In The NEWS

Cosmic Adventures
Explaining space tourism
The billion-dollar space tourism industry offers jaunts—whether for minutes or days—into zero-gravity conditions generally for recreation rather than scientific research (read history). Space tourists can buy a seat—often in the tens of millions of dollars per trip—from a small number of space travel agencies (Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, to name the major players) and experience unparalleled views of the Earth.

Industry leaders offer two tour categories: fast orbital launches high enough above Earth’s atmosphere to maintain stable orbit, and suborbital. Suborbital trips offer tourists a few minutes of weightlessness from just above or below the Karman Line—the generally acknowledged boundary into space at around 62 miles above sea level.

As the International Space Station is expected to be retired by 2030, NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program is currently supporting efforts by Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Starlab Space to launch orbital space stations that can house both astronauts and tourists.

... Read our full explainer on Space Tourism here.

Also, check out...
> The overview effect: How space travel changes you. (More)
> Remembering Pan Am's "First Moon Flights Club." (More)
> The startup selling tours of space via balloon. (More)



The Cubist Visionary
Pablo Picasso, 101
Pablo Picasso was an influential 20th-century Spanish artist recognized as one of the inventors of cubism. Picasso’s innovation, popularity, and massive body of work have made him the top-grossing artist worldwide. Five of his paintings have sold for more than $100M each.

Rather than using one perspective from a fixed position, cubists portrayed their subject matter from multiple angles at the same time. The name "cubism" was unintentionally coined by a critic who bemoaned that the style reduced everything to cubes.

Throughout his life, Picasso experimented with different tools and media, resulting in many styles and distinct phases across roughly 50,000 works. (See examples of his work.)

... Read our full deep dive on Picasso here.

Also, check out...
> How Picasso's new style challenged the establishment. (More)
> Why Picasso went on trial for the theft of the 'Mona Lisa.' (More)
> Learn to paint like Picasso. (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS