Aulsbrook Law Firm - June 2020

THE FINAL FRONTIER Commercial space travel might still be the stuff of science fiction stories, but thanks to computer programs and augmented reality, your family can still experience what it’s like to explore space. NASA and other organizations provide a wealth of free resources that make space exploration come to life for stargazers and future astronauts alike. Take some time to explore a few of our favorites today. NASA Takes You on a (Virtual) Space Adventure

THE RULES OF THE ROAD

Tailgating is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors on the road. Likely you’ve encountered it. An impatient driver comes up behind you during your commute and won’t let off the gas. Their goal is to intimidate, and in doing so, they put everyone on the road at serious risk. Tailgating is dangerous because it reduces reaction time. If the traffic suddenly slows down or there is another hazard in the road, then the tailgating driver cannot safely react. There is a high probability that they will rear-end the vehicle in front of them or swerve into another lane of traffic. The possible outcomes aren’t good. The other thing to realize is that vehicles come in many shapes, sizes, and weights. Certain vehicles, such as commercial trucks, take much longer to stop than a family car does. Heavy vehicles driving at highway speeds is a dangerous combination already, but adding tailgating or other risky behavior — such as distracted driving — to the equation may result in disaster. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic congestion is one of the primary causes of aggressive driving behavior, including tailgating. Drivers want to get through the congestion and are willing to put themselves and others at risk to do so. One of the best ways to reduce risk is to adhere to the two-second rule or the car-length rule. If you’re driving a passenger car, then you want to keep two seconds between you and the car ahead of you. Alternatively, you can keep one car length in between you and the next vehicle for every 10 mph of your speed. So, if you’re going 50 mph, then keeping five car- lengths between you and the vehicle ahead is ideal. While this isn’t always possible, especially in congested traffic, the more it is practiced, the safer you and other drivers will be. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has slightly different suggestions for larger vehicles, such as full-size SUVs and larger pickup trucks. These types of vehicles should allow for 3–4 seconds between them and the vehicle in front of them because they require more stopping time. At the end of the day, no one should ever tailgate. There is never a reason to. If traffic is moving slow, then you won’t get to your destination any faster. If a single driver is driving slowly, then navigate around them when it is safe to do so, but maintain a safe driving distance. Tailgating and You!

Touring the International Space Station

First launched in 1998, the International Space Station is a multinational space research laboratory. Nineteen different nations have sent astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists to the space station to conduct scientific experiments. It’s truly the stuff science fiction dreams are made of! In 2012, Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams filmed a full tour of this amazing floating lab and even included a quick lesson on how to work out in zero gravity. “Visit” the space station for yourself at Bit.ly/ISSTour.

Exploring Deep Space Via Virtual Reality

On Jan. 30, 2020, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope concluded its 16-year mission researching exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system. This data was used to create Exoplanet Excursions, an immersive virtual reality experience that lets your family experience the Spitzer’s discoveries and control the telescope yourself. These incredible excursions are available on Oculus or Steam, so visit Spitzer.Caltech.edu/vr to start your adventure and explore deep space today!

Planet-Hopping With NASA

Have you ever wondered would it be like to stand on another world? Then “book” your next vacation with the Exoplanet Travel Bureau! This program takes you on digital tours of real exoplanets NASA has discovered. Though we don’t know what the surfaces of these worlds look like, artists have used scientific data to create 3D landscapes to explore. See them all, from Kepler-16b to TRAPPIST- 1e, at Exoplanets.NASA.gov/alien-worlds/exoplanet-travel-bureau.

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