Category Archives: Space Travel

Since 1948, a bewildering variety of living things, including dogs, apes, plants, reptiles, insects, and various microorganisms, have been sent on extraterrestrial missions. Many animals were killed as a result of these pioneering missions. According to NASA, they sacrificed their lives to advance technology, thus opening the door for all of humanity's subsequent trips into space.

During the early stages of the nation's space program, the Soviet Union launched numerous dogs into orbit, including Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth. During this one-way mission, Laika perished.

The Soviet Union carried out several canine high-altitude tests before the 1957 Laika mission. According to NASA's "A Brief History of Animals in Space," Smelaya the dog ran away the day before the scheduled launch in 1951, raising worries that she might be eaten by neighborhood wolves. The test flight turned out to be successful, and Smelaya was able to return the following day. A few months later, a dog by the name of Bobik also ran away and disappeared.

In the 1950s, mice became the first animals to travel to space, but these pioneering missions frequently failed. When sensors failed to detect any life in the Discoverer 3 capsule during a 1959 attempt to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the US Air Force aborted the launch attempt. The Krylon paint that had been sprayed onto the four mice's cages to smooth out the sharp edges caused them to overdose and die. The mice preferred the Krylon to the formula given to them because it was both tastier and deadlier.

When sensors detected 100% humidity within the capsule, a second launch attempt using a backup mouse crew was also scrapped.

On January 31, 1961, Ham the chimpanzee made history by becoming the first great ape to travel into space. Finding out if animals could complete tasks in space was one of the main objectives of the NASA Mercury-Redstone mission. Ham, who had just turned 2 at the time of the training, was instructed to operate levers to receive incentives in the form of banana pellets and to stay away from punishment in the form of an electrical shock to his feet. Ham had to actively avoid electric shocks while traveling, in addition to coping with the frightening demands of spaceflight. According to NASA, the young chimp performed remarkably well despite facing extreme hardship.

Read also: NASA Hubble Telescope Captures Stunning Images of 'Animals' in Space

The French space program sent a stray Persian cat named Flicetteinto orbit on October 18, 1963. The cat's skull was surgically implanted with electrodes to monitor neurological activity and also cause physical reactions. The first and last cat to have been successfully launched into space is still Flicette, which is either surprising or unsurprising (it's hard to tell which). Soon after the flight, Flicette was put to death so that researchers could examine her brain.

A group of living things made the first-ever journey around the Moon and back as part of the Soviet Zond 5mission. Two Steppe turtles, worms, hundreds of fruit fly eggs, plants, seeds, bacteria, and other organisms were all part of the payload when the spacecraft was launched in 1968. The mission was a success, and the capsule ended up splashing down in the Indian Ocean, the furthest any living thing had ever traveled into space. The result of a 39-day fast was that the tortoises, although still alive, were already on the verge of starvation. Later in the year, a duplicate mission experienced a problem that caused the cabin pressure to drop and all of the biological samples to perish, Gizmodoreports.

Related article: Russia Successfully Launches Spacecraft Full Of Critters Into Space

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5 Weirdest and Most Tragic Stories of Animals Who Were Sent to Space - Nature World News

On the Monday edition of Closer Look, critically acclaimed author, filmmaker and Afro-futurist scholar Ytasha Womack discusses the legacy of trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols. Nichols died Saturday, July 30, aged 89.

Known by many for her role as Nyota Uhura in the originalStar Trek series, Nichols played a pivotal role in the fabric of media during the Civil Rights Movement. The first Black woman to play a lead role in a television series and among the first women depicted as a scientist in space, her innovative contributions to the field opened a realm of possibility for women, people of color and youth. Nichols later became a key figure in recruiting women and minorities to work with NASA and helped mold the future of space travel.

You cant think about science fiction without her name coming up, without her image being one of significance, Womack said. Shes so multi-faceted. She took her role seriously and understood the impact. I think thats something creatives can be inspired by.

