Tag Archives: Crews

Science

Video Shows Inspiration4 Crew’s First View Through SpaceX Glass Dome

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Inspiration4 crew member Hayley Arceneaux gazing through the cupola for the first time.
Image: Inspiration4/SpaceX

A newly released video from the recently concluded Inspiration4 mission shows the incredible moment when the all-private crew opened the hatch to the Dragon Cupola, revealing a stupendous view of Mother Earth.

It took some time, but footage of the Inspiration4 mission is finally starting to come out. Sian Proctor, pilot of the Crew Dragon capsule, tweeted a video earlier today, showing “the moment when me and my amazing crew…opened up the [SpaceX] cupola for the first time,” as she wrote, adding that it was a “true highlight” of the Inspiration4 mission.

Normally, this upper section of the Crew Dragon is used for docking at the ISS, but for Inspiration4, SpaceX fashioned the nosecone to include a three-layer plexiglass dome known as the Dragon Cupola.

Ambient background noises from the Crew Dragon can be heard as the crew opens the hatch. The mission mascot—a plush golden retriever doll—floats through the capsule. Crew members Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, and Jared Isaacman look up in anticipation of the view. Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, the musical classic featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey, plays in the background (Proctor claims it was her idea and that she downloaded the track onto her iPad before launch).

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“Oh my gosh,” said Arceneaux. She begins to pull out a long white ribbon from a carrying case, saying, “Alright, I’ve got work to do.” The ribbon is the Dragon hatch seal cover, which is used to “keep hatch seals free of debris and remove the need for periodic cleanings by the crew,” according to NASA. The view of space stops Arceneaux cold, as she’s mesmerized by the scene unfolding in front of her.

Amid the oohs and aahs, Sembroski can be heard saying, “Holy shit,” in what is a wholly appropriate response to the situation. Proctor’s camera captures the incredible view of Earth and the transfixed faces of her crewmates.

The hatch was opened very early during the three-day mission, which ended with a successful splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, September 18. During a post-flight press conference, Benji Reed, director of crew mission management at SpaceX, said problems were experienced with the Waste Management System (i.e. the toilet), which is located just below the cupola. In a tweet put out yesterday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the same, remarking that, “We had some challenges with [the toilet] this flight,” and that an upgrade is needed.

No further details were given, but exposure to zero gravity can cause vomiting and diarrhea, part of a condition known as “space adaptation syndrome.” Sufferers may also experience “facial stuffiness from headward shifts of fluids, headaches, and back pain,” according to NASA. The reason for it likely has to do with fluids shifting in the body as a result of microgravity, and/or sensory conflicts, in which a person struggles in the absence of a discernible up and down. Around half of all astronauts experience space sickness during their first few days in space.

In a tweet, Isaacman said moving and working in microgravity “came really naturally for all of us.” He had a “minor pressure feeling” in his head, “kind of like hanging upside down from your bed, took about 36 hours to start to subside for me.”

We don’t know if any of the Inspiration4 crew members got sick, but the faulty toilet doesn’t sound like fun, especially given the cramped quarters. Hopefully SpaceX will figure something out.

More: NASA chose a really sweet spot to land its upcoming lunar rover.



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Science

Florida photographer befriends, documents first all-civilian crew’s preparation for SpaceX launch

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – As a high schooler on the Space Coast, John Kraus thought he would try photography as a passing hobby. Now he’s tackling something new: Photographing the first all-civilian crew as they prepare to blast off in a SpaceX rocket from Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 15.

“I just randomly picked up a camera when I was 15. And I didn’t really think it’d be anything other than a fleeting interest or hobby. And it just slowly snowballed once I shot my first rocket launch into this, you know, obsessive hobby, looking weeks ahead to the next launch and planning my shots,” Kraus, now 21, said. “And I kind of blinked and now I’m doing it professionally full time.”

When Shift4Payment CEO Jared Isaacman launched the Inspiration 4 contest on Feb. 1, putting out a call for anyone in the U.S. to win a flight on the Crew Dragon along with him and 29-year-old St. Jude’s physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux, interested space travelers could enter the competition by either donating to St. Jude or using Shift4Shop to share their business stories on social media.

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The completed crew includes Chris Sembroski, a graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who works in the aerospace industry in Seattle, and Dr. Sian Proctor, a science communicator, artist and geoscience professor from Phoenix who has completed four simulated space missions on Earth.

Kraus could have been on board after he raised $10,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s hospital in an attempt to score one of the two seats up for grabs but after not being selected, he got the next best thing.

“The mission’s commander, Jared Isaacman, reached out a few weeks later said, ‘Hey, I like your work, would you like to come on board as our photographer?’ and here I am now taking pictures of the astronauts as they prepare to go to space.”

To Kraus, he says he feels like he “99.9% won the competition even though I didn’t win.”

