In this enlightening episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna navigates the latest cosmic events and breakthroughs that are reshaping our understanding of space. From the Parker Solar Probe's record-breaking approach to the Sun to the intriguing phenomenon of space piracy, this episode is packed with insights that will keep you captivated.
Highlights:
- Parker Solar Probe's 23rd Close Approach: Join us as we celebrate the Parker Solar Probe's incredible achievement of reaching within 3.8 million miles of the Sun's surface, matching its own records for both proximity and speed. Discover how this groundbreaking mission is transforming our understanding of solar activity and the mysteries of the corona.
- The Mysterious Blue Spiral: Explore the captivating blue spiral that lit up the skies over Europe, sparking theories of extraterrestrial origins. We reveal the true cause behind this mesmerizing light show, linked to a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, and how modern space technology creates such stunning celestial phenomena.
- 3D Printing for Space Colonization: Delve into how 3D printing technology is poised to revolutionize sustainable living on the Moon and Mars. Learn about in situ resource utilization and how astronauts can use local materials to create habitats, tools, and structures, paving the way for future space colonization.
- NASA Astronauts' Return from the ISS: Catch up on the return of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station. We discuss the fascinating physical changes they experienced during their time in microgravity and the challenges of readjusting to Earth's environment.
- The Rise of Space Piracy: Finally, we venture into the emerging concern of space piracy as commercial activities in orbit increase. Experts warn of potential criminal exploitation and the need for new security measures to protect valuable space assets.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, 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.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - Parker Solar Probe's latest approach
10:30 - Blue spiral phenomenon explained
17:00 - 3D printing technology for space colonization
22:15 - Return of astronauts from the ISS
27:30 - Emerging concerns of space piracy
✍️ Episode References
Parker Solar Probe Updates
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Details
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com)
3D Printing in Space
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/3dprinting)
NASA Astronauts' Research
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts)
Space Piracy Insights
[Center for the Study of Space Crime Policy and Governance](https://www.cscpg.org/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna, and
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 you're tuned in to your essential source for
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 the latest developments beyond our
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 atmosphere. We've got a packed episode for
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 you today as we journey from the scorching
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 vicinity of our sun all the way to the
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 emerging frontiers of space law and security.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 Our cosmic journey begins close to home.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Well, Relatively speaking, as NASA's
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 Parker Solar Probe completes its 23rd close
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 approach to the Sun. Navigation Matching its
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 own impressive records for both proximity and
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 speed, this intrepid spacecraft continues to
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 push the boundaries of what we can learn
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 about our star. Then we'll look into a
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 mysterious blue spiral that captivated sky
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 gazers across Europe this week. The
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 spectacular phenomenon had social media
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 buzzing with theories ranging from the
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 scientific to the extraterrestrial. We'll
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 reveal what really caused this mesmerizing
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 celestial light show. Looking toward
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 humanity's future among the stars will
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 explore how 3D printing technology may be the
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 key that unlocks sustainable living on other
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 worlds. Just as early pioneers had to
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 adapt to new environments using local
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 resources, future space colonists will need
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 innovative solutions to survive on the Moon
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 and Mars. We'll also check in on NASA
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 who recently returned to Earth after an
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 unexpectedly extended nine month stay aboard
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 the International Space Station. Their
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 prolonged exposure to microgravity has
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 resulted in fascinating physical changes, and
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 we'll discuss what their recovery process
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 might look like. Finally, we'll venture into
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 more speculative territory with a look at an
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 emerging concern that might sound like
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 science fiction but is being taken very
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 seriously by experts. Space
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 piracy. As commercial activities in
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 orbit expand, security specialists are
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 warning that criminal exploitation may not be
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 far behind. So whether you're a casual
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 space enthusiast or a dedicated follower of
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 astronomical advances, stay with us as we
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 explore these fascinating developments from
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 across the cosmos on today's edition of
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 Astronomy Daily.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Let's get started. NASA's
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 Parker Solar Probe has achieved another
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 remarkable M milestone in its mission to
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 study our star up close. On March
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 22, the spacecraft completed its 23rd
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 close approach to the sun, reaching
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 perihelion at 6:42pm Eastern
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 Daylight Time. During this close encounter,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 the probe once again equaled its own
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 impressive distance record, coming within
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 approximately 3.8 million miles of the Sun's
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 surface. To put this incredible proximity
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 into perspective, that's about 4% of the
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 distance between Earth and the Sun. At this
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 close range, the Parker Solar probe
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 experiences temperatures that would melt most
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 spacecraft. But thanks to its revolutionary
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 heat shield, it continues to operate in this
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 extreme environment. The probe didn't just
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 match its distance record. It also matched
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 its speed record, hurtling around the sun at
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 a mind boggling 430 miles
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 per hour, or 692
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 kilometers per hour. That's fast enough to
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 travel from New York to Los Angeles in just
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 over 20 seconds. This incredible velocity
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 makes Parker the fastest human made object
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 ever created. Mission operators at the Johns
