Category Archives: Space Travel

Often times, human curiosity leads to bizarre experimentations and that is the case with American agricultural tech companyFront Range Biosciences-- in partnership with the University of Colorado, Boulder -- by creating a new experiment of sending coffee plants to the International Space Station next year as a part of a zero-gravity experiment.

Tissue culturesof coffee plants will be transported to the ISS along with the resupply mission aboard SpaceX by 2020.

CAN COFFEE PLANTS SURVIVE IN SPACE?

(Photo : Jakub Kapusnak / Unsplash)

Since space does not provide a good condition for life to thrive, it is not yet known how plants will germinate. For this experiment, however, environmental conditions for the coffee plants will be strictly observed. 480 plant cells will be placed in an incubator for 30 days, which will regulate the temperature. The incubator will also enable the astronauts to observe how the plant cells will undergo genetic mutations in a zero-gravity environment.

Researchers particularly chose the Java varietyof the coffee that will be sent to the International Space Station and will be remotely observed by researchers at the BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

After 30 days, the plant cells will be returned to Earth, where the researchers at Front Range Biosciences will examine the plants to see how microgravity and radiation from space affected the plant tissues and how that environment altered their genetic composition. In a statement released by Front Range Biosciences, Chief Executive Office Jonathan Vaught explained that this is one of the pioneering experiments in researching the effects of microgravity and spaceflight on hemp and coffee cell cultures. "There is science to support the theory that plants in space experience mutations. This is an opportunity to see whether those mutations hold up once brought back to Earth and if there are new commercial applications to it."

ARE THERE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS TO THIS EXPERIMENT?

Even the researchers are not yet sure. It is uncertain what the results may be, but the researches behind this experiment are optimistic that whatever these results tell, it could be a big help to farmers and to scientists so that they will be able to identify new varieties or maybe observe new chemical expressions in the seeds. The results can also provide insights into how a plant mange the stress of space travel, especially since astronomers are designing plans to terraform Mars.

Experiments like this create a path to understanding how plants will adapt to extreme environments like the zero-gravity setting of the International Space Station and enable agribusinesses like Front Range Biosciences to breed crops that can withstand harsh environments and can adapt to climate change. Louis Stodieck, chief scientist of Bioserve Space Technologies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said, "We envision this to be the first of many experiments together. In the future, we plan for the crew to harvest and preserve the plants at different points in their growth cycle so we can analyze which metabolic pathways are turned on and off." He also explains that the whole sending plants to space are a fascinating area of study and has considerable potential in discovering new ways of how life finds a way.

READ ALSO: Marijuana Chewing Gum is Said to Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain

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SpaceX 2020 Mission: Send Coffee to ISS - Science Times

Astronomer and co-recipient of this years Nobel Prize in physics Didier Queloz doesnt think we can escape the effects of climate change by moving to another planet. Habitable planetsif they even existwould be very far away. He added, We are a species that has evolved and developed for this planet. We are not built to survive on any other planet than this one.

Even if a suitable planet was found, getting there would be quite a challenge. A couple of recent articles about medical issues in astronauts merely orbiting the earth are concerning. Astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days on the International Space Station. During that mission, he collected blood and urine samples and did mental and reaction tests. His twin brother Mark, also an astronaut, stayed on the ground and served as a control.

Scott experienced DNA mutations and immune system and microbiome changes, some of which have not disappeared since his return to earth. He also had lower cognitive test scores which have not returned to baseline. Its not clear whether the continued intellectual problems are related to his experience in space or due to pain and sleep disturbances after landing.

The DNA mutations may have been cells repairing radiation injury. He was exposed to 48 times more radiation in space than the average person on earth during the same period.

A recent paper found that 6 of 11 ISS astronauts had in-flight ultrasonography showing stagnant or retrograde blood flow in their internal jugular veins. Two of them developed internal jugular vein clots, one occlusive and one partial. Lower body negative pressure counteracted the flow reversal in over half of the subjects.

Those are just a few of the medical issues associated with space travel. In response to a 2014 story about NASAs attempt to develop robots that could perform surgery inside the human body, I blogged about the challenges of performing surgery in space. Five years later, we are not any closer to conquering the many obstacles which include personnel, equipment, anesthesia, recovery, blood contaminating the air in the spacecraft, spacecraft air contaminating the operative field, and more. The time lag for data transmission to or from Mars is about 20 minutes which would preclude having a surgeon on earth robotically performing an operation on a patient 140 million miles away.

