- NASA's Artemis 3 Mission Faces High Risk of Delay: The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has raised concerns regarding the timeline for the Artemis 3 mission, warning that SpaceX's Starship may not be ready for the planned late 2026 lunar landing. Key issues include the need for successful flight tests and the unproven capability of propellant transfer in orbit, raising questions about contingency plans for the mission.
- Hayabusa2's Extended Mission to Asteroid 1998 KY26: Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft is embarking on an extended mission to study the small, rapidly rotating asteroid 1998 KY26. Unlike its previous mission, Hayabusa2 will observe this asteroid from a distance, providing valuable insights into different types of asteroids and the early solar system.
- Recovery of Rare Aubrite Meteorite: Scientists have successfully recovered the Bliskavica meteorite, a rare Aubrite type, following a fireball event over Europe. This meteorite is significant as it offers a known origin story, allowing researchers to trace its pre-impact orbit back to the asteroid belt, enhancing our understanding of planetary formation.
- Potential Gold Rush from Earth's Mini Moons: A new study suggests that temporarily captured objects (TCOs) orbiting Earth could contain billions in precious metals. Proposed missions to retrieve samples from these TCOs could be launched for as little as $10 million, making asteroid mining much more accessible and potentially revolutionizing the industry.
- SpaceX's Busy Launch Schedule: SpaceX continues its impressive launch cadence with the successful deployment of 22 Starlink satellites, marking its 65th orbital mission of the year. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster completed its 17th landing, showcasing the company's advancements in reusable rocket technology.
- Growing Tea on the Moon: New research indicates that astronauts may be able to grow tea plants in lunar soil simulants. This breakthrough could provide a psychological boost for long-term space missions, allowing astronauts to enjoy comforting beverages while in space.
- Earth's Crystals Hold Galactic Secrets: A study reveals that ancient crystals in Earth's crust may contain traces of heavy elements produced by supernovae in the spiral arms of our galaxy. This discovery suggests that our solar system's journey through the Milky Way has left a geological record in the form of these crystals.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
Artemis 3 Delay Concerns
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Hayabusa2 Mission Update
[JAXA](https://www.jaxa.jp/)
Bliskavica Meteorite Recovery
[Nature](https://www.nature.com/)
TCO Gold Rush Study
[Journal of Astrobiology](https://www.journalofastrobiology.com/)
SpaceX Launch Updates
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Tea Growth Research
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Galactic Crystals Study
[Science Journal](https://www.sciencejournal.com/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your essential
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 guide to the cosmos. I'm Anna.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 Avery: And I'm Avery. We're the podcast that brings
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 you the day's biggest news in space and
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 astronomy from our solar system and beyond.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 Anna: We have a packed show for you today. Our
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 top story, NASA's Aerospace Safety
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 Advisory Panel is sounding the alarm warning
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 that the Artemis 3 mission to land humans on
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 the moon is at high risk of delay.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 Avery: Plus, we'll check in on the extended mission
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, celebrate the
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 recovery of a rare meteorite in Europe, and
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 explore a potential gold rush for asteroid
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 manners targeting Earth's mini moons.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 Anna: And later, we'll have a few quick updates on
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 SpaceX, growing tea on the moon, and
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 finding the history of our galaxy right here
00:00:46 --> 00:00:46 on Earth.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 Let's get started. All right, our main story
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 today comes from a public meeting at the
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 Johnson Space Center. NASA's Aerospace Safety
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 Advisory Panel, or ASAP, issued a stark
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 warning on September 18th regarding the
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 timeline for the Artemis 30.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 Avery: Um, and this all centers on the human landing
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 system, which is SpaceX's Starship. Right?
