JD Murphy

JD Murphy Visits Kennedy Space Center Where A New Era Of Space Exploration Is Drawing Fresh Crowds The last five years have been revolutionary for space travel. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has become the backbone of America’s access to space, with regular astronaut flights to the International Space Station, routine cargo missions, and reusable rockets thrusting space travel forward.

679 With white-gloved guards pushing you onto congested commuter trains, queues around the block at trending coffee shops, and crossings so crowded you move almost as much sideways as forwards to get across, the world’s third largest city can feel like its busiest. Across the 38th–43rd floors of the Akasaka Trust Tower in the bustling business district, 1 Hotel Tokyo have created a sanctuary in the sky above the city designed to rest, restore, and reassure the weary traveller.

I was then taken out of the wet area into a comfortable room lined with dark green leather banquettes split into cubicles. The walls were festooned with cartoon drawings of a slightly risqué nature; nudes ranging from comedic fat old folk to licentious cavorting in the snow. Each picture had its action occurring, I noted, in, or near, a sauna. The amiable Russian lady showing me around asked if I would like to order tea or any food. The chilled ambience led me to forgo my usual caffeine boost.