More medical difficulties remain unsolved.

Zero or low gravity environments cause kidney stones and decreased bone density which might lead to untreatable fractures in space or on Mars.

In order to grow enough food to sustain human life, the number of plants that would have to be cultivated will produce more oxygen than humans can safely live in. However, decreasing the amount of plant food grown to keep the atmospheric oxygen level similar to that of earth will result in starvation of the Mars colonists.

Psychological issues related to confinement in a small space with only a few companions may occur.

In early 2015, CNET.com reported that the private nonprofit project Mars One had chosen 100 finalists from over 200,000 applicants to crew its planned one-way trip to Mars. However, the Mars One website has not issued a press release since February 2019 when one of its companies was placed in administration [bankruptcy protection] by a Swiss court.

Dont pack your bags just yet.

Other sources:

Listverse, NASA, EarthSky.

The rest is here:

About that trip to Mars - Physician's Weekly

Now playing: Watch this: Ad Astra featurette: Reaching for the Stars

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Ad Astradirector James Gray has saidhe wanted the movie aboutan astronautsearching the galaxy for his missing father to be "the most realistic depiction of space travel that's been put in a movie."

Ad Astra, alreadyavailable on digital, is out on Blu-ray, 4K, and DVD on Tuesday, and in anexclusive clip from an Ad Astra featurettecalled "Reach for the Stars," Gray talks about working with NASAto make the science believable.

"The exchange of ideas, and where they think things are going -- you want to get the details right," he said. "I've called them up in 2 in the morning and asked, 'Would this actually happen?'"

NASA technical consultantRobert Yowell, a former NASA engineer, also had a few things to say about the science sharing the screen with Brad Pitt.

"What Gray was looking for in terms of realism was the physics," Yowell said in the video. "For instance, 'Could you fire a gun on the moon?' The answer is yes. A bullet has its own oxidizer that comes right out of the barrel."

Another question Yowell tackled for the movie was what blood looks like in space: "Any fluid in spaces in zero gravity will tend to become a sphere."

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Get a closer look at Ad Astra's science in this exclusive clip from the Blu-ray version - CNET

For many, owning a jet has become the Holy Grail. Forget follower numbers. Its tail number that counts.

For more than 50 years, Jetcraft has offered unique services in business aviation, providing aircraft sales, marketing, and ownership strategies for their customers and support for clients all over the world. We chatted with Chris Hollingsworth, sales director of Jetcrafts leadership group in Dallas, whose territory includes Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana and of course Texas.

Heres a glimpse into Hollingsworths jet-setting luxury world:

A brief history of Jetcraft.

Jetcraft is the global leader in business aircraft sales and acquisitions. The company was founded in 1962, making it one of the oldest aircraft transaction specialists in the world. Weve facilitated hundreds of aircraft transactions during our existence, and more than 650 in the last 10 years alone.

Since 2008, Jetcraft has grown from a primarily U.S.-based organization to an expanding international corporation, with offices in more than 20 countries. I first heard about Jetcraft when I was in college and had already started my career in aviation working at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. I joined the company about 10 years ago, and in that time have lived and worked in Raleigh, North Carolina, Zurich and London before moving to Dallas.

A typical day.

I know its a clich, but there really is no such thing as a typical day in the private-jet business. The only thing thats typical is that I have a lot of interaction with my clients, whether over the phone, via email, or in person. Its incredibly important for us to truly understand our customers needs, so we can advise them on the aircraft that best suits them, as well as supporting them throughout their ownership journey.

This also means I do a lot of traveling. An aircraft theyre interested in buying could be based anywhere in the world.

The most challenging aspect of your profession.

With the advent of the Internet, private jet buyers can find a plethora of information about our industry online, ranging from aircraft values to performance statistics. However, as an aircrafts previous usage, interior design and even maintenance history can affect its performance and price, every aircraft is unique which means the information they find can be incorrect or misleading.

Jetcrafts decades of experience, combined with our global footprint, means we can access up-to-the-minute insight into markets and aircraft across the world, ensuring our clients are always properly informed.

