Category Archives: Space Station

With the global outbreak of coronavirus, officially called COVID-19, affecting every area of life, you might be surprised to hear that NASA and other space agencies still intend to go ahead with their plan to send more astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) next month.

In fact, ISS astronauts already undergo strict quarantine restrictions as part of their launch preparations, so they might be some of the few people in the world whose plans for the next few weeks havent changed. But now, restrictions have been tightened even further to ensure theres almost no chance of spreading the coronavirus beyond our planet and onto the space station.

While quarantine procedures are new for most of us, they are well familiar to astronauts. For decades, astronauts have been placed in quarantine for periods of time before they launch into space, especially if they are traveling to the ISS. The quarantine period ensures not only that the astronauts arent sick themselves, which could be a problem if they were in space, but also that they dont transport any viruses or bacteria to other members of the crew.

These days, astronauts spend two weeks in quarantine in their quarters before launching to the ISS, with minimal contact with others outside of close family members allowed. Astronauts also quarantine when returning from space missions, to ensure they dont bring anything unexpected back to earth with them.

Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin told Ars Technica that he and his crewmates found ways to keep themselves entertained during post-mission quarantine: Well, Mike Collins and I used to exercise and jog a little bit around the hallway, he said. Though the facilities in the 1960s may not have been quite up to the strict standards of today: We looked at this one crack in the floor, and there were ants crawling in and out, he said.

Currently, there are only three astronauts aboard the ISS Commander Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan of NASA. Having so few crew members means extra work and extra stress for the astronauts, and while three is not an unusual number for a crew, the station supports up to six astronauts. Therefore, three more astronauts will join them as part of Expedition 62 next month Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos plus Chris Cassidy of NASA. The original three crew members are expected to return to Earth later in April, so the crew will go back down to three once again.

Cassidy, the NASA astronaut who is scheduled to depart for the ISS next month, is already in quarantine ahead of his trip. He told AP that he sympathizes with what people are going through as they isolate themselves: The things that are stressing the rest of the world and the rest of America, are the same things that are stressing me right now, he said. Its not like any other time in our lives as a generation, really, right? Ill have my own interesting story to tell in years to come.

Traditionally, when astronauts have been in quarantine before heading to the ISS, they have had some freedom of movement. They have been allowed to visit nearby restaurants or attend celebratory events which were held in the vicinity of the launch. In Russia, there is a tradition of astronauts visiting the site where the ashes of Yuri Gagarin, the first man to visit outer space, are located and leaving a red carnation there. Members of the public often turn out to see the astronauts paying their respects.

This year, however, there will be no visiting restaurants, no carnations, and no ceremonies. All the traditions are scrapped, Frank De Winne, the head of the European Space Agencys astronaut corps, told the Guardian. The crew is locked up and cannot see anybody except those who are screened.

The restrictions need to be tougher in order to keep the astronauts safe, De Winne explained: The quarantine is much more strict now. As few people as possible will have access to the crew, which means that scientists who need to get baseline data from them have to go into quarantine as well before they can access the crew and do their final checks. It has a big impact on the operations.

NASA and other space agencies say they intend to go ahead with the launch of the three new crew members to the ISS on April 9, unless events demand a change of plans. The intention is for a Soyuz rocket to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with a smaller team than usual manning the launch pad.

Members of the public and the media wont be allowed to watch the launch in person, due to the need to maintain social distancing. It is expected for the launch to be livestreamed, so well keep you up to date on details of if and where you can watch the launch happen.

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All traditions are scrapped: Keeping coronavirus off the ISS - Digital Trends

Many stargazers out there will be well-versed on the opportunities in catching a glimpse of the International Space Station in the night sky.

Many may have already seen the craft pass overhead in the last few days, mainly between 7pm and 10pm.

But the ISS will be visible in the skies over Somerset again from now until next Saturday (April 4).

Based on information available for Taunton, there are 10 more opportunities to catch it - starting from 8.31pm tonight (Saturday, March 28).

But, be quick, because on this occasion it will only be visible for two minutes.

The space station is currently occupied by an international crew of three people who live and work there while travelling at five miles per second.

The crews living and working space is larger than a six-bedroom house and contains a gym and a 360-degree view bay window.

The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, travelling through 16 sunrises and sunsets in the space of 24 hours.

To see it this year, head outside during the times listed below.

The ISS looks like a fast-flying plane or a very bright star moving across the sky - but it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction.

Planes usually fly at approximately 600 miles per hour whereas the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour.

People can visit NASA's Spot the Station website and change the sighting location to the town they live in.

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When you can see the International Space Station flying in the night sky over Somerset this weekend - Somerset Live

Welcome to EURACTIVs weekly Transport Brief your one port of call for all the news moving the world and much more! Sign up here for the free newsletter.

It is not all coronavirus doom and gloom. Look out for the hidden gems in this weeks newsletter, check out the latest Transport Vlog and stay safe.

Spaced-out

Coronavirus impact is not just limited to Earth. Europes space agency has put four missions on standby until technicians can return to work as normal. NASA astronauts bound for the space station on 9 April are in tighter quarantine than usual, to prevent the outbreak reaching the ISS.

Space travellers are full of sage advice when it comes to dealing with long periods cooped up inside, unable to go out. Here is what astronauts past and present said about surviving quarantine.

The European Commission opened up a consultation on its plans to boost the Galileo global positioning system in critical infrastructure. Brussels wants to make the satellite network the most precise on the market less reliant on rivals GPS and GLONASS.

Arianespace the main rocket firm that puts Europes satellites into orbit is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The French launcher still hopes to debut its new blasters soon but the virus has already forced it to shutter operations at its French Guyana base.

Elon Musks SpaceX project suffered a parachute testing setback that might delay its first crewed mission, while the US Space Force the new branch of the military not the planned Netflix show completed its first satellite launch.

Lockdown getting you down? Pass the hours by helping scientists look for new galaxies or count penguins by tracking their guano stains. It is all for the advancement of human understanding.

More on space in this weeks Transport Vlog

Sky-high

Ghost flights were finally busted, as first MEPs and then the Council gave the airport slots rules waiver the green light. It becomes law today.

Fewer flights might have unexpected consequences: more grounded planes means airlines will have to hunt for parking places to store their jets, while our ability to predict the weather might suffer too. More on the meteorological aspect here

In the UK, London closed one of its airports to try and curb the virus spread, while Virgin Atlantic started to prepare the ground for a government bailout. Budget carrier easyJet grounded its entire fleet.

US airlines are also struggling but billions of dollars in government aid will not be contingent on them upping their environmental credentials as previously planned. Their combined value is currently lower than the market price of Zoom, an e-meeting platform.

Airbus set up an airbridge between its base in Toulouse and Madrid, to deliver crucial medical supplies, while the German airforce flew Italian patients from Bergamo to Cologne in a special hospital plane, to alleviate the overwhelmed health system.

Dutch airline KLM and Australian carrier Qantas both retired their jumbo jet 747 fleets a year ahead of time because of the virus. Qantas also struck a pay deal with pilots about planned non-stop services between New York, London and Sydney.

Planes are flying empty or with more cargo than usual on board so what kind of technical challenges does that pose to keeping jets in the air? Heres a good explainer.

Driven

Europes biggest carmakers urged Brussels to put the brakes on its legislative timetable, citing the virus as reason why many will struggle to meet EU targets. Green groups were quick to accuse the auto giants of trying to profit from the outbreak.

It is the worst crisis ever for the industry and government bailouts might yet be needed. Although the sector has not put a price on the damage set to be caused by the outbreak, the cash could be earmarked for green tech.

Less traffic means less pollution, a theory confirmed by new figures last week, which showed nitrogen dioxide levels have plummeted by up to 50% in some of Europes largest cities.

The virus has also prompted a rethink of the rules of the road. Governments have relaxed laws on mandatory rest times for truckers and made it easier for motorists to get new permits or keep expired ones during the outbreak.

Coronavirus is also being used as a reason to attack the Mobility Package. Some MEPs have said the first part of the legislation should not be adopted as planned, while nine member states also said it should be put on ice for now.

