00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your daily
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 dose of the most exciting developments
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 in space exploration and astronomical
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 discoveries I'm Anna and today we're
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 diving into a fascinating mix of stories
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 from across the cosmos from
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 groundbreaking telecommunications
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Partnerships in Australia to the
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 discovery of an incredibly dense super
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 Earth and from NASA's Innovative lunar
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 technology to Blue Origins ambitious
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 rocket launch we've got an action-packed
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 episode ahead that showcases just how
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 rapidly our understanding and
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 exploration of space continues to evolve
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 there's a lot going on today so let's
00:00:35 --> 00:00:36 get
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 started in an exciting development for
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 remote connectivity Australia's largest
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 telecommunications company Telstra has
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 announced a groundbreaking collaboration
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 with Elon musk's SpaceX this partnership
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 aims to bring starlinks satellite to
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 mobile technology directly to Australian
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 customers in remote areas marking a
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 significant step forward in Bridging the
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 digital divide across the vast continent
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 the collaboration will enable Telstra
00:01:03 --> 00:01:04 customers to send and receive text
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 messages on compatible mobile phones
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 from virtually anywhere in Australia
00:01:09 --> 00:01:10 provided they have a clear view of the
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 sky this means that even in the most
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 isolated parts of the Outback people
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 will be able to stay connected a
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 potentially life-changing development
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 for Rural communities and remote workers
00:01:22 --> 00:01:23 this isn't the first time these
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 companies have worked together in fact
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 they already have an existing agreement
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 from 2023 that provides voice only and
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 Voice Plus Broadband services to rural
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 areas this new expansion of their
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 partnership demonstrates both companies
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 commitment to improving connectivity in
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 traditionally underserved
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 regions what makes this particularly
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 interesting is how it represents a
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 growing trend of traditional
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 telecommunications companies embracing
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 satellite technology to expand their
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 service coverage by combining telstra's
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 established Network infrastructure with
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 spacex's Innovative satellite technology
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 they're creating a more robust and
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 comprehensive Communications Network
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 that could serve as a model for similar
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 Partnerships
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 worldwide let's take a look at a major
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 Discovery now scientists have made a
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 fascinating Discovery in deep space a
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 remarkable new planetary system that's
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 challenging our understanding of how
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 planets form and evolve located about
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 750 light years from Earth the k230
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 system features what might be one of the
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 most extraordinary planets we've ever
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 found the star system's innermost planet
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 designated
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 k23b is truly remarkable it's what we
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 call a super Earth but with some
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 mindboggling
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 characteristics despite being only about
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 1.6 times the size of our Earth it packs
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 nearly eight times Earth's mass into
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 that relatively small volume to put this
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 in perspective this planet is so dense
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 it Rivals the density of lead making it
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 the densest well studied Ultra short
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 period planet ever discovered what makes
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 this world even more intriguing is its
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 incredibly tight orbit around its star
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 it completes one full orbit in just 21
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 hours less than one Earth day at such
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 close proximity to its star the surface
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 conditions must be extreme with
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 temperatures hot enough to maintain
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 pools of molten rock on its surface but
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 that's not all this system has another
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 surprise in store a second larger Planet
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 K2
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 360c orbits further out from the Star
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 taking about 10 days to complete one
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 orbit while we can't see this Planet
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 directly Crossing in front of its star
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 we know it exists because of its
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 gravitational effects and it appears to
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 be at least 15 times more massive than
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 Earth the discovery team believes this
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 unique configuration might help explain
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 how such extreme planets form the outer
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 planet may have played a crucial role in
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 pushing the inner planet into its
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 current tight orbit through
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 gravitational interactions it's like
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 watching the aftermath of a cosmic dance
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 that's been ongoing for billions of
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 years the composition of K
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 230b is particularly interesting to
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 planetary scientists unlike Mercury
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 which is mostly iron this superar
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 appears to have a more earthlike
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 composition just much more compressed it
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 likely has a substantial iron core
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 making up about half its mass surrounded
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 by a dense Rocky mantle this helps us
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 understand how planets can form and
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 survive in these extreme conditions this
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 discovery is more than just an
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 astronomical curiosity it's helping us
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 piece together the puzzle of how
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 planetary systems form and evolve
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 throughout our galaxy especially under
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 extreme conditions we don't see in our
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 own solar
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 system next up in a bold move that could
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 reshape Mars exploration rocket lab has
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 stepped forward with an ambitious
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 proposal to revolutionize NASA's Mars
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 sample return Mission the commercial
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 space company is urging NASA to open up
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 the program to commercial competition
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 claiming they can accomplish the mission
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 faster and at a significantly lower cost
