Category Archives: Space Travel

Staying in space for months or years has its consequences: muscle dwindles, radiation damages cells and Weightlessness should hit the brain. This is the long journey to Mars Not good conditions. In a study in Space Weather, Yuri Shprits and his team explain how the risks It can be minimized at least.

The journey to Mars takes about nine months: it takes about a year and a half there and back. If one considers a research stay of several months on our neighbour, the expedition must still be below the time limit that Shprits and Co calculated for a relatively safe voyage. Only when the journey takes more than four years does the risk of radiation damage increase dramatically.

To this end, however, two other aspects must be taken into account: it is necessary to have good radiation protection on the spaceship, which protects the crew from charged particles and high-energy cosmic radiation. Flight timing also helps reduce health risks. The best way to start the mission is when the sun reaches its peak activity: the solar maximum. Then the powerful solar wind ensures that the most dangerous particles are shielded from other galaxies.

So space ships need good radiation protection. But scientists write that it should not be heavily shielded to prevent secondary radiation that could occur inside the aircraft.

Total coffee aficionado. Travel buff. Music ninja. Bacon nerd. Beeraholic.

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Space Travel: What It Takes for a Safe Journey to Mars - Socialpost

With civilian space travel closer than ever, your dreams of exploring the vast reaches of the universe could be realized in your lifetimeproviding you have the money. The cost to hitch a ride on a SpaceX jaunt to the International Space Station in 2022 runs about $55 million. Commercial space travel tickets will probably be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for some time to come.

Fortunately, you can still make travel plans to see the stars thanks to these space-themed accommodations with prices that are very down to Earth.

If youre curious to know what it felt like to experience space in the cramped Apollo 11 vehicle that got us to the moon, look no further than this Airbnb lodging out of New Zealand. Guests can stay in a replica capsule that will bring you one small step closer to understanding life as a 1960s astronaut. It's located in the Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve at Pukaki Airport, and the single-bed ship has a clear Perspex roof, so you can fall asleep under the stars.

This tiny home offers a big advantage over other accommodationsthe outdoor bedroom lets guests stargaze amid a vast and private oasis. During the day, you can take in the view of nearby mountains and wildlife. Bonus: Its all solar-powered.

Fans of Star Trek can board a hotel room modeled after the USS Enterprise. Relax among some screen-accurate props and command consoles. Eagle-eyed guests may also spot some hidden Trek-themed surprises.

Guests have had nothing but raves for the Mission to Space Villa, which can accommodate up to 16 guests (each lowering the nightly cost) in different space-themed rooms. Youre only 20 minutes from Walt Disney World, but you wont need to travel far for entertainment. The villa has a bowling alley, a movie theater, and an arcade.

This unique theme takes a fantastical spaceship motif and plops it near the beach. Inside, port windows and space-age architecture lend the feel of extraterrestrial design, while very earthbound amenities like bicycles let you explore the ocean.

For a fully immersive Star Wars experience, look no further than this nine-bedroom galactic detour. Guests can enjoy themed rooms that capture the spirit of the Millennium Falcon, Hoth, or Cloud City. Best of all, youre just 15 minutes from Star Wars: Galaxys Edge at Walt Disney World.

This glamping option places guests into a kind of retro space age, with a tiny dome house beckoning visitors via a set of UFO-style steps. Inside, youll experience a fantastic view of the slightly alien terrain of Joshua Tree.

This modest cabin has a stealth featureit functions as a private observatory. Use the roll-top roof and sky deck to operate the telescope to catch a glimpse of the universe above.

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8 Spectacular Space-Themed Places to Stay - Mental Floss

Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson saw their childhood dreams come true when they blasted themselves to the edge of space last month.

The billionaires hurtled to altitudes of more than 66 miles and 53 miles respectively during each of their historic trips up to the stars, with the Amazon founder describing his adventure as the best day ever.

Along with their broad grins the rivals wore similar blue jumpsuits for their missions, although Bezos topped his off with a cowboy hat while his British counterpart opted for a pair of shades.

And yet, while both journeys were a success for the entrepreneurs as well as their small crews, the two men apparently ran an unnecessary risk with their choice of uniform.