Bulgaria one of those countries is building what it claims is the worlds largest truck park, to accommodate European hauliers on their way to Turkey. Ankaras 14-day quarantine period does not apply to Bulgaria, so Sofia wants to cash in on the opportunity.

New research confirms that electric cars are a cleaner alternative to the combustion engine, across most of the world. Coronavirus might stymie their development, in the US at least, where miners are feeling the pinch.

Long-distance live animal transport should be suspended during the outbreak, according to a group of MEPs and NGOs, who say long border crossing times are harmful for critter welfare. For more stories like this, subscribe to Gerardo Fortuna and Natasha Footes Agrifood Brief.

On track

Europes rail sector wrote to the Commission to make its case for state aid and extra treatment during the outbreak. The open letter points out how train travel demand was growing before the crisis and how that momentum should be defended.

The sector also asked the EU executive in a separate letter what punishments member states will face if they fail to adopt fully the Fourth Railway Package by its June deadline this year.

French train firm SNCF has converted one of its TGVs into a hospital train, in order to shift ill patients from at-risk regional areas to better-equipped facilities. India is also using the power of the railways to prepare for the worse to come.

Trains get flat batteries too. A Eurostar found itself out of juice in Brussels so the next train over had to bring jumper cables to get it running again. Reduced services mean the batteries are not charged as often as they need to be.

The Shipping News

The Commission opened up a consultation on including shipping emissions in the blocs carbon market the emissions trading system- and is sticking to its timetable of publishing a proposal early next year. Background here.

Shippers can continue to form alliances until 2024 without fear of breaching anti-competition rules, the Commission also decided. The European Transport Workers Federation warned that the extension would hurt the sector and was not well thought-out.

Picture of the week

US Navy hospital ship Comfort docks in New York City harbour to help alleviate the crisis there.

Next stops

The airport slots waiver becomes law later today and will last until the end of October.

The European Court of Justice hears a case on 2 April brought by an Austrian group against Volkswagen, off the back of the Dieselgate scandal.

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Watch this space, coronavirus weather & penguin-spotting - EURACTIV

Spacex recently announced a partnership to send three tourists to the International Space Station (ISS), the first private trip in more than a decade.

Elon Musks company has signed a deal with Axiom Space to transport the tourists along with a commander on one of its Crew Dragon capsules in the second half of 2021.

Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini said the flight will represent a watershed moment in the march toward universal and routine access to space. He did not reveal a price tag.

The cost of launching a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is around US$60mil (RM246mil) and, throwing in the cost attached to building a new capsule, the project price tag could exceed US$100mil (RM410mil).

Each ticket is therefore likely to cost tens of millions of dollars.

Eight space tourists have so far gone to the ISS on Russian Soyuz rockets with the company Space Adventures.

The first was Dennis Tito, who paid US$20mil (RM82mil) for an eight-hour stay on the ISS back in 2001. The last to go was Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, in 2009.

In February, SpaceX announced a partnership with Space Adventures to send four tourists deeper into orbit than any private citizen before them.

This mission is also projected for late 2021 at the earliest, but more likely 2022.

Other companies involved in space tourism are Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin.

The two are developing vessels to send tourists just beyond the border of space (80km or 100km, depending on how each defines it).

Tickets for Virgin started at US$250,000 (RM1.02mil) when they first went on sale in the mid-2000s.

SpaceXs offering is far more ambitious and powered by the same reusable Falcon 9 rocket that puts satellites into space and sends astronauts to the ISS.

At the same time, Boeing is also developing a crew capsule called Starliner, also with the intention of transporting US astronauts to the ISS.

Like SpaceX, Boeing envisages sending tourists into space, but the programmes development is hampered by major glitches that resulted in the early termination of an uncrewed test flight in December. AFP

Read more:
Space holiday, anyone? Space X to send tourists to International Space Station - The Star Online

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket took to the skies Thursday afternoon (March 26), delivering a highly advanced communications satellite to orbit for the U.S. Space Force.

The rocket, outfitted with five strap-on solid rocket boosters, leapt off the pad from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station here at 4:18 p.m. EDT (2018 GMT), near the middle of a planned two-hour window.