He’s now been documenting their journey training to go to space for the last seven months, which for Kraus was a whole new skill set. He normally photographs the hardware launching people not so much the astronauts on board.

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“The overwhelming majority of my work with this campaign is photographing these four people and their team members as they prepare to go to space and the final kind of bit of it is the rocket launch,” Kraus explained. “So learning to photograph people in the way that I’ve been doing has definitely been a challenge.”

Photographer John Kraus on a flight over Montana with the Inspiration 4 crew. (WKMG 2021)

Over the past few months, the crew has hiked Mount Rainer in Washington, flown fighter jets in Montana, taken multiple zero-G flights and been training at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

Photographing the crew during fighter jet training in and zero-G proved fun and challenging, said the 21-year-old.

On a parabolic flight out of Las Vegas, Kraus also experienced zero-G and was there to document the Inspiration 4 crew as they did for the first time, too.

“It was the single hardest photoshoot I’ve ever done,” he said. “Trying to focus on four different people who are all moving on their own different planes, as well as, you know, I’m moving because you don’t really have anything to keep you anchored unless you’re like holding on to a wall. And then you got to shoot at a fast shutter speed to make sure you’re freezing them but … everyone’s moving. It was just such a dynamic environment. And I think I got decent stuff considering that it was the first time I had done that.”

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John Kraus (front) and the Inspiration 4 crew on a parabolic flight. (WKMG 2021)

An unexpected benefit of this gig has been getting to know the four people who are preparing to blast off into space. He’s also gotten to know their families.

“I did not expect to build the relationship that I have with the crew, you know, a week or two in I had already built the dynamic with them that I was expecting to maybe build by the launch,” Kraus said. “Just seeing them become such good friends with each other, and then sort of being in there with them. And developing a great rapport with them has been amazing. And better than anything I could have thought going in.”

The Inspiration 4 crew members are an electric bunch: A billionaire businessman, a St. Jude’s physician’s assistant, an engineer and a one-time NASA astronaut candidate turned educator. The thing they all have in common is they are not NASA astronauts, they have not trained for years to go to space but they happened to be at the right place at the right time and on Sept. 15 will launch from Kennedy Space Center in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

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“Inspiration 4 is the first time that we’ll have an orbital mission to space where all the participants are not from a government agency,” Kraus explained. “All four of these astronauts, Jared Isaacman, Haley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski, they’re just, you know, more or less everyday people like you and me that are going on this mission.”

John Kraus photographing the Inspiration 4 crew. (WKMG 2021)

The crew will launch and spend three days orbiting the Earth, documenting their experience, conducting some low-gravity science and, according to Kraus, eating some comfort food they bring along.

“When you think about the grand scheme of humans, we’ve only been going to space for, for not too long. But I’ve never befriended a payload. I’ve never become friends with Starlink satellites or GPS satellites. But I’ve become friends with these four people. So it’s definitely personal for me to see them launch,” Kraus said of how he will feel on launch day.

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The Inspiration 4 campaign will eventually raise more than $200 million for St. Jude. Isaacman donated the first $100 million and the other half is coming from the contest and a Netflix documentary and other fundraising efforts. Kraus sold prints of his photography to raise money for the hospital and Proctor is still fundraising through her space art campaign.

As part of his work with the crew, Kraus has been teaching them some photography skills so they can document their spaceflight.

“The crew came to me and said, ‘How are you going to teach us how to take photos in space?’” Kraus said. “Now, it’s a bit hard because I haven’t yet done it. But I was able to combine a lot of resources from NASA imagery, some of my experience with just various types of photography, compiled into a written guide, a video guide. And once we finally got our cameras on hand, and I split up the kits into their hands, I’ve been helping them learn how to take photos. And I hope they come back with some stunning imagery.”

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The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will look a little different than the previous ones to dock at the International Space Station because it will have a cupola on top.

Currently, the launch window for the Inspiration 4 mission is 24 hours but is expected to be narrowed down closer to launch.

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US

Lyons, IL investigation: Crews excavate backyard of Center Ave. home after brothers claim mother, sister buried there

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LYONS, Ill. (WLS) — Crews are digging Saturday behind a home in west suburban Lyons.

Two adult brothers told authorities their mother and sister could be buried in the backyard.

The investigation started after the water company alerted police that water hadn’t been used at the home in the 3900-block of Center Avenue. Gas and electric use had also been minimal.

Upon arriving they found a severe case of hoarding. The home contained jars filled with urine and piles of possessions throughout the two story home, as well as multiple cats and dogs running around the property.

“It was multiple liters of urine,” said Lyons Police Chief Thomas Herion. “There was no running toilets. Every room, the front door, the backdoor were completely barricaded with debris, boxes.”

Neighbors also mentioned they hadn’t seen one of the brothers who lives there in days.

“Sunday to today,” Herion said. “We know it’s a million degrees in there, so started getting concerned maybe they had passed.”

