Hot in travel: this week’s best videos from around the world

This week, a variety of videos show small steps in helping animals in need, and the risks and rewards of air and space travel.

Blue Origin successfully landed on 23 November. Image by Blue Origin

A reusable rocket has landed intact in Texas and made history.  In a test run, the rocket, from the company Blue Origin, was sent up into sub-orbital space and then landed the rocket-booster safety on earth. Usually, rockets that lift large weights into space are used only once and fall to the Earth, typically into the ocean. While the rocket was unmanned, the eventual goal of the company is private space flight, similar to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. Reusable rockets are an important step in space travel, as the cost is generally not in the fuel, but in the actual pieces of the rocket.

Watch video of the landing here.

A Czech fighter pilot managed to land a plane after striking a bird. Image by NATO

A routine demonstration flight took a turn for the worse when a Czech fighter pilot connected with a bird. NATO posted cockpit footage of the flight on Facebook on Monday, including an interview with pilot Abel Zbynek. While he was flying, a bird crashed into his aircraft, which managed to punch a hole through the right wing of the plane. According to NATO, he resisted ejecting from the plane and managed to land it safely.

Watch the video here.

A polar bear cub is doing well at the Columbus Zoo. Image by Columbus Zoo

A polar bear cub at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is being nursed by staff after the female, born 6 November, was no longer being cared for by its mother. The mother, Aurora, had given birth to two cubs, but only the one survived. The zoo’s staff made the decision to remove the cub from the den and are hand-rearing her. The cub is healthy, gaining weight, growing more fur and her nose is turning black it should, according to the zoo. The zoo notes staff are cautiously optimistic about the cub.

Watch the video here.

Thanksgiving greetings from the International Space Station Image by Youtube screengrab

Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA sent Thanksgiving wishes to all on Earth this week. The two also ate some of their Thanksgiving dinner that had been packaged for the mission. The zero gravity floating tray of food included a series of packs containing smoked turkey, corn, and candied yams.

Watch the video here.