Perched atop the rocket was the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite. AEHF-6 is the final satellite in the AEHF constellation, and it will provide jam-proof communications including real-time video between U.S. national leadership and deployed military forces.

Related: Blastoff! US Space Force's 1st launch is the AEHF-6 satellite (video)

The AEHF constellation is built by Lockheed Martin and consists of six secure military communications satellites that will replace the military's aging Milstar constellation. Working in tandem, the satellites will provide coverage from geostationary Earth orbit, about 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the planet. This orbit allows spacecraft to drift along in sync with Earth's rotation, providing constant coverage over the same part of the planet.

Today's launch marks the 83rd flight of an Atlas V and the 11th overall in the 551 configuration. The most powerful version of the Atlas V, the 551 comes with five solid rocket boosters, a 16.5-foot-wide (5 meters) payload fairing and a single engine Centaur upper stage.

The 13,600-lb. (6,168 kilograms) AEHF-6 is the first National Security Space payload to launch under the recently established U.S. Space Force, which was signed into existence by President Donald Trump in December 2019. Just like the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy, the Space Force will operate under the Department of the Air Force.

Rather than deploying soldiers in space, the new military branch will focus on national security and preserving the satellites and vehicles that are dedicated to international communications and observation, U.S. officials have said.

Originally scheduled to fly on March 13, Thursday's launch was pushed back after an off-nominal valve reading occurred during prelaunch processing. Crews removed the suspect hardware and rescheduled the launch.

The launch was the second to occur from Florida's Space Coast in the past eight days, despite the coronavirus pandemic. On March 18, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ferried another batch of the company's Starlink satellites into orbit, bringing the total up to more than 350.

Related: Atlas V rocket launches US milsat and experimental spacecraft

Meanwhile, most of NASA's Kennedy Space Center is working from home after an employee at the center tested positive for the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19.

The virus has wreaked havoc across the globe, overwhelming hospitals and grinding much business activity to a halt. But for now, it's business as usual for the 45th Space Wing and the Eastern Range, which oversees all launch activity at the Cape.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (March 24), Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess, commander of the 45th Space Wing, said that the Eastern Range remains ready to support all upcoming launches.

"We're going to continue to do what we do best, which is provide assured access to space, while also taking care of our airmen and their families," he said. "We obviously can't telework launches, so we'll be here working those."

Schiess told reporters that the Pentagon has directed military commanders to continue critical missions, like AEHF-6 and the upcoming launch of a GPS satellite, scheduled for April, while ensuring the health and safety of their teams during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The Department of Defense's priority is to continue the mission, so we'll continue the mission," Schiess said. "I can't see it happening where they would say, 'Stop doing that.' We may do more testing, more temperature testing, or something like that, but I think we have to have a significant population within the operations folks to be sick to have a situation where it would impact our launches."

Related: Coronavirus pandemic: Full space industry coverage

So far, there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus at either Patrick Air Force base or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Scheiss did say that the base has tests on hand and has administered some of them, but so far all have come back negative.

Scheiss also said that launch teams are taking extra precautions right now. They have reduced staff to essential personnel only and have spread work stations farther apart. Staff are also being monitored for symptoms and encouraged to self-quarantine if they feel sick. Anyone who can telework is encouraged to do so.

According to Scheiss, several hundred people are needed to support a launch, and some missions, like AEHF-6, require more range support than others.

For instance, the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket requires around 200 people versus well over 300 people who are needed to support an Atlas V or Delta IV rocket liftoff. These numbers include operators, weather personnel, safety operators and more.

The reason why SpaceX launch teams are a bit leaner is because the Falcon 9 relies on an automated flight termination system, which triggers a self-destruct automatically versus relying on a human to do so.

Public viewing areas near the Air Force Station's entrance are closed during the pandemic, which further cuts back on the number of team members required to support the launch.

Scheiss said that national security payloads will be given priority over other launches, but he doesn't foresee any delays on the horizon beyond the indefinite hold on SpaceX's SAOCOM 1B mission. Slated to launch this month, the mission is on hold due to travel restrictions implemented by Argentina in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. (Argentina's space agency is the satellite's operator and would need to have representatives on site for the launch.)