If you could choose any plane, to fly anywhere in the world, what would you choose?

I think the next frontier in this century is going to be private space travel, so Id love to hitch a ride on whatever aircraft is heading into outer space! I cant think of anything more exciting than seeing Earth from that perspective.

The perfect Saturday.

Any Saturday that involves spending time outdoors is perfect in my eyes. It doesnt matter whether its playing soccer or fly fishing getting some fresh air is always the best way to relax after a busy week. Alongside that, I always like to spend time with family, cooking up a special meal for us to enjoy together at home. Theres nothing better than reconnecting over the dinner table and taking life a little slower on the weekends.

Charities and community outreach.

This year, Im involved with the Crystal Charity Ball. The childrens charities that the Crystal Charity Ball Committee supports every year are all dedicated to giving children hope for a healthier, more productive future, and Im proud to be part of such a considerate community.

New aircraft amenities changing the aviation game.

Theres a new auto-land feature by Garmin, which allows aircraft to land by themselves. It self-activates when there has been a prolonged period of no pilot activity, helping to make general aviation even safer. Im also extremely impressed by the ever-increasing range capabilities of business aircraft today. Customers in Dallas can fly nonstop to Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.

Whats inspiring you right now.

My two sons: One who is two years old and the other two months old. Becoming a father gives you a whole new perspective on life. And, of course, my wife is a constant source of inspiration she does so much for our family.

Favorite aviation movie.

I have to say Top Gun. While there are some aviation inaccuracies in the movie that make me laugh out loud, I never forget the exhilarating feeling it gave me as a kid. I still get excited during those first iconic five minutes.

If you werent in your current profession

Id probably spend all day outdoors as a fly-fishing guide in the mountains of North Carolina.

Dallas restaurants you cant live without.

When we moved to Dallas, Nick & Sams was the first steak restaurant we went to, and to this day we have not found a steak that beats theirs but Bobs Steak & Chop House is certainly giving them a run for their money. Nobu for sushi and Asian cuisine is hard to beat.

Theres a restaurant up the street from our house by the name of Feedstore BBQ, and while their brisket is good, their ribs are hands down the best I have found thus far in Texas. Were still searching for an Indian restaurant that comes close to what we were accustomed to in London suggestions are welcome.

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Private Jet Guru Takes Us Inside the True World of Luxury in the Clouds - PaperCity Magazine

As we head into a new decade, lets take some time to acknowledge the incredible events and momentous changes in the travel world since 2010.

Mobile boarding passes became the norm in 2010 when United Airlines starting implementing them.

Joni Hanebutt/Shutterstock

In October 2011, the TSA launched its PreCheck program; there are now more than 200 participating airports and 8.54 million members.

Sergio Ruiz/Flickr

Over the summer of 2012, Lyft quietly launched as a part of the company Zimride, a long-distance intercity carpooling company. A year later, its founders sold Zimride to focus on developing Lyft and competing with Uber.

Norwegian Air

In May 2013 Norwegian Air Shuttle launched transatlantic flights with routes from Oslo and Stockholm to New York JFK. The airline expanded rapidly and now offers flights to Europe from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Francisco, and more.

dog97209/Flickr

In spring 2014, the National September 11 Museum opened, followed later in the year by One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere. The following spring, One World Observatory opened and now the area is a popular tourist attraction for NYC visitors.

pisaphotography/Shutterstock

One year after a portion of the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris collapsed, the infamous love locks were removed in June of 2015. The weight of the locks, which were added by tourists over the years, caused the collapse and brought attention to the impact of tourists on cities infrastructure.

Business Wire

The 2016 JetBlue Flight 387 was the first regularly scheduled commercial flight to land between Cuba and the U.S. in 55 years and was a significant milestone in the evolving relationship between Cuba and the U.S.

NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

It was estimated that more than 154 million people, or 70 percent of the American population, ventured outside to view the solar eclipse. With 12 million living in the path of totality, advanced estimates predicted that between 1.8 and 7.4 million people would travel. Regardless of the exact statistics, many hotels and tourism destinations reported a spike in visitors and revenue during the eclipse.

amanderson2/Flickr

According to the UNWTO, international tourist arrivals reached a record of 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals, a rise of six percent over 2017. This is well above the UNWTOs long-term forecast of 3.8 percent growth per year for the period from

2010 to 2020.

