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https://nerdist.com/article/perseverance-mars-rover-landing-animation/

NASA’s Perseverance rover, which will search for signs of life on Mars, is set to land on the Red Planet on February 18 of this year. On that date, the rover will descend onto the Martian surface, hopefully intact, and ready itself to sniff out aliens—or at least microbes. The landing, however, will require a perfect ballet of flight maneuvers, and is, as the below video of the plan shows, itself an event worth looking forward to.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) posted the animation of Perseverance’s landing to its YouTube channel. Other animations of the landing have already been circulating, although this one is special; mostly because it’s in 4K and has ridiculously lifelike detail.

The video shows the key events that make up the rover’s entry into the Martian atmosphere, its descent, and its landing. The entire event, NASA says, will only take seven minutes. And will see the car-sized spacecraft slow down from 12,100 mph at atmospheric entry, to 2 mph upon landing.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

During the landing, the heat shield on Perseverance’s lander (everything but the rover itself), will rise to 3,800 degrees °F. The lander will then deploy the largest and strongest supersonic parachute ever built.

After the lander deploys the parachute, it’ll proceed to detach its heat shield like a camera’s lens cap. The lander will then initiate propulsive thrusters, and lower the rover to the ground via a tether. (NASA refers to this as the “skycrane” maneuver, and is necessary to avoid Martian dust engulfing the rover.)

For anyone who wants to make sure to witness the event in somewhat real time—dang you, speed of light limit!—NASA will be live streaming the landing on February 18. And even though watching the lander from this POV will obviously not be possible, first-person video of the landing should be available. That is, if everything goes to plan, and no surprise Martian Jawas show up looking for ship parts.

Feature image: NASA/JPL-Caltech 

The post Watch Incredible Way ‘Perseverance’ Rover Will Land on Mars appeared first on Nerdist.

http://www.thenerdelement.com/2021/01/12/some-big-disney-updates-and-more/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=some-big-disney-updates-and-more

Hi everyone! Today I have some big Disney updates that I want to share with you all. So, let’s get started, shall we?! At Walt Disney World, Disney World is ending its Magical Express Bus Service starting on January 1, 2022. However, the complimentary service will still be available for new and existing reservations through the rest of the year.

Disney said the change was due to a “shift” in consumer options and preferences.

“Vacationers have more options to choose from that ever for transportation, including ride-share services that save time and offer more flexibility to go where they want, when they want,” Disney said in a blog post.

Other transportation option at Disney World, such as buses, monorails and the Disney Sky liner, will still be available to visitors. In its announcement, Disney didn’t provide an update for its Minnie Van shuttle service, which was suspended in March when the parks closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mears Transportation, which operates Magical Express, sent the following statement regarding Monday’s announcement.

“Walt Disney made us aware of their decision,” Mears spokesperson Roger Chapin said. “While we are disappointed Disney will no longer offer this service, we intend to continue offering transportation services between the airport and all area theme parks and hotels to meet the demand of our visitors now and in the future.”

In November Brightline revealed plans to build a station at Disney Springs for its near-high-speed rail service. The company is currently building a route that will connect Orlando International Airport and South Florida. 

Disney’s Magical Express service launched 15 years ago as a benefit for visitors staying at Disney World resort hotels. Walt Disney World plans to continue to in addition, Disney announced it will offer 30-minute early theme park entry for guests staying at a Disney hotel or select hotels. This new service replaces the Extra Magic Hours benefit that Disney previously offered before the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in it being put on hold.

Walt Disney World plans to continue to operate the service for new and existing reservations throughout 2021, according to Disney. In addition, Disney announced it will offer 30-minute early theme park entry for guests staying at a Disney hotel or select hotels. This new service replaces the Extra Magic Hours benefit that Disney previously offered before the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in it being put on hold.

“The new early theme park entry benefit helps us better spread visitation across all four theme parks, while providing added flexibility by giving guests extra early park time on each day of their vacation and in the park of their choosing,” said a Disney release.

Florida is considering using Disney World as vaccine site. The space of Disney World is appealing, and the company also has refrigerators that could be used to store the vaccine. “It seems like Walt Disney World has the technology to store vaccines and that is a really important dynamic, but also geographically Orange County sits between Polk and Osceola Counties and these are all counties of great need,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

Disney World confirmed that it has been in talks with state officials and said they are prepared to support vaccination efforts any way they can. The company said it’s focused on being a good community partner, but didn’t say whether it will become a vaccination site.

“At the end of the day it is smart for us to look at these types of institutions that might already have some of the vaccination structure in place, and Director Moskowitz mentioned some college campuses have this capacity, there are other companies that do,” Eskamani said.

The biggest difference between a potential vaccine site in Florida and the one at Disneyland in California has to do with current operations. Disneyland is still closed, while Disney World is open and operating at a limited capacity.