According to Scheiss, there is a planned maintenance period scheduled for the beginning of April, where there will be no launches. Following that, launches will resume with a Falcon 9 set to loft another batch of Starlink satellites, and a second will launch an upgraded GPS satellite for the U.S. military. Those two launches are slated for April.

But first, SpaceX (as well as NASA and the military) is looking into an engine anomaly that occurred during the company's launch on March 18. During ascent, one of the Falcon's nine Merlin 1D engines cut out, which led to the booster missing its drone ship landing. This was the fifth flight for this particular Falcon 9 rocket, but SpaceX is being overly cautious and will not launch another rocket until it investigates the anomaly, company founder and CEO Elon Musk has said.

Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.

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US launches advanced satellite in 1st Space Force national security mission - Space.com

As the International Space Station (ISS) was traveling over India towards the day-night terminator, an astronaut shot this photograph of Earths third-highest summit, Kangchenjunga, and its surrounding peaks warmly lit by the setting Sun. With the Sun low in the sky, the light was passing through more atmosphere, which scatters it towards the red end of the visible spectrum.

Kangchenjunga rises more than 8500 meters (28,000 feet) above sea level. It stands in eastern Nepal near the border with India and about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east-southeast of Mount Everest. The apex of Kangchenjunga is surrounded by valley glaciers, some of which (like Yalung) are discernable in the shadows of this image. Just out of reach of the Suns rays, a deck of low-lying clouds lingers over the valley floors.

Thirteen other mountain peaks on Earth rise higher than 8000 meters (26,000 feet). These are known by mountaineers and climbers as the eight-thousanders. Oblique views such as this one give the dauntingly dangerous terrain a three-dimensional appearance and depth.

Astronaut photograph ISS061-E-92131 was acquired on December 16, 2019, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a 500 millimeter lens and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 61 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by Andrew Britton, Jacobs, JETS Contract at NASA-JSC.

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Sunlit Peaks in the Himalayas - NASA

Europe at night viewed from space with city lights.

It doesnt matter your total square footage: any living space starts to feel small and cramped, after a few weeks of social distancing and spending a lot of time at home. Whether youre enjoying the solitude, craving social interaction, and/or trying to keep the entire family occupied its going to take a steady stream of entertainment, activities, and creative solutions to keep us all from developing cabin fever this spring.

To help you feel like you have a little more space in your space, check out these astronomy live streams. Theyll help you get a bigger perspective, educate everyone in the household, and show you the wonders of the universe.

German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst took this image of an aurora as he circled Earth whilst aboard ... [+] the International Space Station (ISS).

As part of ongoing operations, NASA runs a constant livestream from the International Space Station (ISS). The view varies: sometimes its looking down on earth and others its gazing out into the deep black darkness of our solar system.

If you want to get a sense of the bigger picture and how were all in this together, this is a great livestream to put on the TV all day long. (Bonus: Youll get to enjoy up to 16 sunsets and sunrises during a day of watching just like the astronauts do!)

A superb display of aurora borealis from the Churchill Northern Studies Center, Churchill, Manitoba.

Is seeing the aurora on your bucket list? Youre not alone! Thats probably why the Northern Lights livestream has been drawing viewers from around the world over the past week. Oh, and were currently in the days that typically surround the peak of aurora activity each year!

The Northern Lights Live Cam is set up at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, and is powered by Polar Bears International. It runs 24/7 which means half the day it shows the daytime view from the center, including a chance to spot polar bears and other wildlife. Once the sun sets and the sky is clear, you can try to spot the aurora dancing in the sky above Canada. Its not quite like seeing them in person, but for this year, its the best alternative.

Two of the four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) work under the starry sky of the ... [+] Atacama desert on October 26, 2000, in Paranal, Chile.

Seeing the southern night sky is another astronomy bucket list item and one you can virtually tick off your list with the help of the internet. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has a number of telescopes in Chiles Atacama Desert. Together this facility is called the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the astronomers there conduct research at both the visual and infrared wavelengths and produces some truly awe-inspiring photos.