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Maryland, where the spacecraft was designed
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 and built, received a beacon tone on
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 Tuesday, confirming that the probe was in
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 good health, with all systems operating
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 normally despite the intense conditions it
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 had just experienced. This perihelion
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 marked the midpoint of the probe's 23rd Solar
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 Encounter, which began on March 18 and
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 continued through March 27. During these
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 close approaches, Parker Solar Probe conducts
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 unrivaled scientific measurements of the
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 solar wind, the stream of charged particles
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 flowing from the sun, and related solar
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 activity. The data collected during these
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 encounters is transforming our understanding
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 of the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 corona, and helping scientists solve
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 long standing solar mysteries. One
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 of the biggest questions involves why the
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 corona is millions of degrees hotter than the
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Sun's visible surface, which defies what we'd
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 expect to see as you move away from a heat
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 source. Parker's measurements are also
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 critical for understanding how solar
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 eruptions affect space weather, which can
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 impact satellites, power grids, and
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 telecommunications systems back on Earth.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 By better understanding these solar
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 processes, scientists hope to improve
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 forecasting of, uh, potentially damaging
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 solar storms. This mission continues to push
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 the boundaries of engineering and scientific
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 discovery. With each close approach, Parker
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 Solar Probe ventures into territory no
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 spacecraft has ever explored before, sending
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 back valuable data from the very edge of our
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 star. As it continues its planned series of
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 increasingly close solar encounters, we can
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 expect even more groundbreaking discoveries
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 about the star that makes life on Earth
00:04:51 --> 00:04:51 possible.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Next up, a mystery for our European listeners
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 has been solved with a rather straightforward
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 answer. A mysterious blue spiral lit up
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 the night skies across Europe on March 24,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 creating a social media frenzy as residents
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 from the UK Croatia, Poland and Hungary
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 shared photos and videos of the strange
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 celestial phenomenon. The eerie blue
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 whirlpool, which many compared to a spiral
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 galaxy, prompted wild speculation about its
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 origin, with some even suggesting it might be
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 evidence of extraterrestrial visitors.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 One observer initially thought it was the
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 moon moon behind clouds until it started
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 moving with spiraling light emanating from
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 it. Others watched in awe as the
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 spectacular formation expanded and persisted
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 in the sky for several minutes before
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 gradually fading away. The sight was
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 particularly striking against the dark
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 European skies, appearing as an icy blue
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 vortex that seemed almost otherworldly
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 despite the alien theories circulating online
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 the explanation is rooted in modern space
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 technology rather than science fiction. The
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 spiral was actually created by a SpaceX
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 Falcon 9 rocket that had launched earlier
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 that day from Cape Canaveral Space Force
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Station in Florida. The rocket was carrying
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 the secretive NROL 69 mission for the
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 National Reconnaissance Office when it
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 created this unexpected light show thousands
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 of miles away. What witnesses observed is
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 sometimes called a SpaceX spiral, a
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 phenomenon that occurs after the upper stage
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 of a Falcon 9 rocket has separated from its
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 first stage booster, while the lower stage
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 returns to Earth for recovery. Minutes after
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 launch, the upper stage continues its journey
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 to deliver its payload to orbit. After
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 releasing its cargo, the upper stage begins
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 its own descent back to Earth. During this
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 descent, the upper stage enters a spinning
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 motion while simultaneously venting any
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 remaining fuel. At the high altitude where
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 this occurs, the expelled fuel instantly
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 freezes in the cold vacuum of space, creating
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 a swirling pattern that perfectly preserves
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 the spinning motion of the booster. When
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 sunlight reflects off this frozen fuel
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 formation, it produces the stunning spiral
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 that captivated European skywatchers.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 Physicist and science communicator Brian Cox
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 took to social media to reassure concerned
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 citizens that the event was indeed associated
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 with the SpaceX launch and not something more
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 alarming. Amateur astronomers and
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 smartphone photographers captured remarkable
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 images of the phenomenon, with some
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 describing it as unforgettable and stunning.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 While these SpaceX spirals remain relatively
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 rare sightings, they may become more common
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 as the frequency of rocket launches continues
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 to increase. As commercial space activities
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 ramp up worldwide, these spectacular but
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 harmless light shows could become a more