AlesiaKan/Shutterstock

In the past decade, the global sharing economy has had its challenges both financially and legally for companies like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb. This year, Airbnb faced what might be its biggest scandal to date with the uncovering of hundreds of fake listings.

Virgin Voyages

The much-anticipated Virgin Voyages will make its maiden voyage in March of 2020. The adults-only cruise line promises a unique experience, and cruisers everywhere are anxious to see what the Richard Branson version of cruising will entail.

NASA

In June of this year, NASA announced that it is opening the International Space Station to new commercial opportunities and private astronauts.

Check back in January for a full list of our predicted travel trends for the new year.

Noemi de la Torre contributed to this story.

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How Travel Has Changed in the Past 10 Years - SmarterTravel.com

SCOTS astronaut Dave Mackay aims to take the worlds richest celebs into space next year and reckons regular punters could soon have the chance to feel out of this world too.

Dave made history in February when he guided Virgin Galactics VSS Unity spacecraft 50km above the Earths surface.

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Now the 62-year-old pilot is getting ready to fly non-astronauts beyond the stratosphere as Sir Richard Bransons dream of commercial space flights becomes a reality in 2020.

More than 600 people believed to include the likes of pop star Justin Bieber and Hollywood A-lister Leonard DiCaprio have already splashed out nearly 200,000 each for a ticket on the maiden voyages.

But Scotlands first man in space believes we all deserve to fly among the stars once and that it will be a realistic aim for many of us one day.

Dave who was brought up in Helmsdale, Sutherland says: I wish everybody could go to space.

Its not just for the rich if some people are really determined to do it they can probably raise enough for the ticket price. Some people have even mortgaged their house to do this.

It doesnt matter who you are on our flights. Everybody is important. All passengers will be treated the same. I wont put a timescale on it but I think the prices will come down.

Its in the same way that initial air travel was back in the 1930s when it was very expensive and only wealthy people travelled. Eventually it became almost ubiquitous.

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I dont know if space travel will go exactly that way but I think it could follow in that trend.

As a youngster, Daves rocket-fuelled ambitions were inspired by watching fast jets from RAF Lossiemouth air station passing overhead.

And in 1964 he was awarded a prize at Sunday School for good attendance a book called Exploring Space with a cutaway of a Mercury capsule on the cover.

At 15 years old, he wrote to the aircraft manufacturer Hawker Siddeley and told them about his aviation ambitions and got a reply from its chief test pilot, Duncan Simpson.

Dave later joined the RAF in 1979 and started test pilot training in 1987.

In 1995, he joined Virgin Atlantic to fly commercial aircraft before joining Sir Richard Branson 10 years later in his efforts to take tourists on space flights with Virgin Galactic.

When he finally made it to space this year, the dad-of-two admits travelling at 2,500mph and three times the speed of sound to 295,000ft was even better than he imagined.

Dave who announced Welcome to space, Scotland! over the radio as he left the Earths atmosphere says: It had been dream of mine since I was a young boy to go to space and that was really fulfilling.

As it was a test flight, we were weightless for just over three minutes and wanted to gather as much information as we could as quickly as we could.

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And we also made sure to look out and take the view in.

I looked to the left and could see so much of North America it was disorientating. It was covered in snow and was the most incredible view.

Seeing things with your own eyes is a whole different ball game from looking at a picture. Pictures are beautiful but the human eye is capable of absorbing an incredible range of brightness.

The Earths surface is very bright and, in contrast, space is a dense, deep, matte black. It wasnt like anything captured in any pictures Id looked at.

You can make out details in the atmosphere. You see the curvature and scale of the Earth and stare out into the deep blackness of space.

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The view out of the window is extraordinary and you just get the impression we are a long way from anywhere else.

Dave now lives in the Nevada mountains with his wife Sue. Their son Duncan, 24, has already followed in his footsteps after becoming an airline pilot in Colorado.

Daughter Katharine, 19, is studying at university in California. And he admits hed love to take a family trip to space one day.

Dave says: My children would love to but my wife likes to have her feet on the ground most of the time.