This is according to some of the worlds leading experts in space-travel safety who, in an interview with Bloomberg, pointed out that neither team wore the correct gear to shield them from rapid decompression outside the Earths atmosphere.

Pressure suits are required by NASA and other national space agencies to help protect passengers from fatal accidents.

And yet no such standards apply to private companies including Bezoss Blue Origin, Bransons Virgin Galactic, and Elon Musks SpaceX, which are all racing to get space tourism off the ground. This is because, in the US for example, Congress hasnt allowed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set rules to protect passengers.

The reality is when you go to space, you dont dress with nice stuff, you dress with the right stuff, former European Space Agency official Tommaso Sgobba told the news site. Sgobba now serves as executive director of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, so he knows his stuff.

Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carefully reviews all launch applications to ensure no mishap could harm the public on the ground or a passing plane, it focuses on the reliability of the spacecraft, not on the safety of the spacecrafts crew.

It is time, I believe, to update our human spaceflight regulatory framework, George Nield, who directed the FAAs office overseeing commercial launches from 2008 to 2018, told Bloomberg.

The commercial launch industry has grown exponentially in recent years, with the FAA overseeing the 400th such launch in May, the news site points out.

Most of these were geared towards expanding satellite networks and transporting other goods into space, but tourist flights look set to explode.

The FAA has published recommended practices for safety which private companies can follow. The agency also compels all crew members to sign a waiver before flying to confirm that they understand the spacecrafts risks and that it isnt certified by the government.

The US has seen 379 human-manned space flights since the early 1960s, four of which ended in fatal accidents, according to Nield.

In other words, Bezos may like his hat but, when it comes to space travel, its never good to be a cowboy.

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Jeff Bezos and Richard Bransons shouldnt have worn those blue suits for space flight - heres why - indy100

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Space tourism is a hot topic these days, with Elon Musk and Richard Branson both venturing into space in recent months. But what exactly is space tourism? And could it help make our society greener and more sustainable? Well, maybe, but space tourism attracts a lot of criticism, too. Heres what you should know.

Space tourism essentially means travelling into space for fun rather than for scientific purposes. It gives people with no special training the opportunity to experience Earth from a whole new perspective. That said, theres nothing cheap about jetting into space. Tickets for Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic tours cost up to 180,000. So, right now, space tourism is pretty inaccessible for most people.

Is space tourism just about leisure, though? Not necessarily. Recreational space travel opens up new markets and investment opportunities for space technology, which is great news for startups and budding entrepreneurs. Could this technology make our world greener, though? Possibly, but we cant ignore the possible environmental impact of space travel, either.

Theres no clear answer to this question.

Rocket fuels can damage our atmosphere, for one thing. And, according to scientists, one recreational space flight could generate the same amount of pollution as a transatlantic flight. The cost of space tourism might be extortionate now, but in the long term, companies like Virgin Galactic aspire to fly into space several times per day.

So, if recreational space travel becomes popular, resulting in regular trips into space, the environment could be damaged in potentially irreversible ways.

Okay, so thats one side of the debate. But what about the possible benefits of recreational space travel could it make our world greener?

Maybe. According to Malcolm McPartlin, co-manager of the Aegon Global Sustainable Equity Fund, we should stop focusing on space tourism and instead look at the possible benefits of space technology. Specifically, we should focus on new satellite technology.

As McPartlin points out, nearly four billion people currently have no internet access. By improving satellite technology, internet access would become more accessible. As a result, people could live more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint. Whats more, enhanced satellite tech makes it easier for countries to share knowledge and collaborate in the fight against climate change.

The result? Space travel creates fresh development opportunities for startups and companies moving into the satellite tech space. While space travel itself could be greener, space investment could have a positive impact on our society and our collective carbon footprint.

The upshot? Jetting off into space for fun may not be worth the high carbon footprint. However, just because space tourism attracts a lot of criticism doesnt mean we should forego space travel completely. Instead, it might be best to focus on the benefits of developing space technology, and how we can use space travel to build a more sustainable, eco-friendly society right here at home.

Are you thinking about investing in space tech companies? Dont forget that all investments carry risk, and you might not get back what you put in. Check out our investment guide for beginners before you get started, and compare some of our top-rated share dealing accounts.