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Nichelle Nichols remembered for her contributions to representation in media and space travel WABE - WABE 90.1 FM

This might not be great for the planet, who knew! Photo: Patrick T Fallon/AFP (Getty Images)

I dont know about you, but when Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson were caught in their race to be the first billionaire in space, I wasnt excited. It didnt feel like a great leap forward for humanity or anything lofty like that. Instead, it just felt like a bunch of rich kids finding a new way to mess up the planet. And I was right to be worried, as it turns out that emissions from private space flight are way worse than we thought.

This is all according to a new report from a few high-profile universities around the world, including UCL in London, the University of Cambridge in, erm, Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Researchers from these three institutions studied the emissions from rocket launches 2019. This included gasses emitted by the rocket engines, as well as particulate matter kicked out during liftoff and re-entry.

Soot and chlorine and water, oh my! Photo: Red Huber (Getty Images)

In order to calculate the impact space travel might have, the researchers collected information on the chemicals released by all 103 rocket launches that took place in 2019. They noted that, at this time, none of the launches were dedicated to space tourism.

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Researchers then compared the emissions with recent private space flight demonstrations from Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX, as well as proposals to begin daily rocket launches, to plot what potential future emissions might look like. And its not good.

According to Treehugger, a traditional rocket launch kicks out gases like nitrogen oxide and water vapor. But private flights from the likes of Virgin Galactic and SpaceX also release carbon particles, better known as soot, as well as chlorine and alumina particles.

This doesnt look like a viable mode of transport for the masses.Photo: David Lienemann (Getty Images)

And while all of those emissions are far from great for the planet, its the carbon particulates emitted by burning solid fuels that the researchers warned are the biggest factor in the rising environmental impact of space travel. According to experts at UCL:

The team found that black carbon (soot) particles emitted by rockets are almost 500 times more efficient at holding heat in the atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined (surface and aircraft) resulting in an enhanced climate effect.

The team warned that global warming due to soot could more than double after just three years of additional space flight due to tourism. It specifically cited private launches from Virgin Galactic and SpaceX, as they use kerosene and synthetic rubber fuels to power their crafts.

This boom in emissions due to the fuel of choice for SpaceX isnt a good look for a firm that shares its CEO with EV maker Tesla. Boss Elon Musk has repeatedly claimed that his stratospheric ambitions will benefit the future of the planet, but that only works if theres still a planet to save in the years to come.

A perfect line showing all the spots this SpaceX rocket left soot on its way to space. Photo: Red Huber (Getty Images)

Whats more, the impact of these soot emissions could be even worse for global warming, as they are directly injected into the upper atmosphere. This, the researchers warn, compounds their effect on the climate as they are 500 times more efficient at retaining heat.

Dr. Eloise Marais, study co-author from the UCL Geography department, said: Rocket launches are routinely compared to greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from the aircraft industry, which we demonstrate in our work is erroneous.

Soot particles from rocket launches have a much larger climate effect than aircraft and other Earth-bound sources, so there doesnt need to be as many rocket launches as international flights to have a similar impact. What we really need now is a discussion amongst experts on the best strategy for regulating this rapidly growing industry.

Apollo used kerosene for its launch, then switched to cleaner-burning hydrogen as fuel. Photo: NASA / AFP (Getty Images)

So the big question is, how much of this space travel is really necessary? And, is there a way to clean up any missions into orbit that actually are benefitting the planet?

NASA has used hydrogen as rocket fuel for decades, with the Apollo missions to the moon using the gas as fuel for their second and third stages. Burning hydrogen creates water vapor, so doesnt dump soot into the earths atmosphere like kerosene and synthetic rubber does. Could a change in fuel be needed for anyone that desperately has to go to space?

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Sooty Emissions from Private Space Flight Are Way Worse Than We Thought - Jalopnik

Today, Natures Fynds protein bioreactor is going into orbit aboard SpaceX-25 to develop new ways to provide nutritious, sustainable protein for space exploration.

This flight is an exciting next step in Natures Fynds ongoing collaboration with NASAs EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), Montana State University, and BioServe Space Technologies, a Center within the University of Colorado Boulder.