Police said they spoke to two men who lived there, brothers, who they said suffer from mental illness. They told police they used a side window in the home to come and go as the doors wouldn’t open.

“He said he had another brother upstairs who had some health issues,” said Herion.

The brothers told police their mom was pushed down the stairs by their sister in December 2015, and died sometime the following week from her head injury. Police said she was in her late 70s. The brothers then said their sisters got sick and died in 2019. Police said she was 42.

“Where are they? He indicated they were buried in the back yard, he said, ‘Oh they got sick, they died and we just buried them in the backyard,'” Herion said.

The state of Illinois has no record of their deaths. Police said all evidence points to the bodies being in the yard; they have no evidence their mother is in Connecticut, or that the sister is with other family.

The brothers said their father had died in 2012 and they had cremated him.

Friday, police are bringing in more help, including an archeologist, for the extremely tedious task of emptying the home and looking for any evidence of what happened inside and sifting dirt in the yard outside.

“We are going to have to have expert crews come in to empty this residence,” Chief Herion said. “We will have detectives outside as items are coming out of the house every piece of evidence is going to have to be evaluated read and determine whether it’s valuable or not valuable.”

Both brothers were taken for a physical and mental evaluation at a hospital, but have not been placed under arrest. But that could change if evidence of human remains are found Saturday, as the concealment of a death is a class 4 felony in Illinois.

“We don’t know whether we have bodies, whether we have good information, bad information, this is a preliminary investigation and it’s an ongoing investigation,” Herion said.

But the process of digging up bodies is complex, with many unknowns.

“They take skims of dirt, they put it in the sifters, they sift that dirt out to find any type of evidence, and they go through in very slow, methodical steps by hand,” he said.

The chief said the brothers were released within about two hours after they were taken in for their mental check, which was a surprise. The city is now paying for them to stay in a hotel as the investigation continues.

The Lyons Police Department is working with the Cook County State’s Attorney to begin an investigation.

Police said they are currently treating this as a homicide investigation, but cautioned the brothers could be telling the truth.

Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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US

Crews work to recover missing person’s body after boat crash off Boston’s Castle Island

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Crews are working to recover the body of a missing boater after a boat crashed off the coast Boston’s Castle Island early Saturday morning.U.S. Coast Guard officials say a boat struck a “day marker” buoy in Boston Harbor near Castle Island just before 3 a.m., and the impact caused eight people to fall into the water.Seven of the eight people were rescued by Boston Police Harbor Patrol. Five of them were transported to Boston area hospitals, while two refused to be transferred to a hospital. Boston police say the seven people who were rescued suffered non-life-threatening injuries.According to Boston police, the search for the missing boater is now a recovery operation.U.S. Coast Guard and Massachusetts State Police helicopters are involved in the search for the missing boater’s body.The Boston Fire Department, Boston Police Department and Boston Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene.

BOSTON —

Crews are working to recover the body of a missing boater after a boat crashed off the coast Boston’s Castle Island early Saturday morning.

U.S. Coast Guard officials say a boat struck a “day marker” buoy in Boston Harbor near Castle Island just before 3 a.m., and the impact caused eight people to fall into the water.

Seven of the eight people were rescued by Boston Police Harbor Patrol. Five of them were transported to Boston area hospitals, while two refused to be transferred to a hospital. Boston police say the seven people who were rescued suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Boston police, the search for the missing boater is now a recovery operation.

U.S. Coast Guard and Massachusetts State Police helicopters are involved in the search for the missing boater’s body.

The Boston Fire Department, Boston Police Department and Boston Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene.



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Science

NASA Astronauts Grow Chile Peppers in Space to Help Boost Crews’ Diets

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  • NASA astronauts have begun growing chile peppers in space aboard the ISS. 
  • Crew members will be able to enjoy the spicy snacks in about four months, the agency said. 
  • Peppers are highly nutritious, making them a great choice for crews during deep-space exploration. 
  • See more stories on Insider’s business page.

NASA astronauts are spicing things up in space.

In recent days, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) started growing chile peppers as part of the agency’s food crop production experiments. 

The pepper seeds arrived at the space station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd commercial resupply services mission, which launched back in June. 

The Plant Habitat-04 experiment (PH-04), which will cultivate 48 Hatch chile pepper seeds, will grow for about four months before astronauts harvest them. Astronauts will be able to enjoy the peppers when they turn red signaling their ripeness — but they can also be eaten green, the agency said. 

Shane Kimbrough, a flight engineer who is part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission, kicked off the experiment by watering the seeds. This is not the first time Kimbrough has grown crops in space, according to NASA. Back in 2016, he helped grow and eat “Outredgeous” red romaine lettuce as part of the Veg-03 experiment. 

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough inserts a science carrier device into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), which contains 48 Hatch chile pepper seeds.

NASA


The peppers will be grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), a plant growth cell approximately the size of a kitchen oven, according to the agency. It is one of three plant growth chambers on the orbiting laboratory where astronauts cultivate crops. 

