Avion Issue 11 Fall 2018

Issue 11 | Volume 150 | November 19, 2018

A B C D E

Campus Industry And Technology Entertainment Motorsports Sports

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Abigail Johnson/The Avion Newspaper

THE AVION

A2 Campus Humans Of Embry-Riddle

Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photo Editor

Payton Muglia Jorja Gwaltney Nick Hernandez Rajan Khanna Vipul Telang

Page Editors

Contributors Reporters Photographers

Samy Fooda Brian Reedy Keenan Thungtrakul Andrew Middlebrooks Julianna Martorella Michael Weinhoffer Andrew Bronshteyn Brandon Collins Emily Rickel

Abigail Johnson Chaz Pokracki Stacy Martorella Gabriel Sasala George Gebert Korbin Martin Jorja Gwaltney Collin Anderson

Staff Advisor

Samy Fooda Reporter “I’m from Dallas, Texas, but before that, I've been hopping around the country. Not only have I traveled within the USA, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel out the US as well.

My top three includes Santorini, Greece; Rome, Italy; and Hong Kong, Hong Kong. When I started college, I was afraid I wouldn’t be traveling as much; but coming here the community didn’t do that at all.

The community showed me I didn’t have to go out of the country to travel. It’s incredible to hear everyone’s story from where they are from. As they describe it, it paints a picture of where they are from and it is like you are experiencing it second hand. Currently, I’m involved in Greek life and the Student Government Association. I’m at a point that I have a polo for everyday of

the week. I have to stay on top of laundry so I can have a clean polo to wear. Typical schedule for my laundry if you ever want to know when not to come by is Wednesday and Sunday.

As usual there is the occasional “oh poop” moment when I completely forget to do laundry. It happens, typical college student. I work in the student union, it’s pretty cool, that’s another polo btw. I work in the gaming lounge. That interview was the first time I ever got to say I’m familiar with all major consoles.

I’m also a member of Touch-NGo Productions. One of my many responsibilities is creating the movie list for the semester. I’m almost done with next semester, so keep your eyes out for all of the different types of movies! We have action, comedy, thrillers and a few musicals. I wanted to try my best to make a movie list for everyone to enjoy.

“

We as humans deserve to live in a world where everyone is kind to one another.

“

Cover Editor Jorja Gwaltney Campus Editors Victoria Jordan Sarah Fairchild Madaline Eitniear I&T Editors Abby Johnson K’Andrew France Nick Hernandez Entertainment Editors Brandon Collins Andy Bronshteyn Payton Muglia Motorsports Editor Vipul Telang Sports Editor Korbin Martin Comics Editor Rajan Khanna Copy Editors Sarah Fairchild Madaline Eitniear

The biggest thing I’ve learned so far, whether it be from my travels or from the leadership positions I hold now; is that it is so much easier to be kind. I think we live in the world where people perceive that it is easier to hate or that hate comes naturally. But this world, the students of Embry-Riddle, everyone that I have ever met has only proven to me that being nice is the most natural thing in the world. We as humans deserve to live in a world where everyone is kind to one another.”

(2nd Floor, The Union)

Ronnie Mack Asst. Director, Media & Marketing

Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Business Manager: (386) 226-7697 Editor-In-Chief editor@theavion.com Managing Editor managing@theavion.com News Editor news@theavion.com Business Manager business@theavion.com Photo Editor photo@theavion.com Website: theavion.com

Samy Fooda/ The Avion Newspaper

The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms.

The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff.

Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous.

Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion.

Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: Student Union, Room 219.

How to Save a Life Abigail Johnson Senior Photographer In the past week, the Medical Emergency and Disaster Club (MED Club) on campus has been training their new recruits for disaster situations as the semester slowly draws to a close. This club on campus offers medical services and are the first responders when an accident or emergency occurs on campus.

They are certified to help injured students in these complex situations and have been tested in various environments.

Their latest club training session involved multiple scenes of fake car crashes that included senior or previously trained members of the club with pretend injuries or unusual behaviors and reactions. When called

to the scene, the trainees broke off into teams and evaluated the situation before jumping to action. In one scene, the crash had occurred on a train track and the train was said to be 30 seconds away from slamming into the scene. The trainees had to figure out how to move the injured victims out of the way as fast as possible without harming them further and had to be positive that everyone was safely off the tracks by the end of the countdown.

The former MED club students told the trainees about their fake symptoms from the supposed accident and observed the methodology of the responders to see if they met all the needs of the injured victim correctly and in the right order. It was interesting to see how the dif-

ferent teams responded to each individual victim and how critical it was that all their needs be met carefully. From mannerisms to reactions of psychotic victims, the trainees learned what habits to avoid in real situations and how to make the experience more comfortable and safer for the victims. "I liked it," says training student Robert Kramer. "It was helpful in giving us some time practicing what we had learned rather than just sitting in a classroom talking about what to do. It also provided us a chance to see what working with other people during a medical emergency was like."

If you are interested in medical care or would like basic safety and first aid training, the MED Club can be found at the Tomcat Annex in the tower on the left.

THE AVION

Campus A3

Alpha Xi Delta’s Diamond Girl Although the temperature has begun to drop, this past week there was a tropical breeze across the Embry-Riddle campus.

The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta hosted their Islander Week, a philanthropic week aimed at raising money for the United Service Organization (USO). In 2017, the FIJIs raised slightly over $3,000, and this year they set out to beat that by a thousand. To accomplish their goal, the organization put together a slate of events to last the week. Monday, while most people relaxed on their day off school, brothers of FIJI, members of other Greek organizations, and members of ROTC braved the rain to compete in a Jeep Push across the West Lawn. On Tuesday they hosted a tropical twister tournament, and Saturday saw a golf scramble.

The main event, however, was Friday night: the Diamond Girl competition in which representatives from Sigma Sigma Sigma, Theta Phi Alpha, Alpha Xi Delta, and Navy ROTC competed to be FIJI’s Diamond Girl of 2018.

These amazing competitors worked tirelessly for the past two months to prepare for the show, including hosting fundraisers, meeting the brothers of FIJI, and preparing for the on-stage competition.

The show, hosted by Brian Reedy and Levi Lingsch, was a high energy experience with laughs, dogs, and cookies.

Each contestant choreographed a dance with their organization, showcased a special talent (ranging from baking to rapping to playing piano tiles), and answered questions about why they believed they should be crowned Diamond Girl. This year also hosted a new segment called ‘Speed

Painting with Bob Ross’ in which the competitors tried to keep up with an instructional painting video played 736% faster than usual.

In an unexpected twist, the paintings were auctioned off to the audience, earning over $500 for the USO.

“

I am thankful... for the opportunity to continue to support the men and women that serve this country.

“

Brian Reedy Phi Gamma Delta

After a fierce competition, Cassandra Harrison of Alpha Xi Delta was named Diamond Girl 2018.

When asked what the title means to her, Cassandra said she is glad to be able to call FIJI her family, reiterating that she was, “Thankful

for the opportunity to continue to grow relations between FIJI and my chapter, and for the opportunity to continue to support the men and women that serve this country.” In early December, Cassandra looks to join brothers of FIJI as they travel to the USO office at Orlando International Airport for a small ceremony.

The Epsilon Rho Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta took their $4,000 goal and shattered it. Through hard work, teamwork, and persistence, they raised over $8,000 to support active duty members, veterans, and their families. Commenting on the result, Brian Reedy, Chair of the Islander Committee, said, “We are thrilled to be able to call this our most successful Islander Week to date. We’re going to take some time to celebrate, but then it’s time to regroup because we have to figure out how to outdo ourselves next year.”

Chaz Pokraki/The Avion Newspaper

Around the World in Seven Days Keenan Thungtrakul Senior Reporter In the midst of a busy week leading up to Thanksgiving break, Embry-Riddle’s Office of Global Engagement teamed up with various student and administrative organizations on campus to host International Education Week, a week full of activities to raise awareness of the various ways international education can benefit students. Sodexo even gave students an opportunity to taste food from different countries.

The week began on Tuesday with a parade of flags that showcased all the countries that are represented on campus. The flags were visible on the first floor of the Student Union throughout the week and a giant map was put up for students to mark their hometowns with different colored stickers. By the end of the week,

the map had dots across a wide variety of countries. It is difficult to imagine that many countries are being represented on a single campus.

One highlight of International Education Week was the push to get students to consider study abroad programs. Numerous articles have been written in previous issues of The Avion on how study abroad can be beneficial. Study abroad is a great item to have on a resume as it shows you are able to adapt to a foreign environment. Plus, it gives a great conversation topic during those behavioral-type job interviews.

Wednesday featured a showcase of a large number of the summer study abroad programs that are being offered. Professors were out recruiting students for their programs and showing what their programs provided in terms of classes and ex-

periences, with the most notable programs being the trips to Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Kosovo.

There are plenty of other programs too, so be sure to do your research if you’re interested in study abroad.

International students hoping to find jobs in the US also had the opportunity to attend a seminar on how to go about doing so on Thursday.

A seminar on interning abroad was held earlier in the week too. Those seeking more information on these topics can consult Career Services on the 3rd floor of the Student Union.

International Education Week culminated in opportunities for the ERAU community to apply for US passports or have theirs renewed at a local post office and to experience the Indian Students Association’s annual Diwali Night.

Diwali is a traditional festival of lights

observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists, the climax of which features the participants adorning themselves in fine clothing and illuminating their homes and workplaces with traditional oil lamps and candles, offering worship to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. This is accompanied by fireworks shows, family feasts, and gift exchanging.

The Indian Students Association gave the ERAU community a taste of the festival with a cultural performance and a three-course dinner.

Attendees also had the opportunity to join in an after-party.

In summary, International Education Week was a great way for ERAU students to get a taste of the international presence on campus and explore opportunities to become better prepared for working in a genuinely globalized society.

THE AVION

A4 Campus Study Abroad Photo Contest Results

Andrew Middlebrooks & Julianna Martorella Office of Global Engagement

The winner of the Office of Global Engagement’s 2018 Study Abroad Photo Contest has been decided, and that winner is Stacy Martorella!

Stacy is close to finishing her Master’s Degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science from Worldwide.

Stacy proposed to complete her capstone abroad to take advantage of the fantastic opportunity to study abroad to produce her research this past summer. She participated in the UAS Operations in Southeast Europe program led by Dr. Macchiarella who taught Intro to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Applications of UAS Technology, UAS Operations and offered a Political Violence course taught by RIT Kosovo, the host university.

The program offers an eight-day adventure through the Balkans via a bus tour of the region; The photo was taken at“the first stop [of the bus tour, at] the National Museum Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, site of the old Krujë Castle, Krujë District, Northern Albania. This historic citadel honors the Albanian national hero Skenderbeu, who defended against Ottoman invasion for decades in the late 1400’s. The road leading to the castle was lined with amazing shops selling traditional

Second place.

Gabriel Sasala/Contestant

wares of linens, wool rugs, antiques as well as the usual tourist items. This particular shop was colorful, and since the young girl dressed in traditional costume was so festive, I asked if she would mind taking a photo with me.”

She will have her name forever on a plaque in the Office of Global Engagement, her photo displayed in our office as a great cultural representation of South East Europe and the program she attended and rewarded with a small prize!

Stacy exclaimed how “the opportunity to learn about different cultures and experience it first hand is the best part of participating in a study

abroad! [Her winning] photo helps to capture the very vibrant tradition of the Albanian people and how it is still preserved in today’s society.”

Congratulations!

Coming in second place was Gabriel Sasala, an undergrad pursuing a degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science who has participated in the Robotics in Austria program led by Professor Rojas: who taught Robotics Technologies for UAS and Computing in Aerospace and Aviation. Gabriel’s photo was taken in a region called Nordkette, or Jewel of the Alps, immediately north of Innsbruck in the Austrian highlands.

He explained the reason behind the photo, pictured to the right, was due to his “love of photography and the outdoors, and the incredible mountain range was something amazing for [him].” When asked his thoughts on studying abroad, Gabriel told us, “The study abroad program was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, I enjoyed every second of it. I made so many new friends and met so many people from around the world”. And continued to explain how “Study abroad was a great way for me to be able to explore someplace that wasn’t North America. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, and felt this was a great way for me to go.”

Gabriel has won a small prize with an award certificate for his vibrant photo in the Alps.

In third place, George Gebert, also pursuing a degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science, participated in two programs last summer: the UAS Disaster Relief Domestic Away program led by Professor Robbins and Dr. Macchiarella and the UAS Operations in Southeast Europe program led by Dr. Macchiarella.

George’s photo, shown below, was taken at the Oklahoma Emergency Operations Center in black-hot infrared. George explained his reasoning for going on a study abroad by saying, “When I chose the study away program to Oklahoma, I knew that I would be able to gain incredible hands-on experience that would not be possible outside of Embry-Riddle... I chose this picture, taken in black-hot infrared because it represented the technology we were able to use during the trip and our capabilities for something very unique.” George has won a small prize with an award certificate for his photo from a different perspective.

These summer programs, among many others, are offered to all students as a first-come-first-served basis, so long as the student fulfills minimum requirements: sophomore standing with a least a 2.5 CGPA. Financial aid is provided for all students to cover any and all expenses for the trip through a loan calculated to include the tuition, at halfprice, program fee, international flight, and food costs.

The first place photo.

Did you know that studying abroad is actually CHEAPER than staying in Daytona for the summer?

We’ve done the math and not only are the memories you will make be costing you less money but they will also be worth every penny spent. If the thrill of new and exciting international experiences doesn’t excite you, then consider how the positive impact of studying abroad can help your future career and stand out on your resume. Employers are currently looking for internationally-minded students who can work, adapt and thrive within different work environments and teams filled with cultures from around the world.

Interested in competing to win the Office of Global Engagement Photo Contest next year? The first

The third place photo.

Stacy Martorella/Contestant

step is to apply for one of our study abroad programs, we have over 20 programs for Summer 2019 offering over 70 classes, and have the time of your life on your next adventure! Submit your best photos, whether you’ve participated in a spring semester, summer program, fall semester or winter program, showcasing your favorite view, ERAU and the Office of Global Engagement; don’t worry, we’ll supply the swag: t-shirt and bandana. We’ll select the best photo considering your school spirit and the fantastic view you choose! Visit our office today for any questions at Building 273, in “the Hub,” in Suite 200 or email at goglobal@erau.edu.

George Gebert/Contestant

Korbin Martin/ The Avion Newspaper

THE AVION

B2 Industry Es’hail-2: Connecting the World

Jorja Gwaltney/ The Avion Newspaper

Photo Courtesy: Gulf Times

Korbin Martin/ The Avion Newspaper

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch of the Es’hail-2 ••Who? SpaceX delivers the Mitsubishi Electric Corp and Es’hailSat payload to geostationary orbit ••What? A communication satellite that will help to develop buisness in North Africa and the Middle East ••When? It was launched on Thursday, November 15th at 3:46 pm ••Where? The Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Launch Complex 39A ••Why? Businesses in the Middle Eastern and North African regions need growth and this satellite will give them the ability to connect and expand their services across the world

Photo Courtesy: AMSAT-UK

THE AVION

Technology B3

NASA’s Orion Service Module Arrives at KSC from Germany Michael Weinhoffer Staff Reporter On Tuesday, Nov. 6, NASA’s Orion Service Module arrived at the Kennedy Space Center from Bremen, Germany onboard an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane. The arrival of the Service Module on U.S. soil is a vast project milestone for Exploration Mission-1, which will launch in June 2020 and send an uncrewed capsule around the Moon and back to Earth. Despite the delays in the completion of the module, its arrival at KSC brings NASA one step closer to sending humans back to the Moon for the first time since Dec. 1972.

NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems program consists of three components: the Orion crew capsule, the heavy-lift launch vehicle called the Space Launch System, or SLS, and the ground infrastructure at the Cape and around the world that will support deep-space crewed spaceflight.

This article will only discuss the Orion crew capsule, which has been in development since the early 2000’s under the Constellation program authorized by President Bush.

After Constellation was canceled in 2010 by President Obama because of cost overruns, Orion was modified to adapt to a new rocket: SLS. Orion has three components: the Launch Abort System, the Crew Module, and the Service Module. The Launch Abort

System will eject the Crew Module during the launch phase of flight if a severe malfunction occurs. This system will be thoroughly tested in flight at the Cape next April. The Crew Module can seat 4-6 astronauts and is much more spacious than the Apollo capsule, but still retains its shape. The module can support a crew for up to a month, but longer stays will require independent habitation modules.

Finally, the Service Module provides propulsion and electrical power to the spacecraft, and water and oxygen to the crew.

The Orion capsule is the most advanced crewed spacecraft ever built and is intended to serve NASA’s deep-space needs for at least a decade after its first flight.

Both the Launch Abort System and the Crew Module were made entirely in the U.S. and are undergoing final testing. The Service Module is the only international contribution to the Exploration-1 mission, having been built by Airbus and its partners in Europe.

Ten European nations provided hardware for the module, and final assembly and testing was done at the Airbus Defense and Space plant in Bremen, Germany.

The Service Module is based on the Automated Transfer Vehicle, which used automatic docking technology to provide cargo to the ISS between 2008 and 2014.

Just like the cargo vehicle, the Service Module uses four solar ar-

rays in an “X” pattern to provide power to the Crew Module.

There is a total of thirty-three engines on the module, including an Orbital Maneuvering System engine that was previously flown on a Space Shuttle mission. Five tanks in the Service Module hold nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, and potable water for the astronauts’ consumption and use in onboard life-support systems.

The Service Module was loaded onto an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane on the morning of Nov. 5 and then took off from Bremen.

Unfortunately, the runway at Bremen was not long enough to service a fully loaded and fully fueled plane, so the AN-124 stopped at Hamburg Airport to refuel. Then, the aircraft traveled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it was refueled, and the extremely fragile cargo went through customs.

The airplane landed shortly after 11:00 AM on Nov. 6 on the same runway where the Space Shuttles landed at KSC. Later in the day, the Service Module was moved into the Operations and Checkout Facility, where it will be mated to the Crew Module in the second quarter of 2019. After the module was inspected for damage, work began on mating the crew module adapter to the Service Module. After the Crew Module and the Service Module are attached to each other, the capsule will

Orion Around the Moon.

ship to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Ohio for environmental testing, before coming back to the Cape for final preparations for launch.

No matter your views on the value of Orion and SLS to the future of in-depth space exploration, the completion, and delivery of the Service Module is a significant accomplishment for NASA. The completion of the module was delayed due to development difficulties, so finally having it on U.S. soil is a big relief for NASA. The next major accomplishment for the program will be completing the assembly of the core stage of the Space Launch System, which is being done by Boeing.

The first section of the core stage was completed in late July, but there is still a lot of work to be done to finish the larger and more complex elements. As soon as the core stage is complete, it will travel to NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where it will undergo six months of engine tests.

As long as there are no setbacks in completing the core stage, a June 2020 launch of Exploration Mission-1 seems likely.

Despite the skepticism of the whole program from members of the space community, NASA is working tirelessly to fly humans back to the Moon by 2022, and the Orion Service Module will provide the critical systems to get us there.

