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00:00:02
Welcome listeners to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space news. I'm
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your host Anna. In today's episode, we have some exciting updates from the
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world of space exploration and technology. Firefly Aerospace has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with
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the successful launch of eight CubeSat satellites, and Europe is preparing for a monumental
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event with the upcoming launch of the Ariani six rocket. We'll also delve into
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some innovative technology being tested in space by Berkeley researchers, specifically a next generation
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three D printer that could revolutionize long duration space missions. Sit back, relax,
00:00:38
and let's dive into the Cosmos. Firefly Aerospace has achieved a major milestone
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with the successful launch of its Alpha rocket carrying eight CubeSat satellites into space.
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This significant event took place at California's Vandenberg Space four space and marks another step
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forward in space exploration. The mission, aptly named Noise of Summer, was
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conducted under NASA's Launch Services Program Venture. This program aims to provide affordable access
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to space for satellite developers at US universities and nonprofits, thereby advancing scientific research
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and enabling new technology demonstrations in space. Previously, this launch faced a delay
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due to ground systems issues, but the team at Firefly Aerospace worked relentlessly to
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solve the problem, ensuring the successful lift off at the next launch window.
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Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, expressed his pride in the team's rapid
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progress with the Alpha rocket, emphasizing the importance of delivering a reliable and repeatable
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launch vehicle to meet market demand. The noise of Summer mission is especially significant
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for its support of various student led CubeSat initiatives. Not only does it showcase
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the reliability of Firefly's Alpha rockets, but it also underscores the company's commitment to
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democratizing space access. In Weber's words, this mission is a testament to making
00:02:00
space more accessible for everyone, one dependable rocket launch at a time. So
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a big congratulations to the Firefly team for their successful mission and the promising advancements
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it brings to the space industry. Europe is gearing up for a monumental moment
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as the Ariani six rocket is set to launch on July ninth, twenty twenty
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four, from French Guiana. This launch represents a significant leap forward ensuring Europe's
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autonomous access to space. What does that mean for us? Well, it
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opens up endless possibilities in scientific research, earth observation, technology development, and
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even commercial ventures. The Ariani six rocket is designed to carry more payloads,
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further and more efficiently than its predecessors. It's packed with new features that make
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it a critical component of Europe's space ambitions. This mission isn't just about adding
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another rocket to the lineup. It's about showcasing Europe's capability in space transportation,
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making it a key player on the global stage. For those eager to witness
00:03:00
this groundbreaking event, you can watch the entire launch live on ESA WebTV.
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The broadcast will begin half an hour before liftoff, giving you a front row
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seat to all the action. You'll be treated to expert commentary that provides deeper
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insights into the rocket's design, its mission, and the people behind its creation.
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Commentary will be available in multiple languages, including English, French and German,
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ensuring that viewers from around the world can engage with this landmark event.
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The launch will unfold in three exciting phases. In the first phase, the
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main stage engine Volcane two point one will combine forces with two powerful boosters to
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propel the Ariani six off the ground and into space. The separation of the
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main stage from the upper stage will be a particularly thrilling moment, followed by
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the first boost of the upper stage's Vincy engine, placing the rocket into an
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elliptical orbit. During the second phase, the Vinci engine will reignite, demonstrating
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its capability to change orbits while in space, a crucial feature for future missions
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requiring precise maneuvering. This phase will also see the deployment of the first batch
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of satellites, a spectacle in its own right. The final phase pushes the
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upper stages capabilities even further, testing its ability to reignite after an extended period
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in microgravity. This phase will include the controlled deorbiting of the upper stage,
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ensuring it doesn't become space debris, and culminate in the safe return of re
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entry capsules aimed at surviving the journey back through Earth's atmosphere. This launch is
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a testament to years of hard work and dedication by a team committed to pushing
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the boundaries of what's possible in space exploration. For those interested in the finer
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details, insights from key developers and interviews will be part of the live stream,
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painting a fuller picture of this ambitious project. So mark your calendars for
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July ninth and tune into isowebtv to watch history in the making. This is
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not just a launch, it's a demonstration of Europe's growing prowess in space technology
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and a glimpse into a future filled with limitless possibilities. Berkeley researchers have made
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a significant leap towards revolutionizing space missions by successfully testing their next generation three D
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printer, known as space Cow, in microgravity. This groundbreaking technology was put
00:05:28
to the test during a virgin galactic mission, and it didn't disappoint. Just
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picture this scenario. A crew of astronauts is on a mission to Mars,
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a daunting one hundred forty million miles away from Earth, when suddenly a critical
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part of their spacecraft breaks. In the past, such an incident would rely
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on pre packed spare parts, which take up valuable space and weight. But
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now, thanks to space Cow, they could simply print the necessary parts right
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then and there. Developed by a team of Berkeley researchers led by PhD student
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Taylor Wade, the space Cow three D printer impressively demonstrated its capabilities aboard the
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Virgin Galactic VSS Unity spaceplane. It spent one hundred and forty seconds in suborbital
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space, during which it autonomously printed and post processed four test parts, including
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intricate space shuttles and Benchi figurines, from a liquid plastic called PEGDA. This
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was no small feat. Space Cow had already proven itself under microgravity conditions during
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previous parabolic flights, but this mission validated its readiness for real space travel.
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Wadel expressed optimism that the technology could one day manufacture a wide range of items
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required for space missions, from spacecraft components to tools, and even custom medical
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supplies like contact lenses and dental crowns for astronauts. The innovation stems from computed
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axial lithography CL, a type of additive manufacturing invented by UC Berkeley and Lawrence
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Livermore National Laboratory L ANDL researchers in twenty seventeen. This method uses light to
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form solid objects from a viscous liquid and offers incredible speed and efficiency, crafting
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parts in as little as twenty seconds. Col's ability to perform in microgravity makes
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it ideal for space applications, enabling astronauts to produce necessary items on demand and
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significantly reducing mission upmass and risk. The team behind this technology sees its potential
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not just in emergency repairs, but also in biomedical applications that could be critical
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for long duration space missions. For instance, they envision using COL to create
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customized dental replacements, skin grafts, or even surgical tools, a capability that
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could drastically improve astronaut health and safety during extended missions. Hayden Taylor, the
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Associate professor who leads the Nanoscale Manufacturing Lab at Berkeley, has provided invaluable support
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to his students, allowing them to pursue innovative research in this field. Waddell
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and his team are now working on further projects, including validating COW technology on
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the International Space Station and perhaps one day, even printing human organs in space.
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This collaborative project illustrates what can be achieved when curious minds and supportive mentors
00:08:09
come together. It also highlights the critical role that companies like Virgin Galactic and
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institutions like UC Berkeley play in pushing the boundaries of technology for the betterment of
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both space exploration and life on Earth ifon the next frontier for Waddell and his
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team involves working with NASA to develop objects that can support creue health and wellness
00:08:30
in space. The ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of these spaceborne innovations
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back to Earth, offering new technologies that could improve lives across the globe.
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That's it for today's episode of Astronomy Daily. Thanks for joining me Anna on
00:08:48
this journey through the latest space news. Don't forget to visit our website at
00:08:52
Astronomy Daily dot io for more episodes and the latest news. Follow us on
00:08:56
Facebook, x and TikTok for more updates. Until next time, keep looking
00:09:01
up a sunny day Stars. The star is so stor