The goal of the flight study is to demonstrate the use of a novel bioreactor technology for growing high-protein food on the International Space Station (ISS). This bioreactor technology has proven to efficiently convert simple feedstocks on Earth, including vegetation and other excess plant material into high-protein biomats of fungi. Now, this flight will research the bioreactors efficacy under low-Earth orbit microgravity and radiation conditions.

We are seeing the possibilities of exploration beyond our planet brought to life just this week by NASAs James Webb Space Telescope. Today, were thrilled to announce our role in the revolutionary NASA research to develop a safe, efficient, and robust system for producing fresh food in space. Our connection to NASA is deepNatures Fynd started as a research project for NASA, which led us to discover a remarkable microbe with origins in Yellowstone National Park. Were delighted to come full circle now and demonstrate our technologys efficacy for future space travel. Our breakthrough fermentation system is relatively simple, uses minimal energy and water, and delivers a nutritious protein that is easy to harvest, with little to no waste in a matter of daysas perfect for space as it is here on Earth, said Thomas Jonas CEO and Co-Founder of Natures Fynd.

The novel bioreactor onboard the ISS will grow Fy, Natures Fynds highly versatile, nutritional fungi protein harnessing their patented fermentation technology that uses a fraction of the land, water, and energy required by traditional agriculture. Packed with all twenty amino acids, including the nine essential ones, Fy is a complete, vegan protein and a healthy source of fiber and other essential nutrients. Natures Fynd recently launched its Meatless Breakfast Patties and Dairy-Free Cream Cheese made with Fy in grocery stores across the USto deliver on its mission of creating amazing foods that nourish people while nurturing the planet.

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

About Natures Fynd

Natures Fynd is a Chicago-based food company creating versatile alternative proteins to nourish the worlds growing population while nurturing the planet. Born out of research conducted for NASA on microbes with origins in Yellowstone National Park, the companys breakthrough fermentation technology grows Fy. Fy is a new-to-the-world nutritional fungi protein that uses only a fraction of the resources required by traditional agriculture. The company has raised over $500 million in equity and debt financing to date. Natures Fynds products are available in stores across the country, including Berkeley Bowl in California, Fairway Market in New York, Marianos in Chicago and now select Whole Foods Markets stores in ten states across the West and Northeast. For more information visit http://www.naturesfynd.com Or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn. The termsNatures Fynd,The Fynder Group,Fy, andFy Protein are trademarks of the Company.

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Natures Fynd collaborates with NASA to grow Fy, its revolutionary fungi-based protein in space - Space Ref

According to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, theres a six to 10 per cent chance rocket junk may re-enter the Earths atmosphere and could even severely injure or kill a human.

The study was a joint collaboration between professors in the universitys departments of political science and physics.

The researchers say governments need to take collective action to mandate rocket junk be guided safely back to Earth after use. They say such a mandate would inevitably increase the cost of launches but should be a necessary cost.

While the risk to any one person is very low being struck and killed by space junk should not be high on your personal list of worries the researchers still believe it is dangerous enough to warrant being addressed and easy enough to solve, albeit somewhat expensive.

What were proposing is entirely feasible and theres, therefore, no excuse for delaying action on this matter, said Michael Byers, a professor of political science at UBC and the lead researcher on the project.

Technological advancements in space travel now include engines that can reignite as well as extra fuel which can aid in guiding debris to remote areas of the oceans. In addition to the potential threat that it poses to humans, space junk remaining in orbit can also cause significant property damage.

In 2020, a 12-metre long pipe fell from the sky and struck the Ivory Coast village of Mahounou, causing damage to local buildings.

As a vast nation, Canada is at an increased risk of being hit by debris.

In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite, falling back to Earth, scattered potentially radioactive debris into the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The cleanup project that ensued, called Operation Morning Light, ended up costing nearly $14 million. Canada had originally sought $6 million from the Soviet Union but only ended up receiving $3 million.

Because of the Earths rotation, it is unlikely the nation launching a spacecraft will also be the one that suffers the consequences of its debris.