Ive taken her up in airplanes but its not for everybody. My mother is the same. Shes flown once in her life and that was enough.

After that she didnt want to do it again and she doesnt understand where my passion for it comes from.

Since making the journey himself, Dave reckons those lucky enough to go to space will realise its about more than just fun. In fact, he thinks passengers will return to Earth with a bang when they realise how delicate our planet is.

He says: I know how they will feel after the flight and it will give me tremendous pleasure to take them on that ride and see their faces afterwards.

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I now know myself how thin the atmosphere is and how the entire human race is dependent on that thin layer gas surrounding the planet.

I think seeing our beautiful planet in combination with the deep void of space makes you realise how precious it is.

And I suspect a lot of people will return from a space flight with us more determined to look after our planet and get on better with other human beings because its a very special place and we need to take care of it.

We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300

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Scots astronaut Dave Mackay is aiming to take the worlds richest celebs into space next year - The Scottish Sun

Over the years, Star Trek movies have been hit or miss. In fact, the inconsistency in their quality is so significant that Galaxy Quest is largely considered by Trekkies to be one of the best Star Trek movies ever made. After all, its a movie following the washed up stars of a Star Trek-style series who get hired to play real heroes, only to disappoint an entire alien race and then save the day by actually becoming the heroes they played on TV. Yeah, Galaxy Quest got complicated fast, and they didnt even introduce a whole alternate timeline. Watch the Galaxy Quest Honest Trailer for more.

For some reason, back in 1999, Galaxy Quest was marketed as a screwball comedy akin to Spaceballs. But this is actually a clever satire of Star Trek with a fantastic ensemble cast. Its garnered quite a big following in the 20 years since it was released, so much that there was a Galaxy Quest sequel TV series being considered for development by Amazon. Unfortunately, we havent heard much about the series in a couple years, so it might be dead in the water.

One of the most interesting pieces of trivia is that Galaxy Quest was actually shot as a comedy geared towards adults rather than the whole family. Thats why Tony Shalhoubs performance seems so odd throughout the movie. His character was originally a drug addict, which explains why hes not phased at all by any of the space travel stuff.

Another remnant of the more adult comedy angle can be seen rather plainly in a certain sequence with Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver. When the two come upon an obstacle they have to navigate, Weavers character says Screw that! But if you watch her lips, she is clearly saying, Fuck that! but the line has been dubbed to be more family friendly. See if you can spot any other weird details from the change in audience focus.

Read more here:

'Galaxy Quest' Honest Trailer: One of the Best 'Star Trek - /FILM

SINGAPORE 16 December 2019:BCD Travel predicts an increasing preference for green travel asexecutives strive to achieve climate-neutral journeys.

In its new online report, How to Travel Beyond 2020, BCD Travel identifies the sustainability and mobility trends for 2020 and beyond.

Research shows that every dollar spent on business travelresults in USD12.50 in incremental revenue, and prospective clients are 50%more likely to sign a contract after an in-person meeting.

Were travelling more than ever before. The number ofinternational flights rose to 1.4 billion in 2018, two years sooner thanpredicted and the global economy is still growing, said BCD global chief operating and chiefcommercial officer, Mike Janssen. In our partnership with clients, our role isto help customers accomplish their business objectives while also providingthem with the tools and information to reduce the impact that air travel has onclimate change.

Tomorrows solutions Fortunately, the transport and mobility industry has taken on the challenge and is busy working to solve the sustainability puzzle.

Some solutions may even be available next year, predictedBCD senior director of research & innovation Miriam Moscovici. Humansmanaged to reduce extreme poverty worldwide by half over the past 20 years.

Around 80% of people worldwide now have access toelectricity, she said. If humans can achieve this, imagine what we can do fora world that wants both travel and the environment to thrive. The solution tosustainable mobility systems and fast, clean transportation could be justaround the corner.

Solutions in the pipeline

HyperloopIn theory, Hyperloop will enable people to travel between cities in aluminium pods gliding through elevated, low-friction tubes at 700 to 800 miles per hour. This zero-carbon emission form of transportation would present a realistic alternative to air travel over short distances. It also would integrate with air travel to simplify the door-to-door journey for longer trips. High-speed testing is planned for 2020, and the first launch could happen as early as 2023.