Theres also a webcam set up on the the VLT observing platform, which you can control to get a perspective similar to what youd experience if you visited the observatory. The camera runs constantly, so check sunset times to watch the southern part of the Milky Way appear in the night sky along with other southern constellations youve probably never seen before.

The Milky Way glows over Bryce Canyon.

This isnt a live stream, but if youre still looking to bring more astronomy into your life at home, Google Arts & Culture has you covered. As part of a project, The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks, which help people experience national parks even if they cant travel, Google has an interactive 360-degree photo of the night sky above Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon is certified as a dark sky park by the International Dark-Sky Association, so you know its an incredible spot for stargazing with dark skies. While its better to stay home, youll get a pristine view of the night sky, learn about some of the constellations above us, and be inspired to book a trip once travel is recommended.

See the article here:
Need More Space At Home? Try These Astronomy Livestreams - Forbes

BERLIN (Reuters) - Stick to a daily routine, stay connected with family and treat yourself occasionally - those are some of the tips German astronauts gave for surviving lockdown during the coronavirus crisis, which they said was much like their time in space.

Thomas Reiter, 61, who was the first German astronaut to perform a spacewalk, recalled during a Skype conversation with other astronauts on Thursday how he had a tight daily routine in space.

I think its important to follow a conscious routine in such a situation ... keeping that routine all week, said Reiter, now retired.

But weekend treats were important to look forward to.

During the week we picked out the things from the food container that each person liked the most for a Friday or Saturday evening and then had a bit better food, he said.

Reiter recalled using Skype to connect with his family from the International Space Station. Sitting in front of a bookshelf, he recommended using lockdown to catch up on reading.

You have to be able to retreat, he said, but added that in confinement with others, people must put the group first. You work together as a crew, you have to think of the others.

Matthias Maurer, 50, the newest addition to the European Space Agencys astronaut corps, said it was important to address any niggles before they blow up into arguments.

Everyone of us has a quirk which we are comfortable with but which can annoy others, he said, recalling how his taste for bananas annoyed a colleague who couldnt stand their smell.

If he hadnt said that so politely and clearly, I would have continually annoyed him, said Maurer.

Alexander Gerst, 43, who commanded the International Space Station, addressed the anxiety people may feel during the coronavirus epidemic.

Before a mission, astronauts think about the worst that could happen and then train how to respond.

Then you have the feeling not that you are losing control, but that you have some control over the situation, he said.

Now the situation is similar. We have a very effective means of limiting this illness - that is that we stay at home.

Reiter urged people to act likes astronauts going into quarantine before a mission - a protocol to prevent illness in space.

Some people take the attitude Im young, Im not at danger, I have no symptoms, so I dont need to pay attention, he said. It is up everyone to behave appropriately now, just like for us in quarantine.

Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

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Astronaut tips to survive lockdown: talk, teamwork, treats - Reuters

Its safe to say G2 Esports is back at the top of the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS). That much was already clear when they finished top 2 in the league, but theyve slammed it home after winning the entire region and being crowned North American RLCS champions over Spacestation Gaming. After a disastrous season 8 where they finished dead last, G2 managed to pull it back together in season 9.

Last season of RLCS, G2 looked like a team ready to disband. Things didnt click, teammates didnt trust each other, and every game they were shakier than a hula girl antenna on wasteland. This season they turned it around by buckling up together in a team house in New York.

They had looked strong throughout the season and many considered them favorites. Where they were once part of the big 3, after last season only NRG remained at the top until now. After losing in the World Championship Grand Final in season 7, G2 looked like they had their best chance to take the World Championship title home in RLCS9. Unfortunately, well never know how that would have turned out.

G2 went into the regional championships after coming second in the league with a 6-3 record. Third and fourth place finishers Soniqs and NRG had the same record, but with a worse game-win differential. And as it turned out, those two would battle it out in the playoffs for a spot to fight G2 in the semi-final. NRG made quick work of Soniqs with a 4-0 sweep and moved on in an attempt to keep G2 from the grand final.

