription from Audible includes a monthly credit for one ebook, along with two free original stories.

If youre traveling with a buddy, kill time with a card game that whips up some friendly rivalry. Coup, which hinges on deceit, ticks all the boxes a good travel game should: Its small enough to fit in your bag, it doesnt take up too much space on a table, and its a quick play, with rounds lasting around 15 minutes.

If youre traveling with kids, you already know that entertainment is key for everyones sanity. A game of Uno offers rounds of fun for kids and adults alike, and the Worlds Smallest Uno, the miniature version of the game, can tag along to the airportits teeny, tiny cards easily fit in a pocket or fanny pack.

Unleash chaos in the airport with a round of Coup. It plays quickly, packs up small enough to easily fit in most bags, and encourages you to betray your friends.

You never know when the opportunity to play a game of Uno will arise; this set is small enough to keep tucked away in your bag so youll always be ready.

Terminals are hectic, especially after mass delays and cancellations. Tuning out the noise can help you keep calm in a stressful situation, but youll want to make sure you dont completely block out helpful announcements. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are great because you have the option to turn off noise cancellation to be more aware of your surroundings. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20, another pair with a toggling noise-cancelling feature, is a more affordable option that offers good sound, comfortable memory-foam earpads, and a 38-hour battery life. Once youre officially en route to your destination, you can flip the noise-cancelling feature back on to drown out your surroundings and dial into your favorite comfort Netflix watch.

These over-ear, wireless headphones offer great sound, comfort, and noise-cancelling abilities at an affordable price.

A quick meditation session can help melt the tension from your shoulders. Headspace offers a large variety of meditations; we love the guided sessions for beginners, but the app also provides less-structured programming for pros. With a good pair of headphones, you can almost pretend youre relaxing on a white sand beach and not in a hard-back chair outside a Hudson News.

This user-friendly meditation app can hopefully bring you a moment of calm with its warm colors, adorable illustrations, and range of sessions.

This article was edited by Annemarie Conte and Ben Frumin.

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Air Travel Is Chaos. This Gear Will Help Get You Through the Exasperating Delays. - The New York Times

French-based hospitality giant Accor operates more than 5,000 locationsincluding Fairmont, Sofitel, Mondrian, SLS, M Gallery, and so many more hotel brandsin 110-plus countries around the world. Thus, it only makes sense that the execs at Accor, including chief sales and distribution officer Markus Keller, are uniquely positioned to have their fingers on the pulse of the hospitality industry, including travel and business tourism trends.Markus Keller, Accor's chief sales and distribution officer.Photo: Courtesy of Accor

One thing BizBash knows for sure is that bleisure travel is on the rise (we even heard so at Accors Global Meeting Exchange in San Francisco back in July). The relatively new concept combines the concepts of business and leisure travel, with professionals wanting to attend a conference, but also wanting to bring their loved ones along with flexibility in the itinerary to relax, explore, and have family time. Perhaps the growing popularity of bleisure travel is a result of the pandemic shifting mindsets about the workforce, or maybe because its cost effective for travelers.

To get the lowdown on the travel trend, weve turned to the pro, Keller. He's been with Accor since 2004 and held front line, senior management, and corporate positions in Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and now Paris.

Keep reading to find out what bleisure means for the hospitality, travel, meetings, and events industries, plus what companies encouraging MICE travel can do about it

What does the word "bleisure" mean to you?Bleisure is the blending of business and leisure travel. People travel differently nowthey leave home on Wednesday night and come back on Tuesday morning, giving them the full ability to work from a hotel or co-working space on Thursday, Friday, and Monday while taking advantage of the trip to enjoy the weekend.

Why do you think bleisure travel has risen in popularity so much recently?Guest expectations have changed dramatically over recent years, with the need for alternatives to the traditional workplace setting being greatly accelerated by COVID. This has created a stronger desire for more authentic, personalized, and sustainable experiences that can be experienced not only far from home but also within local communities close to nature, and to the places where individuals live and work.

Domestic leisure travel has increased notably as changing work cultures and new modes of productive working have allowed people greater flexibility and the opportunity to work in different settings. This trend now sees people frequently commuting a few hours from home to discover new cities and locations where they can experience living as a local [with new] cultures, environments, and foods as part of their work week. This all needs to be facilitated and guided by hospitality providers who can instill guests with the confidence and inspiration to try new ways of working.Accor's capitalizing on the trend with the launch of its "All-Inclusive Collection" that will incorporate culinary experiences, entertainment programs, and sporting activities.Photo: Courtesy of Accor

Another key driver of bleisure is the general growing demand for sustainable lifestyle options. Many, if not most, people care for the environment, and they want to travel in a more sustainable and responsible way. Naturally, this has created new expectations for the industry as demonstrated by the fact that 69% of travelers expect the tourism industry to offer more sustainable travel options, according to the WTTC 2021 Report.

