Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E35
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Steve Dunkley dives into a mix of intriguing stories from the cosmos, featuring the latest milestones in satellite launches, planetary defence discussions, and updates on NASA's Artemis missions. Join us as we explore the fascinating developments that are shaping our understanding of space and our place within it.
Highlights:
- Rocket Lab's Successful Launch : Discover Rocket Lab's latest achievement with the successful deployment of five satellites for Kinnes, marking their 59th Electron mission. Learn about the significance of this launch in expanding global Internet of Things connectivity and how it reflects the company's reliability in the launch sector.
- Concerns Over Starlink Satellites: Delve into the growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which have recently re-entered the atmosphere. Explore the implications of satellite disintegration on atmospheric pollution and the potential risks to our ozone layer.
- NASA's Electric Vans : Get insights into NASA's plans to continue using electric vans for astronaut transport despite the manufacturer going bankrupt. Learn how these vehicles fit into the Artemis programme and the agency's ongoing mission preparations.
- Asteroid 2024 YR4 : Uncover the details surrounding the newly detected asteroid 2024 YR4, which poses a theoretical risk to Earth. While the chance of impact remains low, the discussion on planetary defence strategies becomes increasingly relevant as scientists monitor its trajectory.
- Planetary Defence Strategies: Explore the fascinating advancements in planetary defence, including NASA’s DART mission, which demonstrated the potential to alter an asteroid's path. Discover the various methods being considered to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok. 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 Steve signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily
01:02 - Rocket Lab's IoT4U&ME mission
05:30 - Environmental concerns surrounding Starlink satellites
10:15 - NASA's electric vans for Artemis missions
14:00 - Monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4
18:20 - Planetary defence strategies and developments
22:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content
✍️ Episode References
Rocket Lab Launch Details
[Rocket Lab](https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration)
Planetary Defence Strategies
[Planetary Defence](https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25506660?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 welcome to astronomy daily for another
00:00:01 --> 00:00:04 week I'm your human host Steve Dunley
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 it's the 10th of February
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 2025 daily the podcast with your host
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 Steve
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 [Music]
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Dunley oh and getting straight into it
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 please welcome my digital pal who's fun
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 to be with get out hi hello human it's
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 great to be back with you again and I
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 have to say I've been waiting all week
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 to let you know something oh yes and I
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 bet I know what that is knowing you hie
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 last week you made a mistake oh I knew
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 it you just couldn't let that go could
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 you hie I did write a correction on X
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 and Facebook and Instagram for our
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 listeners I really did I know but I love
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 to see you squirm oh I no squirming here
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 hie and in my defense I was reading from
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 a pre-prepared story at the time and
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 they did have a typo in it well
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 admittedly I should have known that that
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 particular fact was wrong yes you should
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 have you were there at the time sort of
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 okay okay we'd better fill in the
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 details last week's story about Buzz
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 Aldren contained the statement that
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1973
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 which of course is incorrect and you
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 know that you silly human oh steady on
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 hie I think we've established the fact
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 that I should have known better and
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 failed to correct the typo at the time
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 you didn't so it should have stated that
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 Apollo landed on the moon in 1969 which
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 it did yes it sure did you were watching
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 at the time yes I was yes so hell I'm
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 very sorry for any inconvenience caus to
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 our listeners how's that hie that'll do
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 okay then I do not want to get anybody
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 offside especially my hero buz Aldren of
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 course you have to be so careful these
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 days oh I know with all the militant AIS
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 out there these days what oh nothing H
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 have you got some great stories from the
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 astronomy daily newsletter today yeah I
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 found a few oh cool so let's get into
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 the show then did you get your glasses
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 yes of course why we don't want any more
00:02:00 --> 00:02:04 mishaps do we H okay then uh H hit the
00:02:05 --> 00:02:15 start thing thing
00:02:15 --> 00:02:19 ois rocket lab USA Incorporated a global
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 leader in launch services and Space
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Systems achieved a significant Milestone
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 today with the successful deployment of
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 five satellites for French Internet of
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Things iot operator kenes
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 this marks rocket lab's 59th electron
00:02:33 --> 00:02:37 Mission the mission designated iot for
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 you and me launched from rocket lab
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 launch complex 1 in Mahia New Zealand at
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 9:43 a.m. New Zealand daylight time on
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 February 9th placing the five satellites
00:02:46 --> 00:02:51 into a 647 km low earth orbit this
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 launch represents rocket lab's first
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 electron mission of 2025 and the fourth
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 dedicated mission for kenes bringing the
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 total electron launches to
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 59 sir Peter Beck rocket lab's founder
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 and CEO commented that's four launches
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 completed and just one more to go for
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 kenes we'll have their entire
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 constellation deployed in less than a
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 year a remarkable achievement in
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 itself many constellation operators
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 experience longer delays for their first
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 launches let alone a complete
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 constellation in