Photo courtesy: NASA

THE AVION

B4 Industry

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Collin Anderson/The Avion Newspaper

Collin Anderson Staff Reporter On Friday, Nov. 16, NASA formally welcomed Orion's European Service Module (ESM) to Kennedy Space Center. The ESM provides electricity, water, oxygen, and nitrogen to Orion.

It will also keep the spacecraft at the right temperature and on course. The ESM marks a milestone at the European Space Agency (ESA). According to EarthSky, “it is the first time a European-built system will serve as a critical power element to power an American spacecraft.”

In an event in the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, Kennedy Space Center’s associate director Kelvin Manning welcomed Bill Hill (NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development), the ESA’s Philippe Deloo (European Service Module Project Manager), Mark Kirasich (NASA’s Orion Program Manager), Sue Motil (NASA's ESM Integration Manager), and Jan Wörner (the ESA Director General). Wörner was amazed by how NASA allowed ESA to develop a mission-critical component when, just ten years ago, then-administrator Michael Griffin said, "We will take you on board, but never on the critical path." Wörner was also “very happy” with the delivery of the

ESM. Motil provided information on the Propulsion Qualification Module (PQM) and how it was developed to validate the performance of the overall propulsion system on the ESM. She also detailed how a recent test enabled the ESM to be shipped from Bremen, Germany to Kennedy Space Center and how they will continue to conduct tests between now and spring of 2019.

In the coming days, the ESM and crew module adapter (CMA) will be mated using exactly 192 bolts. Once complete, the set will be moved into a clean room for welding. To verify the welds, the system will be flushed with helium to check for leaks. Around May 2019, the Orion capsule will be attached to the opposing end of the CMA and shipped to Plum Brook Station for 72 days of testing in the Space Simulation Vacuum Chamber. The Orion capsule and ESM will be sent back to Kennedy Space Center where its next stop is lunar orbit in June of 2020. The crewless EM-1 mission will be the first flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and the second flight of the Orion capsule.

In a post-conference interview, Philippe Deloo, Mark Kirasich, and Bill Hill answered some questions about the

ESM and Orion capsule. When asked what the main difference would be between ESM-1 and ESM-2, Deloo responded by saying that they have 200 kilograms to lose between the two iterations. Kirasich responded to a question of what will happen to the ESM when it is time for the capsule to return to Earth. He said that the ESM would deorbit and burn up upon reentry. Bill Hill provided insight on capsule reusability and design iterations. Hill stated that capsule reusability depends on the exposure to salt air and ingestion of salt water on landing. On the topic of the differences between the EM-1 and EM-2 capsules, Hill said that the EM-2 Orion capsule would have the displays and proper life support systems to accommodate the crew. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was initially supposed to attend the event, but, due to inclement weather, could not leave Washington D.C. He did, however, answer questions from the

press in a phone conference.

The Avion Newspaper asked Mr. Bridenstine how it felt to be the one to usher the US and mankind back to deep space.

He described the feeling as extraordinary. “We truly stand on the shoulders of giants,” Mr. Bridentstine stated. “It is monumental to return to the Moon.”

Mr. Bridenstine also stressed how trusting other nations to build mission-critical components of human spaceflight is a hugely positive development. Almost 20 years to the day of the first segment of the International Space Station launching from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, Mr. Bridentstine commended the ability to further human exploration when multiple nations with different talents unite.

Media personnel was invited on a tour of the booster fabrication facility where segments of SLS's solid rocket boosters reside ready for EM-1 and EM-2.

The media was also welcomed to Launch Complex 39B where upgrades to the flame deflector have been completed in preparation for the launch of SLS.

EM-1 Right Hand Aft Skirt • The Aft Skirt to the right is for the SLS right Solid Rocket Booster • It will fly on EM-1 in June 2020 • It is one of the first components needed when assembling the booster • The Aft Skirt is heritage from the Shuttle Program and is seen on the Shuttle Program Boosters • It contains the Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system that steers the nozzle based on commands from the booster avionics

Collin Anderson/The Avion Newspaper

C1

Photo Courtesy: Bethesda Game Studios

THE AVION

C2 Entertainment

Andrew Bronshteyn/The Avion Newspaper

SimpleRockets 2 has an interesting take on showing navigation, with the heading and pitch controls display around the rocket. These indicators can be hidden, if desired. Roll, pitch, and yaw indicators can be added.

The game has tutorials to help the player to familiarize themselves with the controls. Shown is the tutorial “Landing Practice” in which the player must safely land on the moon Luna, which orbits the home planet Droo.

Early-Access Rocket Sim Already Impresses The indie game developer company Jundroo has just released their newest addition to their "Simple" series. Their new game, SimpleRockets 2, is a sandbox rocketry simulator that is all about sharing your rockets with the rest of the community.

It is the sequel to their (originally mobile, then adapted for PC) game SimpleRockets, which was a two-dimensional rocketry simulator. The other games in the "Simple" series are SimplePhysics and the widely-acclaimed SimplePlanes.

Jundroo is a small company of only four programmers and one artist. They were successful in exciting their fan-base while developing the new game by releasing updates after every major milestone. Unfortunately for the fans, the company released the game later than they expected. Because of their delays, the creator of Jundroo, Andrew

Andrew Bronshteyn/The Avion Newspaper

SimpleRockets 2 has an intuitive rocket builder that can be more advanced as needed. Shown is a Saturn V rocket, but with a Red White and Blue paint theme.

Garrison, was filmed eating black licorice as punishment.

The main attention-grabbing feature of SimpleRockets 2 is, indeed, how simple it is for new players to get the grasp of the rocket designing page as well as controlling the flight of the rockets. For example, the popular rocket sim Kerbal Space Program made by Squad has 30 different types of liquid fuel and oxidizer tanks, eight different types of liquid fuel tanks, seven different types of monopropellant tanks, and three different types of xenon gas tanks.

In SimpleRockets 2, there is a whopping total of 30 parts: only one of which is a fuel tank.

For KSP players, this might seem confusing; however, it is conventionally more straightforward than the way Squad implemented their parts. This is where SR2 shines above.

All structural elements can be "procedurally edited," meaning that they can easily be edited to any size. For instance, KSP has 16 different types of adapters to fit all their various different-sized parts. SR2 can make any kind of adapter using only two parts: the fuel tank and the strut.

In addition, there are other parts in SR2 that KSP players have been wishing for: a cargo bay which can be made to any diameter (including different starting and ending diamevters), wings that can be made to any size and swept back with ease, and "gizmos." Unless you install mods, you cannot get these parts in KSP: hinge rotators, axial rotators, pistons, and shock absorbers.