This is where augmented hospitality can have an important impact. Even prior to the pandemic, Accor has provided varied offers in bleisure and workation, addressing the needs of nomad travelers who want to work from anywhere while making the best use of a hotels available space.

Workspitality solutions contribute to more environmentally friendly workplaces withless traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and associated emissions.

What does the bleisure traveler look for that the traditional business traveler doesn't?Career choices have evolved across the world, because of the pandemic further bringing into focus work-life balance, key talent traits, and hybrid working models. It has become clearer across the globe that people are looking for organizations that care more deeply about what matters to them as individuals.

Now, they are looking for what hotels can do for them outside of the hotel room. For example, access to museums, festivals, and restaurants. We need to inform them through the use of digital tools what they can do outside of the concierge service.

[To accommodate those needs,] Accors concept of augmented hospitality offers clients the experiences and services to Live, Work & Play during traveland in their everyday liveswith the best performing integrated hospitality ecosystem.

COVID may have accelerated the shift toward a hybrid office model, but Accor was already a pioneer in this space, having started powerful initiatives such as our hybrid meeting solution ALL Connect, in partnership with Microsoft Teams, plus a collaboration with WOJO co-working spaces.Keller pointed out that the rise of bleisure travel "has created a stronger desire for more authentic, personalized, and sustainable experiences." (Pictured: Sofitel Mexico City Reforma)Photo: Courtesy of Accor

With all this being said, are the days of traditional business travel over?The value of human interactions and need for reassurance and relationships have been reinforced after two years of pandemic restrictions and uncertainty. So, to that extent, traditional business travel will still continue, but a share of the pie will go to mixed modes of travel or hybrid events.

With hospitality rooted in human values, we put people and human connections at the heart of our activity and are naturally committed to reconnecting with our clients and partners to meet their needs, reassure, navigate changing travel rules, and offer flexibility.

[As far as business travel statistics,] September will be key for the Northern Hemisphere with bookings shifting more from leisure to business segments. Current trends are positive, and we are getting closer to 2019 [travel figures]. We know that the corporate segment will perhaps never return to 2019 level due to Microsoft Teams, Webex, and similar tools, but the recovery has been strong, and there are large business events planned in the upcoming weeks.

[Into 2023,] it is possible there will be a few headwinds and uncertainty associated with the economy, inflationary pressures, and other costsall of which are having knock-on effects to companies, which will want to keep some control of costs. However, it is clear that in-person meetings are better for nurturing company culture, client relationships, and making and sealing deals. They beat virtual contact hands down. So, the need to travel for business will always be there, and bleisure is likely to continue to evolve as individuals and companies find the right balance for themselves.

How do you suggest companies incentivize employees to travel again?For the most part, few employees need motivation to travel againits in our nature to want to meet colleagues and business partners face-to-face. What we do observe, however, is companies encouraging employees to think differently about traveling, notably by combining trip purposes. Perhaps its less frequent and longer trips, both for economic and environmental reasons. This gives way to the changing needs of travelers to be able to stay and work at distance in adapted environments, which feels more like home.Keller told BizBash that bleisure travelers "are looking for what hotels can do for them outside of the hotel room." And it goes beyond hybrid working solutions to "access to museums, festivals, and restaurants." (Pictured: Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles)Photo: Courtesy of Accor

Where is Accor seeing bleisure travelers most prominently right now?The bleisure trend is taking off mostly in the Americas and Europe across a number of key cities, where we saw the length of stay increasing over the weekends to include business days on either side.

The usual suspects of London, Paris, and New York are particularly popular, but other major city centers in Europe and the Americas are busy and showing healthy forward bookings. The reason for this is a need to reconnect in person. Companies that had postponed meetings last year or before have re-booked in some cases twice, and are now able to proceed as travel restrictions have been lifted across Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Latin America. There are very few limits on the size of in-person meetings remaining today.

How is Accor accommodating the bleisure traveler?Accor's expanding into the all-inclusive market with the launch of our multi-branded All-Inclusive Collection. Its an attractive offering that will see the group [Accor] double down on this fast-growing segment by building upon the success of the Rixos brand, a leading global player in the luxury all-inclusive segment. The platform incorporates the key strengths of Accors brands and leverages the groups leading market position in the luxury and premium segments.

Carefully curated entertainment programs will play a central role and will build on Rixos expertise in childrens clubs, fitness, watersports, as well as in programming for outdoor activities and MICE. The guests will be able to look forward to spectacular shows with breathtaking performances delivered by entertainers and multiple sporting activities per resort accompanied by world-class spa and wellness facilities.

