Image (Credit): Artist’s rendering of a Martian habitat as envisioned by the Colorado School of Mines and ICON as part of NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Challenge. (Logan Architecture)
Just a heads up. Tune into CBS’s 60 Minutes next Sunday to learn more about NASA’s efforts to design what may be future habitats on Mars. It involves 3D-printing technologies, which have also been discussed as a means of building a lunar base. In fact, NASA has issued contracts for such construction on the Moon.
Here is a clip discussing this upcoming segment. It is part of a 90-minute episode of 60 Minutes. I am not sure if we should expect a name change for the series.
In the aftermath of the Titan submersible tragedy, extreme travel has come under fresh scrutiny. But one industry stands out for both its allure and the lack of regulation protecting participants’ safety: space tourism. CBS Reports explores the next great leap for humankind and whether regulators and industry stakeholders are striking the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring safety.
It was only a matter of time that the deep sea deaths led to greater interest in other nonessential risk. It discusses the space tourist programs under SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and others, though it does not get any of them on the record to talk about risk. The news program does reach out to a few tourists, and spends a lot of time with a balloon company that is not yet a real player in this industry.
Many if not most of the space tourists are wealthy individuals with the means to investigate and understand the risk, so one can only worry so much. This is the same subset of humanity climbing mountains because they are there or jumping from helicopters to ski, so they would probably find some other way to expire with their money just to be “alive.” So, should we care? Maybe millionaire guinea pigs are an easier way to fund missions and experiment until space travel is safer for greater numbers.
Probably we should have at least minimal standards equivalent to other forms of privately-owned craft, be it boats or planes. And only when these craft become true transports for the public should they fall under greater regulation. It’s just an idea, but until then caveat emptor.
Image (Credit): Ahsoka, the main character in Disney’s new series Ahsoka. (Disney+)
If you thought that Disney had run out of Star Wars series ideas, you are far from the mark. The past few series have pulled a variety of stories from the movies, be it The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett. However, the new series Ahsokacomes from the animated TheClone Wars series rather than the films. Is this going too far for the original fans?
The trailer for Ahsoka, which premieres on August 23rd, is fast-paced and intriguing, as expected. Yet Disney’s description is pretty sparse:
Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
So what do we know about this Ahsoka? The Star Wars page share this:
…prior to The Clone Wars, no one had known that Anakin Skywalker taught an apprentice — no one, that is, except George Lucas. In creating the character of Ahsoka Tano, George Lucas offered a vital point of view for the audience, one that kids could directly relate to as they watched the galactic confrontation between the Jedi Knights and Darth Sidious unfold. Ahsoka’s experiences could be their experiences, and as she grew up, so did they. Arriving first in the Clone Wars film, her journey unfolded in the series and beyond.
The eight-part series will also include Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, giving it a little more heft as was the case with Luke Skywalker appearing on The Mandalorian.
I plan to watch a few episodes to see what Disney has created, though at the outset I have some doubts. Are we looking another The Book of Boba Fett (which was pretty bad) or Andor (which surpasses expectations)? I am eager to know.
Image (Credit): Spock singing in the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. (Paramount+)
If you are following Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, then you may have already encountered episode 9 of the second season, titled “Subspace Rhapsody.” Should you have missed it, then you are in for a treat because this is the first Star Trek musical episode. And it is fun.
For just a taste, check out this clip with an emotional Spock singing his heart out. I do not want to give to much away and spoil the episode if you are not that far along in the series, but let’s just say Spoke is have relationship issues. You must admit that Ethan Peck has a nice voice, as do his crew mates singing other pieces.
The whole thing has the feeling of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer singing episode, which is fine with me given that I believe it was one of the better episodes of that show.
By the way, Spock also had a small singing part in the original series. In that case, he sang a serenade accompanied by a harp. It’s a short piece, yet enough to show that Mr. Peck beats Mr. Nimoy as a singer.
Last season, Strange New Worlds had the cast caught up in a children’s story. I did not find that one to be as enjoyable, but it was another attempt to have some fun with the series. I like the effort to keep it fresh.
Maybe another ballad could be fit into an episode down the road – maybe something similar to what The Orville did in its final two episodes. That too created two of the more memorable episodes of that series.
Image (Credit): Poster for season two of Foundation. (Apple TV+)
If you are not watching Foundationon Apple TV+, I recommend you give it a try. Season two begins today.
We need it during a summer with very few if any films touching on space fantasies (without Marvel or DC Comics superheros). The season two trailer will show you what is in store this season, but you need to start from the beginning with season one. You do not want to miss a minute of this series.
The Foundation television series is a cross between Dune and Game of Thrones, with plenty of corrupt dynasties, rebel alliances, and moral dilemmas. However, you should not expect it to closely track Issac Asimov’s books. It deviates from and expands on the themes from the books, but this television story is its own creature. You should enjoy the book and television series separately.
Back in 2021, Belen Edwards wrote a good piece for Mashable called “How Apple TV’s ‘Foundation’ is different from the books.” You will not need it if you are new to the overall story or willing to trust Apple TV+ to give you a good show, but if you are curious about the variations on a theme then this will satisfy that itch.
I am just happy that we have a summer space blockbuster to keep us satisfied. And it is a welcome addition to the constant renewal of Star Trek and Star Wars series. Don’t get me wrong. I want all of it. But Asimov’s universe is another great place to travel if only to better understand the world back here.