Do not be confused by all the comparisons between SimpleRockets 2 and Kerbal Space Program. In actuality, these two games are wildly different and they should not be compared to each other. KSP is centered around overcoming obstacles to see how far you can explore. SR2 is centered around making cool vehicles to share with everybody.

Their differences are similar to how Team Fortress 2 is similar in concept

“

to Overwatch, yet wildly different in practice.

In SimpleRockets 2, there Despite their differencis a whopping total of 30 es, some people have claimed that Jundroo is parts: only one of which is a ripping off Squad. Junfuel tank. droo's website says "no, we do not think we've ripped any game off, nor are we crazy vehicles. There were planes, denying the impact that previous boats, tanks, cars – you name it. For games have had on us. Just as there SimpleRockets 2, I'm excited to see is now room for countless first-person what types of crazy contraptions shooters, real-time strategy games, people make when they can leave zombie games, and goat simula- the planet they started on. My only tors, we think the market can also real complaint about the game support a handful of rocket sims for currently is how difficult it is to edit enthusiasts to choose from." maneuver nodes, but the Jundroo SimpleRockets 2 shows great po- team are already fixing it. tential, especially for an early-acAs a final note about the develcess game. The Jundroo team are opment of the game, Jundroo has working hard to work out bugs and said that they are planning to start add new features to the game. I porting the game to mobile in earbelieve the best part of this game ly 2019. It may seem impossible to is the ability to easily share crafts control a 3D space simulator on a and saves with everyone online. touchscreen, but the control interIn the game SimplePlanes, players face appears to be made explicitly could share their crafts and others for the transition already. could quickly download them. This Right now, SimpleRockets 2 is was great for me because I am ab- available for PC and Mac through solutely terrible at making planes. Steam and Humble Bundle's stores.

Most of the fun for me from Sim- It currently costs $14.99, although plePlanes was seeing how creative this might increase after they finish everyone was and trying out their their Early-Access phase.

“

Andrew Bronshteyn Reporter

Andrew Bronshteyn/The Avion Newspaper

For reference, the game still ran at 32 FPS with “High” graphics, on a laptop with an Intel i5-7200U processor and an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX GPU.

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Entertainment C3 Our Future Begins...

Photo Courtesey: Bethesda Game Studios

Brandon Collins Reporter Launched this past Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, Bethesda's latest game, Fallout 76, was initially announced back in May, right before this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (a.k.a. E3). Bethesda teased their game during a 24-hour long video that streamed a continuous shot of the Vault-Boy statue, which stood in front of a monitor with the message "Please Stand By." The stream ended with the teaser trailer of Fallout 76 and a special letter from Bethesda's Todd Howard.

Now, Fallout 76 follows the story of, you guessed it, Vault 76, one of Vault-Tec's nuclear protection vaults. Now, as most players will know, a good portion of the vaults was originally designed for experimental purposes. However, Vault 76 is not one of the experimental vaults, but instead, it is one of the 17 known control vaults in the United States. Vault 76 was home to 500 occupants and was initially programmed to open 20 years after a nuclear war. Despite being a control vault, Vault 76 was still a pretty unique vault in its own sense. The occupants selected were a diverse group from every walk of life, all of which were highly accomplished before the war and possessed aggressive personalities. Vault 76 itself was also designed to cease functioning and be rendered inhospitable 24 hours after opening, a feature intended to force the residents to commit to reclaiming the outside world and prevent them from becoming de-

pendent on the vault's amenities.

Vault 76 ran five years longer than it was originally supposed to, finally opening on Oct. 23, 2102, exactly 25 years after the Great War (the few days that nuclear bombs were deployed) and five years after its attended date, in a much-celebrated event now known as "Reclamation Day." Fallout 76 follows the player as they awake on “Reclamation Day� and proceed to leave Vault 76. As the player leaves, they are greeted by a number of Mr. Handy Robots that helped take care of the vault, wishing the player good luck in their journey and providing them with basic supplies to start the adventure with such as stimpacks, a perk point, clean water, and a C.A.M.P., a Construction and Assembly Mobile Platform that is used as the central base of operations for players that allows them to build their own homes, fortresses, shops, etc.

The game takes place in West Virginia and is called Appalachia in the game. The map is roughly four times the size of the Commonwealth of Fallout 4 and includes many real locations, just like the previous game entries. The game consists of areas such as the West Virginia State Capitol building, the Greenbrier, Woodburn Circle, New River Gorge Bridge, and Camden Park. The game also features a plethora of new mutated monsters, some who are inspired by West Virginian Folklore, such as the Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster.

Fallout 76 also includes a modi-

fied version of its SPECIAL progression mechanics. Rather than deciding what your SPECIAL (strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck) attributes are at the beginning of the game, players now add points to each category as they level up, having the ability to boost all of the categories up to a total of 15 for each one. Players will also be able to choose perks and/or passive skills as they level up, giving them in-game bonuses. The perks now take the form of trading cards, each with their own value, determining at what level they can start being used by the player.

One of the most significant differences in Fallout 76 compared to all of its predecessors is the total lack of any human non-player characters, also known as NPCs. All of the humans that players will meet in the game are other players in the server. This is a big change for Bethesda, given that it is usually human NPCs that give players quest in their games. Players now receive quest via robot NPCs, holotapes, terminals throughout the Appalachia, and even the environment in the form of exploring locations.

Howard stated that this system gave Bethesda the ability to tell a story whilst giving the players a greater opportunity to create their own unique narratives.

Now, as most of you know, Fallout 76 is completely online and is a multiplayer game. But for those of you who do not want to play with other people, you do not have to.

Bethesda told gamers at E3 that

the game can be entirely played by yourself, and it really can be.

While playing the game, several of us at the Avion went several hours at a time without seeing any other player during the game. It plays like any old Fallout game when you skip the multiplayer aspect, but the experience is enhanced when you play with others.

As with most new releases, Fallout 76 is not without bugs and issues. One major problem we have heard of involves power armor and not being able to get into them depending on the angle you are looking at it, and then issues where the game drops, but those are easily fixable with just a simple reloading of the game.

All-in-all, Fallout 76 is a great game, and should rightfully be recognized as one. Many gamers have complained that Fallout 76 is just Fallout 4, but as a multiplayer, which is what gamers were told it would be during Bethesda’s E3 press conference. The game may not have lived up to the hype some players had, but it did live up to what we were told it would be.