“The APH is the largest plant growth facility on the space station and has 180 sensors and controls for monitoring plant growth and the environment,” said Nicole Dufour, PH-04’s project manager. “It is a diverse growth chamber, and it allows us to help control the experiment from Kennedy, reducing the time astronauts spend tending to the crops,” she added. 

It is the first time NASA astronauts will grow a crop of chile peppers on the station from seeds to maturity. Matt Romeyn, chief investigator for PH-04, said: “It is one of the most complex plant experiments on the station to date because of the long germination and growing times.”

Why peppers? 

They are rich in vitamin C and several other key nutrients, said Romeyn. Peppers are also sturdy with a good chance of growing successfully in microgravity. They are also easy to handle as a pick-and-eat crop that does not require cooking.  

Its colour also makes it well suited for astronauts aboard the space station. “Growing colorful vegetables in space can have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health,” Romeyn said. “We are discovering that growing plants and vegetables with colors and smells helps to improve astronauts’ wellbeing.”



A harvest of Hatch chile peppers.

NASA


Taste is a crucial element of the experiment. LaShelle Spencer, PH-04’s project science team leader, said: “The spiciness of a pepper is determined by environmental growing conditions. The combination of microgravity, light quality, temperature, and rootzone moisture will all affect flavor, so it will be interesting to find out how the fruit will grow, ripen, and taste.” 

This is because the food astronauts eat not only needs to be the most nutritious but also the tastiest. Crew members in space can lose their sense of taste and smell as a short-term effect of living in microgravity, and so they may prefer spicy foods or foods rich in flavour, said Romeyn. 

There is a lot of work being done in space agriculture from a nutritional and supplemental perspective, where astronauts are growing a full menu in zero-gravity. In May, astronauts aboard the ISS enjoyed a fresh supply of vegetables, including “Amara” mustard, also known as Ethiopian kale, and the previously grown crop, “extra dwarf” pak choi. 

The experiments come in an effort to help find solutions to feed crews on future long-duration missions to the moon and eventually Mars, said NASA. 

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Health

Abatement crews struggle as mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus multiply in Utah

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Some abatement crews describe 2021 as the worst mosquito season ever in Utah as they struggled to push back the pests this summer. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)

BOUNTIFUL — Some abatement crews describe 2021 as the worst mosquito season ever in Utah as they struggled to push back the pests this summer.

Crews said the high temperatures are causing mosquitoes to multiply.

The mosquitoes that breed in floodwaters are actually way down, as you would expect, but the kind that breeds in existing wetlands are thriving. And to make matters worse, they’re the kind that are known to carry West Nile virus.

On the southwest end of Davis County, abatement tech Trevor Larsen searched the wetlands for water, but had little success.

“It’s all dry,” he said.

But in the areas where there is standing water, the mosquitoes were doing very well.

“We’re seeing numbers now like we normally would in our peak — in the end of July, first part of August,” said Gary Hatch, director of Davis County’s Mosquito Abatement District.

Hatch said it could be an early peak, or a sign that a much bigger peak will hit in a few weeks.

“When the heat started to come on in May, we were very concerned, and actually started to see their numbers climbing,” he said.

Abatement tech Trevor Larsen searches the wetlands at the southwest end of Davis County. Crews said the high temperatures were causing mosquitos to multiply. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL TV)

Many of their traps came in full.

“These are the Culex tarsalis. These carry West Nile Virus,” said Hatch.

That’s where the greater concern comes and that’s why their lab started testing early.

“We have detected West Nile virus earlier than we ever have,” said Hatch.

That could mean more cases of the disease, but is there also one more hurdle to overcome this year. Techs like Larsen have been doing double duty. Much like everywhere else, Hatch is having trouble hiring summer help.

They have been trying to make due with about half the staff they want.

“This is by far the most challenging year we’ve had — with the heat, the number of mosquitoes we’re seeing, and the lack of employees that we have,” said Hatch, who has been with Davis County for 27 years.

He said everyone will have to be more vigilant outside, using repellant, and if we can stand it, long sleeves and pants.

These mosquitoes, in particular, bite after the sun goes down, but Hatch said they are aggressive.

And as always, he said try to avoid having any standing water around your house.