“There are 4.3 million people over the age of 65 in Florida. We need all hands-on deck if we are going to get these seniors populated and move on to the next population,” Eskamani said.

Over at Disneyland Resort, Disneyland is set to have the covid-19 vaccines that will be administered. It was named the Orange County vaccination site. Health officials will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines this week at Disneyland, the Orange County Board of Supervisors said Monday, making the resort the first “super” vaccination site in the county.

In a statement Monday night, county supervisors said Disneyland will be one of five large “point-of-dispensing” sites that collectively would be able to vaccinate thousands of residents each day. Arrangements for the other sites are being finalized, the statement said.

Supervisor Doug Chaffee, whose district includes Disneyland, called such large-scale vaccination sites “absolutely critical in stopping this deadly virus.”

Health officials are expected to begin vaccinating people at Disneyland this week, the county said. Those earliest eligible for the vaccine are people in the state’s highest tier of priority, which includes workers in healthcare and long-term care facilities. Most people who are eligible for the vaccine will be contacted through their employer to set up an appointment, the county said. Walk-ups will not be accommodated at the Disneyland site, and recipients of the vaccine must show identification and proof of eligibility before being inoculated.

The vaccine’s efficient distribution depends “on everyone understanding where they fall in the phased, tiered plan,” the county’s statement said.

Residents were urged to visit the OC Health Care Agency’s website, www.covidvaccinefacts.com, to determine when they’d become eligible for the vaccine. Those who try to obtain one “ahead of schedule will overload the system,” the county said, “making it even more challenging to meet this urgent need.” Mass-vaccination sites have opened or will soon open in other parts of California, including at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, San Diego’s Petco Park, and Sacramento’s Cal Expo.

Orange County has a population of about 3.1 million. More than 190,000 people there have tested positive for Covid-19 since the pandemic’s start and more than 2,100 have died, according to county data. About 2,221 people remain hospitalized with the virus, more than 500 of whom are in intensive care units.

The county is currently vaccinating people who fall under Phase 1a — critical and health care workers as well as people 75 years and older. Those who meet the criteria must schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at a Super POD site, the county said.

“It’s important to vaccinate as many willing people as possible for Covid-19, and we need the space to do it,” county Supervisor Donald P. Wagner said in a statement. “I thank Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim for stepping up in the shared effort to give OC residents protection against the virus.” So, I think this is really good news for Disney fans because Disneyland has just stepped up today to open up the vaccination site possibly when Disneyland reopens. I am very happy that they are doing it because I told you all that I think that they should do the same as Walt Disney World. So, very good news!!!

All of this information came from the news I looked at today.

So, what do you guys think about the big Disney updates?!

I would like to hear some comments, opinions, thoughts, questions, reactions, or concerns down below!

Stay tuned for Disney updates.

The post Some Big Disney Updates and More! appeared first on The Nerd Element.

https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2021/01/12/noc-interview-adriyan-rae-and-daniel-kyri-of-nbcs-chicago-fire/

From renowned Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf (Law & Order series) and co-creator Derek Haas, the writer behind 3:10 to Yuma, comes season nine of the high-octane drama Chicago Fire, an edge-of-your-seat view look at the lives of everyday folks committed to some of America’s most demanding professions. The firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics […]

https://nerdist.com/article/nubia-real-one-immortal-wonder-woman-l-l-mckinney/

After years on the sidelines, Nubia is back at the forefront of the DC Universe. Author L.L. McKinney is the driving force behind her return. Her two new comics—Nubia: Real One, with Robyn Smith, Brie Henderson, Bex Glendining and Ariana Maher; and Immortal Wonder Woman, with Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Emilio Lopez, and Becca Carey—put Nubia center stage. Nerdist chatted with McKinney about her journey bringing Nubia to the page, the power of fiction, and superhero stories.

DC Comics

As both a storyteller and a fan, reintroducing Nubia to readers is a profound moment for the author. “It honestly means everything,” McKinney shared. “I’ve been very loud about my frustrations concerning what was done to Nubia post-Crisis [on Infinite Earths]. She went from being Diana’s twin sister, same powers and everything—and even a few of her own—to being a regular Amazon. And this isn’t me hating on the Amazons, but you gotta admit it was a bit of a downgrade going from being twin to Wonder Woman to guardian of hell or random advisor or whatever. Or, if she was around as Wonder Woman, it was an alternate reality or different world. I wanted the original Nubia back, as lots of fans did. Being part of her comeback is…affirming.”