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Jennifer Laird

Jennifer is a writer specialising in debt, personal banking, and small business finance.

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Can space tourism make the world a greener place? | MyWalletHero - Motley Fool UK

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles announced Wednesday that five girls, including one from Canyon Country, will have their work soar into space.

The girls works will board SpaceXCRS23 from Kennedy Space Center and rocket to the International Space Station on Saturday, Aug 28.

Girls from 95 of Girl Scouts 111 councils, 46 states, two territories and two countries registered for the program. They were challenged to create a design for the Making Space for Girls mission patch, write an essay on their space dreams and the future of space travel, or propose an idea for an experiment that could be sent up to the ISS and fit in a Faraday box. Twenty-one winning entries were selected by a panel of the MS4G project team and prestigious space industry professionals from program partners SpaceKids Global, ProxOps, and the ISS National Lab.

The five GSGLA girls with winning entries are:Daisies (grades K-1) Indiana D. of South Pasadena and Golda E. of GlendaleJuniors (grades 4-5) Kayla N. of Rolling Hills Estates and Milan T. of San Gabriel ValleyCadette (grades 6-8) Jordan D. of Canyon Country

Jordan and Milan contributed experiment ideas that inspired the three experiments to be conducted in the Faraday Box in the ISS National Lab for approximately six months. Kayla, Golda and Indianas submissions to the art and essay categories will be included in a media package. All items will be returned to the girls once back on Earth and processed by NASA as certified flown-in-space items.

Participating Girl Scouts from around the country and their families will gather on Cocoa Beach at 3:37 AM EDT on Saturday, Aug 28 for a pajama launch party. Jordan and Milan will attend from Los Angeles. She will visit the lab where the final experiments are to be put in the Faraday box. Jordan will also present and staff a public poster session with other girls at Kennedy Space Center on Sunday morning, said her mother, Tina. Jordans contribution to the plant portion of the studies is her emphasis on health benefits provided by plant sources. We are all very excited.

In preparation for the weeks events, Golda and her mom, Lori, went to the Griffith Observatory. Golda loves learning about space and the planets. She recently visited Galaxys Edge at Disneyland where she built her own droid and piloted a star cruiser. After learning about space at home during lockdown [when she was in pre-school], we worked on drawing planets, stars and moons. Goldas first year as a Daisy was in 2020 and she joined the troop over Zoom and they worked on badges together. When we were interviewed as a finalist we never expected to win. Golda was in shock. We later found out that this honor was shared with her best friend and troop mate Indiana.

As part of Girl Scouts of Citrus, Central Floridas chapter, and nonprofit SpaceKids Globals inaugural Making Space for Girls 2020 STEAM-learning mission challenge, the GSGLA girls work was chosen out of 680 entries from girls of all ages.

They will be launched into space in a Faraday Box, provided by 2020 Challenge supporter ProXops and L2 Aerospace, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket on August 28 at 3:37 AM EDT.

What a thrilling way for our girls to see that space exploration and technology are accessible and rewarding, said Theresa Edy Kiene, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. Participating in MS4G has inspired our girls to pursue passions in STEM, which is foundational to the Girl Scout leadership experience. I am so proud of each of them and cant wait to see what this inspires.

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Local Girl Scouts' Works To Be Rocketed To The International Space Station - SCVNEWS.com

September 15 is the scheduled launch date for Inspiration4, the first mission to send a civilian-only ship into space. Space travel on a rocket SpaceX, Airline Elon MuskIt will be broadcast on Netflix Almost in real time.

This Thursday, the streaming platform announced the release of the documentary series Countdown: Inspiration4s Mission to Space. Over the course of five seasons, it will provide unprecedented access to the first spaceflight with a crew of non-professional passengers.

The first two episodes will air on Friday, September 6th and will focus on introducing team members. On September 13, it will be possible to see the next two chapters, which will deal with the long months of training and final preparations before the flight. The launch, on September 15, will be broadcast live from Youtube channel netflix.

The series is directed by Jason Heherer, director of the Emmy-winning documentary The Last Dance, based on Michael Jordans Chicago Bulls. The broadcast giant said in a statement that the final episode of Elon Musks series will premiere in late September a few days after the mission ends.