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Mike Anderson

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US

Homes evacuated as fire crews battle multiple brush fires in Menomonee Falls

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Multiple brush fires began burning at about 1:30 p.m. Friday in Menomonee Falls.The fire started along Marcy Road, just north of Silver Spring Drive near the railroad tracks. By Friday night, it was covering 400 acres.Officers at the scene said sparks from a train crossing railroad tracks cause multiple fires.Crews worked to put out the flames that stretched from the Frito Lay factory all the way to Sussex.The Department of Natural Resources said it is assisting local fire departments with the response and encourages people to avoid Marcy Road area.Menomonee Falls Police Department and the village president, Dave Glasgow, confirmed Friday night that some houses were evacuated out of an abundance of caution. Police gave the all clear around 9:00 p.m. for homeowners to return to their houses.Glasgow said virtually every fire department in southeast Wisconsin responded to the marsh fire. Crews worked to put out hot spots until at least 7:30 p.m. The wind continued to push the flames to different parts of the marsh. Authorities used drones and a plane flying overhead to keep track of the fire’s path. “There’s some huge houses over there and all that’s separating them from the swamp is a path,” said Linda Weitzer, who lived on one side of the marsh. “They don’t have the advantage of a little bit of water here like we do, so I’d be really scared if I was in those houses over there.””Hopefully it stops pretty soon, it’s getting a little out of hand,” said Randy Heth, a homeowner who was checking on his neighbor’s house that was close to the flames. When asked if he was confident that crews could keep the homes protected he replied, “I don’t know.”Firefighters also had to navigate around a surge of vehicles, as curious onlookers drove in from miles around to see the flames. Dozens of vehicles drove through and parked on the side of the roadways.By the end of the night, most of the marshland had burned. The DNR confirmed 450 acres of marsh burned, which is the largest brush fire in Wisconsin so far this year. No houses were damaged, but one deer stand burned down. Homeowners and fire crews worked to spray down a few at-risk homes as well. Crews used tracked vehicles to get water into the marsh, because those vehicles were the only ones that could drive over that type of terrain. WeatherWatch 12 Chief Meteorologist Mark Baden said the weather conditions are perfect for the these fires: dry and windy. He said their could be more fires over the weekend.Wildlife like Canada geese and sandhill cranes could be seen fleeing the flames. Baden said marsh itself will likely thrive from this burn and the wildlife will return.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. —

Multiple brush fires began burning at about 1:30 p.m. Friday in Menomonee Falls.

The fire started along Marcy Road, just north of Silver Spring Drive near the railroad tracks. By Friday night, it was covering 400 acres.

Officers at the scene said sparks from a train crossing railroad tracks cause multiple fires.

Crews worked to put out the flames that stretched from the Frito Lay factory all the way to Sussex.

The Department of Natural Resources said it is assisting local fire departments with the response and encourages people to avoid Marcy Road area.

Menomonee Falls Police Department and the village president, Dave Glasgow, confirmed Friday night that some houses were evacuated out of an abundance of caution. Police gave the all clear around 9:00 p.m. for homeowners to return to their houses.

Glasgow said virtually every fire department in southeast Wisconsin responded to the marsh fire. Crews worked to put out hot spots until at least 7:30 p.m.

The wind continued to push the flames to different parts of the marsh. Authorities used drones and a plane flying overhead to keep track of the fire’s path.

“There’s some huge houses over there and all that’s separating them from the swamp is a path,” said Linda Weitzer, who lived on one side of the marsh. “They don’t have the advantage of a little bit of water here like we do, so I’d be really scared if I was in those houses over there.”

“Hopefully it stops pretty soon, it’s getting a little out of hand,” said Randy Heth, a homeowner who was checking on his neighbor’s house that was close to the flames. When asked if he was confident that crews could keep the homes protected he replied, “I don’t know.”

Firefighters also had to navigate around a surge of vehicles, as curious onlookers drove in from miles around to see the flames. Dozens of vehicles drove through and parked on the side of the roadways.

By the end of the night, most of the marshland had burned. The DNR confirmed 450 acres of marsh burned, which is the largest brush fire in Wisconsin so far this year.

No houses were damaged, but one deer stand burned down. Homeowners and fire crews worked to spray down a few at-risk homes as well.

Crews used tracked vehicles to get water into the marsh, because those vehicles were the only ones that could drive over that type of terrain.

WeatherWatch 12 Chief Meteorologist Mark Baden said the weather conditions are perfect for the these fires: dry and windy. He said their could be more fires over the weekend.

Wildlife like Canada geese and sandhill cranes could be seen fleeing the flames. Baden said marsh itself will likely thrive from this burn and the wildlife will return.

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Entertainment

WWE Fastlane results: Powell’s live review of Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Championship with Edge as special enforcer, Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a No Holds Barred match, Big E vs. Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Title, Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss

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By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Fastlane
Aired March 21, 2021 live on WWE Network and pay-per-view
Tampa, Florida at Tropicana Field

Kickoff Show Result: Riddle defeated Mustafa Ali in 9:16 to retain the U.S. Championship.

A video package opened the show and focused on the top matches while touting the event as the final stop on the road to WrestleMania… Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed viewers from ringside…

1. Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax (w/Reginald) vs. Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. Cole and Graves were on commentary for the match. Baszler hit Belair with a knee to the side of the face during the first couple of minutes. Jax tagged herself into the match, which upset Baszler.