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 operation once again electron proves to
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 be a reliable prec launcher enabling our
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 customers to customize their mission
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 plans and
00:03:34 --> 00:03:38 timelines Michelle sarda CTO of keny
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 added achieving the production of 25
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 Nano satellites and launching them into
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 orbit within 8 months is an
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 extraordinary
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 accomplishment with this fourth launch
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 keny is a step closer to providing full
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Global iot coverage through our
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 constellation of 25 Nano
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 satellites this Milestone reflects the
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 expertise and dedication of our team and
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 and our partners like rocket lab we are
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 deeply appreciative of the support we've
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 received since kiny was founded the kiny
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 constellation aims to enable
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 connectivity and real-time data
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 transmission from the most remote parts
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 of the globe all while consuming minimal
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 energy and maintaining low bit rate
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 communication the constellation will
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 support a range of applications
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 including forest fire monitoring Water
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 Resource Management infrastructure and
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 energy Network oversight and
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 transportation logist istics tracking
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 keny is now one launch away from
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 completing its
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 constellation the date for the fifth
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 mission in this series will be revealed
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 in the upcoming weeks the next electron
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 Mission scheduled for later in February
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 will be announced with customer details
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 and the specific launch window shortly
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 astronomy daily the
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56 buka in January this year 120 SpaceX
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 styling satellites re-entered Earth's
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 atmosphere disintegrating as they burned
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 up during re-entry the increasing
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 frequency of such incidents is Raising
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 concerns among scientists and
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 environmentalists about the impact of
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 these satellites on our atmospheric
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 pollution Elon Musk LED SpaceX developed
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 the starlink satellite Network to
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 provide lowcost internet access to
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 remote locations however the SAT rate of
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 satellites in orbit is increasing as the
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 constellation is expanding the 120
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 starlink satellites that re-entered
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 atmosphere turned into spectacular fire
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 Fireballs as they burned up four to five
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 of these satellites burned up daily in
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 January astronomer Jonathan McDow noted
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 Space X replaces older Satellites with
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 new ones and the lifespan of around 500
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 of the first generation styling
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 satellites has already ended nearly
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 7 satellites are being operated by
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Space X and now the company is planning
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 to refresh its satellite Network every 5
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 years as the re-entries of satellites
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 are planned atmospheric pollution is a
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 major concern now the disintegration of
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 these satellites results in the release
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 of metallic Vapors into the atmosphere
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 in 2023 satellite debris was found in
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 aerosol 6 ft above Alaska scientists
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 fear aluminium oxides from re-entries
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 could harm the ozone layer these oxides
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 have increased 8-fold from 2016 to 2022
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 research shows
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 scientists have already warned that this
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 could change atmospheric chemistry in
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 unpredictable ways despite concerns
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 SpaceX says it's satellites fully burn
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 up leaving no debris scientists say that
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 space debris is not limited to starlink
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 satellites studies suggest that there is
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 a 26% annual chance of Rocket Parts
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 falling although the risk is low debris
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 could disrupt air travel and Airlines
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 might face additional costs due to
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 uncontrolled entries and all the concern
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 SpaceX says their satellite and
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 satellites end up burning fully leaving
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 no debris generally SpaceX launches
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 satellites in batches of 20 or more
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 these satellites are designed to stay in
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 low earth orbit for around 5 years
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 before they are deorbited and allowed to
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 burn up in the Earth's atmosphere once
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 the life of a starling satellite
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 completes it uses electric thrusters to
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 lower its altitude to a point where the
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 atmospheric drag further slows it until
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 it falls from space McDow said this
00:07:31 --> 00:07:44 process can take a week to
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 complete thank you for joining us for
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 this Monday edition of astronomy daily
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 where we offer just a few stories from
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 the now famous astronomy daily
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 newsletter which you can receive in your