This final chapter will follow in almost real time the journey from the spacecrafts launch to its return to Earth. The platform promises unprecedented access to the mission, as it will display images from inside the spacecraft during the three-day flight.

On September 15, the SpaceX Dragon capsule with a Falcon 9 rocket will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. American billionaire Jared Isaacman, 38, funded the project.

In addition to owning a financial company, the billionaire is also an avid pilot and space explorer, so he will climb aboard the rocket and show the other places to three of his buddies. The four non-professional members on board will take off from Elon MuskThey will spend three days orbiting the Earth behind the altitude of the International Space Station and will return.

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Elon Musk and Netflix to broadcast the SpaceX space mission respectively - thedailyguardian.net

Just when you thought reality TV had exhausted shooting locations for its wannabe celebrities an island paradise, a McMansion or a suburban housing block how about inside a multi-billion-dollar orbiting SpaceX capsule?

Netflix has just announced the first-ever documentary series to cover reality-TV action using videographers to film in near real time after sending four civilians into space for a three-day trip orbiting earth.

Titled Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, the five-part series tracks Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arcenfaux, Jared Isaacman and Dr Sian Proctor on their journey to zero gravity and beyond.

From training to launch to landing, this all-access docuseries rides along with the Inspiration4 crew on the first all-civilian orbital space mission, Netflix said in a statement.

It may not attract 600 million viewers, as the first moon landing did in 1969, but the hope of skyrocketing audience numbers streaming the series to their couches could see a new frontier for the entertainment sector.

Netflix will release the first two episodes on September 6, when we meet the crew. Episodes three and four on September 13 are about preparing for launch, and on September 15 well be able to witness the live launch on YouTube.

Theres no date for the last episode the return home.

The dramatic music, rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Centre and snippets from the four civilians will be enough to lock and load your monthly streaming calendar.

But what do we know about who got the golden tickets to space?

Mr Isaacman, commander of the trip and billionaire entrepreneur, originally advertised for candidates during a Super Bowl advert for his company, Shift4Payments. He had bought the four tickets from SpaceX.

He did give the 72-hour reality TV experience some context in the trailer, making us feel its not just a romp for rich people.

Our mission to space had to serve a bigger purpose which is why it is a $200m fundraising campaign for the St Jude childrens research hospital, a member of the civilian aerospace display group, the Black Diamond Jet Team (and mountain climber), said.

When Dr Proctor, 51, was told on March 30 Youre going to space, she was so thrilled all she could say is Oh my God! while holding her face in her hands. The geology professor, science communicator and commercial astronaut won a ticket from the online competition put on by Mr Isaacman.

The stars aligned for this, and I still cant believe it, Dr Proctor said on NASAs website. I wrote a poem about why they should take me, I read the poem and submitted the video of it. It resonated and here we are.

I was born on Guam directly because of human spaceflight, as my dad had worked at the tracking station during the Apollo missions. About eight-and-a-half months after Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon, I was borna literal moon landing celebration baby.

Ms Arcenfaux, a bone cancer survivor and physicians assistant at St Judes, has been training for months. She says shell be the first person with a prosthetic body part to go into space.

Husband and father from Washington, Mr Sembroski says in the promo theres a lot of risk. As he kisses his wife goodbye there will be one question on his and viewers collective minds: What if something goes wrong?

The promo gets more dramatic when were reminded that while there may only be four people on board the SpaceX, they represent the other seven and a half billion of us because if they can go, we can all go.

According to technology news website Recode (now integrated into Vox), SpaceX and Netflix are not the only companies hoping to capitalise on the historic shift to commercial space travel.

The Inspiration4 mission and its streaming special mark a new era of live broadcasting from space, Julia Alexander, a senior strategy analyst at Parrot Analytics, told Recode.

The rise of space tourism also seems ripe for the streaming age, a time when people can watch these events almost anywhere, and the entertainment industry has already started turning billionaires joyrides in zero gravity into massive media events.

Shooting something into space, thats something thats going to bring in subscribers globally,

Ms Alexander adds the fact that theyre relatively cheap to produce compared to the high-profile, prestigious dramas with the big Hollywood talent means the future looks bright for space-bound reality shows.