Despite most spacecraft being launched from the global north, the researchers found the global south disproportionately bears the risk of being struck by space junk because of the earths tilt and rotations.

RELATED: VIDEO: NASAs new telescope shows star death, dancing galaxies

The study found the latitudes aligned with Jakarta, Dhaka and Lagos are approximately three times more likely to be struck by debris than those of New York, Moscow and Bejing.

Byers suggests following the model of international collaboration that took place after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 and the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 treaty that phased out the use of substances causing rapid ozone depletion.

Both required some cost to change practice, but in response to new scientific analysis, there was a collective will to do so, said Byers. In both instances, they were complete successes.

According to NASA, there are 27,000 pieces of orbital debris being tracked by the American government. However, much more debris, too small to be tracked but large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic missions, exists.

Spacecraft and debris both travel at extremely high speeds (upwards of 25,000 km/h) so even a small piece of debris could create big problems, NASA indicates.

As of 2017, the United States had the most pieces of debris in orbit with 3,999. Russia was a close second, with 3,961 pieces of debris (including items from the Soviet Union).

Proportionally, China is the leading pollutor of space junk, with 7.5 pieces of debris objects per payload. The United States and Russia are responsible for 1.3 and 4.3 objects per payload, respectively.

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Death by objects falling from space could be more likely than people realize Terrace Standard - Terrace Standard

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Unconscious mind activates central cardiovascular network and promotes adaptation to microgravity possibly anti-aging during 1-year-long spaceflight |...

As the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow gets under way near London, its an ideal time to explore some of the exciting developments that are energizing both the present and the future of Alabamas multi-layered aerospace industry.

Here is a brief look at a few of those developments.

HUNTSVILLE SPACEPORT

In May, the Huntsville International Airport won FAA approval to allow commercial space vehicles to land on its runway, making it the first commercial airport in the U.S. licensed to operate as a re-entry site for space vehicles.

The decision means Sierra Spaces Dream Chaser spaceplane is one step closer to landing in Huntsville, realizing a vision city leaders set into motion beginning in 2014.

TheDream Chaseris a reusable re-entry vehicle to deliver supplies to the International Space Station as part of a NASA resupply program.

The spaceplane could begin landing in Huntsville as soon as next year.

The landing of Dream Chaser at Huntsville International Airport is part of a vision for economic development that continues our legacy in space science and taps into our workforce expertise and assets developed for the International Space Station, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said.

The FAA decision positions Huntsvilles airport as a potential landing spot for other space re-entry vehicles, according to the Huntsville Madison County Chamber.

DIGITAL HYPERSONICS FACTORY

Lockheed Martins new facility in Courtland known as Missile Assembly Building 4, or MAB4 is no typical factory. Rather, its a digital first center for the development of hypersonic strike technologies.

MAB4 was designed to pull together the best advanced production processes from across the entire company. Its team uses cutting-edge technologies, including robotics, electronic foam boards, smart torque tools, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and model-based data consumption.

Lockheed Martin said MAB4, which opened in late 2021, represents a milestone in its strategic commitment to establish North Alabama as the Home of Hypersonic Strike Production.

These weapons, flying at five times the speed of sound or faster, can intercept and destroy ultra-fast enemy missiles.

This Lockheed Martin factory underscores the fact that important defense work is being conducted in Alabama, enhancing national security and keeping us all safer, Secretary Canfield said.

SOLVING ADDITIVE RIDDLES

Additive manufacturing, or industrial 3-D printing, is poised to revolutionize how aircraft components are made, but only if we can be certain the parts are reliable.

Thats where Auburn Universitys additive manufacturing research center comes in, thanks to its work with the FAA to improve commercial air travel by raising the reliability of 3-D printed metal aircraft components.

The FAA said its $3 million partnershipwith Auburns National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME) is intended to improve safety by standardizing certification of existing and emerging structural applications of advanced materials.

NCAMEs researchers will help the FAA develop additive manufacturing specifications related to understanding how microscopic features in 3-D printed metal affect overall fatigue and fracture properties in parts, along with variability issues across different production platforms.