Photo Courtesy: Reddit

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C4 Entertainment

The Throwback of the Year

Brandon Collins Reporter

Roughly 24 years ago, the PlayStation gaming console was introduced to us all. Developed and sold by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was the first home console in video game history to ship over 100 million units around the world, offering gamers a chance to play games with real-time 3D rendered graphics in their homes.

Now, after a plethora of positive reviews of competitor Nintendo’s NES and Super NES Classic Edition mini consoles, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that they

would be releasing their throwback console, the PlayStation Classic in December of this year, which is the 24th anniversary of the release date of the original PlayStation.

The PlayStation classic will emulate games initially released on the original PlayStation console.

The PlayStation Classic is coming preloaded with 20 classic PlayStation games. Five of the games being released with the console were announced the same day as the console, which was Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 3, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms. This announcement was received well both by critics and Sony gamers,

which only continued to increase when Sony released the titles of the other 15 games on Oct. 30. Major games such as Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil Director’s Cut are some of the games coming pre-installed on the console.

The PlayStation Classic console is roughly 45% smaller than the original PlayStation, and it will emulate the original’s look and feel by coming with both similar controllers and packaging. Long-time Sony fans will be able to appreciate the nostalgia that comes with rediscovering the games that they both know and love, while gamers who are

newer to the platform can enjoy the wonderful PlayStation console experience that started it all. All of the pre-loaded games coming preinstalled on the console will be playable in their original format.

Each unit will come with an HDMI cable to connect the console to their TVs, a USB cable, and two original PlayStation controllers that can be used for local multiplayer within the compatible titles. The console is set to release on Dec. 3, 2018, and will be available for purchase from retailers for $99.99. Players can visit PlayStation’s website for more details and a complete lineup of games coming pre-installed.

Pokémon Expands Franchise Emily Rickel Reporter Augmented reality mobile game Pokémon GO recently released several updates, including one of its most significant upgrades aimed toward promoting physical activity.

Published Nov. 5 to players level 5 and up, the new Adventure Sync feature tracks players’ walking distances even when the game is not launched.

Niantic, the game’s developer, reported that 70% of 2,000 surveyed players felt motivated to walk more as a result of playing Pokémon GO. Additionally, 64% said the game motivated them to go outdoors, and 47% indicated their physical activity level had increased since playing.

“This type of response from the community reinforces our commitment to not only create innovative, real-world games but also to invest in features like Adventure Sync, which provides a gentle but effective motivation loop that encourages people to get outside and be active every day,” explained Niantic in an Oct. 25 press release.

To use the new feature, players must opt into Adventure Sync and allow it to connect to a fitness tracking app such as Apple Health or Google Fit. Once connected, Adventure Sync works in the background to track steps and distances that can be used for hatching Pokémon Eggs and earning Buddy Candy. The new feature also provides players with a weekly summary of their physical activity statistics, such as the number of calories burned, as well as the number of steps and kilometers walked. Players can also earn rewards for every 5, 25, and 50 km walked per week.

“I’m really grateful for the Adventure Sync feature. I’m hatching the annoying 7 km eggs much faster, my phone battery is lasting longer, and I am happy to not always have the game on in order to get my kilometers,” praised Maddie Casper, a Junior in the Aerospace and Occupational Safety program. “The only thing I would say I don’t like about the feature is that it doesn’t always notify me when my Pokémon gets a candy, when an egg hatches, or when I meet one of the weekly achievements, but that is a small

price to pay for the benefits it provides.”

Another major recent update to the mobile game was the addition of Generation 4 Pokémon. According to Eurogamer, the Gen 4 update is the second largest addition of new Pokémon since the game’s original release. The 107 new creatures of Gen 4 are being released in stages, with approximately 35 currently available in the game.

Pokémon GO also recently hosted a Community Day event on Nov. 10. First launched in January 2018, Community Day is a monthly limited-time event that encourages players to come together.

Each Community Day features increased spawn rates of a particular Pokémon, along with exclusive moves and resource bonuses that are available during the three-hour duration of the event. Shiny versions of the Community Day Pokémon also tend to be released during these events, giving players a chance to collect a rare alternate coloration of the Pokémon. The November Community Day featured fire-type Generation II starter Cyndaquil and provided players with double Catch XP and Catch Star-

dust bonuses. Other recent events and updates included Pokémon GO Halloween, Special Raid Challenges, new Field and Special Research tasks and rewards, as well as the limited-time release of two new shiny Pokémon.

Even with all of the game’s recent updates, players still think the mobile game would benefit from the addition of more features and capabilities. “I would like to see more events that involve legendary or mythical Pokémon since it’s impossible to obtain them otherwise,” suggested Alexzandria Valentine, a Senior in the Aeronautical Science program. “I wish it would be possible to battle your friends on an individual level instead of only through gyms where you aren’t really actively battling each other,” added Casper.

In other game news, Pokémon hit a new platform with the Nov. 16 release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! for the Nintendo Switch. The new games can be synced to Pokémon GO, allowing players to transfer Pokémon caught in GO to the Nintendo Switch games. Up to 1,000 Pokémon from GO can be stored in

Photo Courtesy: Sony

the new games and there is no limit to the number of GO accounts that can be synced to a single save file in the Nintendo games.

Pokémon will also hit the big screen on May 10, 2019, with the release of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, an action-adventure movie based on the Nintendo game of the same name. The live-action film features a talking Pikachu voiced by Ryan Reynolds that partners with a young man (played by Justice Smith) who is looking for his missing father. The first comedic, action-packed trailer was released

by Warner Bros. Pictures on Nov. 12 and gathered over 35 million views within three days.

According to VG247, Pokémon Go has grossed over $2 billion worldwide and has been downloaded 522 million times since the game’s release in July 2016. With the addition of so many new features, events, cross-platform updates, and upcoming film ventures, the game is working hard to retain active players, attract new players, and spark a renewed interest in previous players. More events and updates are expected to be released before the end of the year.

Photo Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

THE AVION

D2 NASCAR@Homestead End Of An Era Johnson, Knaus to part ways after tough 2018 season

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

Vipul Telang Photo Editor Homestead-Miami Speedway has seen the retirement of many of the largest names in NASCAR, including Tony Stewart in 2016 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. last year. On Sunday, November 18, 2018 it felt like the sport was losing another of its greats to retirement, but instead it was just the last time Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus would partner together as driver and crew chief.