Deals would need to be done with SpaceX as ideas from other companies emerge, including an unscripted reality TV show Space Hero, where a contestant wins a trip to the International Space Station in 2023.

According to Deadline, the series, produced Ben Silverman and Howard Owens Propagate, will launch a global search for everyday people from any background who share a deep love for space exploration. They will be vying for the biggest prize ever awarded on TV.

I imagine SpaceX has some form of say in what is going on, Ms Alexander told Recode.

Netflix just wants to carry it and make the best docu-series possible.

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The final frontier: Reality TV takes a massive step for mankind and soars into space - The New Daily

by Salem AlMarri, Deputy Director General, MBRSC and IAC 2021 LOC Chair

From pearl diving to the discovery of oil and gas to exploring space, the UAE has emerged as a force to be reckoned with all its endeavours. The exemplary vision of the nations forefathers has been shouldered by its citizens and has in turn catapulted the UAE to reinforce its ability to excel across all domains. As the country marches towards its Golden Jubilee this year, celebrating the past 50 years, it also looks towards a vision of growth, prosperity and unity for the next 50.

The UAE also has had one of the most efficient responses to the pandemic. From nationwide testing to sterilisation drive and now taking the title of one of the most vaccinated nation in the world, has not only helped curb the spread of COVID, but also allowed the UAE to become a healthier nation and the return of normalcy to everything from trade, tourism, events and day to day life.

It is only fitting that world class events like the Expo 2020 and the 72nd International Astronautical Congress has found its home in the city of Dubai. Both events are being held in the Middle East soil for the first time ever. While the Expo 2020 is a reflection of the cosmopolitan multi-national city that Dubai has transformed into, the hosting of the worlds premier space event speaks volumes about the extraordinary achievements that the UAE has garnered over its young history in the sector.

The UAE space journey

The efforts of a long list of pioneers have been instrumental in making the space industry one of the most prestigious fields worldwide. Developments in the field of space has not only given a wealth of knowledge about the earth, universe and far beyond, but it has also helped create inventions and technologies that have made human life easier. Understanding the positives of the space industry, the UAE too has as part of its diversification explored and established itself as a leader in the field in the Arab region.

The fascination for space in the UAE dates back to when the country was first formed, which incidentally coincided with the space race. Just a few years after the first lunar landing, the Apollo 17 missions American explorers met with the founding father of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed and presented a piece of Moon rock. A popular Time photograph shows Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt, explaining in detail to Sheikh Zayed about the shuttle and mission while he listened intently to them.

That meeting laid the foundation for what the UAE as a spacefaring country has achieved today. The countrys developments in the space sector include the setting up of its own space agency, launch of multiple partnerships, academic programmes, investments in space science research and exploration. The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has played an integral part in fuelling the UAEs journey to the stars and beyond since its inception nearly a decade and a half back. From building the first satellite communication station in Jebel Ali to launching indigenously built satellites to sending the first Emirati astronaut into space and even sending the first Arab probe to Mars the Centre has ticked off one goal after another.

MBRSC launched the DubaiSat-1, an earth observation satellite, back in 2009, with the participation of Emirati engineers and partnership with South Korea. The Centre began work on DubaiSat-2 soon after, which was manufactured and launched in a much shorter period, providing electro-optical earth images for various purposes. In 2018, the KhalifaSat was launched, which is one of the worlds most technologically advanced remote sensing observation satellites, built and designed completely in the UAE. In 2020, the UAE became the first Arab country to send an interplanetary probe to Mars, which reached the Red Planets orbit earlier this year and is currently collecting never before sourced data.

Today, everybody knows the names of Astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi. The UAE Astronaut Programme (UAEAP) has not only put the first Emirati in space, but also inspired a generation of space lovers and created an unprecedented interest in the field of space travel, science and technology. Today, UAEAP is comprised of 4 astronauts, including Mohammad AlMulla and Nora AlMatrooshi, the first Arab woman astronaut.

The UAE is further striving enhance its own capacities, whether it is to have a roster of home-grown talents, astronaut corps or even technologies that are conceived, designed and completed indigenously.

