- Blue Origin's Ambitious Plans: We delve into Blue Origin's upcoming missions, including the anticipated second launch of the New Glenn rocket and the Blue Moon lander, which aims to take humans to the Moon. We discuss the significance of the escapade mission to Mars and how these developments position Blue Origin in the lunar race against SpaceX.
- - Surprising Discovery from Asteroid Richie: Scientists have uncovered the mineral Jerfischerite within samples from the icy asteroid Richie, challenging previous assumptions about the asteroid’s formation. This unexpected find prompts questions about the conditions that led to its formation and the implications for our understanding of the early solar system.
- - The Cosmic Fossil Galaxy: Journey with us to a galaxy that has remained unchanged for billions of years, offering a glimpse into the early universe. This cosmic fossil, known as Kids J08420059, provides valuable insights into galaxy formation and the evolution of the cosmos.
- - A Hidden Planet Factory: The Hubble Space Telescope reveals a stunning blue nebula, GN043.2.8, where new planets are forming around a trio of young stars. We explore the significance of this discovery for understanding planet formation in a stellar nursery.
- - Exciting Week for Space Launches: We summarise the busy launch schedule ahead, featuring SpaceX's Falcon 9 missions, Australia's first homegrown rocket launch, and a resupply mission to the International Space Station. It's a thrilling time for space enthusiasts!
- - NASA's Partnership with Netflix: Discover how NASA is bringing the wonders of space closer to home by teaming up with Netflix to stream live programming, making space exploration more accessible than ever.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube 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 signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Blue Origin Updates
[Blue Origin](https://www.blueorigin.com/)
Asteroid Richie Discoveries
[Hiroshima University](https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en)
Cosmic Fossil Galaxy Information
[National Institute of Astrophysics](https://www.inaf.it/en)
Hubble Space Telescope Discoveries
[NASA Hubble](https://hubblesite.org/)
NASA and Netflix Collaboration
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your regular dose
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 of the latest and greatest in space and
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 thrilled you could join me today for an
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 episode packed with fascinating stories from
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 across the cosmos and beyond. We have a lot
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 to cover, starting with Blue Origin's
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 ambitious plans for Mars and the moon,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 including an update on their new Glenn rocket
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 and the Blue Moon lander. Then we'll dive
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 into a perplexing discovery from the icy
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 asteroid Ryugu that has scientists scratching
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 their heads. We'll also journey billions of
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 light years away to explore a truly ancient
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 galaxy, a cosmic fossil that's been frozen
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 in time, offering us a rare glimpse into the
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 early universe. Closer to home,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 we'll take a dazzling peek inside a blue
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 nebula where new planets are forming around
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 not one, but three suns. And of
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 course, we'll round up all the significant
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 space launches that are keeping our orbits
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 busy before looking at how NASA is bringing
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 the wonders of space even closer to your
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 living room. So buckle up, because it's going
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 to be an exciting ride.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 Blue Origin is making steady progress towards
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 the second launch of its new Glenn rocket, a
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 significant step that could occur sometime
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 this fall. The company has already completed
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 the crucial second stage ignition test in
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 April, and the first stage is now in its
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 final preparation at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 While the initial target of August 15 is off
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 the table, sources suggest a, uh, mid to late
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 September launch is realistic, with others
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 leaning towards late October or November.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 Blue Origin has remained quiet about the
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 payload for this flight, but multiple reports
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 indicate it will carry NASA's escapade
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 mission. This mission involves a pair of
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 small spacecraft heading to Mars to study the
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 Red Planet's magnetosphere. Escapade
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 was originally meant for New Glenn's first
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 flight last October, but was removed due to
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 launch date uncertainty and the spacecraft's
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 propellant shelf Life. Missing that
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 2024 Mars launch window means these
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 spacecraft, once launched this fall, won't
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 reach Mars until late 2027.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 Looking ahead, Blue Origin has several
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 exciting missions planned for New Glenn. The
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 fourth flight in the first half of 2026
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 is slated to carry the Blue Moon MK1
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 lander. The fifth in
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 mid-2026, will deploy the first
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 batch of 49Amazon Project Kuiper satellites.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 Blue Origin's strategy is to launch new
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 rockets as soon as they're ready to gather
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 performance data, practise first stage reuse,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 and achieve a rapid launch cadence. They even
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 have an inspirational cube for the future
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 mission ready as a backup or rideshare if a
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 customer payload isn't Ready. Among
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 these, The Blue Moon MK1 lander is
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 generating significant buzz. It's a key part
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 of Blue Origin's plan for a large reusable
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 lander capable of taking humans to the moon.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 Recent video showed the MK1's midsection
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 arriving at their assembly facilities. At 8
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 metres, or 26.4ft tall,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 it's designed to be the tallest vehicle ever
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 to land on the moon. A um metre taller than
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 the Apollo lunar module, the MK1 is a
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 cargo version capable of carrying about 3
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 metric tonnes to the lunar surface, roughly
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 10 times the capacity of current commercial
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 landers and and a precursor to the human
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 rated MK2.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 Interestingly, industry officials now believe
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 Blue Origin has a realistic chance to beat
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 SpaceX in landing a vehicle on the lunar
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 surface. SpaceX has faced development
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 struggles with its starship, with recent
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 upper stage losses. Blue Origin's
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 MK2 Lander, while ambitious, is considered
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 less technically challenging. Furthermore,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 sources suggest Blue Origin founder Jeff