It was a hard-fought battle between last seasons RLCS world champions and relegation candidates. With games going back and forth, the full seven games were required to determine a winner, but ultimately it was G2 with a convincing 3-0 win in the final game to move on to the grand final, where they would face the ever-impressive first-place league finisher SpaceStation Gaming.

Spacestation Gaming is an amazing newcomer to the RLCS. Last season they had their first season and immediately qualified for the world championships. This season, SSG finished first in the league with an 8-1 record. This grand final was surely going to be an epic battle of the ages between a strong new kid on the block and a titan looking for redemption.

Yet G2 destroyed SSG, winning 4-0. They overwhelmed and dismantled SSG.

G2 pocket close to $100,000 for the season and show no sign of stopping. The teams hoping to earn some extra pocket money with the recently announced Spring Series have their work cut out for them because G2 is back in an intimidating way.

See the rest here:
G2 Esports defeats Spacestation Gaming to win RLCS NA Regionals - Daily Esports

While many of us are practicing social distancing, working from home or living in quarantine-like and isolated situations, life goes on as normal for the space station-dwelling astronauts.

They're aware of the pandemic and have been sharing their support for people across the globe through their Twitter accounts. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir shared her perspective: "From up here, it is easy to see that we are truly all in this together. #EarthStrong."

But the astronauts aren't just floating around and taking cool pictures of Earth. Each week, hundreds of science experiments are in progress on the station. In addition to working on these experiments, the astronauts study themselves to better understand the human body in space.

Here's a look at the cool science they've been doing 254 miles from Earth.

Space pants

Living in space is an adjustment for the human body as it adapts to the lack of gravity.

Over the years, astronauts have noticed changes in their vision as a response to the headward fluid shift they experience. This also increases pressure in the head.

Last week, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan, as well as Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, tested out the Russian Chibis hardware, also known as the Russian Space Agency's Lower Body Negative Pressure experiment.

It's basically a pair of pants housed in the Russian Orbital Segment of the space station.

The rubber pants use suction to draw fluids back down towards the legs and feet, just like we experience walking on Earth.

Researchers hope that hardware to reverse the fluid shift astronauts experience in space could also help with their vision changes.

While Morgan was wearing the Chibis pants, Meir used a tonometer to measure his eye pressure, with doctors on Earth watching in real time. Morgan's head and chest were also scanned to monitor blood flow.

The astronauts also tested their hearing as part of the European Space Agency's Acoustic Diagnostics experiment to monitor if the astronauts' hearing changes in response to noise and lack of gravity on the station.

Heart, muscle and bone

Multiple experiments are currently occurring on the station that could not only benefit the health of astronauts, but human life on Earth as well.

These cells could treat astronauts who experience heart abnormalities and be used to treat people and children with cardiac diseases and disorders on Earth. The cells can also be used to investigate the development of new pharmaceuticals.

One experiment, called Engineered Heart Tissues, allows the astronauts to watch heart cell muscle contractions in real time.

Meir and Morgan have been taking care of the heart cells, watching how they react to the lack of gravity. When the heart cells return to Earth, the results of the space experiment will be compared with a similar control experiment on Earth.

The astronauts have also been studying bone samples to understand and develop bone treatments for astronauts who suffer bone loss in space, as well as people diagnosed with osteoporosis on Earth. The goal is to determine new treatments for both.

Mice are also sharing space on the station with the astronauts in a mouse habitat so they can study how the mice and their gene expression reacts to zero gravity.

Understanding how their gene expression is altered can help NASA better prepare for long-term human spaceflight. The study also serves a secondary purpose of allowing them to determine countermeasures for muscle atrophy, which can occur in space or for patients on bed rest.

It's all in your gut

Astronauts don't get much of a chance to vary their diets in space. That means they could also be missing out on vital nutrients and other added benefits of the fresh food we consume on Earth.

The Japanese space agency's Probiotics investigation is studying how good gut bacteria could improve the human microbiome on long-term missions.

Meanwhile, the astronauts are also participating in an experiment called Food Acceptability, looking at the "menu fatigue" that happens when they eat based on limited options over months on the station. This usually causes them to lose weight by the time they return to Earth.

Link:
While we were stockpiling, here's what astronauts were up to in space last week - CNN