Technologies

Russian Soyuz mission sending film crew to space Tuesday: How to watch live

A few famed Russians will blast off for ISS Expedition 66.

2021 has been the year a whole new class of people have joined the still rare group of humans who have made the trip to space. Billionaires Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson and Jared Isaacman have all taken the trip, and iconic actor William Shatner is on deck, but first a Russian mission will carry two civilians to the International Space Station to film part of a movie.

A Soyuz rocket is set to blast off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Tuesday with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, film director Klim Shipenko, and actor Yulia Peresild aboard. Shipenko and Peresild will be filming a Russian movie called Challenge during their 12-day stay in orbit.

At a press conference for ISS Expedition 66 on Monday, Peresild said she’s looking forward to months of training for the mission finally paying off.

«We worked really hard and we are really tired,» said the award-winning 37-year-old actor. «It was psychologically, physically and morally hard. But I think that once we achieve the goal, all that will seem not so difficult and we will remember it with a smile.»

«I am proud of being entrusted with such a mission — to fly without professionals, cosmonauts, astronauts,» added Shkaplerov, who will act as a sort of orbital chaperone for the pair.

While it looks to be the first footage to end up in a feature-length movie, it won’t be the first film shot on the ISS: video game developer and entrepreneur Richard Garriott filmed a sci-fi short during his stay as a passenger, paying his own way to orbit in 2008. The Russian flick may also help inform how a space-based project involving NASA, SpaceX and Tom Cruise will play out.

Shipenko, who has some of the most popular Russian films ever in his portfolio, and Peresild will stay on the ISS for 12 days before returning via a different Soyuz capsule. Shkaplerov will remain on for a full expedition, likely for about six months.

The liftoff of the Soyuz rocket and MS-19 capsule is set to take place at 1:55 a.m. PT Tuesday. Russian space agency Roscosmos plans to stream the launch live via the feed below.

Technologies

The Most Exciting Video Game Rumors and Leaks Ahead of 2026

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Dec. 17

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 17.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Nod (off)
Answer: DOZE

5A clue: Naval submarine in W.W. II
Answer: UBOAT

7A clue: Tricky thing to do on a busy highway
Answer: MERGE

8A clue: Heat-resistant glassware for cooking
Answer: PYREX

9A clue: Put into groups
Answer: SORT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Break up with
Answer: DUMP

2D clue: Falls in line, so to speak
Answer: OBEYS

3D clue: Legendary vigilante who cuts a «Z» with his sword
Answer: ZORRO

4D clue: Rarin’ to go
Answer: EAGER

6D clue: Common reminder for an upcoming appointment
Answer: TEXT

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Technologies

You Can Watch an Exclusive Avatar: Fire and Ash Scene on TikTok Right Now

Disney and TikTok partner on an immersive content hub for James Cameron’s latest movie about the alien Na’vi.

If you’re not quite ready to head to the theater to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash, an exclusive scene preview might sell you on the visual spectacle. As part of a new collaboration with the social media giant, Disney is posting snippets of its new movie to its TikTok account.

This scene isn’t part of any trailer and won’t be posted to other social media accounts, making TikTok the only place you can view it — unless you buy a movie ticket. A first look at the new movie’s scenes isn’t the only Avatar-related bonus on the social media platform right now, either. TikTok has partnered with the house of mouse to bring an entire «immersive content hub» to the app.

A special section of TikTok includes quizzes and educational videos that explore the alien world of Pandora shown off in the movies. On TikTok, you can take a personality quiz to find out what Na’vi clan you most closely align with and unlock a special profile picture border to use on your account.

Science and fiction blend together with a series of videos from real doctors who explain the basis for some of Avatar’s world-building. If you want to learn about exoplanets or how realistic the anatomy of the movie’s alien animals is, these videos will feed your brain while still providing entertainment value.

Perhaps the most enticing part of Disney’s latest social media collaboration is the opportunity for fans to win prizes and trips. TikTok creators who make edits with the #TikTokAvatarContest hashtag are entered into a competition to win Avatar merchandise. The biggest winners will be able to take a trip to visual effects studio Wētā Workshop in New Zealand or visit Avatar director James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment Studio in Los Angeles.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third installment in director Cameron’s cinematic passion project. While the first Avatar movie was released in 2009, Cameron didn’t release another entry in the franchise until 2022. In total, there is a five-movie arc planned for the indigo alien Na’vi on the moon of Pandora.

The Avatar movies are known for pushing the boundaries of CGI visual effects in cinema. They are also historically big winners at the box office: the original Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.9 billion across its theatrical releases. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, is the third-highest-grossing film of all time, trailing Avengers: Endgame. You can stream those movies on Disney Plus.

It remains to be seen whether Avatar: Fire and Ash will financially live up to its predecessors. The film currently has mixed reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.