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 Bezos is is more committed to a lunar
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 programme than SpaceX's Elon Musk,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 potentially giving him an edge in this lunar
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 race from the ambitious
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 future of lunar landings.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Let's now shift our focus to a tiny,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 perplexing discovery from the icy depths of
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 asteroid Ryugu, a find that is truly
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 baffling scientists Researchers at
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 Hiroshima University have uncovered a mineral
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 called Jerfischerite within a pristine grain
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 from Ryugu, an asteroid belonging to the
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 carbon rich C type family. What makes this so
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 surprising is that Jerfischerite typically
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 forms in scorching, oxygen poor
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 environments, conditions completely contrary
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 to what we believed about Ryugu, which is
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 thought to be an icy water soaked time
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 capsule from the early solar system. This
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 unexpected discovery, detailed in the journal
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 Meteoritics and Planetary Science, is like
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 finding a tropical seed buried deep in Arctic
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 ice. Ryugu's samples, brought to
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 Earth by Japan's Hayabusa2 probe in December
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 2020, have been turning planetary science on
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 its head. The presence of
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Jerfischerite suggests two main
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 either the asteroid endured unexpected heat
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 spikes, or it somehow captured exotic
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 material that travelled across the early
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 solar system. This m finding challenges
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 the long held idea that Ryugu is
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 compositionally uniform and instead points to
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 a far more chaotic mixing of planetary
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 building blocks during the solar system's
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 formation. Ryugu is believed to
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 have originated from a larger parent body
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 that formed in the outer regions of the solar
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 system, where water and carbon dioxide
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 existed as ice temperatures
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 within this parent body were estimated to
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 have remained below about 50 degrees Celsius.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 In stark contrast, Jerfischurite is known to
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 form in much Hotter conditions, sometimes
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 exceeding 350 degrees Celsius, often
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 found in meteorites that formed closer to the
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 sun. Scientists are now considering whether
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 this mineral arrived from another source
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 during Ryugu's formation, or if Ryugu
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 itself experienced localised heating events
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 that allowed jerfischerite to form
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 intrinsically. Preliminary evidence
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 leans towards the intrinsic formation
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 hypothesis, but more research is needed.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 The next steps involve conducting isotopic
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 studies of this and other Ryugu grains to
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 determine their true origins.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 Ultimately, the goal is to reconstruct the
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 early mixing processes and thermal
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 histories that shaped small bodies like
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 Ryugu, thus improving our understanding
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 of how planets formed and how materials were
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 transported in the early solar system.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 It's a tiny mineral, but a huge mystery for
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 planetary scientists. From
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 the small wonders of asteroids, we now
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 journey to the colossal structures of the
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 universe, where astronomers have made a truly
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 remarkable discoverya uh, galaxy that has
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 remained frozen in time for billions
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 of years. Imagine a cosmic
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 fossil, much like the dinosaur fossils we
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 find here on Earth. But instead of ancient
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 life, it's a galaxy that has preserved the
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 conditions of the early universe. This
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 incredible find is the Galaxy Kids
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 J08420059,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 located a staggering 3 billion light years
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 away. What makes it a cosmic fossil is
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 its unique ability to have, um, remained
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 virtually unchanged by collisions and
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 interactions with other galaxies. Acting as a
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 pristine time capsule, recent research
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 utilising data from the Large Binocular
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 Telescope has confirmed that this galaxy has
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 been perfectly preserved for approximately 7
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 billion years. As Crescenzo
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 Tortora, a team co leader and researcher at
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 the National Institute of Astrophysics, put
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 it, discovering this galaxy is like
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 an archaeological find that helps us
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 understand how the first galaxies were born
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 and how the universe has evolved. These
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 fossil galaxies are truly like the dinosaurs
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 of the universe, offering clues about the
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 environmental conditions in which they formed
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 and how today's most massive galaxies came to
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 be. M Kids
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 J084-20059
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 was initially discovered in 2018 by the
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 Kilo Degree Survey, or KIDS.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 Subsequent observations with instruments like
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 the Very Large Telescope and its X Shooter
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 instrument helped astronomers measure its
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 size and mass. It was found to have a stellar
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 mass about 100 billion times that of our Sun.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Yet it's more compact than other galaxies of
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 similar mass and has notably lacked star
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 formation for much of its life. All these
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 characteristics pointed towards it being a
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 fossil galaxy. To confirm its unique