This will be complemented by the exceptional quality and wide breadth of restaurant, bar, beach club, and nightlife concepts, creating unforgettable guest experiences.

Accor also recently launched this website dedicated to showcasing the extensive resort portfolio of the group across the globe, enabling customers to choose a resort adapted to family travel, as well as for other themes such as mountains, beaches, spas, or golf.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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What Accor Has to Say on the Rising Bleisure Travel Trend - BizBash

With the world figuring out how to live with COVID-19, the travel industry is in growth mode again. U.S. travel for leisure has reached new all-time highs, but business travel is still down from pre-pandemic levels. The same goes for international travel activity. Vacations still have a long way to fully recover, and new digital tools for booking accommodations are on the rise. Over the course of the next decade, some estimates point to global travel spending increasing at an average of 5% to 6% annually -- double the expected average annual growth of the global economy.

Source: Getty Images

Investing in travel ETFs might make a lot of sense right now. If you think the travel industry will continue to rebound and that the global consumer will travel more over the long term, buying a travel ETF could provide healthy investment returns.

The global travel industry is a large space that spans multiple sectors of the economy. On one end are industrial companies such as airlines, vehicle makers (including RVs or bikes, for example), and energy companies that make moving people possible in the first place. On the other end are destinations such as theme park and cruise line operators, restaurants, and accommodations such as hotels and rental properties. Connecting the two are travel agencies, digital booking services, and other tools that help facilitate travel.

Picking the right stocks in such a massive space can be tricky. But buying a travel ETF (exchange-traded fund) yields instant diversification by way of a large basket of travel industry stocks. Here are six worth a look for 2022:

The U.S. Global Jets ETF is by far the largest fund on our list, with client funds under management of more than $2.5 billion as of this writing. Its also the only ETF focused on the airline industry, an absolutely essential business for the travel space. The U.S. Global Jets ETF was launched in 2015. The annual fee is 0.6%, which works out to $6 per year deducted from the ETFs performance per $1,000 invested.

The majority of the U.S. Global Jets ETFs portfolio is dedicated to U.S. airline operators. One-third of assets are invested in Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), and American Airlines (NYSE:AAL). There are also stocks of international carriers in the mix, as well as a few online travel booking stocks. But by and large, the ETF will perform on the same plane as U.S. airline stocks. This fund is for investors who think air travel volumes will gradually increase over time.

The PowerShares Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF is from large investment company Invesco (NYSE:IVZ). The ETF has been around since 2005 and has amassed more than $900 million in client funds. It charges a 0.55% annual fee.

The ETF is a more well-diversified travel industry offering. Although it is limited to 30 stocks in the leisure and entertainment industry, companies in the portfolio include businesses such as event promoter and venue manager Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV), hotelier Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR), and online travel giant Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG). The PowerShares Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF has underperformed the S&P 500 Index since the fund was started, largely due to the start of the pandemic in 2020.

As its name implies, the ETFMG Travel Tech ETF is the most cutting-edge fund on our list. It has $188 million in funds under management and charges 0.75% per year. This is also a newer ETF. Its inception was at the start of 2020, just before the pandemic began.

Since launching in February 2020, the ETFMG Travel Tech ETF has drastically underperformed the S&P 500. However, a rally could eventually be in order, especially since a little more than half of the fund is invested in online and highly profitable travel software stocks such as Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) and Booking Holdings. There are also ride-hailing businesses such as Uber (NYSE:UBER) in the mix, as well as smaller travel agencies and planning companies.

The next ETF is also a fresh offering, having launched over the summer of 2021. The Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF was built to capture investor interest in a potential rebound in the global travel industry, although the portfolio hasnt met those expectations. The fund manages more than $37 million and charges 0.45% a year.

The Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF is comprised of 56 stocks. The name indicates the portfolios composition. Top holdings include Marriott International, Delta Airlines, and major cruise line Carnival (NYSE:CCL). Although it has lost to the market overall in its short existence, the ETF could be a top pick for investors who want focused exposure to lodging accommodations, air travel, and cruises.

Another recent ETF offering, the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF has only accumulated about $12 million in funds since launching in the autumn of 2021. It charges 0.65% in annual fees.

Although still small at this stage, the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF aims to be a well-diversified investment option. Top stocks include airplane manufacturer Boeing (NYSE:BA), entertainment conglomerate Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS), and payments and travel company American Express (NYSE:AXP), as well as many other businesses already mentioned above. Its diversified approach to travel and adjacent industries could serve the ETF well in the years ahead.

This last ETF, by far the smallest with a little more than $6 million in client funds under management, is another niche travel offering. The AdvisorShares Hotel ETF focuses on hotels, accommodations, casinos (gaming), and related travel sub-industries. As an actively managed fund, it has a higher expense ratio of 0.99% per year.