McKinney’s passion for Wonder Woman‘s powerful twin sister goes back to childhood. “My first memory [of Nubia] is being at the library,” the author shared. “My parents used to take my sisters and I all the time. They had comics on this wire stand between the kid and teen sections, and the issue where Nubia and Diana are chained together with swords lifted was there. I remember being like, ‘Who was this Black woman fighting Wonder Woman?’ I picked it up and the rest is history.”

DC Comics

Though this is her first foray into comics, McKinney’s stunning fantasy series that began with A Blade So Black gave her a framework. “My main footprint as an author is in the YA space,” McKinney explained. “So crafting a story about a young Black girl with super powers wasn’t too far outside of what I was already doing with my original series, which is about a Black girl with super powers!” Once she finished Nubia: Real One, DC approached McKinney to take on Nubia in the mainline comics. “In that way, both stories were told entirely separate, but I based them both off of Nubia pre-Crisis. As far as a personal history that I stick to, it’s the original. Every time. Diana’s twin. I won’t write any other version of her.”

Interestingly, the two Nubia titles encompass both sides of DC’s current publishing initiative. The gorgeous and powerful Nubia: Real One represents the publisher’s move towards the younger readers market; meanwhile, the superhero action of Future State is part of their huge mainline event. McKinney shared her vision for both titles with us, beginning with the upcoming original graphic novel. “Nubia: Real One sees Nubia as a Black teen being raised in America and dealing with the nonsense that goes with that. She still has her Amazon origins in place, though.”

DC Comics

The author’s experiences as a writer speaking with young Black people shaped the YA comic. “On school visits and in virtual meetups, I talk to lots of Black teens about things they enjoy,” she explained. “Many times, these kids—who are brilliant and more aware than people give them credit for—will talk about how heroes will manage to save the world. But you never see those heroes doing anything about police brutality or trying to save the neighborhoods these kids come from or even caring about people from those neighborhood and what goes on there. And every time I was like, ‘You’re absolutely right.’ So, Nubia: Real One deals with that. It gives them a reflection of themselves and what they have to deal with in one of their heroes.”

While Nubia: Real One reframes the icon for a new younger audience, her Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman story is what McKinney calls “straight hero business!” As the author teased, “She’s here to knock heads and take names.” These two juxtaposing tales gave McKinney space to really dig into the hero. “Being able to explore different versions of this character has been important to me, and I hope either Nubia reaches the readers who need her.”

DC Comics

McKinney isn’t just juggling two different eras of Nubia, but also two different formats. Nubia: Real One is a vibrant full-size standalone graphic novel. But Immortal Wonder Woman is a more classic serial story. Putting together both at once afforded McKinney a unique learning experience. “The graphic novel came together over the course of a couple years, while Future State came together over the course of a couple months! Granted, the latter is significantly shorter, 40 pages compared to almost 200,” McKinney told us. “Younger Readers was much more open to what I wanted to do and the story I wanted to tell, likely because the graphic novels are part of their own universe and not the main continuity. DC Future State impacts a lot of stories in the main continuity, so your work is part of a larger tapestry, and that requires flexing a different creative muscle.”

Although the processes may have been different, there was one vital through-line for both books. “Having Black woman artists drawing Black women was my line in the sand,” McKinney shared. “I wasn’t going to do either project if they couldn’t do this for me, and for the books, really. With Nubia: Real One, my editor was like ‘Bet,’ and we went from there. It was a bit bumpier with Future State, but I was persistent and the team wound up respecting this, and I’m grateful for it. As a result, I got to work with Robyn [Smith], whose style really sells the warmth and heart at the center of Nubia: Real One. Her work encapsulates so much of the magic of Black girlhood. And Alitha [Martinez]’s style just fills the page with this unrepentant power and command that makes you sit up and pay attention.”

DC Comics

The response to the Nubia: Real One announcement threw the internet into paroxysms of joy. Readers were desperate to see Nubia given the respect and spotlight she deserved. Seeing her passion shared by other fans was a powerful thing for McKinney. “Oh man, it was…whew. It was incredible. The outpouring of love and support from the fans was heavy. I could’ve wrapped myself up with it like a blanket,” the author recalled. “Now that the book is out next month? I’m simultaneously excited and scared, but that’s how I get with the release of any of my work. I hope I did the fans proud. As far as if I have more stories I want to tell? Absolutely, I would love to see something like…Nubia meeting up with the Young Justice crew.”

Now that she’s playing such a vital role in the DC Universe, how does McKinney want to shape it next? Well, the author has a lot of plans. “Let me count the ways! Vixen, Rocket, I’d love to do a Black Superman in the main continuity. Red Hood is another favorite. Any of the mystic characters like Constantine or Zatanna. Doctor Fate? Seriously, the list goes on and on and on.”

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman comes out on Jan. 19 and Nubia: Real One on Feb. 2.

The post L.L. McKinney Talks Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe appeared first on Nerdist.