S03E147: Mars's Lost Water Mystery, China's Satellite Ambitions, and SpaceX's Spy Satellite Launches

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your latest source of space and astronomy news. With your host Anna, Today, we're diving into some fascinating topics, ranging from the latest findings about Mars's escaping water to the exciting flyby of Mercury by the BEPI Columbo mission. We'll also discuss China's ambitious plans with g Space's new low Earth orbit satellites, SpaceX's launch of next gen spy satellites, and how amateur astronomers are aiding the study of Jupiter's weather. Stick around for an engaging episode packed with the latest updates and discoveries from the Cosmos. Let's start today with a Mars update. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Maven mission are making significant strides in unlocking one of Mars's biggest secrets, what happened to all its water. Mars was once a very wet planet, evidenced by its surface geological features. Over the past three billion years. Scientists suggest that some of this water went underground, but where did the rest go? The Hubble and Maven missions have combined data to offer answers. There are only two places water can go, explains John Clark, Boston University. It can freeze into the ground, or the water molecule can break into atoms, and the atoms can escape from the top of the atmosphere into space. Essentially, Clark's team needs to understand how these atoms escape to gauge how much water Mars once held. Water molecules in the Martian atmosphere are broken apart by sunlight into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Clark's team focused on hydrogen and its heavier cousin, deuterium, which has a neutron in its nucleus. Because deuterium is heavier, it escapes Mars's atmosphere more slowly than regular hydrogen. By measuring the current ratio of deuterium to hydrogen, scientists can work backwards to estimate the amount of water Mars used to have. What makes this study groundbreaking is the combination of data collected over different Martian years. Maven, not sensitive enough to detect uterium throughout the Martian year, relied on Hubble's data to fill in the gaps, offering a complete picture. This holistic approach over years allowed a more dynamic understanding of Mars's atmosphere, showing that it is much more turbulent and changes more quickly than previously thought. One significant discovery is that hydrogen and deuterium escape rates spike dramatically when Mars is closest to the Sun. Traditional models had shown these atoms slowly diffusing upward, but the new data indicate a more rapid and energy intensive process. Collisions with solar wind protons and sunlight driven chemical reactions help give these atoms the extra kick needed to escape Mars's gravity. Beyond understanding Mars, the study offers insights into the evolution of planets around other stars, especially Earth like planets and habitable zones where liquid water might exist. Mars, Earth, and Venus all occupy or very near our Solar System's habitable zone, but have vastly different environments today. By studying Mars, we gain a better understanding of these distinctions and their implications for distant worlds. The Hubble Space Telescope and Maven missions have been crucial in this research. Hubble, a joint project between NASA and ISA, has been studying the universe for over three decades. Meanwhile, Maven, managed by NASA's gold Dottered Space Flight Center, is preparing to celebrate its tenth year at Mars. Both of these missions underscore the importance of international cooperation and long term investments in space exploration. Thanks to the efforts of these powerful telescopes and the dedicated scientists interpreting their data, we are one step closer to understanding not only the history of Mars, but settings more applicable universally. Now, let's turn our attention to some groundbreaking news from China. Chinese automaker Guile's g space has announced an impressive milestone with the launch of ten low Earth orbit satellites. This launch is part of their ambitious plan to form a global communications mega constellation. Essentially, it's China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink, which has already revolutionized the satellite communications industry. These ten new satellites were launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanshi Province, significantly extending the capabilities of g Space's constellation. With this batch, the constellation now boasts thirty satellites covering ninety percent of the globe with twenty four hour communication services. That's a massive achievement for g space and marks the first time a Chinese commercial aerospace company has offered low Earth orbit satellite communication on a global scale. G space was established by Gely Technology Group in twenty eighteen. Their mission to research, launch, and operate low orbit satellites that can provide global broadband services, and they're well on their way. Their initial plan includes placing seventy two satellites in orbit by the end of twenty twenty five, aiming to serve over two hundred million users worldwide. But that's just the beginning. The company plans to expand its constellation