The fund managers focus on profitable businesses that have a dominant position among their competitors. As of this writing, the top three stocks in the portfolio are oil and gas worker housing specialist Target Hospitality (NASDAQ:TH), resort and vacation property manager Bluegreen Vacations Holding (NYSE:BVH), and Marriott. With its focus on profitable companies that havent been hit as hard by the pandemic as other travel companies, the ETF has held up relatively well so far compared to some of its peers on this list. However, since most of its holdings are real estate stocks, it may not have the same growth potential as other travel ETFs.

Although the travel industry has been beaten down over the past few years, this is an area of the global economy that should grow at a steady pace in the next decade. However, as is the case with other discretionary consumer spending, travel stocks can also be highly sensitive to overall economic health. Expect plenty of bumps in the road. Nevertheless, for investors who believe travel will keep expanding for years to come, investing in a travel ETF could be a solid option for a well-diversified portfolio that includes other investment themes.

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6 Travel ETFs to Consider in 2022 | The Motley Fool - The Motley Fool

In my best Captain kirk voice: Space, the final frontier.

But a frontier that theatre generally sticks clear off due to budget and practical constraints.

Its a tall task, but a task that Vinay Patels new reimagining of Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard laughs in the face of, perhaps foolhardily.

Written in 1904, the play was Chekhovs last and one of the big four. Set in the failing light of the old aristocracy of Russia, issues of class, history, modernity, freedom, and space are all touched on in classic Chekhovian prose. Issues not alien (see what I did there?) to the themes of colonisation and spaceships. So far so good.

Lets stay on the good, shall we?

Patel is a dexterous writer, mounting such a difficult uphill battle is commendable indeed. He reimagines the characters of the play and throws them out into the void with this very loose adaptation. He creates a revivifying South Asian take on the normally pasty-pale sci-fi population, flipping the script (quite literally) on the historically white-dominated genre.

The senselessness and inactivity of the Russian characters and the rigid social strata are recreated, at points effectively, aboard the spaceship. The ruling family protects the upper reaches and arboretum (with the eponymous cherry trees in it) from the working class downdeckers. The idea is fascinating and has much potential.

Continuing in this vein, Rosie Elniles slowly revolving Tardis-like set is detailed and beautiful. Along with her elegantly futuristic costumes, she clothes the dilapidated ships aging grandeur brilliantly, with the help of Max Pappenheims clanking galactic sound design.

We do believe we are humanitys last hope, racing through the blackness on an intergenerational journey to a habitable world.

Moments of characters peering out into the orchard through slow-moving portholes frame the action and belie the real size of the stage. This circular set has all the feel of the contemporary Doctor Who not the 70s wheelie-bin-heavy version (thankfully).

The directors and actors have a dominating effect on most pieces, and this is no exception. The Cherry Orchard is a long play. Adding in all the elements of space travel robot-human relationships, possible home planets, endless technical jargon, and cloning on top of the themes already mentioned asks a lot of all involved.

James Macdonalds directing feels rushed as he tries to condense all this into just under three hours of theatre. A lot of moments that require space (haha) and silence are denied them. Some delightful details stand out, but they are whisked into the airlock before they have time to become anything. This undercuts a lot of the acting work in the process.

Speaking of acting, we hit more solar wind on that front. An exploding nebula, Tripti Tripuranenis performance as Varsha is a saving grace. Holding the ship together as her mother and sister wallow in memory and love, she is a tough, confident talent that warms up the frosty script.

Hari Mackinnon as the hilarious robot servant Feroze is unwavering in his rigid movements and comedic timing. Think C3PO (having seen better days) in a black suit. His performance is where the plays written comedy lands as it should.

Anjali Jay as Captain Prema Ramesh is the matriarch and the glue that holds the story together. Although hitting the grief of her lost son well, she never quite gets the timing right in the group scenes. Maanuv Thiara as Abinash Lenka equally feels uncomfortable with the character.

Other character subplots seem to be relegated by the need for brevity and therefore come across as stunted. The love stories are also lost in the mist of attempted over-achievement. This can be laid more squarely at Patel and Macdonalds feet.

Despite a stratospheric concept and some gleaming performances, and even with a burst of unique cultural reworking, the play never quite gets into orbit.

The second act particularly tries to stuff so much in that we start losing the sense of what is happening.

The characters in the Russian version of the play are paralysed by their inequalities, while in this case they are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of themes and plot points required of them.

As a writer, I love any chance to pepper my work with terrible shuttle-based puns, and in this instant the play crash-lands, weighed down by its own ambition.