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 nature, the team used the adaptive optics
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 system of the Large Binocular Telescope,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 obtaining images with 10 times the detail
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 previously available. This confirmed its
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 compact structure, similar to other rare,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 stunted galactic fossils like
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 NGC1277, which is much
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 closer to us. The existence of
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 galaxies like kids
00:08:42 --> 00:08:46 J08420059
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 indicates that some galaxies can form
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 rapidly, stay compact, and remain dormant
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 for aeons by simply avoiding collisions.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 Studying these cosmic fossils is crucial for
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 reconstructing the formation history of the
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 nuclei of today's massive galaxies, which,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 unlike these relics, have undergone numerous
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 merger processes. Future research
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 with cutting edge technologies and telescopes
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 such as the Euclid Space Telescope promises
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 to further unlock the secrets these ancient
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 galaxies hold.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 From the ancient past of galaxies, we now
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 turn our gaze to the vibrant present of star
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 and planet formation as the Hubble Space
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 Telescope has delivered another breathtaking
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 image. This time it's a dazzling
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 peak inside a blue nebula, revealing what
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 astronomers are calling a hidden planet
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 factory. The image showcases a stunning
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 cosmic cloud known as
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 GN043.2.8,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 a type of reflection nebula. Unlike
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 nebulae that emit their own light, reflection
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 nebulae glow by scattering light from nearby
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 stars, often giving them that characteristic
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 soft, bluish hue, which is certainly the
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 case here. This glowing cloud is nestled
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 within the Torus Molecular Cloud, a
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 rich star forming region located
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 approximately 480 light years from Earth
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 in the constellation Taurus. It's one of the
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 closest and most ideal places for observing
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 newborn stars in action. The soft
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 Glow of GN04328 comes
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 from a trio of young stars at its heart.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 These include the variable star V1025
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Tauri at the very centre of the image, along
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 with HP Tau, HP Tau G2,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 and HP Tau G3. HP
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 Tau itself belongs to a special class known
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 as T Tauri stars, which are energetic and
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 restless stars in the earliest stages of
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 their lives, perfectly at home in this
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 stellar nursery. Astronomers believe
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 these three stars form a gravitationally
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 bound triple system, making this region even
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 more compelling for study. But perhaps the
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 most exciting detail for planet hunters is a
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 small squashed orange spot just to the left
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 of the centre, below the main cloud,
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 crossed by a dark line. This is a newly
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 formed protostar veiled within a
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 protoplanetary disc that obstructs some of
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 its light. Because this disc is seen
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 edge on from our perspective, it presents an
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 ideal opportunity for astronomers to examine
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 it closely. They're using Hubble's keen
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 eye to seek out clues about the kinds of
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 exoplanets that might be formed within discs
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 just like this one.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Moving from the ancient past of galaxies to
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 the dynamic present here on Earth, this week
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 promises to be an incredibly busy one for
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 space launches. As July begins, the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 global launch manifest is absolutely jam
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 packed with exciting missions Kicking things
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 off SpaceX is set for a double header with
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 two Falcon 9 launches from Florida. The first
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 is a Starlink mission scheduled for no
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 earlier than Tuesday, July 1st at
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 2:06am EDT from Space
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. This
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 rocket will fly on a northeast trajectory
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 carrying a batch of 27 Starlink V2 mini
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 satellites for Internet connectivity. The
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 first stage booster will attempt a landing on
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 one of SpaceX's East coast drone ships in the
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 Atlantic. This mission marks a significant
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 milestone as it will be the 82nd flight of a
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 Falcon 9 in 2025 and the
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 staggering 500th mission for the rocket since
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 its debut back in June 2010.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 SpaceX is ambitiously aiming for up to
00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 170 Falcon launches before the year is out.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 Just Hours later, the second SpaceX launch
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 could happen. Liftoff of the
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 MTGS1 mission is scheduled for no earlier
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 than Tuesday, July 1 at
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 5:03pm EDT, this
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 time from the historic Launch Complex
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 39A at Kennedy Space Centre. The
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 payload for this M mission is the Meteosat
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 third generation Sounder 1 or
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 MTG S1, a crucial weather
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 satellite to be operated by the European
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 Space agency and Umet Sat. Weighing in
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 at 3 kilogrammes, MTG
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 S1 is equipped with an infrared sounder,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 Europe's first in geostationary orbit, and a
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 UVN spectrometer. These instruments will
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 provide improved weather forecasting data for
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 Europe and Northern Africa and importantly
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 monitor air quality by detecting trace gas