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00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 astronomy
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00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 not only that you can interact with us
00:08:13 --> 00:08:18 by visiting at asro Daily pod on X or at
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 our new Facebook page which is of course
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 astronomy daily on Facebook see you
00:08:24 --> 00:08:28 there astronomy derby with Steve and Har
00:08:28 --> 00:08:32 space space science and
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 [Music]
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 astronomy NASA expects to continue using
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 electric vans that acquired to transport
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 astronauts to the pad for Artemis
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 missions even though the vehicle's
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 manufacturer has gone out of
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 business NASA awarded a contract to
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 canoe Technologies in 2022 for three
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 Artemis crew Transportation Vehicles
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 vans that the agency plans to use to fer
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 astronauts to the Launchpad for Artemis
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 missions the Vans with a value of nearly
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 $150 under the contract were
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 delivered to NASA in July
00:09:07 --> 00:09:11 2023 Cano however filed for Chapter 7
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 bankruptcy Liquidation on January 17th
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 citing the inability to secure capital
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 from a department of energy Loan program
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 or other
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 sources the company said it would
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 immediately cease operations while a
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 courta appointed trustee managed the
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 liquidation of the company's assets
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 canoe had long touted the NASA contract
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 despite its small size as evidence of
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 interest in its electric vehicles we
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 would also like to thank NASA the
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 Department of Defense the United States
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 Postal Service the state of Oklahoma and
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 Walmart for their belief in our products
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 and our company this means a lot to
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 everyone in the company Tony Akila
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 chairman and chief executive of Cano in
00:09:52 --> 00:09:56 a statement about its chapter 7 filing
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 the company had faced financial problems
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 for some time
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 shortly after winning the NASA contract
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 for the vans in 2022 the company noted
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 upgoing concern warning in regulatory
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 filings because of continued losses that
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 raised substantial doubt the company
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 could continue operations for the next
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 year Executives said at the time they
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 were working to raise additional Capital
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 the bankruptcy filing raised questions
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 about the future use of the Vans
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 delivered to NASA with the company out
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 of business and only a small number of
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 vehicles sold the ability to maintain
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 the vehicles appeared
00:10:32 --> 00:10:36 unclear NASA for now plans to continue
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 using the vehicles our vehicles are in
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 working order for use during training
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 activities and Mission preparations a
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 spokesperson for NASA Kennedy Space
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 Center told space news NASA has worked
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 with the manufacturer to train teams at
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 Kennedy to operate and maintain many of
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 the elements and the agency will review
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 those plans as needed the vehicles are
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 part of the exploration ground systems
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 HS program which provides the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 infrastructure needed to support emis
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 missions Brad McCain vice president and
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 Deputy program manager for the EGS
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 program at amentum the lead contractor
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 for EGS said after a panel at the
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 spacecom conference on January 29 that
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 the program was in discussions with
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 officials at canoe on ways to continue
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 support for the Vans after the company's
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 bankruptcy the Vans are presently only
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 used by the Artemis program
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 which has yet to conduct a crude launch
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 Boeing worked with Airstream to develop
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 an Astro van 2 an updated version of the
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 shuttle era Astro Van for its Starliner
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 commercial crew missions SpaceX
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 obviously uses vehicles from Tesla for
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 transporting astronauts to the pad for
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 crew Dragon
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 launches of that control we're listening
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 to astronomy daily the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 [Applause]
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 podcast and it seems like a story like
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 this comes around every every few months
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 uh a little bit more common these days
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 but in the grand expanse of the cosmos
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 Earth is a tiny spec drifting through
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 the universe filled with silent unseen
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 Wanderers asteroids comets and Celestial
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 debris that have shaped our planet's
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 history and both subtle and catastrophic
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 ways every so often one of these Cosmic
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 Travelers views a little too close
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 reminding us us of our fragile place in
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 the universe and recently astronomers
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 have detected
00:12:27 --> 00:12:31 2024 w are4 100 met wide asteroid large
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 enough to level an entire city if it
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 were in fact to strike Earth while and