The ending lacks the needed urgency or poetry to pull of the final coup de grce.

The Cherry Orchard runs until 22 October at The Yard Theatre, Unit 2a, Queens Yard, White Post Lane, E9 5EN.

theyardtheatre.co.uk

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The Cherry Orchard, The Yard Theatre, stage review: 'Space drama that never quite gets into orbit' - Hackney Citizen

In Sir Walter Scotts library at Abbotsford, theres a tiny door in the corner of the mezzanine level that runs around the book-lined room.

Its not open to the public but features a winding staircase that leads to his dressing chamber.

According to our audio guide on the tour, Scott would sometimes use this to avoid unwanted guests. How great, I thought, to be able to scuttle off through an escape hatch.

In a way, The Railway Carriage, which is a brand new property on the books of luxury self-catering providers, Crabtree & Crabtree, is a temporary version of owning that room. We can scoot away from our city responsibilities for one weekend.

This place is just five minutes drive from Abbotsford and is situated on a private estate of over 500 acres, which youre free to explore and includes a couple of lochs and plenty of foot paths. Apparently, there are a few other holiday properties on this land, but none were within sight, so it felt very secluded. However, were near endless Scottish Borders attractions, including top restaurant, The Hoebridge at Gattonside, Thirlestane Castle and Melrose, where we spent ages admiring the autumn apples in Priorwood Garden orchard.

It turned out that there was to be no rustic glamping on our holiday.

Whenever I told people I was staying in a former railway carriage, they asked, Was it tiny?.

Nope. This is much fancier (and bigger) than you might anticipate. Were its first guests ever, so try not to leave any fingerprints on the pristine interior. Its only the heart of the property - the living and kitchen space - thats made from an old Waverley Line train carriage, which had a second life as a shepherds hut. Its been polished up so much that you wouldnt really know, but for the curved and beamed wooden ceiling. This isnt a ScotRail carriage.

As with all the properties on Crabtree & Crabtrees books, it is a stylish space. You will find no dog-eared Danielle Steels or jigsaws with missing pieces. Just lovely coffee table books, dried flowers and textural cushions.

Theyve gone for a decor that they describe as Scandi-minimalist, and its neutral enough not to distract from the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a comfy sofa thats perfectly positioned to take advantage of the soft hillside view and all those long clouds. There seems to be more of them in the Borders - cumulus and stratus - we watched them drift and disperse. One looked like a hare, another was The Luck Dragon from A Never Ending Story.

Beyond the main living area, the space has been extended, so theres a central annex with sheepskin strewn window seats, a small dining table, and a stove. Through pocket doors, this leads to a bedroom with a telly, hanging space and a very smart en-suite, which includes a freestanding bamboo-clad bath. This room also has folding doors and extends onto the wraparound deck, where theres a Kamado oven and seating areas, but also a semi-enclosed rain shower, should you want to brave the cold sprint from carriage to hot water. I do, one morning, and understand the endorphin boost experienced by wild swimmers. Invigorating.

Then, for those with a first class ticket only, theres the piece de resistance of a Norwegian-style wood-burning hot tub.

However, there would be no skinny dipping on our stay, even if theres no other creature around for miles, apart from the roe deer that we watched leap over a fence. We didnt want to traumatize the birds and squirrels, who we could hear rustling in the nearby woodland, with its silver birches and firs.

Good things come to those who wait, and the hot tub takes about four to five hours to fill and heat up. You keep chucking a log into the stove, then check the rubber ducky, which has a thermometer attached, to see how youre getting on.

We ate cheese to kill time, as well as the pear frangipane tart wed procured from cafe, Apples for Jam, in Melrose.

As soon as the water reached 100F, we were straight in there, and there was the scent of wood smoke and the cool breeze on our shoulders.

It seems that escape can be found in a very stationary railway carriage.

Seven nights at The Railway Carriage, Faldonside, available through Crabtree & Crabtree costs from 925. To book call 01573 2267111 or visit http://www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com

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Travel: The Railway Carriage near Melrose offers a peaceful weekend escape, and a wood-fired hot tub - The Scotsman

Photo: Claudio Cruz (Getty Images)

The stories we tell ourselves become the histories we live. What stories are we telling ourselves about women?

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon founded Stemettes in 2013, a British social enterprise that recruits young women into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She was awarded the British honor of a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire after passing A-level computing exams at age 11 and going on to devote herself to supporting women in STEM. She was voted most influential woman in tech in the U.K. in 2020 by Computer Weekly.

In her new book, Shes In Ctrl: How Women Can Take Back Tech, Imafidon explores how women have been cut from the tech story, and how the space of tech should not be considered exclusive or unchangeable. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 5, A Womans Work, about the power of science fiction to sculpt the future of technology. Other chapters of the book focus on gatekeeping within the industry and holding power players accountable.