By understanding the sources of variability, controlling them, or accounting for them, we can generate more reliable materials data, and more reliable AM products, said Nima Shamsaei, the NCAME director.

In other words, the Auburn researchers will be cracking the code on 3-D printed parts to make them safer.

ROARING ROCKET ENGINES

When Blue Origin selected Huntsville as the site for its new, $200 million rocket engine factory, the spaceflight company had its eyes on the future and the past.

Specifically, Blue Origin glimpsed the resurrection of historic Test Stand 4670 at Marshall Space Flight Center, where NASA evaluated the engines that propelled the Saturn V rocket on the Apollo programs journey to the Moon. The 300-foot structure, commissioned in 1965, had been inactive since 1988.

Blue Origin launched an extensive rehabilitation project to put the test stand back in action for the BE-4 and BE-3U engines made at its new Huntsville facility. The first test could happen later this year, reviving the rocket engine roar residents remember from back in the day.

One of the coolest things about this whole project is the history, David Helderman, Blue Origins director of Alabama test operations, told the Huntsville Business Journal in May.

We love that were building our history on history. Its a cool, long history of Americas Space Program, he added.

For the first time, our Huntsville engines team has installed a #BE4 engine into Blue Origins refurbished and historic MSFC Test Stand 4670 preparing for commissioning tests. pic.twitter.com/AdVemeFfFC

Blue Origin (@blueorigin) June 21, 2022

Blue Origins Alabama-made BE-4 engines will power the companys own New Glenn rocket as well as the United Launch Alliances next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket, which will soon launch on its first mission.

ULA builds the Vulcan Centaur at the nations largest rocket factory in Decatur, just minutes away from Blue Origins facility and the NASA test stand in Huntsville.

Vulcan Centaurs future was given a boost in April 2022, when Amazon selected the ULA rocket for 38 launches supporting deployment for its ambitious Project Kuiper, Amazons initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 advanced satellites in low Earth orbit.

The 1.6 million-square-foot ULA factory in Decatur has been the production site for the companys workhorse Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. CEO Tory Bruno tweeted in late July that the company has orders for 70 Vulcan rockets, with eight of them in the production flow in Decatur.

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Alabama aerospace industry blasting off with dynamic developments - Made In Alabama

What is (NFT)

A non-fungible token (NFT) is monetary security that consists of digital data secured in a blockchain. This blockchain keeps the record of NFTs ownership, and it can be easily transferred to other people by the owner. Hence, it allows NFTs to be sold and traded. They can be made by anybody. It needs a little or zero coding expertise to generate them. NFTs typically have some references to digital files that may include photos, audio, or videos. As NFTs can be identified uniquely, they are not similar to cryptocurrencies. The market value of this financial security depends upon its digital files. An NFT does not hinder the copying of its relevant digital file and avoids preventing the making of NFTs that reference identical files

Space travel club

This club is earning good popularity all over the world due to its unique and fascinating projects. Their projects are mostly NFT-based. They are offering people an opportunity to board a real space. Moreover, they offer a trip every year. However, these facilities are only for NFT owners. This firm is providing many services to the NFT holders to fascinate them. Their NFT acts as a membership card for them. With the help of this card, they can participate in various events. They can also book many planets in the metaverse using their NFT. They can also get some other benefits only available to members.

Importance of STC

Ticket types

STC does not always give you the ticket that wins. While every ticket keeper is allowed to access all VIP events, however, boarding to space has some special requirements. Fulfilling those requirements means you should be a winner when they draw the tickets of winners after each snapshot. The collection of their tickets is 246 tickets. Out of the 245, tickets will be put on the minting list. Only one Palladium ticket will be presented to the special guest of STC. The following are some ticket types and their chances to board after each snapshot:

Conclusion

We know that NFT is a source of digital financial security. It is being used by many people these days. Space Travel project is a firm that runs some NFT-based projects. If you have some NFTs, you can get a chance to board a real space. They also give you access to various other events. These facilities are only for their members and your NFT will act as your membership card.