Later, Belair performed a 450 splash and had Baszler beat, but Reginald created a distraction. Banks tagged in and put Baszler in the Bank Statement. Belair ran in to cut off Jax, who shoved Belair onto Banks and Baszler to break up the submission hold. Banks was upset. She called Belair rookie, said she was about to win, and called her a rookie. Moments later, Baszler rolled up and pinned a distracted Banks.

Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax beat Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair in 9:45 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Titles.

After the match, Banks told Belair that it was all her fault. Belair tried to defend herself. Banks slapped Belair across the face and knocked her down. Banks left the ring. Belair got up and pointed at the WrestleMania sign while Banks posed on the stage…

Powell’s POV: Banks is clearly working as the heel in this program, but they can walk it back if she and Belair shake hands after their match at WrestleMania. It will be interesting to see if Jax and Baszler continue to have issues or if all is forgotten now that they are seemingly finished feuding with Banks and Belair.

After some advertising, the broadcast team hyped WrestleMania tickets… The broadcast team showed the image of Shane McMahon holding his leg in pain while telling the story that he suffered an injury in training…

Shane was shown walking backstage while using a crutch and he had his knee wrapped. Elias and Jaxson Ryker showed up. Elias made a pitch to Shane about WrestleMania. Shane wasn’t interested at first, but then he told him that he had an idea…

A video package set up the Intercontinental Championship match…

2. Big E vs. Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship. Cole and Graves called the match. Big E speared Crews off the apron during the opening minute. “Is this what you wanted?” Big E asked. Back inside the ring, Big E performed multiple suplexes while talking trash. Big E charged at Crews, who moved, and E crashed into the corner.

Crews performed a series of suplexes. Crews performed a top rope frogsplash and got a two count. A short time later, Big E set up for his finisher, but Crews avoided it and put E in an inside cradle. Big E reversed it and got the pin.

Big E defeated Apollo Crews in 5:45 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

After the match, Crews performed multiple suplexes on Big E and then stood over him and jawed at him. Crews slapped Big E several times, then picked him up and suplexed him again…

Powell’s POV: The finish looked a little clunky and was not replayed. I assume they kept this short because they intend to have a WrestleMania rematch.

One of the ads included a deodorant spot that included R-Truth dropping the WWE 24/7 Championship to some spokesman dude, then pinning him to regain it. Akira Tozawa showed up and yelled at the spokesman…

The Raw broadcast team of Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Samoa Joe checked in and recapped the story of Shane McMahon suffering an injury…

Shane McMahon introduced Elias, who was in the ring with him and Jaxson Ryker. Shane called for a preview of Elias’s performance at WrestleMania. Elias started playing, but Shane interrupted him and said that Elias would replace him in his match. Shane left the ring and then Braun Strowman made his entrance…

3. Braun Strowman vs. Elias (w/Jaxson Ryker). Ryker tried to create an early distraction, but Strowman still dominated Elias, who rolled to ringside. Strowman pulled him back onto the apron and ran him into both ring posts. They went to ringside where Ryker ducked at running shoulder block, only to have Strowman hit Elias with it.

Back inside the ring, Elias clipped the knee of Strowman and took offensive control briefly. Strowman came back and hit his running power slam for the win…

Braun Strowman defeated Elias in 3:50.

Powell’s POV: Bait and switch. I feel so bad for the millions and millions of Shane McMahon fans who ordered Peacock thinking they would be able to see him wrestle. Okay, maybe not. Obviously, they decided to save Strowman vs. Shane for WrestleMania so they gave us this Raw match instead.

The WrestleMania video aired. We are 20 days away… Tom Phillips hyped the move to Peacock and encouraged viewers to sign up. The broadcast team recapped Riddle beating Mustafa Ali on the Kickoff Show, followed by T-Bar and Mace performing a double chokeslam on Ali afterward…

Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura had a chat backstage. Riddle tried to talk Nakamura into going into business with him. Riddle started telling a story about his cousin Skeeter the skater. When he turned around, Nakamura was gone. Once Riddle left, Nakamura returned and started warming up for his match…

4. Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. Cole and Graves called the match. Rollins applied a headlock to start and barked at Nakamura about disrespecting him. Nakamura broke free and went on the offensive, which included a kick to the chest that led to a two count. Rollins regrouped and tossed Nakamura to ringside, then hit him with a flying knee from the ring apron.

Rollins dominated the next few minutes of the match and complained about Cesaro giving him The Swing. When Rollins turned his attention back to the match, Nakamura caught him in an armbar. Nakamura had Rollins over the apron and hit him with a knee to the head.

Rollins eventually came back and performed a springboard flying knee. Rollins followed up with a sling blade clothesline and covered Nakamura for a two count. A short time later, Nakamura caught Rollins with a kick and performed his sliding German suplex with Rollins in the ropes.

Nakamura set up for his finisher, but Rollins caught him and powered him up for a Buckle Bomb. Rollins followed up with a falcon arrow for a two count. Rollins showed frustration over not getting the pin. Rollins went for a Stomp, but Nakamura cut him off and performed a falcon arrow of his own for a near fall.