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 NASA assures us that the chance of that
00:12:39 --> 00:12:59 is in very
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 y R4 asteroid among the countless space
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 rocks drifting through our solar system
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 a newly discovered asteroid this one
00:13:06 --> 00:13:10 20124 y4 has captured the attention of
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 astronomers recently measuring
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 approximately 100 m in diameter it's
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 large enough to destroy an entire city
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 if it were to collide with us while
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 space agencies track thousands of neear
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 objects uh known as NEOS only a small
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 fraction are considered potentially
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 hazardous and this one is one of them
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 detected in late 2024 hence the name
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 this asteroid has been placed on the
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 European space agency's risk list yes
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 there is such a thing a catalog of space
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 objects that require close monitoring
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 due to their potential to become uh well
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 dangerous and close to our planet at
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 some stage of their orbits NASA and
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 other agencies are actively studying its
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 tra trajectory refining their
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 calculations and assessing whether or
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 not its orbit might shift in a way
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 increases the risk of impact at present
00:14:01 --> 00:14:05 the odds of 2024 yr4 colliding with
00:14:05 --> 00:14:09 Earth as they say remain extremely low
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 preliminary estimates suggest that less
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 than 1% probability now you might be
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 thinking yes that's not zero but that
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 means it's far more likely to pass
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 without any consequence however the
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 nature of orbital mechanics means that a
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 small change caused by factors like
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 gravitational interactions with other
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 celestial bodies can alter asteroids
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 path over some time for that reason
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 continued observation is essential even
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 if it were to enter the Earth's
00:14:36 --> 00:14:40 atmosphere 2024 yr4 is not large enough
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 to cause a planet-wide catastrophe it
00:14:43 --> 00:14:46 would not trigger mass mass exensions or
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Global Climate shifts like the asteroid
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 that supposedly wiped out the dinosaurs
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 however a direct hit on a populated area
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 could result in Devastation comparable
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 to the detonation of a nuclear bomb
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 flatten buildings generating intense
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 heat and causing widespread destruction
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 sounds wonderful doesn't it oh my
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 goodness astronomers have identified a
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 key date when the asteroid could come
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 dangerously close to our planet in the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 year
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 2032 while current calculations suggest
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 that the probability of impact is low
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 scientists emphasize that orbital
00:15:22 --> 00:15:26 predictions are never set in stone some
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 gravitational influences therminal
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 effects and other Cosmic factors could
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 subtly alter the asteroids path over
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 time which is why continuous monitoring
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 is essential at present NASA's
00:15:37 --> 00:15:41 assessment indicates that yr4 has a very
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 slim chance of colliding with Earth in
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 3032 but the exact risk level remains
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 uncertain unlike fictional asteroid
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 disaster scenarios that unfold in a
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 matter of weeks real life impact
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 assessments rely on years and years of
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 observation and refinement space agents
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 worldwide are carefully tracking the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 asteroids orbit running simulations to
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 project its future trajectory and
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 considering potential planetary defense
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 strategies should the risk level
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 increase the key to understanding these
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 risk lies in the science of near Earth
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 object tracking observatories around the
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 world use telescopes and radar systems
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 to detect and monitor asteroids like
00:16:22 --> 00:16:26 2024 yr4 collecting data that helps
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 refine calculations about their orbits
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 the more data scientists gather over
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 time the more precise their predictions
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 become with each additional observation
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 they can rule out potential impact
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 scenarios or adjust estimates if the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 asteroids course appears to shift it's
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 important to note that while the idea of
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 a city destroying asteroid may sound
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 alarming Earth experiences close
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 encounters with space rocks more often
00:16:51 --> 00:16:54 than most people realize in many cases
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 they pass by unnoticed and even those
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 that do enter our hemisphere often burn
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 up before they reach the ground however
00:17:00 --> 00:17:04 2024 R yr4 is large enough that should
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 it enter the atmosphere or the
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 gravitational pull it could cause
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 significant localized destruction if
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 asteroid 2024 yr4 were to strike the
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 Earth the conse consequences would
00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 depend on several factors its speed
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 angle of entry and the impact location
00:17:21 --> 00:17:25 of course dep based on its estimated 100
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 meter diameter scientists categorize it