To know more about this project visit their websitewww.spacetravelclub.worldor follow the project on twitterhttps://twitter.com/spacetravelclu1

Media ContactCompany Name: STC LabsContact Person: Sophia Price Marketing manager Email: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.spacetravelclub.world/

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STC, a new club that will board to real space - Digital Journal

University of Central Florida Assistant professor Kawai Kwok is seen at the Structures & Materials Design Laboratory, on June 22, 2022. Kwoks work focuses on developing shape-changing structures. These kinds of structures can be used on space missions, for drone work and for solar sails and blades among other applications. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

ORLANDO, Fla. (Tribune News Service) An army of Knights is among the researchers charging their way into final frontier with innovative projects shaping the future of space travel.

Perhaps it's unsurprising due to the University of Central Florida's history tied to the American space program. As the need for more aerospace engineers rose, the "space university" opened its doors to education in 1968 the same year the Apollo 8 mission took humans into the moon's orbit.

Since then, students and professors have taken full advantage of being only 35 miles from Kennedy Space Center collaborating with NASA, developing new technologies and techniques straight out of science fiction. In the last 18 months, UCF has had 71 space-related research projects approved and awarded with grants exceeding $10 million, according to UCF spokeswoman Zenaida Kotala.

Some of the research projects include:

3-D printed sensors for astronauts to monitor ship's integrity

A device that would create a landing pad for a rocket as it lands

Developing cost-effective and logistically feasible way to mine lunar ice

The projects' vary widely but nearly half of them, 31, are moon-research related.

Most recently, UCF's Kawai Kwok was one of eight UCF recipients to receive the NSF Career award for his research proposal of examining flexible yet strong material capable of performing as a satellite solar sail, and then being able to roll up from the satellite's base as easily as measuring tape.

Shape changing structures

It's called "snapping instability structures" Kwok said and his idea all started with a stroll through his garden.

Kwok was admiring a ladybug as it flew by. The gentle insect landed on a flower, compacted its wings and nimbly navigated its surroundings. Other than achieving flight, insect wings will conform to the body as the organism sees fit. If it needs to soar, the wings expand. If it needs to crawl under a window, the wings will contract and allow the bug to take on a slimmer form.

"That's exactly the kind of behavior we have been looking for many years in the engineering community. How do we have a structure that can drastically change the shapes?" said Kwok, a 38-year-old assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

For the last six years, Kwok has been researching composite lightweight structures for aerospace applications.

University of Central Florida Assistant professor Kawai Kwok demonstrates a bendable propeller, at the Structures & Materials Design Laboratory, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Kwoks work focuses on developing shape-changing structures. These kinds of structures can be used on space missions, for drone work and for solar sails and blades among other applications. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

His most recent idea of exploring "snap instability" is what earned him a $500,486 NSF CAREER grant, which will allow Kwok and some of his select students to explore different applications of carbon fiber composites or other lightweight material that might be able to mimic the behavior of insect wings.

Although, creating material that is both thin and a very strong isn't easy.

Currently, Kwok and his students are working on a .5-meter-long propeller made of a carbon fiber composite. So far, the light and bendable propeller can maintain integrity spinning at 3,000 RPM. Next Kwok wants to move up to a 1-meter-long propeller the results of which could benefit drone technology. The U.S. Navy has already expressed interest in Kwok's work.

"I guess (the) dream would be (to) design propellers or wings that unfold from a drone. The Navy (would like) to be able to launch a swarm of drones in compact in small tubes," Kwok said.

For the time being, the research is in its early stages and may not end up using carbon fiber, which is cooked up in a small lab at the UCF Engineering Building

"We're not just looking at carbon fiber composites. We're trying to see if we can mix a larger variety of materials with different functions and properties," he said.

Ideally, Kwok's snap instability structures would take on similar characteristics to that of measuring tape, being able to expand greatly while also maintaining structural integrity for technologies such as solar sails for solar-powered space travel. It's an idea that's hasn't truly moved beyond that of science fiction. One of the reason solar sails are hard to create is because they need to be large enough to capture an area of about 20 to 40 meters, to capture photons from the sun, but also maintain an extremely light weight.