Electric-powered flightsMany aircraft manufacturing companies are already developing electric aircraft. At first, these planes would be able to travel solely on electricity no farther than the average family car.

Beyond 500 miles, they would need a mix of conventional fueland electric power. Yet even these hybrids could still deliver a big reductionin CO2 emissions. Partially or all-electric aircraft are being tested right nowand could be operational by 2022.

What can businesses and travellers do right now? Here areuseful tips on how to act now to reduce the climate impact of business trips.

Tips from BCD experts

Assess your organisations sustainability efforts with the Sustainability in Travel Self-Assessment Tool. Created by the Global Business Travel Association and BCD, it allows travel managers to measure 10 areas of travel programme sustainability to identify strengths and weaknesses. The tool provides recommendations for improvement.

Carefully consider whether meeting in person is necessary orif alternatives to air travel are available that can help you reduce your CO2emissions. Internal meetings that dont boost sales or the bottom line are agood place to start using virtual collaboration and reducing trips.

If flying is necessary, consider offsetting the impact ofyour business travel by calculating the cost of your CO2 emissions and donatingthat amount to sustainable energy projects around the globe.

Engage business travellers and raise their awareness byusing tools like TripSource to share tips on making business trips moresustainablesuch as choosing eco-label hotels, combining several appointmentson one business trip, renting electric cars or using public transportation.

What else to expect in 2020

In addition to environmentally friendly initiatives, BCD hasidentified other 2020 trends sure to affect business travel.

The continued development of autonomous cars could allow business travellers to spend their time as passengers preparing for meetings, rather than as drivers who must keep their eyes on the road.

Urban air mobility solutions like an autonomous flying taxi could truly take mobility a few levels higher and resolve increasing traffic problems. The renewed interest in space travel could lead to innovations that reduce long-haul travel time to almost a tenth. Robots popping up in airports and hotels could improve business travel experiences.

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Tips on greening travel - TTR Weekly

A self-destructing robot will be sent into orbit on the world's first space cleanup mission, European scientists announced Monday, a fresh approach to fixing up the galaxy's junk graveyard.

Our orbit is filled with garbage, including chunks of dead satellites, discarded rockets, and paint flecks that have fallen off them. The mission, named ClearSpace-1, will take the first step in tidying up this extraterrestrial wasteland, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

A four-armed robot, developed by Swiss startup ClearSpace, will latch onto debris before diving back down to Earth, where both machine and junk will "burn up in the atmosphere," according to the ESA.

The robot's mission will target a cone-shaped part of an ESA rocket that was left in space in 2013. If all goes well, follow-up missions will target larger objects, before eventually trying to remove multiple pieces of junk at once.

"This is the right time for such a mission," said ClearSpace founder Luc Piguet in an ESA press release. "The space debris issue is more pressing than ever before. Today we have nearly 2,000 live satellites in space and more than 3,000 failed ones."

Work on the project will begin in early 2020, and go through a series of tests at low orbit before an official launch in 2025.

Our orbit looks like a graveyard of space rubbish. Ever since the space age began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 satellite, there has been more junk than working satellites in space, according to ESA.

ESA estimates there are about 170 million pieces of space debris orbiting the Earth. Apart from dead satellites, there are also spent rocket boosters and bits of machinery scattered by accidental collisions.

And they are not just floating around peacefully some pieces are moving faster than a bullet. Because they move so fast, even the tiniest piece of cosmic junk poses an enormous threat to other satellites and spacecraft.

"Imagine how dangerous sailing the high seas would be if all the ships ever lost in history were still drifting on top of the water," said ESA Director General Jan Woerner in the press release. "That is the current situation in orbit, and it cannot be allowed to continue."

These collisions are dangerous for manned space flights, but could also impact our daily lives we rely on satellites for essential information like weather forecasts, communications and GPS.

These pieces of debris can take centuries to leave our orbit if they leave at all. The problem is already so severe that it is self-perpetuating; even if we were to stop all space launches immediately, the amount of junk would continue to grow because existing pieces of debris often collide and break into smaller pieces, ESA said.

For years, NASA, ESA, and other space agencies have been studying debris removal technologies. Some of the ideas proposed include using nets to gather junk, harpoons to spear and retrieve objects, and robotic arms.