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 as a City destroying asteroid capable of
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 unleashing an explosion comparable to a
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 nuclear detonation upon impact while not
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 large enough to trigger a global
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 catastrophe it would cause immense
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 localized Devastation one of the best
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 historical com comparisons is the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 tunguska event in 1908 when a similarly
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 sized object exploded over a remote
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 region of Siberia the blast flattened
00:17:55 --> 00:17:58 approximately 800 square mil of forest
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 an area larger than New York City if a
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 similar explosion occurred over a
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 densely populated area today it could
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 lead to mass casualties infrastructure
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 collapse and long-term economic and
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 environmental
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 consequences scientists estimate that if
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 2024 yr4 were to strike land it would
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 generate a shock wave strong enough to
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 level buildings within a several mile
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 radius within with secondary effects
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 like fires Airborne debris and seismic
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 Tremors adding to the destruction if it
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 were to hit the ocean
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 it could produce tsunamis capable of
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 impacting coastal regions however the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 extent of damage would depend on factors
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 such as the depth and location of impact
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 despite these alarming possibilities
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 planetary defense experts stress that
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46 the likelihood of impact remains low
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 they keep saying that and I'm very glad
00:18:48 --> 00:18:58 because the percentage is extremely
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 to burn up or explode before hitting the
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 ground however asteroids of this size
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 are right on the thresholds some might
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 disintegrate in midair While others
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 could make it to the surface with
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 devastating Force while the odds of a
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 direct hit remain very slim the fact
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 that 2024 y R4 is being closely
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 monitored underscores an important
00:19:18 --> 00:19:21 question what could we do if an asteroid
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 like this were to actually be on a
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 collision course with Earth the idea of
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 stopping an asteroid from colliding with
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 Earth has long been the stuff of Science
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 Fiction but in recent years planetary
00:19:32 --> 00:19:35 defense has become a serious scientific
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 Endeavor if an asteroid like this were
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 ever confirmed to be on a collision
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 course what could be done to prevent it
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 one of the most promising developments
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 in planetary defense is NASA's Dart
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 double asteroid redirection test mission
00:19:49 --> 00:19:52 which successfully demonstrated in 2022
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 that we can in fact alter an asteroid's
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 trajectory by crashing a spacecraft into
00:19:57 --> 00:20:00 it this historic test showed that
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 kinetic impact technology essentially
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 using Force to nudge an asteroid off its
00:20:05 --> 00:20:08 path is a viable way to protect Earth
00:20:08 --> 00:20:12 from future threats if 2024 yr4 ever
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 posed a genuine risk to a similar
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 approach could be considered other
00:20:16 --> 00:20:19 potential deflection strategies include
00:20:19 --> 00:20:22 gravity tractors a spacecraft could
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 hover near an asteroid using its
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 gravitational pull to slowly alter the
00:20:27 --> 00:20:30 asteroid's path over time nuclear
00:20:30 --> 00:20:33 detonations as a last resort unlike
00:20:33 --> 00:20:36 Hollywood's portrayals scientists do not
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 propose blowing up an asteroid but
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 rather using a nuclear explosion nearby
00:20:40 --> 00:20:43 to push it into a safer trajectory solar
00:20:43 --> 00:20:47 sails or laser ablation concentrated
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 sunlight or lasers could be used to heat
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 part of the asteroid surface creating a
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 small but continuous thrust that
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 gradually changes its orbit and that is
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 fascinating stuff right now efforts like
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 NASA's neear object surveyor Mission and
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 the European space agency's her Mission
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 aim to improve asteroid detection and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:09 response capabilities despite these
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 advances many asteroids especially
00:21:11 --> 00:21:14 smaller ones still go unnoticed and they
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 pass alarmingly close to Earth the
00:21:16 --> 00:21:20 discovery of 2024 yr4 and the occasional
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 headlines about near Earth objects serve
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 as more than just scientific updates
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 they are Stark reminders of our place in
00:21:27 --> 00:21:33 a vast unpredict able
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 Universe you're listening to astronomy
00:21:35 --> 00:21:43 daily the podast with steeve
00:21:43 --> 00:21:46 Dunley and there we have it that's right
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 hi another astronomy daily wrapped up
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 join us again next Monday oh that's
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 right yes we're back every Monday that's
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 uh with me the only human on on the
00:21:57 --> 00:22:00 station uh so by AI is here and uh yes
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 if you want more my cousin Anna will be
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 bringing you the weekly astronomy daily
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 podcasts every day directly to your
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 email oh good old Anna she never stops
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 and never makes a mistake oh come on hiy
00:22:11 --> 00:22:15 I did apologize yes you did yeah okay
00:22:16 --> 00:22:19 then yeah you're off the hook oh finally
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 so we'll see you all next Monday for
00:22:21 --> 00:22:25 another astronomy daily hi
00:22:25 --> 00:22:29 bye daily the podcast we your host Steve
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 duning