Multimedia STORIES
article for JLDN
Silent walk against slavery in Westminster
by Pola Wo : Protesters gathering for a group picture in.
by Pola Wo: A photo collage of real human standing in Canary Wharf's tunnel and added space elemets.
article for JLDN
SPACE tourism is getting closer to ordinary civilians
"Hey love, wanna grab a shuttle on the weekend and hang out somewhere in space, say on the HEO* maybe? Don’t worry if you can’t. Dan and I are going to the Moon for an all-inclusive holiday next week anyway." As much as this may sound fictional today, at least secretly most of us have thought about how space travel for commercial purposes might play out. Could a short break on Mars with family and friends be a normal activity in the near future rather than a fantasy? Space tourism is a new trend that is widely observed but, unlike fashion, it remains unavailable to the masses. Yet. Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Axiom Space are the companies on a mission to bring people to space and cultivate space tourism. They are pioneers in space tourism. Until recently, mostly professional astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, or a handful of other government organizations accessed outer space, which is both their daily job and a mission. In 2001, Dennis Tito opened a new movement of wealthy space enthusiasts flying to space. Elon Musk’s SpaceX took it one step closer to humanity and combined billionaires’ possibilities with a good gesture for ordinary people. In 2021, a collaboration between billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX created a first-time all-civilian space flight experience, letting them become space tourists for three days. Being a space tourist sounds exciting and unknown. But what about living among the stars? The International Space Station (ISS) has been the only building in space until recently that allowed people to live and work up there. Equipped with basic conditions and limited space for living, the ISS is supposed to be decommissioned by 2030. De-orbiting the ISS has many reasons, such as aging technology leading to safety concerns and the increasing high costs to keep it operational in orbit. This currently raises opportunities for space companies to offer their ideas, products, and solutions for more affordable versions of space living. While Elon Musk is aiming for Mars, others are reaching for life on the Moon or enabling solutions to habitat space. “Short breaks to the Moon are most likely to happen in the near future, rather than to Mars, as traveling to the former takes about three Earth days, while to the latter takes about seven months.” – Sebastian Asprella, CEO ThinkOrbital ThinkOrbital is among those startups that have presented a new idea about space tourism and space living. Their offer includes what the ISS has been lacking: a high-volume, self-building space station. The plan is to launch a flat-packed space platform that can be fabricated in space, offering space for diverse business use cases. A hotel room, recording studio, or just a space escape for retreats are a few of the many versatile ideas that are on offer. ### JLDN dives into space with Mr. Asprella: **JLDN:** What is your mission in space? **Sebastian:** Accelerate humanity’s access to space, for the benefit of all living things. **JLDN:** Why do you think we need to cultivate space tourism? **Sebastian:** Space tourism is one of many business models that has enough market demand to support our mission. **JLDN:** Do you think space is for everyone? **Sebastian:** I surely wish so, but this means we need to bring costs down dramatically. First flights were only for a handful of super-wealthy people; now most everyone can buy a flight ticket. This is the kind of evolution we need for space. Technology and innovation play a key role in enabling it. **JLDN:** Will your station have gravity? Is this even possible? **Sebastian:** Eventually, yes. It is the only way to ensure long-term human-led missions in space without irreversible health impacts. It is possible, however, it requires further maturation of the underlying technology to make it happen. **JLDN:** What is the realistic destination in the nearest future? **Sebastian:** Short breaks to the Moon are most likely to happen in the near future, rather than to Mars, as traveling to the former takes about three Earth days, while to the latter takes about seven months. Whenever we travel, we want to feel good and look good. For those who keep their cosmetics as a high priority, Japanese skincare company Pola Orbis, in collaboration with ANA, can bring solutions for trips to Mars. In 2020, this duo announced their future plans about creating space cosmetics for life in microgravity. Food in space? In his book "How to Become a Space Tourist," Boris Otter and Swiss Space Tourism offer an opportunity to experience real space food while being on Earth. Omelet with chicken pate, honey bread, or curd with nuts? It seems humans can start preparing themselves in many ways for space tourism while still being on Earth. Or in other words: "Space, we are coming!" *Author’s interpretation of the Higher Earth Orbit’s abbreviation
frame edit by Pola Wo
article for JLDN
Cases rising: how to protect yourself against drink spiking
With the festive season approaching quickly, it's important to be aware of precautions against drink spiking. Spiking has been reported with an alarming number of cases in the last few months. After the UK’s party venues reopened, a wave of drink poisoning has heavily hit pubs and clubs. Both women and men have fallen into the trap of being drugged by drink and needle. This leaves partygoers questioning their own safety. The police, in cooperation with diverse partners including universities, licensed premises, and the National Crime Agency, are analyzing the increase in spiking cases. The most important task is to understand why there is a rise in this crime and what else can be done to identify offenders. While the officials are trying to find the motive behind these offenses, club owners have taken their own measures against it. As reported by The Sun, Astoria club in Portsmouth has been employing drug search dogs that sniff their guests at the club’s entrance. Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin at Lincolnshire Police has commented on this measure: "We want to stop anybody from being a victim in the first place. And part of that obviously is utilizing specially trained dogs[…] through the police force or via the relevant security industry. The important thing here is: we’ve got to work with partners." The most common substances in spiking attacks are so-called date rape drugs. GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and flunitrazepam are reported to be favored for these types of attacks. The reason behind it hides in their properties. They are simply transparent and odorless, thus being an uncomplicated weapon in a criminal’s hands. After being poisoned, a victim has a lowered sense of self and no resistance towards unwelcome sexual acts. If overdosed, this may lead to more serious outcomes such as death. LSBU students shared their views and experiences on this topic earlier this month. They expressed the same feeling and concern about spiking and felt uncomfortable knowing that this can happen during a party they attend. As the festive season approaches, it requires awareness against drink spiking. DCC Harwin has pointed out main steps to follow in order to stay safe whilst being at a party location. He strongly recommends reporting to the police straight away if one believes they have been spiked. Also, if there is any information about the spiker, this should be reported. One can do so in confidence using Crime Stoppers. The most important prevention Harwin has mentioned is looking after each other whilst being alert to any unusual behaviors of friends as well as strangers. JLDN made its own research on how to protect oneself against a possible spiking attack. Anti-spiking cup covers are one of the quickest options to be considered. They can be easily purchased online, fit into every pocket, or simply used as a hair tie. Another option is a drug testing wristband that changes color when liquid is on it. But most importantly, do not leave drinks unattended.