Nakamura set up for his finisher, but Rollins stepped aside and rolled him up. Rollins hit Nakamura with a shot to the back of the neck, then performed a unique kick. Rollins followed up with a Stomp and scored the pin. Afterward, Rollins looked to the stage and said “respect” multiple times…

Seth Rollins beat Shinsuke Nakamura in 12:55.

Powell’s POV: What was once a dream match for many fans was just a good, yet forgettable match in this case. In fairness, I think we’ve passed the point where most fans dream of matches involving Nakamura in WWE, so this was fine for what it was.

After some ads, a video package hyped Rhea Ripley’s debut for Monday’s Raw… A video package recapped the Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus feud…

5. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a No Holds Barred match. Phillips, Saxton, and Joe called the match. McIntyre wore blue and white face paint. McIntyre was all over Sheamus to start. They ended up at ringside where Sheamus introduced a kendo stick. McIntyre whipped Sheamus into the ring steps, which sent the top piece of the steps flying. McIntyre stomped Sheamus’s head onto the bottom piece.

Back inside the ring, Sheamus hit McIntyre repeatedly with a kendo stick (because the damn things just won’t go away). McIntyre bounced back and picked up a kendo stick, then stared at Sheamus until he got back to his feet. McIntyre blasted Sheamus with kendo stick shots, then performed a Russian leg sweep with it. McIntyre jabbed an end of the stick into the eye of Sheamus. McIntyre hit Sheamus with another kendo stick shot that sent him to ringside.

Both men ended up on a broadcast table and blocked moves until McIntyre threw Sheamus off the table and into the timekeepers area. McIntyre followed and fish hooked Sehamus. They fought behind the barricade and traded some stiff shots. Sheamus suplexed McIntyre onto the exposed floor. They fought onto one of the virtual screen platforms where Sheamus performed a rolling senton.

McIntyre slammed Sheamus into the virtual screens, then threw him through a barricade and onto some equipment, which led to some pyro going off. McIntyre brought Sheamus back to the main floor level and suplexed him on the the floor behind the ringside barricades. McIntyre hoisted Sheamus up and carried him back to ringside, but Sheamus raked his eyes and slipped off his shoulders. Sheamus delivered a Brogue Kick that sent McIntyre over the barricade.

Sheamus picked up McIntyre while standing on the barricade and gave him White Noise through the broadcast table. Sheamus held his hip or lower back, which he did on and off during the match, then rolled McIntyre back inside the ring. Sheamus grabbed a piece of the broadcast table and brought it inside the ring with him. Sheamus punched McIntyre, who fought back. Sheamus set up for an Alabama Slam over the piece from the broadcast table, but McIntyre countered into a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre followed up with a Claymore Kick and scored the pin…

Drew McIntyre defeated Sheamus in 19:40 in a No Holds Barred match.

Powell’s POV: Another war between McIntyre and Sheamus. They did a hell of a job and this was easily the match of the night thus far. I hope there’s a plan to keep Sheamus relevant if this was the end of the road for his feud with McIntyre.

A video package recapped the Randy Orton madness story involving The Fiend and Alexa Bliss…

Randy Orton made his entrance. He stood on the rope and struck his pose, then clutched his stomach and started spitting up the black goo again.

Powell’s POV: Orton has to stop eating those damn convenience store burritos before his matches.

Orton went to ringside and wiped his face with a towel, then returned to the ring and called for Bliss, who made her entrance to a warped version of the Firefly Funhouse theme…

6. Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss. Phillips, Saxton, and Joe called the match (poor guys). The referee called for the bell. Orton walked toward Bliss, but fire shot up in his face. Orton backed away into the corner, then charged at Bliss, who moved, causing Orton to tumble to the floor. They went to ringside. Bliss looked up and some lights fell between her and Orton.

Bliss laughed maniacally. Orton watched her walk to the other side of the ring where she ended up sitting on the bottom rope. Orton climbed onto the apron and looked up, then apprehensively entered the ring. Bliss blew him a kiss. Orton walked toward her and she shot another fireball at him. The broadcast team agreed that Orton blocked the fireball with his hand.

Bliss sat on the top rope. A burnt hand tore through the ring and grabbed Orton’s foot. Orton got away and then fire and smoke shot out of the hole. A toasted version of The Fiend climbed through the hole and into the ring. Bliss shoved Orton at The Fiend, who dropped him with Sister Abigail. Bliss covered Orton and got the win…

Alexa Bliss defeated Randy Orton in 4:45.

Powell’s POV: Hey, the veteran put over the younger wrestler just like so many of us wanted, right? A 24-star classic. Match of the decade. Or something. If you’ve enjoyed this ridiculous storyline more than I have, then you probably enjoyed this a lot more than I did.