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 The vehicle that's supposed to actually take
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 the astronauts down to the lunar surface.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 Anna: Exactly. The panel is concerned that Starship
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 will likely not be ready to support the
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 mission in late 2026 as currently
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 scheduled. They cited two key.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 SpaceX needs to get the vehicle flying
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 successfully, and it needs to demonstrate
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 propellant transfer in orbit.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 Avery: That first one is a pretty big hurdle. The
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 first integrated test flight back in April
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 failed a few minutes after liftoff, and,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 well, it completely obliterated its own
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 launch pad.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Anna: It certainly did. SpaceX has made
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 repairs and upgrades, but they are still
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 awaiting an updated launch license from the
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 Federal Aviation Administration for their
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 next test flight. The chair of the
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 panel, Patricia Sanders, was very direct,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 stating the current schedule has a high risk
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 of delays, and.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 Avery: It'S not just a safety panel. We've heard
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 similar rumblings from senior NASA officials,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 though they've also mentioned concerns about
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 the development of new spacesuits and other
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 lander systems. But Starship seems to be the
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 longest pole in the tent.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 Anna: It is. And that second point, propellant
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 transfer, is critical. Starship needs to
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 be refueled in orbit for a lunar mission, and
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 transferring cryogenic propellants on that
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 scale has never been done before.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 Avery: So what's the backup plan if the lander has
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 problems? Is there a contingency?
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 Anna: That's the other issue Sanders raised. NASA's
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Gateway, the planned outpost in lunar orbit,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 could serve as a safe haven for astronauts,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 but the gateway itself won't be ready for
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 Artemis 3. It really puts all the pressure on
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 starship performing as planned and on
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 schedule.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 Avery: It sounds like a very high stakes
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 development. We will certainly be watching
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 for news on the next test flight moving from
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 the moon to the asteroids.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Let's talk about a mission that has already
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 proven to be a great successJapan's
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 Hayabusa2.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 Anna: Of course, the mission that returned a
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 pristine sample from the asteroid ryugu back
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 in 2020. What's next for the spacecraft?
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Avery: It's on an extended mission heading to a new
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 target called asteroid, uh, 1998
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 KY26. And this new destination
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 is a very different kind of space rock.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 Anna: Different how?
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Avery: For starters, it's very small with a diameter
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 of only 30 meters. It's also a fast
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 rotator, spinning on its axis once every
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 10.7 minutes.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 Anna: That is incredibly fast. That must give
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 it a very low gravitational field, making
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 any kind of landing or contact extremely
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 difficult.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 Avery: You're exactly right. Because of that,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 Hayabusa2 will not be collecting a sample
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 this time. Instead, it will study the
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 asteroid from a distance when it arrives in
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 July 2031.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 Anna: It's just fantastic that they can get more
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 science out of an already completed mission.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 This extended mission will allow scientists
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 to study a completely different type of
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 asteroid and learn more about the early days
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 of our solar system. A great example of
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 mission efficiency.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 Well, from visiting asteroids, we now turn
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 to an asteroid that visited us
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 after two years. Scientists have recovered a
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 very special meteorite from a fireball that
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 exploded over Europe in February
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 2023.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 Avery: I think I remember seeing videos of that one
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 online. It was seen by thousands of people.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 Anna: It was. The recovered meteorite has been
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 named Bliskvika, which is polish for
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 lightning. And it's a rare type of meteorite
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 known as an Aubrite.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 Avery: An Aubrite. What makes that type of meteorite
00:04:41 --> 00:04:41 special?
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 Anna: They're thought to originate from the main
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 asteroid belt and are made of a very distinct
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 light colored rock. But. But what makes the
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 Bliskavica meteorite so important is that
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 it's the first abrite ever to be recovered
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 from a fireball that was observed by so many
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 people and captured on so many
00:05:00 --> 00:05:00 cameras.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 Avery: So all those dash cams and doorbell cameras
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 actually contributed to the science
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 immensely.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 Anna: It allowed scientists to precisely
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 calculate the meteorite's trajectory. And
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 this is the crucial part, determine its pre
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 impact orbit. They have actually traced
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 this specific rock back to its likely
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 origin point in the asteroid belt.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Avery: That's incredible. So they don't just have
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 the rock, they have its return address?