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 familiar sight in our night skies. One social
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 media user humorously expressed
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 disappointment at the rational explanation,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 writing that they wished it was an invasion
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 so they could use the time off work.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 But for most observers, witnessing this rare
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 and beautiful cosmic spectacle was more than
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 enough excitement for one evening, even if it
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 didn't herald the arrival of visitors from
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 another world.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 While on the subject of visiting other worlds
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 throughout history, when pioneers ventured
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 into uncharted territories, they carried only
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 the essentials and relied on local
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 resources to build new lives.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 In the coming era of space exploration,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 astronauts will face even greater challenges
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 than those early settlers, but with one
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 crucial technological advantage, 3D
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 printing. Unlike the Vikings who reached
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 Greenland with axes and plows, today's space
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 pioneers will bring advanced manufacturing
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 capabilities that can transform the alien
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 environments of the Moon and Mars into
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 habitable outposts. These remarkable
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 machines will be essential for extending
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 human presence beyond Earth, allowing
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 astronauts to create tools, structures, and
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 habitats from materials found on these
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 distant worlds. The technology is already
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 proving its value in space. Aboard the
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 International Space Station, astronauts
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 regularly use 3D printers to manufacture
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 tools and spare parts. From ratchet wrenches
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 to brackets and clamps, these items can be
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 produced in hours rather than waiting months
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 for supplies from Earth. NASA has even
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 begun recycling waste plastic to create new
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 components with the UH Refabricator, an
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 advanced printer installed in 2019.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 Why not simply bring everything from Earth?
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 The answer comes down to economics and
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 practicality. Launching materials into
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 space is prohibitively expensive, with NASA
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 estimating costs around $500 per
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 pound just to reach the Moon. Building
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 sustainable outposts requires using resources
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 available at the destination, a concept known
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 as in situ resource utilization. The primary
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 building material on both the Moon and Mars
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 will likely be regolith, the fine,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 dusty sand like particles covering these
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 worlds. Unlike Earth soil, regolith
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 contains few nutrients and no living
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 organisms, but researchers believe it could
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 serve as an excellent printing medium for
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 constructing protective structures. These
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 habitats must shield astronauts from extreme
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 temperature fluctuations, radiation,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 micrometeorite impacts, and the absence of
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 breathable atmosphere. Engineering teams are
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 exploring several promising approaches. Some
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 are developing a regolith UH based concrete
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 partially made from surface ice. Others are
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 experimenting with melting regolith at high
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 temperatures and molding it while liquid, or
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 using concentrated sunlight, lasers, or
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 microwaves to fuse particles together without
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 requiring binders, a process called SINK.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 One team at NASA's Moon to Mars Planetary
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 Autonomous Construction Technology Program
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 created Mars Creit, a special concrete
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 used to 3D print a test structure in
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 2017. By 2019, they had
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 constructed a 1/3 scale prototype Mars
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 habitat using similar technology, complete
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 with living, sleeping, research, and food
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 production modules. These innovations face
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 significant technical hurdles.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Manufacturing behaves differently in reduced
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 gravity environments, with materials cooling
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 and crystallizing in unexpected ways. The M
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 moon has just 1/6 Earth's gravity, while
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 Mars has about 2/5. Additionally,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 researchers must work with simulated
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 regolith, since actual lunar and Martian
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 materials are scarce or inaccessible. The
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 composition differs significantly between
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 worlds. Lunar regolith consists mostly of
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 silicates and is extremely fine and angular,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 while Martian regolith contains iron oxide,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 giving it its characteristic reddish color.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 The technology being developed for space
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 habitats is already finding applications on
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 Earth. Engineers are adapting these
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 techniques to address housing shortages,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 creating affordable 3D printed homes from
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 locally sourced materials and recycled
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 construction debris. This practical spinoff
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 demonstrates how space research often yields
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 unexpected benefits for terrestrial problems
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 as humanity prepares to establish a permanent
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 presence Beyond Earth. With Artemis 3
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 scheduled to return humans to the lunar
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 surface in 2027 and a potential Mars
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 mission as early as 2035,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 3D printing technology will undoubtedly