For a long time, we simply didn't have the technology to address the issue but recent years have seen progress. For example, Japanese scientists are now developing a type of satellite that uses magnets to catch and destroy debris. Just last year, an experimental device designed in the UK successfully cast a net around a dummy satellite, a promising step forward.

Another obstacle is figuring out how to fund these projects. The UK device cost 15 million euros ($17 million) and that's cheap for space travel. The ESA ClearSpace mission has a budget of about 100 million euros ($111 million).

Cleanup is just one part of the solution prevention is another. Independent companies like SpaceX are starting to design their satellites to intentionally plunge back toward Earth at the end of their lives instead of drifting in orbit.

But so far, it's been mostly up to space organizations to self police and invest in being good patrons of the galaxy. There are no existing formal international rules to hold satellite operators accountable for debris creation or general carelessness in space.

-- Jackie Wattles and Dave Gilbert contributed to this report.

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Europe is sending a robot to clean up space. Why is the junk there in the first place? - CTV News

Kagan McLeod/The Globe and Mail

goes to the laid-back Air France flyer who wanted to be as comfy as possible on his 12-hour Paris-to-Los Angeles jaunt. According to fellow traveller Lizzie Thompson who posted photos and incredulous comments on social media the long-haul flight felt even longer for everyone else on board after the man removed his socks and trousers and began strolling around the cabin in his boxer shorts. Attendants seemed unconcerned by the half-naked holidaymaker, reported Thompson, who noted that he was chilly enough to cover his top half with a jacket while still keeping his pants off for more than half the flight.

goes to the two German visitors in Venice who attempted to sidestep the citys reportedly pricey espressos by bringing their own camp stove with them. But rather than discreetly brewing up in a cobbled back alley, the tight-fisted duo set-up their java-making paraphernalia on the steps of the Rialto Bridge, a 400-year-old landmark spanning the Grand Canal. An outraged local (probably more of a tea drinker) informed the police about their steamy shenanigans and according to The New York Times the pair was fined 950 euros ($1,400).

goes to the Swiss tourist who aimed to freak up his Disneyland Paris visit with a spot of LSD (although riding Its a Small World is just as trippy). As the hallucinogen kicked in, he stripped off, jumped into Captain Hooks lake and promptly disappeared. With the park closing for the night, his frantic girlfriend was forced to alert authorities. Divers, firefighters and dozens of singing chipmunks were swiftly dispatched, with the naked man eventually found staggering along a nearby country road. Arrests, charges and a three-week visit to the naughty step ensued.

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goes to Russian actor Lidiya Velezheva who lost the plot when her Moscow to Tel Aviv flight was slightly delayed. Prior to the planes rescheduled takeoff, rather than sipping an extra glass of business class champagne, her Lady Macbeth-sized ego suddenly burst forth with a raging thespian meltdown. Passenger videos show her declaiming, Im an actress and you are a pleb, and the equally charming, You probably bought the ticket with miles and I paid 204,000 rubles [$4,250]. Velezheva whose movies include one appropriately titled Idiot was swiftly dragged from her seat by officers.

goes to the Speedo-clad tourist on Marylands Assateague Island beach who ignored multiple warning signs about petting the wild horses that live in the protected park area. A bystanders video shows the carefree stroller walking among relaxed sunbathers before reaching out to pat the well-muscled behind of a handsome feral equine. In a lightning fast reaction, a sharp hoof is rapidly dispatched into the mans tender nether regions, sending him sprawling across the sand and ruing the fact that hed forgotten to pack his armour-plated banana hammock for this particular trip.

goes to the Phuket, Thailand visitor from Estonia who enjoyed an evening of fine wines and philosophical debate (probably) before returning to his holiday apartment with his equally refined roommate. Loosening his cravat (perhaps), he suddenly remembered hed always wanted to sleep under the stars. Next morning, locals posted photos of a grubby mattress precariously balanced on the buildings sagging awning, complete with a shorts-clad snoozer blearily sprawled on top of it. Police officers awakened the snoring sophisticate, reminded him hed thrown his mattress out the window and charged him with drunkenness and property damage.