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 Anna: Essentially, yes. It's being called a major
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 coup for planetary science. It provides a
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 unique opportunity to study a rare
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 meteorite with a known origin story
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 which can tell us some so much more about the
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 formation of our solar system.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 Avery: Speaking of getting our hands on space rocks,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 our next story sounds like something straight
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 out of science fiction. Apparently Earth's
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 next mini moon could create a gold rush for
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 asteroid miners.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 Anna: A mini moon? Are we talking about a permanent
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 second moon?
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 Avery: Sort of, but temporary. The official term
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 is a temporarily captured object or
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 tco. These are asteroids that are
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 captured by Earth's gravity, orbit, uh, our
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 planet for a few months or even years and
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 then get ejected back into space.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 Anna: Okay, so they're transient visitors.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 Where does the gold rush come in?
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 Avery: A new study has found that a TCO with a
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 diameter of just a few meters could
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 contain billions of dollars worth of precious
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 metals. The authors of the study propose a
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 mission concept called a T class mission to
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 to go out, collect the sample and bring it
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 back to Earth.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 Anna: Billions of dollars in value. But
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 surely the mission to retrieve it would cost
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 just as much.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 Avery: That's the most exciting part. The study
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 suggests such a mission could be launched for
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 as little as $10 million.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 Because these TCOs are so much closer and
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 easier to reach than main belt asteroids,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 they are far cheaper targets.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 Anna: That's incredible. So the authors believe
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 these TCOs could be a game changer for the
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 asteroid mining industry.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 Avery: They do. They say TCOs could provide a
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 regular, accessible and much cheaper supply
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 of precious metals to Earth. It turns these
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 fleeting visitors into potential orbiting
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 treasure chests.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 Alright, let's wrap up with a few quick
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 updates from around the cosmos. First up, it
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 was another Busy Sunday for SpaceX.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 Anna: Let me guess, more Starlink satellites?
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 Avery: You got it. A Falcon 9 rocket launched
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 another 22 Starlink spacecraft from Cape
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 Canaveral. The first stage booster
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 successfully landed for its 17th time. This
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 marked the 65th orbital mission of the year
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 for SpaceX. Just an incredible launch
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 cadence.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 Anna: It really is.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 Now from low Earth orbit to the lunar
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 surface, could future astronauts grow their
00:07:50 --> 00:07:50 own tea?
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 Avery: It seems so. A new study found that it is
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 possible to grow tea plants in a simulant of
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 lunar soil. The plants were able to germinate
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 and grow and they even produced catechins,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 the antioxidant compounds that make tea
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 healthy.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 Anna: Being able to grow their own food, even
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 something as simple as tea for a comforting
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 drink, would be a huge logistical and
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 psychological advantage for astronauts on
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 long term space missions.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Avery: Absolutely. And for a final story, we're
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 going from the small scale to the galactic
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 new research suggests that signs of our
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 galaxy's spiral arms may be trapped in some
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 of Earth's crystals.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Anna: How is that possible?
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 Avery: A study in the journal Nature analyzed
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 ancient crystals from our planet's crust.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 They found traces of heavy elements like gold
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 and platinum, which are thought to be
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 produced in the supernova of massive stars.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 These supernovae are much more common in the
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 spiral arms of galaxies.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 Anna: So the theory is that as our solar system
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 passed through these dense star forming
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 spiral arms over billions of years, the Earth
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 picked up this stardust which which then got
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 trapped in the crust.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 Avery: Exactly. The crystals act as a geological
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 record of our planet's epic journey through
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 the Milky Way.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 Anna: And that is our cosmic journey for today.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 From potential delays for our return to.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 Avery: The Moon to finding galactic history
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 right here in the ground beneath our feet.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 Thank you for joining us on Astronomy Daily.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 Anna: You can find our show wherever you get your
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 podcasts. Please be sure to subscribe so you
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 don't miss an episode and subscribe. And if
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 you would like even more space and astronomy
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 news from around the globe, please visit our
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 website at astronomydaily IO.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 You'll find all our back episodes there as
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 well, plus our latest blogs. See you
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 tomorrow.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 Avery: Until next time, keep looking up.