Exciting news from the realm of space exploration! NASA and its incredible international partners are gearing up for an eventful departure as the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft bids farewell to the International Space Station on Sunday, April 28 (weather permitting). This pivotal moment will mark the return of scientific research samples and hardware, acquired during the spacecraft’s stay at the orbiting laboratory. Enthusiastically, NASA is providing extensive coverage of the undocking and departure, ensuring that we don’t miss a moment of this extraordinary event.

Undocking and Departure:
NASA will commence its coverage of the undocking and departure at 12:45 p.m. EDT, accessible through various means such as NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. If you’re curious about experiencing the event firsthand, worry not – NASA offers streaming options on multiple platforms, including social media.

Dragon will gracefully undock from the zenith port of the Harmony module, promptly at 1:05 p.m., after receiving ground control commands from SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. Following undocking, it will steadily propel itself away from the International Space Station, creating a safe distance between them.

Return to Earth:
Upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the Dragon spacecraft will elegantly splash down off the coast of Florida, with the ultimate goal of delivering more than 4,100 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments back to home soil. While NASA will not be broadcasting the splashdown, you can stay tuned to the agency’s space station blog for continuous updates and fascinating insights.

Scientific Endeavors:
Among the plethora of captivating studies making their way back to Earth, one standout is the Flawless Space Fibers-1 experiment. This investigation has achieved remarkable milestones, producing over seven miles of optical fiber during its stay on the space station. By exploring new hardware and manufacturing processes for high-quality optical fibers in space, it shattered previous records, drawing more than half a mile of fiber in just one day.

Another striking study travelling aboard Dragon is GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space), which surveys the space station for antibiotic-resistant organisms. By analyzing genetic data, scientists aim to understand how these bacteria adapt to space, providing insights to protect future astronauts on long-duration missions.

MISSE-18 (Materials International Space Station Experiment-18-NASA) is yet another exciting experiment coming back to Earth. It examines the performance and durability of materials and components when exposed to the harsh environment of space. Coatings, quantum dots, a lunar regolith simulant composite, and other materials are studied to enhance our understanding of their behavior in space conditions.

Additionally, the Immune Cell Activation experiment, sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), promises fascinating results. It investigates whether microgravity affects the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into immune and melanoma cells. The outcomes of this research could contribute to the development of novel therapeutics targeting central nervous system diseases and skin cancers such as melanoma.

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Future Implications:
These returning experiments represent only a fraction of the hundreds of ongoing investigations aboard the International Space Station. Ranging across biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science, these studies are crucial for astronaut health during long-duration space travel. They also serve as critical stepping stones towards NASA’s Artemis campaign, ensuring the advancement of human and robotic exploration beyond low Earth orbit – ultimately leading us to the Moon and Mars.

The impending departure of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft from the International Space Station promises an exhilarating journey back to Earth. With an array of scientific research samples and hardware aboard, the Dragon’s return holds tremendous scientific significance. Thanks to NASA’s dedicated coverage, you can witness this extraordinary milestone through various platforms. As we eagerly await the spacecraft’s splashdown off Florida’s coast, let’s celebrate the accomplishments and look forward to the groundbreaking discoveries that lie ahead.

Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Learn more about the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station

https://stmdailynews.com/category/science

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PHOENIX /PRNewswire/ — It was just a matter of time before the fastest growing sport, pickleball, became America’s most popular export. A new era has begun. Pickleball Kingdom, the nation’s premier and largest entity of indoor pickleball facilities, has just become the world’s first international indoor pickleball franchise company

Pickleball Kingdom has signed a deal with Franchise India Group, the leading company in the world of bringing US brands into the Middle East.  Their agreement will lead to Pickleball Kingdoms initially opening in Dubai, India, and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.

Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues exclaimed, “This is a dream come true. Global expansion was part of the plan from day one, and now we’re here. Currently we have 140+ locations in queue in the United States. With this partnership, we will double that number almost overnight. And this is just the beginning.”

Chairman of Franchise India Group, Gaurav Marya added, “Pickleball is taking the world by storm and Pickleball Kingdom is leading that charge. We’re excited to partner with them and head up this international expansion.”

Franchise India Group is now accepting applications from interested parties to participate in this global movement as franchisees. Venus Barak, CEO of FranGlobal explained, “We are looking for seasoned businesspeople who understand the value of having first market mover advantage. We will have these key stakeholders in place for each territory that we open.”

Pickleball has seen a growth rate of over 224% over the last three years, resulting in an estimated 36.5M pickleball players in the United States alone. And remarkably, 45% of them say they plan on playing more pickleball over the next year, according to YouGov. Universally, the biggest complaint against pickleball is that there aren’t enough courts to meet the demand to play… 

Enter Pickleball Kingdom’s franchise model. These climate controlled, indoor facilities offer lessons, leagues, tournaments, parties, team building events, and refreshments. Members and visitors have the option to reserve courts or participate in open play sessions.