Ultimately, imagination is about new and unreal things; technology is about making the unreal real. Taking control of technology doesnt always mean creating the new from scratch it can also mean adding something new to what already exists. Ideas can be planted in the imagination from all kinds of sources, but your experiences are a key component of what you imagine your upbringing, your formative experiences and your day-to-day reality combine with your values and priorities. The existing social constructs around being a woman also feed into what goes on in your imagination. The same is true of any gender.

Its also important to consider the effect science fiction has on the imagination. So many of the folks that are super excited to be technologists credit sci-fi, games, and films and TV shows they enjoyed during their formative years with influencing how they see the world and what they think should happen in it next.

Do you remember Knight Rider, the 1980s TV series? Michael Knight would fight crime with his car, KITT. He talked to his vehicle, it would understand what he was saying, and some- times it would talk back. Its quite funny to think the premise was so futuristic, so novel and exciting back then, but these days we talk to inanimate objects all the time. We talk to our phones, and they answer us. We ask a robot to turn off the lights, or tell us the weather forecast. Science fiction becoming science reality is something weve seen time and time again.

Just as someone dreamed up Knight Rider, its possible to dream up all kinds of scenarios that could become a reality. Youre probably already imagining things that could make your life easier, or solve problems. You might also already be dreaming about alternate universes and what 200 years into the future might look like. What do you see? What is life like for the equivalent you in 2222? Take some time to daydream. Dont do any research, just imagine. Maybe a drawing will help. Maybe a poem.

Is it dystopian? Is it like any of the sci-fi movies youve seen? Are there aliens? We make a lot of TV shows like Black Mirror and films such as The Terminator that point to a fearful future and showcase the dark side of science fiction. However, for every Terminator there should be a saviour, an enabler, a creator we just have to imagine them. Read widely and think differently to take in the picture of humanity around you. Ask yourself: What do people need? How can I help them? What problems can we solve?

Some years ago I was excited to be a part of an alternate sci-fi project by the organization/responsible-technology think tank Doteveryone. They asked: How many times have we heard about the female perspective in science fiction a womans experience of being an astronaut or how a woman would find living on Mars? What would it mean if babies could gestate outside a womans body? Or if you had to choose between bearing children and exploring deep space? What if it turns out that womens bodies are more suited to space travel than mens?

So many of the stories of our history are male-centred. What if we had a positive, female-centred view of the future? Why does it need to be the terrifying Handmaids Tale? We should explore more positive outcomes, and use them as motivation for why women should be engaging with tech, and aiming to be in the room.

We are part of the future too, yet so much of the current forecasting doesnt include us. This is in spite of the fact that there are times when only we, as women, with the journeys weve had, can be the ones to suggest an idea, or dare to dream. Its a negative that we can turn into a positive. Much bad tech is the result of a lack of perspective or experience, which limits the imagination of the person creating the tech. Often, whichever of the dreamers secured the most funding at the time becomes the person most likely to turn those dreams into something tangible. We recognize these innovators as mainly men, who can speak to only a narrow interpretation of progress.

Take, for example, Elon Musk. As well as running his own space program, he founded The Boring Company. Imagine being rich enough to realize your dreams, and deciding that boring traffic tunnels into the Earth is a good use of your money? I can think of many more worthwhile and life-enhancing projects!

Science fiction has inspired so much of Musks work that it makes us wonder what our world might look like if hed read different books when he was younger. What if hed read sci-fi about a post-cancer world? Or if hed read more about the legions of people affected by endometriosis? Or even sci-fi based around a cohort of exclusively female astronauts?

Tech should be about serving the needs of the many, not just the few dreamers who have enough money to turn their visions into machines. I appreciate that it can sometimes feel as if there are too many choices to make, so its also important to choose your problem like a billionaire philanthropist trying to decide which good cause their money should go towards. How about the eradication of a terrible disease, like the Gates Foundation aiming to get rid of polio by funding vaccinations worldwide? Or funding the development of a new vaccine, in the way that Dolly Parton did by donating $1 million towards Moderna Covid-19 vaccine research?

You might prefer to fund the school or university that you went to, or the arts, or a museum. Between 2007 and 2017, British millionaires gave nearly 5 billion to higher education (mostly Oxford and Cambridge universities), 1 billion to the arts, but just over 2 million to alleviating poverty. Similarly, in the US, barely one dollar in five donated by philanthropists goes to the poor. No wonder philanthropy doesnt improve inequality.