Cole and Graves hyped Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil as the co-hosts of WrestleMania. They ran through the previously announced matches for the two-night event… A portion of Paul Heyman’s promo from Talking Smack aired… A video package set up the main event…

Edge made his entrance and stood at ringside dressed in regular clothes. Daniel Bryan was out next followed by Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. Ring announcer Greg Hamilton delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match…

7. Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship with Edge as the special enforcer. Cole and Graves called the match. Cole noted that Reigns had held the title for 203 days. Early in the match, Bryan hooked Roman’s arm, then used his foot to push it to the mat. A short time later, Reigns slammed Bryan to the mat and covered him for a two count. Reigns smeared Bryan’s face into the mat.

Reigns got the better of Bryan with some slow paced offense. Reigns knocked Bryan off the apron with a punch and then taunted Edge before running Bryan into the barricade. Bryan came back with some kicks to the body, but Reigns ran him into the ring post and then threw him back inside the ring where he covered him for a two count.

Later, Bryan caught Reigns with a kick. Reigns charged at Bryan, who moved and sent Reigns to ringside, but Reigns landed on his feet. Bryan dove at Reigns, who was supposed to catch him, but fell to the ground. Reigns powered Bryan up, but Bryan slipped out and shoved him into the ring post. Bryan went to hte apron and threw a flying knee at Reigns and then rolled him back inside the ring.

Bryan went up top and performed another flying knee. Bryan followed up with a missile dropkick. Bryan took some time to cover Reigns, who kicked out right away. Bryan threw a series of kicks to the chest of Reigns, who ended up blocking one. Reigns backed Bryan into the corner and hit him with an uppercut. Reigns raked his glove over the face of Bryan, then threw knees at him.

Bryan went for a takedown, but Reigns stuffed it. Reigns powered up Bryan for a powerbomb, but Bryan countered into a huracanrana and then blasted Reigns with a kick to the head. Bryan covered Reigns for a near fall. Heyman expressed concern while watching from ringside. Bryan told Reigns that he was about to be broken. Bryan grabbed the arms of Reigns and then stomped his face with his foot.

Bryan applied crossface, then gave it up to reposition into the Yes Lock. Reigns powered out and threw shots at Bryan, then hoisted him up and powerbombed him for a near fall. Bryan caught Reigns with a kick, then charged at him with a running knee, but Reigns moved and Bryan took out the referee. REF BUMP!!! Reigns speared Bryan and made the cover. Edge entered the ring and made the count, but Bryan kicked out at two.

Reigns jawed at Edge, who told him to take care of his business and he would take care of his own. Reigns threw punches at Bryan, who caught him in a triangle submission hold. Reigns powered him up. Bryan threw punches at the head of Reigns, who fell back to the mat while Bryan locked in a cross face. Bryan threw forearm shots to the head of Reigns and then applied the hold again.

Jey Uso showed up and superkicked Edge and then Bryan, which broke the hold. Uso went to ringside and grabbed a chair, which he brought back to the ring. Uso ran Edge through the ropes and into the ring post. Uso tried to hit Bryan with the chair, but Bryan ducked it and then drilled Uso with a running knee. Bryan picked up the chair and slammed it over the back of Uso repeatedly.

Bryan tried to hit Reigns with the chair, but Reigns moved and Bryan accidentally took out Edge. Reigns clocked Bryan with a Superman Punch. Reigns went for the spear, but Bryan countered into the Yes Lock. Graves pointed out that Reigns appeared to be fading and was on the verge of tapping out. Reigns lightly tapped his hand, which the broadcast team pointed out, but Edge slammed a chair over the back of Bryan. Edge hit Reigns and then Bryan with the chair, then yelled, “This is mine. Mine!” Edge left the ring while both men were down. A new referee came out. Reigns put his arm over Bryan and the referee made the three count.

Roman Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan in 30:00 to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

Powell’s POV: They saved the best for last. McIntyre vs. Sheamus was a great brawl, but I enjoyed the more traditional main event event slightly more. The main event finish was creative with Reigns lightly tapping out just before Edge went crazy. The finish was done in a way where they could turn the WWE Universal Championship match into a Triple Threat, but they could also save Bryan to be a post WrestleMania opponent for both men. For whatever it’s worth, Cole acted like everything was now set with Reigns vs. Edge at WrestleMania.

Overall, there was some good wrestling on the show, most notably in the two aforementioned matches. The outcomes felt highly predictable throughout the show. I’m happy they didn’t do anything too crazy when they are so close to WrestleMania, but I really hope the company will seriously consider moving the Royal Rumble to February and then go with either Elimination Chamber or Fastlane in March. They just don’t need to have two events between the Rumble and WrestleMania. I will have a lot more to say later tonight when Jake Barnett joins me to co-host our Dot Net Members’ exclusive audio review of Fastlane. Let me know what you thought of the show by voting in our polls below.

Listen to “11/18 Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast With Jason Powell (Episode 136): Court Bauer on the MLW restart, pandemic precautions, and more” on Spreaker.



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