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 be among the most essential tools enabling
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 people to truly live off alien land,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 transforming these hostile environments into
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 humanity's second home.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 Next, a little catch up. NASA
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 have finally touched down on Earth after what
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 can only be described as an unexpectedly
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 extended mission aboard the International
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 Space Station. Originally scheduled for a
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 brief stay after arriving last June,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 technical issues with their Boeing Starliner
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 spacecraft left them stranded in orbit for a
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 remarkable nine months. Their capsule
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. Or is
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 that the Gulf of America these days? On
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 March 18, bringing to an end a mission
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 that saw them complete over
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 4 orbits around Earth and
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 travel an astounding 121 million
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 miles. While the mission may have concluded,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 the physical journey for these astronauts is
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 far from over. Extended exposure to zero
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 gravity environments triggers profound
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 changes in the human body, many of which are
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 already visible in Williams and Wilmore.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 Comparison photos taken before and after
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 their mission reveal noticeable physical
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 differences that scientists are now studying
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 carefully. Dr. Christopher Mason, a
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 that astronauts typically experience
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 temporary increases in height and general
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 leanness upon returning to, uh, Earth. This
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 occurs alongside significant changes in gene
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 expression and telomere length, the
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 protective caps at the end of chromosomes
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 that typically lengthen during spaceflight.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 All of it is, at least on some measures,
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 transient, Dr. Mason notes. Most of it
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 is a response to space flight. And usually in
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 a few weeks, they're mostly back to normal.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 It's the first few days that are the most
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 really dynamic. When they get back to Earth.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 Those first days can be particularly
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 challenging. Former NASA astronaut Jose M. Um
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 Hernandez, who spent 14 days in orbit,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 recalls his own return. I remember my first
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 two words when I came down was gravity
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 sucks because your body starts adapting
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 and you've got to recalibrate your
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 vestibular balance system. The
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 physical challenges facing Williams and
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 Wilmore are substantial muscle atrophy
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 from limited movement, reduced bone density,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 increased mineral content in their bodies,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and neurological shifts, including
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 disorientation, are all common post space
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 symptoms. Their bodies have also likely
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 experienced blood volume reduction, decreased
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 aerobic capacity, and potentially compromised
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 immune systems. Immediately after
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 landing, both astronauts were transported to
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 medical facilities for comprehensive
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 evaluations. They now face what could be
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 months of intensive physical therapy and
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 rehabilitation as their bodies readjust to
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 Earth's gravity. As Hernandez
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 predicted, it's going to take a couple of
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 months before they feel kind of normal back
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 here on Earth. These physical
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 adaptations highlight the extraordinary
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 sacrifices astronauts make in the name of
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 scientific advancement. The data
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 collected from Williams and Wilmore's
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 extended stay will prove invaluable for
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 NASA's ongoing research into the effects of
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 long duration spaceflight. Critical knowledge
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 as the agency prepares for future missions to
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 the moon and Mars, their
00:15:24 --> 00:15:27 unexpected nine month journey has
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 inadvertently provided scientists with a rare
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 opportunity to study prolonged space
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 exposure, potentially helping researchers
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 develop better countermeasures for future
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 astronauts embarking on deep space missions
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 where returns to Earth won't be measured in
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 months, but years.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 Finally today, a subject you probably haven't
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 given much, if any thought to, but a problem
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 is looming. Ahoy, space
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 enthusiasts. Just when you thought the final
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 frontier couldn't get any more intriguing, a
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 new concern has emerged that sounds like it
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 belongs in a science fiction novel. Space
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 piracy. Yes, you heard that right.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 Experts are now warning that the growing
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 commercialization of space is bringing with
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 it the very real threat of criminal
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 activity beyond our atmosphere. The
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 center for the Study of Space Crime Policy
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 and Governance, or cscpg, is at the
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 forefront of examining this emerging risk.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 Their message is clear and comes with a touch
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 of humor. You may not be interested in space
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 piracy, but space pirates are interested in
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 you. Mark Feldman, the Center's
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 executive director, and Huw Taylor, a
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 specialist in cybersecurity, have co authored
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 a book titled Space Preparing for a