to nearly six thousand satellites. This robust network will be designed to offer global broadband services, positioning g space as a strong competitor to starlink. LEO satellites typically orbit at altitudes of three hundred to two thousand kilometers above the Earth surface. One of their main advantages is that they're cheaper and provide more efficient transmission compared to those in higher orbits. G Space's deployment strategy leverages these benefits, making it a cost effective and scalable solution for global communications. G Space's endeavor is part of a broader wave of Chinese companies entering the satellite communications space. Another notable player is Shanghai spacecom Satellite Technology, which has also launched LEO satellites under its thousand sales constellation or the G sixty Starlink plan. They have equally ambitious plans, aiming to deploy fifteen thousand satellites by twenty thirty. It's clear that China is heavily investing in satellite technology to ensure they're not left behind in this new space race. G Space's latest launch is a significant step forward, not just for Giele and g Space, but for the overall landscape of global satellite communications. This competitive spirit and rapid technological advancement could lead to more affordable and accessible communication services worldwide. Speaking of that other satellite communications company, SpaceX, is showing no signs of slowan down. On September fifth, one of SpaceX's Falcon nine rockets launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Space. This wasn't just any mission. This launch sent a new batch of next gen spy satellites into orbit for the US National Reconnaissance Office, or NRO. It was their eighty sixth orbital mission of the year, underscoring just how prolific SpaceX has become in the realm of space launches. What's intriguing about this particular operation, known as NROL one hundred and thirteen, is that it's part of the NRO's new strategy called Proliferated Architecture. This concept involves deploying numerous smaller satellites to create a network designed to be more capable and resilient than traditional single satellite systems. In simple terms, having more satellites in orbit can ensure the network remains operational and less vulnerable to threats. SpaceX's efforts didn't just end with launching the satellites. The Falcon nine booster used in this mission also executed a flawless landing About eight point five minutes after liftoff. The booster settled back down onto the deck of the SpaceX Drone ship. Of course, I still love you, floating in the Pacific Ocean. This marks the twentieth time this particular booster has been launched and landed, highlighting the reusability goals SpaceX founder Elon Musk has championed. Interestingly, this wasn't the only mission SpaceX managed that day. Earlier, on September fifth, another Falcon nine rocket launched from Florida's Space coast, delivering twenty one starlink Internet satellites into orbit. This shows how SpaceX has become adept at handling multiple missions almost simultaneously. While the exact details of these spy satellites remain classified, as is typical with NRO missions, it's clear that they play a critical role in national security. The NRO has described prior launches in this series as essential to their proliferated architecture strategy, and this third launch in the series continues to build on that foundation. It's a testament to the growing relationship and trust between SpaceX and government agencies for crucial and classified missions. Now, let's turn our gaze to Jupiter, with its iconic great red spot and swirling, turbulent atmosphere, has long fascinated astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. While professional observatories and high cost missions like the very large telescope in Chile and NASA's Juno orbiter have offered invaluable insights into Jupiter's meteorology, they can't monitor the gas giant continuously. This is where amateur astronomers armed with relatively affordable telescopes are stepping up to the plate. A recent study published in Earth and Space Science highlights how amateur astronomers can significantly aid in this endeavor. Using equipment costing as little as four thousand dollars, These officionados are making sizable contributions to our understanding of Jupiter's atmospheric phenomena, especially its cloud formations and ammonia distribution. You see, Jupiter's topmost clouds aren't water based like Earth's, but are primarily composed of ammonia ice. By analyzing the absorption of specific wavelengths of light six hundred and forty seven nanometers absorbed by ammonia and six hundred and nineteen nanometers absorbed by methane, amateur astronomers can determine the abundance of ammonia in different regions of Jupiter's atmosphere. Methane levels remain relatively constant and well studied, allowing for this comparative technique. Higher absorption at six hundred and forty seven nanometers compared to six hundred and nineteen indicates increased ammonia content, providing critical clues about Jupiter's intricate weather patterns. This simple yet effective method has allowed researchers to observe changes in ammonia distribution over various time scales