Rob Streett, Pickleball Kingdom’s COO, stated, “Partnering with Franchise India Group gives us the immediate scale and reach to maximize our brand’s immediate entry and impact in the Middle East. We have been very methodical and intentional with our growth. This is just phase one of our expansion plan.”

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CEO Ace Rodrigues concluded, “The time has come. This is our entry onto the international stage. We will be in every country in the world inside of 5 years. One of our value statements is, ‘Pickleball is good for you physically, socially, and spiritually.’ I can’t wait to hear, ‘Welcome to the Kingdom!’ spoken in every language on the planet! Teammates, get ready, the Kingdom is coming!”

SOURCE Pickleball Kingdom

NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — As New Yorkers’ passion for pickleball and all things wellness continues to grow, Life Time (NYSE: LTH), is bringing an entirely new experience to office workers, commuters and neighborhood residents in the heart of THE PENN DISTRICT, with the opening of Life Time PENN 1 on April 15.

The completion of the 54,000-square-foot luxury athletic club transforms the street level experience of the recently redeveloped 2.5-million-square-foot PENN 1 office tower with the debut of seven, street level pickleball courts – the most in New York City – along with the unveiling of a massive space for Life Time’s exclusive Alpha, GTX, and UltraFit signature group training programs. The pickleball courts are available for reservations for open play, mixers, leagues, clinics and tournaments and the training space will offer more than 50 classes weekly by the city’s top coaches and personal trainers.

“Life Time continues to gain tremendous momentum across Manhattan and Brooklyn because of our incredible people, programs and places, including this new iconic destination at PENN 1,” said Parham Javaheri, Chief Property Development Officer and President of Club Operations. “The transformation of The PENN DISTRICT has been exhilarating to watch under the expertise of Vornado Realty Trust and brings Life Time to a whole new level in New York. We’re proud to be the wellness anchor for this entire area.”

The opening of the pickleball and training space complements Life Time’s thriving Class Collection boutique studios with nearly 60 classes offered weekly, and a functional training floor featuring state-of-the-art cardio and strength-based equipment, and dedicated spaces for recovery, relaxation and stretching with Life Time’s Dynamic Personal Training team. Members also have access to luxurious dressing rooms with saunas showers, plush amenities and complimentary lockers, and a juice bar with Life Time’s proprietary nutritional products. In total, the club covers a portion of three floors of the office tower.

As part of the redeveloped 55-story building, which sits directly atop Penn Station and serves global office tenants, Life Time is readily accessible to hundreds of thousands of daily commuters, visitors and locals alike.

“Life Time PENN 1 is a core piece of our vision for The PENN DISTRICT as a vibrant and welcoming community powered by the highest-quality amenities and operators,” said Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President of Office Leasing and Co-Head of Real Estate at Vornado. “From health and wellness options to an array of dining selections and inspired social spaces, The PENN DISTRICT offers residents, commuters, and visitors endless ways to come together, day and night and we’re thrilled Life Time Pickleball is a part of it.”

Life Time at PENN 1 is located at 250 West 34^th Street and is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s open for anyone to join with a Signature Membership or a Premier Membership, which includes pickleball. Both include access to all Life Time destinations nationwide and in Canada. Day passes are also available.
For additional information, visit lifetime.life/PENN1.

In addition to the completion at PENN 1, Life Time continues to grow its presence in New York City with plans to open Life Time Atlantic Avenue on April 19. Additional planned locations include The Brooklyn Tower and Park Avenue South.

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Life Time debuted in 2016 with Life Time Sky (605 W. 42nd Street). Since then, the Company has opened at the Ocean Residence in Battery Park (1 West Street); in the former New York Health & Racquet clubs at 23rd Street (Between 5th and 6th), NoHo (62 Cooper Sq.), and Midtown (110 W. 56^th Street); the One Wall Street development (29 New Street), and at Front & York in Brooklyn (168 Front St., Brooklyn). Life Time’s opened its first permanent indoor pickleball courts in Manhattan at Life Time Sky in February 2023.

About Life Time®
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of more than 170 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The health and wellness pioneer also delivers a range of healthy way of life programs and information via its complimentary Life Time Digital app. The Company’s healthy living, healthy aging, healthy entertainment communities and ecosystem serve people 90 days to 90+ years old and is supported by a team of more than 37,000 dedicated professionals. In addition to delivering the best programs and experiences through its clubs, Life Time owns and produces nearly 30 of the most iconic athletic events in the country.

About Vornado Trust Realty
Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum.

SOURCE Life Time, Inc.