What lies beyond

2021 and beyond will be even better and bigger for the next frontier. The UAE is currently in the process of building the first Arab rover to the Moon, aptly named the Rashid Rover, after the builder of the modern renaissance of Dubai and one of the founders of the UAE. The Emirates Lunar Mission is an ambitious national project, which hopes to reinvigorate Arab scientific renaissance in the region and consolidate the gains made by the UAE in the space sector over the past decade.

Other strategic programmes in the field of space for the coming decade includes sourcing new and unique scientific data from the Hope Probe that will be accessible to more than 200 academic and scientific research institutions around the world. The UAE is also home to the Mars 2117 Programme, which will utilise the latest human knowledge to explore space, while the satellite development programme will help increase the efficiency of the satellite network and locally developed advanced space technologies.

Another key component of the strategy is the UAE Space Sector Sustainability Programme, that will see the setting up of Centre for Innovation and Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Education, Dubai University and a selection of institutions specialised in space sciences. MBRSC is also building a supportive environment for space entrepreneurs, inspiring more than 22,000 students to take up space sciences, and contribute to making the UAE a hub for space technology.

Hosting IAC 2021 in Dubai

While many of us wont be here to see the fruition of the long long-term ambitious projects of the space sector, the work done by the brilliant minds of today will be a stepping-stone into space and its vastness for the next generation of dreamers and doers from the Arab region. The hosting of the International Astronautical Congress in Dubai this coming October heralds a new space age for the region and will inculcate the passion that will lead the next generation to aim for the next big thing in space.The Congress also presents the opportunity for countries from the Arab region to expand collaborations with space agencies and entrepreneurs from around the world. Such solidarity is what will further enhance the use of space for peace, hope, and a brighter tomorrow.

Around the world, space entrepreneurs are executing plans to take advantage of the tremendous decrease of the costs of accessing space and operating in it. Their efforts along with those of governments around the world merit our attention; not just for the growth of the space industry, but for expanding the knowledge of the far beyond.So, be part of the historic International Astronautical Congress 2021, and witness the beginning of the renaissance of space science and knowledge for the region.

Salem AlMarri is the Deputy Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and the IAC 2021 LOC Chair. He is responsible for ensuring the success of various programmes within the UAE National Space Programme including Mars 2117, Emirates Mars Mission, UAE Astronaut Programme, and the UAE Satellite Programme. Al Marri also oversees the expansion of the MBRSC into new scientific and technical fields alongside ensuring continuing developments in the space sector.

With over fifteen years of experience AlMarri has been an integral part of the teams that set up both the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) in 2006, which then merged under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in 2015. He was one of the first engineers to form the core of the Knowledge Transfer Programme based on an agreement with South Koreas Satrec Initiative.

AlMarri received the UAE Pioneers Award in 2014 for being the first project manager of the UAE satellite Dubaisat-1 and Dubaisat-2. He has represented the UAE and the MBRSC in over 50 international conferences worldwide and has been a returning member of the delegation to the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPOUS).

AlMarri was the head of the bidding team that won the rights to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Dubai. He is the lead of the organising committee (LOC Chair) for this global event being hosted for the first time ever in an Arab country.

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#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: UAE - Through the Deserts and into Space - SpaceWatch.Global

Two years ago, it was announced that Taika Waititi was going to have a go at an animated "Flash Gordon" movie for Fox/Disney, but according to a recent report in Collider, that project is now being developed as a live action film instead. The news comes as part of an interview with producer John Davis as part of Disney's "Jungle Cruise" promotion.

"Taika is writing it. It was a movie that was a huge influence on him growing up. It is one of his favorite movies. He initially said to me, 'Let's do it animated.' I said, 'Okay.' Then we got into it and started developing it and he said, 'No, let's do it live-action.' I said, 'Even better,'" Davis told Collider.

"Flash Gordon" is based on a comic strip character from the 1930s originally drawn by Alex Raymond, who created him to compete with the other well-known cosmic comic book hero of the time, Buck Rogers. Back then, Gordon was a handsome polo player and Yale graduate who, along with his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, travel to the planet Mongo where they must defeat its evil ruler, Ming the Merciless.