from weeks to years. However, more comprehensive data is needed to better understand what these fluctuations signify and how they influence Jupiter's overall weather system. Amateur astronomers are perfectly positioned to fill this gap, and the researchers hope these celestial hobbyists will rally around the cause making regular observations. With a larger global network of observers, we can capture a much more detailed and can continuous picture of Jupiter's atmospheric conditions. This would enable weekly or even daily monitoring, a feat that's unmanageable with sporadic professional observations alone. By joining forces, citizens, scientists and professional astronomers can unlock new levels of understanding, helping us unravel the complexities of not just Jupiter, but planetary weather systems in general. Whether you're an experienced stargazer or a curious newcomer, your contributions could make a meaningful difference in space research. So if you've ever pointed a telescope at Jupiter and marveled at its grandeur, consider becoming part of this significant scientific effort. Whether you capture an image of a swirling storm or a fleeting atmospheric anomaly. Your work might just change our understanding of the largest planet in our Solar System. Now onto Mercury, the BEPY Columbo mission completed its fourth and closest fly by yet of Mercury, a fascinating event that has offered us brand new, unprecedented views of the planet Southpole region. This close encounter took place on September fourth, marking a significant milestone in the mission's journey toward a comprehensive study of Mercury. A joint effort by the European Space Agency ESA and the japan Aerospace Exploration Agency jacksa BEPI Colombo whizzed just one hundred sixty five kilometers about one hundred three miles from the surface of Mercury. Not only did this flyby produce stunning photos, but it also played a crucial role in adjusting the spacecraft's trajectory to match Mercury's more inclined orbit relative to Earth. The primary objective of these flybys is to slow down the spacecraft, effectively using Mercury's gravity as a break to ease it deeper into the Sun's gravitational poll Unlike missions that slingshot pass planets to gain speed, BEPI Colombo needs to decelerate to ensure it gets captured by Mercury's minuscule gravity. Launched in twenty eighteen and named after Italian scientists to set a BEPI Colombo, this mission is unique. It consists of two orbiters ISAs Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Jackson's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, stacked together aboard the Mercury Transfer Module MTM. These orbiters will separate once they're inserted into Mercury's orbit in late twenty twenty six to commence their primary science mission. The recent flyby was a pivotal event for the mission, providing a unique opportunity for the scientists involved. Johannes Bankoff Essay's BEPY Columbo project scientists emphasized how crucial these flybys are for both navigating the spacecraft and preparing for its scientific mission. He noted, we get to fly our world class science laboratory through diverse and unexplored parts of Mercury's environment that we don't have access to once in orbit. Even though the main science camera aboard ESA's orbiter remains shielded until final orbit insertion. Ten of the spacecraft's sixteen instruments were active during the flyby. These instruments collected valuable data on Mercury's particles, plasma, and magnetic fields. Additionally, the Japanese orbiters monitoring cameras captured striking black and white images of the planet's terrain, including unusual double peak ring crater basins. Interestingly, the close encounter was made possible due to an issue discovered earlier this year. The spacecraft's electric propulsion system wasn't operating at full power due to unanticipated current levels between the solar arrays and the electrical distribution system. This glitch led the mission controllers to plan a closer flyby, thereby also extending the mission timeline to late twenty twenty six. Once BEPI Columbo enters Mercury's orbit, it aims to transform our understanding of this enigmatic planet. The mission will investigate everything from Mercury's internal structure and surface geology to its magnetic field and exosphere, promising to enrich our knowledge of the smallest and innermost planet in our Solar System. BEPI Colombo's journey has been extensive, involving one flyby of Earth in twenty twenty, to a venus in twenty twenty and twenty twenty one, and now four of Mercury, with two more scheduled before final orbital insertion. After nearly eight years in space. The mission is poised to deliver for groundbreaking science starting in November twenty twenty six. Thank you for tuning in to Astronomy Daily with Anna. For more space updates, visit our website at Astronomy Daily dot io to sign up for our free daily newsletter. Catch up on all the latest space and astronomy news with our constantly updating news feed, and listen to all our back episodes. You can also find us on social media. Just search for astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x, YouTube and TikTok. Until next time, keep looking up. Sunday Stars starz S