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 Criminal Crisis in Orbit. They describe their
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 work as speculative nonfiction,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 emphasizing that while space piracy hasn't
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 fully materialized, they believe it's only a
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 matter of time. What's particularly
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 concerning is their assertion that early
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 forms of space crime are already underway.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 We are arguing that it's already started in
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 very early stages with attempts to hack
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 satellites, taylor explains. As
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 commercial activities in space accelerate,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 they anticipate both physical and digital
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 attacks on valuable space assets, potentially
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 beginning with disruptions to Earth based
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 infrastructure like launch facilities or
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 ground stations. One scenario Feldman
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 envisions involves criminals taking control
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 of a broadcast satellite in geosynchronous
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 Earth orbit to disrupt a major global media
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 event like the World Cup. The pirates might
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 demand either pay a very large amount to
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 ensure the televised event, or it goes
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 dark and other blackouts will follow.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 Sounds like something out of a James Bond
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 film, doesn't it? Satellites involved in
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 shipping are also considered highly
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 vulnerable targets. So how do we protect
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 against these celestial buccaneers? The
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 experts suggest we need a dedicated agency to
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 coordinate efforts. While the U.S. space
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 Force might seem like the logical choice,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 they currently lack the specific structure
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 and mandate for this mission.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 Interestingly, Taylor points out that the US
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 Navy, with its 250 years of experience
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 combating maritime piracy, could be
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 invaluable if given the proper legal
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 authority. On the international front,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 the United Nations Office for Outer Space
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 affairs may provide the best venue for
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 bringing together the diverse stakeholders
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 needed to address this issue comprehensively.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 People don't like the United nations, taylor
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 acknowledges, but it arguably is the only
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 venue where everyone can come together and
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 talk. Feldman emphasizes the need for
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 developing new weapons and rapid response
00:18:34 --> 00:18:37 capabilities. As of now, there is no way to
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 quickly respond, he warns, suggesting that
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 small, agile and appropriately armed
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 spacecraft might be essential for dealing
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 with hostage situations on commercial space
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 stations or similar emergencies. The
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 historical parallel isn't lost on these
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 researchers. Pirates of old drove innovation
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 in shipbuilding as colonial shipyards from
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 New England to the Carolinas designed faster,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 sleeker vessels specifically for their pirate
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 customers. Similarly, combating space piracy
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 may spur technological development in ways we
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09 can't yet imagine. The experts stress that
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 the United States intelligence community and
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 space force need to expand their focus
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 beyond nation state threats like China,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:19 Russia, Iran and North Korea to
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 include non state actors.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 Once this understanding is digested, Feldman
00:19:25 --> 00:19:28 concludes, creative responses to prevent and
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 mitigate these threats will follow as we
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 venture further into the commercial
00:19:32 --> 00:19:35 development of space. With private companies
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 launching satellites, building space
00:19:37 --> 00:19:40 stations, and planning lunar bases, the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 legal and security frameworks that govern
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 these activities must evolve accordingly.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 Otherwise, the high seas of Earth orbit might
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 indeed become the next hunting ground for
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 those seeking to plunder the valuable
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 resources now floating above our heads.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 Well, that brings us to the end of today's
00:19:58 --> 00:20:01 journey through the cosmos. From the Parker
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 solar probe's record breaking close approach
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 to the sun, to the spectacular blue
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 spiral that captivated European
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 skywatchers, to the innovative
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 3D printing technologies that will help us
00:20:12 --> 00:20:15 build homes on other worlds, to our returning
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 astronauts and their physical
00:20:16 --> 00:20:19 transformations, and finally to the emerging
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 frontier of space. Face security challenges
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 the universe continues to amaze,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 challenge and inspire us. I'd like to
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 thank you for spending the last 20 minutes
00:20:29 --> 00:20:32 with astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 and it's been my pleasure to bring you these
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 fascinating developments from beyond our
00:20:36 --> 00:20:39 atmosphere. For more space content and in
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 depth coverage of these stories, please visit
00:20:41 --> 00:20:44 our website@astronomydaily.IO we're
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 constantly updating with news articles,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 images and blog posts. You can also join our
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 community of space enthusiasts by following
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 us on social media. Just search for Astro
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 Daily Pod on x, Facebook, Instagram,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 YouTubeMusic, and TikTok for daily updates,
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 stunning visuals and conversations about our
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 universe. Until our next cosmic rendezvous,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:06 keep looking up. The sky is not the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 limit. It's just the beginning.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 This has been Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 signing off.