Maybe youd be inspired to make choices more along the lines of those of Julian Richer, who owns home entertainment chain Richer Sounds. He gave his employees 60 per cent of shares in the company, through a trust,2 and handed them a total of 3.5 million 1,000 each for every year of service. Rather than keeping their wages down and then donating his wealth to help the poor, he decided to pay his employees properly and gave them some control over the company too.

If were talking about power and money, and the role those things play in the tech thats built, it becomes clear that were not very good at choosing the right kind of problems to solve, let alone solving them very well. Lots of projects have been funded that probably shouldnt have. Its an issue that plays out in a big way for tech. However, rather than feel downhearted, as a woman trying to take CTRL, Id argue that its an exciting prospect to consider. The types of problems that you see and want to solve, and the types of choices you want to make in how you solve those problems, can be a great tool for holding yourself accountable, as well as holding others accountable.

This article originally appeared in Shes In Ctrl: How Women Can Take Back Tech by Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon.

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Want More Women in Tech? Read Better Sci-Fi - Gizmodo

In 2020, the billionaire space race was in full swing. Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk were vying to send everyday astronauts into low orbit for the first time. Each of the billionaires successfully launched at least once, and Bezos and Branson were even passengers aboard their own businesses rocket ships. Comercial space travel was reaching new heights, and the momentum appeared unstoppable, at least for a time.

Since then, the aftereffects of the global coronavirus pandemic have had noticeably dampened our outlook on space travel: many are less interested in hearing about Blue Origins latest design features, and instead are more concerned with domestic events unfolding here on earth. Among these, the war in Ukraine and, as a byproduct, the recent news that Russia has pulled out of the international space station, would seem to further distance us from the final frontier.

However, in recent days, NASAs ambitions to land on the moon once again with its Artemis mission have recaptured the public imagination for space travel. Although NASAs initial SLS rocket test recently failed to launch, a second attempt has now been announced for September 27.

If commercial space travel into Earths orbitor even to the moon and beyonddoes eventually become a possibility there will still be significant challenges for individuals looking to buy their ticket to the final frontier. Here are just a few of the kinds of issues we will be looking at in the decades ahead.

Its easy to get swept up in the fervor for space travel and believe that well all be living the Jetson lifestyle by the end of the decade. But space travel still requires massive amounts of money, planning, and resources. Even the ever-optimistic Elon Musk puts the minimum cost of space travel at $10 million per flight.

In an interview, Musk stated that the cost efficiency of SpaceX is the best in history, and it is designed to be fully reusable. This means that, according to Musks quick math, the cost of SpaceX is around 5-10% of the Saturn V project (the last rocket to send humans to the moon).

Musk also revealed that significant planning and administrative approval are needed to send rocket ships into and beyond low orbit. The Federal Aviation Administration will need to review SpaceXs request for space travel and will account for environmental factors and human interests.

The organization has already caught some flack for causing damage to local ecosystems and displacing residents when SpaceX obtained Boca Chica beach in Texas. As resident Mary McConnaughey explained, Theyre here to stay and they want us to leave. Dealing with disgruntled locals may seem like a trivial matter compared to the boundless cosmos above our heads. But, failing to work collaboratively with the folks here on earth is a genuine hurdle with which all space travelers must contend.

A few years ago, space travel seemed to be a beacon of hope for everyone who wanted to see nations work more on collaborative efforts than divisive ones. However, recent news that Russia has pulled out of the space station projecthas dampened optimism and thrown a wrench in collaborative plans.

Of course, global collaboration for space travel isnt completely necessary. Independent governmental organizations and billionaires may thrust us into the future. However, a lack of international collaboration will likely slow the space race down rather than speed it up as scientists will have to guard space-related secrets rather than work in open transparency.

The International Space Station does look set to wind down post-2024. In the meantime, it continues to prove that collaboration is necessary for the kinds of tests and experiments needed to solve the realities of space travel. Even Russia, which positions itself as a global powerhouse, doesnt have the means to create a space station of its own.

Former ISS commander, Dr. Leroy Chaio, explains, They [Russia] dont have the money to build their own station and will be left with no access to a space station without the ISS. This will further compound collaborative space travel issues, as the European Space Agency has already ended collaboration with the Russian Roskosmos project.

Things could, theoretically, get worse if collaboration turned into a competition. Space travel could be susceptible to cyber war as Nation State Actors exploit vulnerabilities. Governmental agencies and corporations will have to use AI to detect hackers and malicious activities in real-time. AI-led behavior detection may have to prevent bad actors from gaining access to rocketships and ensure that passengers have a safe living and working environment in space.

When we think of space travel, most people imagine floating through hallways, eating dehydrated dinners, and staring into the void for hours on end. All of these activities underline a less-thought-of reality: life in space would be lonely.