Whenever the name "Flash Gordon" comes up in conversation today, it's usually associated with the truly epic movie made in 1980 that featured an incredible cast; with Sam J. Jones in the titular role, Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming, Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin and Peter Wyngarde as Klytus who was an exceptional character created purely for the film.

Not only is it one of the most quotable movies ever made ("Flash, Flash I love you! But we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!" etc) but the accompanying soundtrack by Queen was nothing short of amazing. The look and feel of the movie perfectly matched the eccentric, kitsch style of the comic book strips, which is something of a miracle itself since the movie was plagued with production problems.

There was also a "Flash Gordon" TV series that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) in 2007, but no one remembers that. However, if you're interested in the full story behind the 1980 movie, we highly recommend the 2017 documentary "Life After Flash" written, directed and painstakingly researched by Lisa Downs.

Strange Cinema: Our favorite off-beat space movies

It's not clear yet whether or not this project will enter production before or after Waititi's "Star Wars" movie. The director of "Thor: Ragnarok" says that script is still in the very early stages of drafting, but the bones of the plot have been laid out. His soccer movie "Next Goal Wins" is finished and awaiting release and "Thor: Love and Thunder" in post-production.

Davis ("Predators," "Chronicle" and "I, Robot") will produce the reboot, along with longtime collaborator John Fox, who has worked with Davis on "Jungle Cruise," "Dolemite Is My Name" and "The Equalizer" TV series.

Collider writes that in terms of getting Waititi to actually direct the "Flash Gordon" movie, Davis feels he has an advantage over other projects vying for the filmmaker's attention because Waititi himself wrote the script. "Well, he's writing it. So when somebody writes a script that they're going to direct, they're obviously going to really like the script, right? So you get a big leg up, right? A lot of times, you go to a huge director with somebody else's script and he's got to reinvent it. They've got to make it their own. They've got to... whatever. This is going to be Taika-ready," said Davis, who has apparently been planning this project for years.

According to IMDb, the project is still set to go ahead with Disney/Fox and apparently Sam Worthington and Ryan Reynolds were approached for the title role. There have been numerous attempts to get a "Flash Gordon" project off the ground and now, while sci-fi is the hottest genre in Hollywood, everyone is scrambling to launch or reboot as many sci-fi franchises as possible. Quite why it's taken so long is inexplicable.

In the 1990s, action movie writer Steven E. de Souza wrote two drafts of a "Flash Gordon" script with Breck Eisner planning to direct, but it was never produced. Then, in 2018 it was announced that Julius Avery was in line to write and direct this remake. Avery replaced Matthew Vaughn, who had been attached to it since 2015. Avery's script replaces one by Mark Protosevich, which in turn replaced one by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. Then Disney bought out Fox and no one had a clue what was going on.

Lest we forget there are still attempts to get "Buck Rogers" airborne once more. Almost a year ago, we reported that Legendary Entertainment was finalizing the last details to secure the screen rights to Buck Rogers. Then, only a few months later, we reported that George Clooney wanted to be involved. And then we reported that the Buck Rogers estate, overseen by the Nowlan Family Trust, was looking to put an end to this reboot and had sent a cease and desist letter to Legendary Entertainment. The estate contends that "the Buck Rogers interests" have already penned an agreement with David Ellison's Skydance Productions to exploit the property.

So hopefully, "Flash Gordon" will have more luck thankfully there's no dispute over that IP, it just remains whether or not Waititi will do the character and the story justice. Fingers crossed.

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Taika Waititi's animated 'Flash Gordon' film is reportedly now going to be live-action - Space.com

Brittany Chrusciel

After countless months of having a 6-foot span visually etched into our brains, the idea of an "intimate" river cruise experience with hundreds of other people might seem counterintuitive.

But in addition to the growing vaccine and testing mandates required for travel in the era of Covid-19, modern river cruising lends itself well to escaping the cruising crowds. A trend toward ships with more space with less capacity was already in motion prior to the pandemic, but spacious suites and fewer tablemates are appreciated now more than ever.

Like anything, the privilege of personal space on a river cruise will cost you: a chartered barge through Burgundy, butler service on a sailing in Portugal and a specialty safari voyage aren't necessarily budget endeavors. But if it's socially distant rivers your clients seek, consider these four tips to maximize their holiday while minimizing contact with others.