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 concentrations and aerosols, supplying hourly
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 air pollution information. This will be the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 83rd Falcon 9 launch of the year.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 Beyond SpaceX we have a truly momentous
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 occasion for Australia the debut flight of
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 its first homegrown launch vehicle, Gilmore
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 Space's Air Ros rocket. This highly
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 anticipated maiden flight is set to take
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 place no earlier than Thursday, July 3 at
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 7:30am Australian UM Eastern Standard
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 Time from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport at
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 Abbott Point. After years of development,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 the three stage ERIS rocket, which uses a
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 fascinating hybrid propellant system for its
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 first two stages, will attempt to reach low
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 Earth orbit. A successful launch would mark
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 the first for an Australian built rocket and
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 the first for a hybrid fueled rocket. Fun
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 fact. While not carrying an operational
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 payload, Gilmour Space has humorously placed
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 a container of vegemite flavour spread inside
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 the payload fairing. Also on Thursday, July
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 3, China's only scheduled launch of the week
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 will see a uh Chang Geng 4B or CZ4B
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 Rocket take flight at 9:35am UTC
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 This three stage launcher has a long and
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 successful history, having flown 53 times
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 with 52 successes over its 26 year tenure,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 primarily launching remote sensing
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 satellites. Rounding out the week's launches,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 the Russian space agency Roscosmos is
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 looking to resupply the International Space
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 Station with a Progress cargo mission.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 Liftoff from site 31.6 at the Baikonur
00:14:44 --> 00:14:47 Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50 Thursday, July 3 at 3:32pm
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 Eastern Daylight Time. The Progress M
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55 S31 spacecraft will deliver approximately
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 2 kilogrammes of food, water
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and equipment for the crew aboard the
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 station, with docking expected on Saturday,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 July 5. This will mark the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 184th flight of a Progress cargo spacecraft
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 and the sixth launch of a Soyuz rocket in
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 2025. What a week for space
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 enthusiasts.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 Finally, in exciting news for space
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 enthusiasts everywhere new NASA has announced
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 its latest venture to bring space closer to
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 home by teaming up with a major streaming
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 service. Starting this northern summer,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 NASA live programming will be available on
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 Netflix. This partnership means that
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 audiences will have another fantastic option
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 to stream live rocket launches, awe
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 inspiring astronaut spacewalks,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 comprehensive mission coverage, and
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 breathtaking live views of Earth directly
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 from the International Space Station.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 Rebecca Sermons, General Manager of NASA,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 highlighted the agency's commitment, stating
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 that the National Aeronautics and Space act
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 of 1958 calls on them to share their story
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 of space exploration with the broadest
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 possible audience. This collaboration
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 aims for a golden age of innovation and
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 exploration, inspiring new generations right
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 from the comfort of their couch or the palm
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 of their hand. Through this strategic
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 partnership, NASA's groundbreaking work in
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 science and exploration will become even more
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 accessible, allowing the agency to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 significantly increase engagement and inspire
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 a global audience within the modern media
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 landscape. With Netflix reaching over
00:16:28 --> 00:16:31 700 million people worldwide, this move
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 aligns perfectly with NASA's broader efforts
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 to connect with as many people as possible
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 through various platforms, including video,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:41 audio, social media and live events.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 The ultimate goal is simple to bring the
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 excitement of the agency's discoveries,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 inventions and space exploration to people
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 wherever they are. It's also worth noting
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 that NASA itself will continue to be
00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 available for free with no ads through the
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 official NASA app and on the agency's
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 website. More programming details and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:05 schedules are expected to be announced closer
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 to the launch date. And
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 that brings us to the end of another
00:17:09 --> 00:17:12 fascinating episode of Astronomy Daily. Thank
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 you so much for joining me today. I hope you
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 enjoyed exploring the latest in space and
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 astronomy news from Mars missions and
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 puzzling asteroid discoveries to ancient
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 galaxies and the cutting edge of launch
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 technology.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:27 Before we sign off. Remember, you can always
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 catch up on all the latest space and
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 astronomy news with our constantly updating
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 news feed, and listen to all our back
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 episodes by visiting our
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 website@astronomydaily.IO. that's
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 Astronomy Daily IO. And if you haven't
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 already, make sure to subscribe to Astronomy
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 Daily on Apple podcasts, Spotify and YouTube,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 or wherever you get your podcasts so you
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 never miss an episode. It's been a pleasure
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 being your host, Anna, and I look forward to
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 sharing more cosmic wonders with you
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 tomorrow. Until then, keep looking up.