goes to the New York-bound couple at Manchester Airport who were pulled aside after sending their carry-on bag through the security scanner. But rather than being read the riot act for smuggling an oversized shampoo bottle, the perplexed pair were reunited with their cat, Candy, who had successfully completed her feline mission: sneaking into a confined space, curling up in a corner and falling asleep. Describing the staff as awesome, the couple arranged for friends to pick up the whisker-twitching stowaway before resuming their trip. As for Candy, shes expecting a suitcase full of Friskies Party Mix treats when they return.

goes to the Instagrammers at Spains Monte Neme a striking body of turquoise water ringed by rocky crags who couldnt wait to wow their followers with shots of themselves cavorting in the preternaturally-hued pool. Unfortunately, the glowing pond is actually filled with hazardous chemical waste from a decommissioned tungsten mine. But, according to news outlet Publico, that didnt dissuade rabid influencers from snapping their scenic swims including one who was hospitalized and another who reported vomiting and skin irritation. Still, the photos look great except the ones with weeping sores.

goes to the not-so-sweet-toothed airline passenger from Cairo who approached Berlin airport security with a boxful of cakes artfully shaped like tortoises. Clearly visible through the packages plastic window, the traveller explained that his tasty-looking treats were made of chocolate. But rather than asking him to bite into one, eagle-eyed officers confiscated the confections or rather the live tortoises they in fact were and handed them to the airports vet. The endangered reptiles were rescued and the wannabe tortoise rustler faces a possible five-year prison stretch, where the cakes will likely be far less fancy.

goes to the Norway cruise-shippers who concluded a day-long drinking binge with a late-night gathering in an upper-deck restaurant. Rather than soaking up their pilsners with food, one of them became suddenly enraged by a fellow passenger dressed as a clown. Naturally, a violent mass brawl ensued with plates, furniture and presumably custard pies deployed as weapons. There was blood everywhere, Tweeted one terrified onlooker. The Pagliacci-bashing pugilists were eventually rounded up and locked in their cabins, where they were hopefully forced to watch repeated screenings of Stephen Kings It.

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goes to the critter-loving Australian beach visitor who posted a short social-media video of himself cooing at a tiny, beautifully-patterned octopus he was holding in his hand. Instead of filling his comments section with admiring responses, however, in-the-know nature nuts pointed out that the blue-ringed octopus is one of the worlds most deadly marine animals, reportedly carrying enough venom to kill 26 adults in a matter minutes. The eight-legged poison-packer just couldnt be bothered today, though, generously allowing itself to be returned to the water without a single human fatality.

goes to British holidaymaker Martin Walsh who spent the afternoon drinking alongside Italys Lake Garda before announcing to his equally tipsy buddies that he was fully ready to swim across. He wasnt a complete idiot though: for added buoyancy, he fashioned a flotation device from two flip-flops before easing into a lake that only trained athletes usually tackle. All went well for the first nine minutes, but a few seconds later his pals stopped cheering when he disappeared. A helicopter and two boats were dispatched to pluck the fake Phelps from the choppy waters, with one rescuer telling The Sun newspaper that Walshs escapade was very stupid.

goes to the pickup driver on a steep road near Colorados Rocky Mountain National Park, who pulled over at a bathroom-equipped rest stop to answer that essential call of nature. Unfortunately, the pit stop didnt quite go according to plan. Video from a car behind shows the driver suddenly bursting from the port-a-potty, pulling up his pants and sprinting towards his vehicle just as it rolls backward across the road and tumbles down a near-vertical cliff. The truck was empty, which was little consolation to the hand-break half-wit who likely returned to the washroom for a well-earned sob.

goes to the 12-member multigenerational British family who spent weeks tearing up the rulebook of good tourist behaviour on their jolly New Zealand jaunt. Locals took to social media to report the loud-mouthed layabouts travelling around like an amoebic crime wave, with allegations of shoplifting, beach littering, drunken brawling and running out on restaurant bills hitting newspapers almost daily along with an image of one of their youngest flipping the bird to reporters like a good un. Sadly, the lively cultural exchange was cut short when immigration authorities issued a deportation notice, returning the ever-courteous clan from whence they came.

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The 2019 Travel Hall of Infamy Awards honour the years most ludicrous adventures - The Globe and Mail