A higher crew-to-guest ratio but with low overall passenger count can be found on many river cruise lines' one-off vessels plying the far-flung waterways of Asia and Africa. AmaWaterways' AmaDahlia (236 feet long, with suites up to 430 square feet) sets sail for the Nile in 2021 with capacity for 68 passengers and 62 crew. The line's Zambezi Queen (150 feet long, with suites from 215 to 300 square feet) allows for just 28 passengers and 22 crew to cruise the Chobe River from South Africa including Greater Kruger National Park.

Avalon Waterways' Avalon Saigon (195 feet long, with 254-square-foot suites) runs Mekong cruises welcoming 36 guests and staffing 24 crew.

CroisiEurope's African Dream and forthcoming Zimbabwean Dream (about 108 feet long each, with 183-square-foot suites and two with balconies) accommodate just 16 passengers apiece for an adventure along Lake Kariba in Southern Africa.

European Waterways' Scottish Highlander cruising on Scottland's Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle.

A way to almost ensure river cruisers are sailing near-solo is to stock a ship just with closest friends and family. This venture is possible on a barge cruise that caps the party at a dozen vacationers.

A classic barge through the French countryside with French Country Waterways, for example: It offers four routes through France with six crew attending to just eight to 12 passengers (the barge the Esprit accommodates up to 18 people); all five ships measure 128 feet. For optimal privacy, book the Princess, sailing Alsace-Lorraine, with just four rooms: two suites and two grand suites.

Or expand upon that idea on a European Waterways hotel barge. The company operates 17 ships across nine countries with capacity for six to 12 guests and a handful of crew to serve them (a captain, a deckhand, a chef and hosts that double as housekeepers). My choice would be the Scottish Highlands route, navigating perhaps one of the most famous lochs in the world, Loch Ness. The Scottish Highlander vessel runs 117 feet, and other ships vary in size.

If you'd rather infuse a bit more expedition into your low-capacity cruise, opt for an offering from Maple Leaf Adventures, based in Victoria, British Columbia. A dozen passengers plus a few crew, including a naturalist, can venture to Haida Gwaii, the Great Bear Rain Forest in Kitimat, British Columbia, or a selection of 10- and 11-day Alaska "supervoyages" from Ketchikan to Sitka and back. The Maple Leaf is a 92-foot schooner; the Swell is an 88-foot converted tugboat; Cascadia is a 138-foot catamaran.

If Alaska is your thing, don't rule out Alaskan Dream Cruises, with six small ships accommodating 76 passengers down to just 10, on a variety of immersive itineraries through the Last Frontier, with some departing as early as March. Ships vary greatly in size: the 10-passenger Misty Fjord is 60 feet (with just five cabins), while the Kruzhof Explorer is 12-plus at 128 feet.

The Scenic Azure sailing through Peso da Regua on the Douro River in Portugal.

When in doubt, shelling out a bit more for your river cruise almost ensures more personal space and service. Scenic has given the fitting moniker of Space-Ships to its 15 vessels on the rivers. The Scenic Azure, for example, carries 96 passengers and 36 crew along the Douro with suites up to 420 square feet on a 263-foot-long ship.

Tauck boasts a high crew-to-guest ratio across its fleet with four ships staffing 39 crew for 130 guests; another four ships staff 36 crew for 98 guests; and the line's newest vessel, the Andorinha (263 feet with all suites from 225 to 300 square feet), sails the Douro River in Portugal with just 84 guests but still 36 crew.

However, Crystal River Cruises touts the highest staff-to-guest ratio, with 68 crew to 106 passengers on the Crystal Debussy, Crystal Ravel, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach. Suites on these ships range from 188 square feet up to a staggering 759 square feet.

The Crystal Mozart, the line's flagship, welcomes up to 120 passengers but pampers them with a staff of 83. The main attraction is its connecting Crystal Suites, offering 860 square feet for the ultimate way to distance on the rivers.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct staff-to-guest ration on Crystal's ships.

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Social distancing on a river cruise? Four tips to sail with more space - Travel Weekly