At the same time, it would also be the last time that Lowe’s Home Improvement would sponsor Johnson, as the company announced early in 2018 that it would no longer be sponsoring the No. 48 team and would be pulling out of NASCAR. To celebrate the occasion, Johnson sported a throwback paint scheme, dubbed “Where It All Began” by Team Lowe’s Racing. The car pays homage to Jimmie’s very first car, in which he won his first career race in his rookie season. Johnson had been running his black and neon-yellow Lowe’s For Pros Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the majority of the season. He also wore a throwback racing helmet that depicted various photographs from his previous championship-winning celebrations accompanied by a design from his rookie helmet as well. In a surprise move, Johnson shaved his beard that he’s sported for the past twelve years. NASCAR’s official Twitter poked fun at him, joking that “2002 called, it wants its look back!”

The 43-year-old from El Cajon, California is poised to start next season with a new primary sponsor and crew chief for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Johnson’s current crew chief, Chad Knaus, will switch to crew chief the No. 24 Chevrolet ZL1 of William Byron, while Johnson will partner with Kevin Meendering, who has had a long relationship with the Charlotte, N.C.-based team.

Johnson and Knaus have both agreed that parting will be the best move strategically for the team, and team owner Rick Hendrick shares the same thoughts.

“They’re fierce competitors, great friends, and have immense respect for one another, but they also fight like brothers,” Hendrick said. “All three of us agree that it’s time for new challenges and that

change will benefit them and the organization.” Johnson knows that despite the swap, there won’t be any bad blood between the two. “[Although] we are going different directions, I’ll still be his biggest cheerleader and he’ll do the same for me,” he said.

Johnson began his NASCAR career in 2001, but didn’t drive full-time until 2002, where he won his first ever career win in the then-named Winston Cup Series in Fontana. Since then, he has amassed more than 80 wins in NASCAR’s premier series and won seven championships, tying NASCAR legends Richard “The King” Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most career championships.

It’s been a worrying season for fans of the No. 48 Hendrick team, as it’s been 59 races since Johnson last stepped foot in Victory Lane.

His last win came at Dover in 2017, and other than three top-five finshes, it’s been a tough year.

Johnson nearly snapped his winless streak at the inaugural Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval race in late September, but collected Martin Truex Jr. in the last corner of the last lap and ended crossing the line in eighth. Kyle Larson beat Johnson in a tiebreaker for points and Johnson was eliminated from the 2018 playoffs in the first round.

Johnson’s 14th place finish at Homestead marked the first (and last) season in which he and Chad Knaus together went winless throughout the whole season.

Although Chad and Jimmie will no longer be driver and crew chief together, there is no doubt that the duo will be regarded as one of, if not the most successful pairing in NASCAR history. Despite the upcoming changes to his team and crew, Johnson isn’t planning on retiring anytime soon. “I want to win.

I want to win an eighth championship,” he said. Johnson has signed with Hendrick Motorsports until at least 2020, and many think that Johnson won’t quit until he has his eighth championship to his name.

Whether he gets it or not, it won’t be with the help of Chad Knaus.

Photo Courtesy:Terry Renna

Jimmie Johnson climbs into his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for the last time in his career before the start of the 2018 Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Johnson wore a throwback firesuit as well as an old-school hat from 2002. Standing behind him is crew chief Chad Knaus, who will be leaving the 48 team to work with Johnson’s teammate William Byron in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Byron just completed his rookie season in NASCAR. Both call the moment bittersweet, but know that they will be very, very close friends and will both support each other next season.

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper

Johnson’s paint scheme, “Where It All Began,” is based heavily off of Johnson’s rookie season livery. He ran the scheme when he won his first-ever career race, in Fontana, California in 2002 during the NAPA Auto Parts 500.

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NASCAR@Homestead D3

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

Samy Fooda/The Avion Newspaper

Samy Fooda/The Avion Newspaper

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper

Samy Fooda/The Avion Newspaper

THE AVION

D4 Motorsports

Ross Chastain: A Cinderella Story Vipul Telang Photo Editor Ross Chastain took the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity season by storm, clinching eight top-ten finishes including his first career victory in the DC Solar 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Avion Newspaper first interviewed Ross before the season opening Powershares QQQ 300 as well as mid-season before the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250.

This past weekend, we caught up with Ross before his final race with JD Motorsports before he heads to Chip Ganassi Racing to drive the No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2019.

Avion Newspaper: Ross, we’ve seen you at the beginning, middle, and end of your 2018 season. How would you describe your past year?

Ross Chastain: Holy cow! It’s been a whirlwind, and honestly it was never supposed to happen. It’s been pretty good!

AN: You got your first win in the Xfinity season! What was going through your mind as you came through Turn 4 [at Vegas]?

RC: With two laps to go, my eyes

and my nose started burning. I could feel a tear form in my right eye and run down my cheek. I thought to myself, “Oh man! Oh man!” I just knew I needed to get back to the white flag. I remember rounding the final turn and just fist pumping. If you see the video, you can see a white glove - my white glove - just moving around. After I crossed the finish line, I just put my head down on the backstretch and everyone was going around me. I almost forgot where I was for a second!

AN: And don’t forget about your burnout!

RC: Yeah! I did a burnout and accidentally ended up in the grass. My spotter told me, “Get out of that grass! That’s the Cup logo!” I completely forgot about it. But there was a DC Solar logo painted in the grass further down, so I drove over there and spun around in that and that was pretty cool to get to be able to do that.

AN: Congrats on your new ride with Chip Ganassi Racing! How did that deal come about, and how long have you been planning it out?

RC: Thank you! CGR first approached me in March. I met Jeff [Carpoff] face-to-face and that’s when he said he would try and get something set up. I was like, “yeah, sure....ok” because this guy sponsors Kyle Larson! He’s not going to want to sponsor me! I only found out that this would actually happen just about three weeks before Darlington. I was like “Oh boy, here we go!” (Laughs). It really was Jeff [the co-founder and CEO of DC Solar] and Pauline Carpoff who wanted this to happen. I’ll be racing the whole season with CGR next season.

AN: I’m sure that was a relief for you!

RC: It was, but I still messed up! I guess it was a relief, but I didn’t get on my phone until Sunday morning, when I texted Chip thanking him for the opportunity. I also shot my grandparents a quick text as well just to say hey, and then I was back off my phone until Monday morning. I felt like I had been beaten up, just because of the emotional highs and lows of that weekend. It built up so high and then that feeling was taken away, and all because I made a mistake! It took me a couple of days to get over that though.

AN: Are you still going to come back to JD Motorsports to visit?

AN: Did you really hold up a watermelon in victory lane?

RC: Yeah man! Why, did it look photoshopped? Yes, that picture is real!