"How to fold them into in a way that can can be structurally sound in space? Hopefully, we'll find that answer," Kwok said.

Lunar mapping

When it comes to the moon UCF shines with its lunar geological expert and planetary scientist Kerri Donaldson Hanna, who has her hands full with numerous moon-related research projects. First, there's project Lunar Trailblazer, which is a satellite capable of scanning and producing high-resolution maps of water on the moon. Donaldson Hanna and her team of students are creating spectral instruments for the NASA satellite.

Water has been long suspected on the moon since the Lunar Prospector probe first detected a high level of hydrogen in the north and south poles in 1999. It is speculated that water-ice exists in the permanent shadows of lunar craters, but there are few actual detections of frozen water. Trailblazer seeks to change that by scanning as low as crater floors and as high as mountain peaks using powerful instruments capable of measuring all the way down to 3.6 microns and creating a large database of water sites for future colonization.

Donaldson Hanna's work in Trailblazer has a foundation in two other critical projects she worked on that furthered scientific understanding of lunar geology: NASA's Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment and Moon Mineralogy Mapper. The latter flew aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 and discovered water.

Furthering the goal of finding water, Donaldson Hanna is also working as co-investigator on the Lunar Compact InfraRed Imaging System project. She along with an undergraduate student, Adam Bedel, are selecting filters for a thermal camera onboard the XELENE lunar lander, designed by aerospace manufacturer Masten Space Systems. Their work will be used to help make thermal maps of the south polar region of the moon. The images provided by XELENE should give scientists a better understanding of which regions are cold enough to retain water.

Additionally, NASA announced earlier in June that Donaldson Hanna and another UCF planetary scientist, Adrienne Dove, will be exploring an unknown and mysterious region of the moon Gruithuisen Domes. The area is found on the western part of the moon and appears to be the result of a rare form of volcanic eruption. But that's left NASA scientists confused as such geological structures on Earth require oceans of liquid water and plate tectonics to form.

Enter Donaldson Hanna and Dove who will lead a $35 million mission that would land a spacecraft over the Gruithuisen Domes and provide answers.

"There's potentially a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be discovered, which will not only help us inform future robotic and human exploration of the moon, but may also help us better understand the history of our own planet as well as other planets in the solar system," Donaldson Hanna told the Orlando Sentinel in June.

Axiom study

UCF's medical campus is the closest med school to Kennedy Space Center, putting it in a unique spot of scientific opportunity. As a result, UCF Health has arranged a partnership with Axiom Space supporting human research studies in future flights including the Axiom 2 mission slated for next year.

UCF professors partnered with Israeli researchers to study four private astronauts to better understand microgravity's effect on the human body, specifically studying changes to the astronauts' eyes and brains.

Currently, researchers are analyzing data from the April launch that saw a SpaceX Crew Dragon contracted by Axiom Space fly up for a stay on board the International Space Station.

UCF's Dr. Ali Rizvi and Dr. Joyce Paulson are analyzing the microgravity environment's effect on the "blood-brain barrier," or the coated protection around a brain that filters out harmful toxins. Scientists have looked at ways around this barrier since it acts as an obstacle to delivering certain medications that need to reach the central nervous system. The end goal is to to treat degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia. Previous research has shown the blood barrier can be changed in a microgravity or zero-gravity environments creating larger pores in the barrier and possibly allowing medication to reach the nervous system.

UCF Health professors are collaborating with Israeli researchers to better understand the human body in a microgravity environment by studying the four space participants.

Additionally, another group of UCF scientists is examining the astronauts' eyes and how microgravity may affect the fluid within an ocular structure in a phenomenon known as "spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome" or SANS. Previous studies have focused on SANS but UCF's research has a new tool at its disposal.

UCF professor Dr. Mehul Patel along with researchers at Israel's Rabin Medical Center are using a new imaging device that will shed light on the structure of the eyes, blood flow and how spaceflight might change them.