Almost all astronauts describe their first journey into space as a life-altering experience. However, that doesnt mean that the folks who live and work beyond the earths surface wont fall foul of burnout. The myth that, in 1972, astronauts at SkyLab went on strike due to ignored requests to lighten their workload has now been proven false. But, the story is an important reminder that burnout is real and can affect us all.

Offering professional social support can prevent loneliness and burnout in space. Social care specialists will be able to help passengers and staff avoid excessive stress and illness by listening to the human issues that folks in space experience. A little pre-planned compassion may go a long way for folks who encounter the enigmatic cosmos for the first time.

Of course, while mental stressors like isolation and confinement might necessitate solutions such as prescribed social time, there are also physical effects that come with living in space and some of them are downright harmful. Space radiation means suits and structures need sufficient shielding to mitigate cancer risks, while prolonged exposure to low-gravity and weightlessness can lead to muscle and bone density deterioration as well as kidney stones. Fortunately, modern technology helps astronauts monitor and solve these issues with relative ease.

Significant hurdles still stand in the way of frequent, accessible space travel. As recent world events have shown, costs associated with spaceflight can quickly become an issue, and international politics may stifle progress. If the general public ever reaches space, theyll need professional social support, and sophisticated software to ensure their travels into the final frontier are managed as safely as possible.

All this taken into consideration, space travel for the rest of us is nonetheless slowly becoming a reality even if that reality is reserved, for now, for billionaire producers of 21st century space technologies, and the similarly wealthy passengers willing to pay the steep prices to tag along. In any case, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have given us hope that many more of us could one day be given an opportunity to take a flight into low orbit, or perhaps even to further distant locales beyond our planet.

Adrian Johansen is a freelance writer whose work focuses on business, tech and marketing. She is especially passionate about issues related to accessibility and sustainability. You can read more of her work at her website.

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To the Moon, and Beyond: The Realities of Commercial Space Travel - The Debrief

Danny Warlick remembers the stories his uncle would tell him of space inventions and monkey food.

There was a giant right there in Shelby, Warlick said. He was a treasure to our nation.

Daniel Boryta was a chemist who helped invent a lithium hydroxide filter system used in space travel, and there was one story in particular that immortalized him.

One night the phone rang really late, and it was NASA. The astronauts had spilled Tang, Warlick recounted. It had gotten pulled into the air circulator, and they didn't know how it would react. NASA was worried, how is this going to react with the lithium hydroxide? He had to sit down with a pencil and paper, and I remember this fondly, a wooden, old school slide ruler. He did all the mathematical calculations and determined it would be safe.

Daniel Alfred Boryta, 85, died earlier this month. Born in Schenectady, New York, he eventually made his home in Shelby.

At one time, Boryta was a manager of base chemical research at Cypress Foote Mineral Company and while employed by Foote, he helped develop the lithium hydroxide filter life support system used by NASA in their space missions.

Lithium hydroxide is on the space station right now, Warlick said. Not one launch is without lithium hydroxide. If you watched the movie Apollo 13, they make a big deal about it.

In an old newspaper article, it recounts the Tang disaster that occurred during an Apollo moon mission in the late 1960s. According to the article, the Tang was spilled while orbiting the moon and just before the moon landing.

At Borytas funeral, a display table held photos of a smiling Boryta, articles and certificates recognizing his achievements, and the original wooden ruler he used to make his calculations.

Warlick said at the funeral, relatives shared memories of his inventions. He said his uncle figured out a process for finding leaks on pool covers and liners, an invention he developed while working in Chile to extract lithium from the brine underneath salt flats.

Also when they sent the monkeys into space, he worked on the food for the monkeys and his daughters were telling how he had brought home some of the food and gave it to them to try, Warlick said.

A space buff himself, Warlick enjoyed talking space missions with his uncle but never felt inferior.

He was a genius, he said. If you met him, you would ask him how are you? And he would say fantastic. You didn't feel less if you were around him because of his intelligence. You felt taken back by his smile.

Warlick remembers when he was younger and was pouring a Diet Coke into a glass. He stuck his finger in the liquid to keep the fizz down.

He noticed me doing it and said, Do you know why that's happening? I said no, I don't have a clue. The ridges on your finger are like a million bitty surfaces, carbonation needs surface reaction, when you put your finger in, it's the surface reaction. He was tickled to explain that. He loved what he did. He was historically good at it.

Warlick said Boryta will be recognized by the United States Congress.

Audrey Bishop, district director for congresswoman Virginia Foxx, said the communications team is working with Foxx to memorialize Borytas accomplishments.

Boryta, who also enjoyed sailing and camping, is survived by his wife, Pam Brackett Boryta, four daughters, one son and several grandchildren.

Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com

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Local man remembered for inventions used in space travel - Shelby Star