It was pretty cringy! (Laughs) AN: Once you got the ride for next season, how did it feel to prove Kevin Harvick wrong?

RC: (Laughs) You know, that question gets asked a lot! It’s really just about doing my job and proving to CGR that I was the guy that they wanted. I’ve always thought that I’ve had a lot of pressure, even back when started driving, but looking back, I realized that those times were easy compared to now.

When I walked into the CGR shop for the first time, my hands were shaking so badly because I was nervous that I had to hold them by my sides. It was the biggest, nicest, cleanest shop that I have ever been a part of. It really was about proving everyone in the shop – nearly 200 people – that I was worthy of their equipment. After I got back from Darlington, I stopped by the shop on my way home. One of the guys from the Cup side saw me and yelled, “Hey Ross!” and all of these heads turned my way. Everyone stopped what they were doing and shook my hand. They told me, “If you race that way forever, we will build racecars for you every week. You better race them how they’re meant to be raced.” Chip [Ganassi] later told me that I won the shop over.

AN: You had a victory and a second-place finish in the No. 42 car, and you nearly had another one at Darlington!

Photo Courtesy: Richard Brian

I grabbed dinner with Jeff after the race and he walked up and put his arm around me and said “Man, it’s going to be ok.” He then showed me a text from Chip and reassured me that I won everything I needed to win and showed us everything we needed to see.

RC: Yup, that’s racing. We had a chance to win that, and that’s all I could ask for. After Darlington, I was kinda bummed. We crashed, and I felt that I could have avoided that.

In the moment, I knew I needed to hold him off and stay out front.

RC: Oh yeah! These guys are like family to me! Johnny [Davis] is almost like a father to me. I’ll still go down to Gaffney, South Carolina to see them. Johnny stays in Port Orange so I’ll stop there on my way down here to Homestead. It was great to see him and his wife.

We’ve been working together for four years and when you’re together for 33 weeks and then some in the offseason, it really feels like family! They’ve come to stay with me in Florida on the farm and they got to see all that.

AN: Is your sponsor [Florida Watermelon Association] coming with you to CGR or are they staying with JD Motorsports?

RC: Honestly, I don’t know what they’re going to do. To be honest, they can’t financially get a race with Ganassi. The costs are just going to be too high, so I’m not sure what we’re going to do. Watermelons are my deal and if nothing else, I can talk about two things-race cars and watermelons. We’re a member of the Florida Watermelon Association, and we grow and sell out of Florida. The people in the organization are my friends and are like a family to me. They’ve been growing watermelons since my grandad was growing watermelons, and so it’s special to me that I’ve been able to bring them with me to this sport and get exposure for them. So yeah, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I mean, these are all good problems to have, but there will be a lot of meetings this offseason.

In his final race with JD Motorsports and the No. 4 Florida Watermelon Association Chevrolet, Ross finished in 16th after starting from 23rd on the grid. The Avion Newspaper wishes both Ross and JD Motorsports a relaxing offseason, and hopes that Ross will remain competitive next season in the No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

E1

THE AVION

E2 Sports

Eagles Hockey Finishes Semester with Games Against UCF and UOT

Korbin Martin Staff Reporter The Embry-Riddle Eagles played the last four games for this semester with a home and home series against the University of Central Florida on Nov. 9 and Nov.10 and a home and home series against the University of Tampa on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. The Eagles next game will be a home game against the University of Miami on Jan. 11, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. at the Daytona Ice Arena.

Our Eagles started strong against UCF on the 9th. No. 43 Kyle Usiak and No. 13 Colin Bridges both scored a goal in the first period to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. The University of Central Florida responded with a goal of their own in the final minute of the first period. UCF played dirty all game, accumulating 10 penalties, including unsportsmanlike conduct that sent UCF player Chris Zalik out of the game for 10 minutes after he blatantly attacked No. 25 Brendan Barger.

UCF scored the first goal of the

second period, almost 10 minutes into the period to tie the game, but our Eagles responded a minute later with No. 3 Turner Kaufmann scoring a beautiful goal to put the Eagles up 3-2.

Unfortunately, the Knights would tie the game in the third period to force overtime, and somehow they managed to score and win the game in overtime. It was a tough loss for the Eagles, and missing Brendan Barger for the majority of the game didn't help. Goalie Nico Prulhiere only let the Knights scored four goals on 49 shots and had a 91% save percentage in the loss. The Eagles would travel to Orlando the next day for another game against the Knights. Unfortunately, the Knights won another close match with the final score being 3-2. No. 16 Alex Faller and No. 42 Ryan Marks both scored for the Eagles in the loss.

The Eagles hosted the University of Tampa Spartans the next week. The Spartans are one of the top teams in the south, so this would be a tough game. The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead

after No. 22 David Lytle III scored 13 minutes into the first period.

The Spartans would respond with a goal of their own a minute later to make the score 1-1.

The Spartans would score again in the second period to take the lead, and the score sat at 2-1 for the rest of the game. The Eagles ran into much bad luck, as four separate shots hit the goalposts, and one that looked like it was going in hit the crossbar and fell straight down and landed just inches in front of the goal. The Eagles looked great despite the loss, and honestly played better and would have won if not for the bad luck with the goalposts.

Goalie Max Minervini played for the Eagles that night and had an incredible game. The Spartans managed to take 54 shots, which is not ideal, but Minervini only let two shots in for an incredible save percentage of 96%. He made highlight saves throughout the game to keep the Eagles in it.

The Eagles traveled down to Tampa the next day for a rematch, but unfortunately, a lot

of main rotation players were not able to make it out there, so the Eagles were short staffed.

The Spartans took advantage of that and dominated the Eagles in front of their home crowd, and won 9-0. A good amount of Embry-Riddle Alumni traveled out to support the team, and Coach Bob Joyce signed some memorabilia of himself from when he was in the NHL for one of the Alumni. Overall while the loss hurts, Tampa is one of the best teams in the south, and the Eagles were missing a lot of their main guys. It happens. The Eagles are still in the running for the playoffs and are currently ranked 12th in the south. The No. 1 team, Florida, Gulf Coast University, has just one loss, and that was to the Embry-Riddle Eagles. The Eagles have played competitively in games against University of Tampa and University of South Florida who are the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the south, so when the playoffs arrive anything can happen.

All Photos: Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

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All Photos: Korbin Martin/The Avion Newspaper

Sports E3

Comics and Games

Also known as the Black Mirror-Mythbusters scale.

Finished the crossword or all of the Sudoku Puzzles? The first person to bring the completed puzzles to SU219 wins a prize!