After the 17-day trip in space, the astronauts were evaluated within 48 hours of their return. Currently, scientists are reviewing the data for any possible changes.

"This is one of the exciting parts of doing the study," Patel said. "We're going to be able to see microscopic changes, perhaps, for the first time ever, in someone that has left Earth."

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Millions in grant money headed to Florida university for space research - Stars and Stripes

Aimed at sparking curiosity and enriching the experience of global travellers, the rooms feature interactive, mind-bending activities that are integrated into the Marriott Hotels guest room design.

Recommended for people aged seven and up, reservations for The Curiosity Room by TED can be made now for stays starting from July 15 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

Following the inaugural launch in San Francisco, guests will also book the discovery-based room at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queens Park and London Marriott Hotel County Hall later this summer, with stays starting on August 15 and September 15, respectively. Each room experience will be live for three months at each location.

Recent social listening research conducted on behalf of Marriott saw a significant year-over-year uptick in searches for #themedrooms (+106 per cent) and hotel rooms + themed (+65 per cent), suggesting consumers are craving more distinct and inspiring hotel experiences.

The idea is that guests embark on the adventure immediately upon entry to the room. Marriott says: The entire room is a puzzle box waiting to be solved. Puzzle elements have been seamlessly hidden within the dcor; solving them all will lead guests to a grand finale and series of surprises and rewards. The puzzles have also been customised to the three destinations, featuring and celebrating local landmarks, culture, and more.

Guests will uncover hidden messages, hunt for puzzle pieces, and experience elements of the room in unexpected and delightful ways. The rooms Curiosity Journal serves as the guide and connection to the one-of-a-kind in-room journey, with hints available in case guests need a helpful hand. When the final challenge has been completed, guests receive a certificate of completion and can celebrate with a complimentary dessert in the hotels restaurant.

Jason Nuell, senior vice-president of premium Brands for Marriott International, says: Marriott Hotels has always been a place where guests can be inspired at every corner of their experience and weve taken that to the next level with TEDs award-winning, educational arm TED-Ed.

This one-of-a-kind adventure further fosters the notion for our guests to stay curious in their travels, opening their minds beyond a typical overnight stay and propel them to explore the destination with renewed desire to learn something new.

Taking inspiration from each hotels respective destination, rooms feature art from illustrator and artist Caleb Morris, who founded Welcome to the Neighborhoods an art series focused on creating unique connections between people and cities all over the world.

In addition,guests will discover various moments of wonder, as well as a guide of local travel recommendations curated by Marriott Hotels and TED, that encourage further exploration beyond the guest room from the striking architecture of San Francisco to the culture of Bangkok and rich history of London.

Guests will be able to take home some mementos, such as the travel guide, to leave a lasting impression of the trip, while everyday items such as keys unlock clues to help guests progress through the immersive space.

Reservations for the Curiosity Room by TED are available now for the stay dates below:

Watching millions of people view and share TED-Eds educational animated videos online every day is a profoundly rewarding experience for our team of creators, says TED-Eds founding and executive director, Logan Smalley.

What really excites me about our partnership with Marriott Hotels, though, is that it will enable families throughout the world, for the first time ever, to experience a totally unique version of TED-Ed in person.

I think everyone who participates will gain, in the most tantalizingly fun way possible, a deeper understanding and appreciation of TED-Ed and their destination, and Im grateful to Marriott Hotels for making that possible.

Marriott Hotels has a longstanding, global partnership with TED. The relationship began in 2016 by distributing TED Talks and TED Fellows Salons, blogs, and original quotes to hotel guests worldwide, and has continued to elevate every year with new elements of the partnership.

Travelers staying at Marriott Hotels have access to custom content expertly curated by TED, with selected themes that are topical and relevant to guests including innovation, travel, entrepreneurship, and much more. Specifically, new TED-Ed content will now be available at hotels with video-based lessons that vary by subject and age.

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Marriott Hotels and TED partner to create curiosity rooms - Globetrender