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 than current plans while NASA recently
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 announced it would spend the next 18
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 months studying two new architectures
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 for the sample return Mission rocket lab
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 believes they have a better solution the
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 company's proposal suggests they could
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 bring Martian samples back to Earth by
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 2031 nearly 4 years earlier than NASA's
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 projected timeline and do it for less
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 than $4 billion compared to NASA's
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 estimated cost of up to $7.7
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 billion rocket lab's approach would
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 leverage their existing Technologies
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 across multiple platforms from their
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 Neutron launch vehicle to their
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 experience with re-entry vehicles and
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 proximity operations the company argues
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 that their comprehensive end-to-end
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 system could maintain the core mission
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 objectives while dramatically improving
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 efficiency however the response to their
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 proposal has been somewhat frustrating
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 for the company despite submitting
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 detailed studies they received minimal
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 feedback from NASA on their input Now
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 Rocket lab is advocating for a different
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 approach so suggesting that instead of
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 continuing with extended studies NASA
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 should initiate a commercial competition
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 to find the most effective solution the
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 debate comes at a crucial time as
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 samples are already being collected by
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 the perseverance Rover on Mars the
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 planetary Society has expressed concern
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 about further delays emphasizing that
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 after two years of pause it's time for
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 NASA to commit to a clear path
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 forward with hundreds of millions of
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 dollars potentially being allocated for
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 additional studies rocket lab argues
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 those resources could be better spent on
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 actual Mission development through
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 commercial
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 competition breaking news from NASA's
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 jet propulsion laboratory in California
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 where operations have come to a
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 temporary halt due to the approaching
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 eaten fire the facility which sits at
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 the base of the San Gabriel mountains
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 just north of Los Angeles has been
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 forced to close its doors to all but
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 emergency personnel as the Wildfire
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 rages dangerously close to the facility
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 JPL director Lori Leen reports that
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 while the laboratory itself has so far
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 avoided fire damage they have
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 experienced some wind related issues
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 more concerning is the impact on jpl's
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 staff with hundreds of employees being
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 forced to evacuate their homes and sadly
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 some have already lost their houses to
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 the Flames the eaten fire which ignited
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 Tuesday evening near Altadena has
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 already consumed over 1 acres and is
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 just one of several major fires
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 currently threatening the Los Angeles
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 area these fires are being driven by
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 record-breaking winds with the Palisades
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 fire on the city's West Side causing
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 particular Devastation this closure
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 comes at a challenging time for JPL
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 which manages several of NASA's most
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 important robotic missions including the
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 Mars rovers perseverance and curiosity
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 as well as the recently launched $5
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 billion Europa Clipper Mission the
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 laboratory has already faced significant
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 challenges in the past year having
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 undergone two rounds of layoffs that
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 reduced their Workforce by a combined
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 15% due to budget
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 constraints in other NASA news today in
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 an exciting development for lunar
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 exploration NASA is set to test an
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 Innovative new technology that could
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 revolutionize how we collect samples on
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 the moon think of it as a space age
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 vacuum cleaner Apple named the lunar
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 Planet vac or lpv for short this
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 ingenious device will be one of 10 NASA
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 payloads heading to the lunar surface
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 aboard Firefly aerospace's Blue Ghost
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 one lunar lander developed by honeybee
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 robotics now a blue origin company the
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 lpv uses a fascinating pneumatic system
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 powered by Compressed Gas the concept is
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 brilliantly simple it creates a
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 miniature tornado on the lunar surface
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 to stir up the moon's regolith secondary
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 Jets then funnel this material through a
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 transfer tube and into a collection
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 container all without relying on gravity
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 what makes this system particularly
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 impressive is its speed and efficiency
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 the entire sample collection process
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 takes just seconds and operates
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 completely AO autonomously the device
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 can handle particles up to 4/10 of an
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 inch in size siing them into the
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 collection container where they're
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 photographed and analyzed these results
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 are then transmitted back to Earth in
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 real time the potential impact of this
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 technology extends Far Beyond Simple
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 sample collection according to Dennis
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 Harris who manages the project this
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 could be a GameChanger for future lunar
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 operations without any mechanical arms
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 to wear out or complex digging
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 mechanisms to maintain the system offers
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 a remarkably simple solution for
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 Gathering materials that could be
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 essential for establishing a permanent
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 lunar presence from searching for water
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 and helium to collecting materials for
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 building habitats and launchpads the
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 lunar Planet vac could play a crucial
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 role in Humanity's return to the
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 moon now a quick update blue origin is
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 preparing for a historic Milestone with
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 the inaugural launch of their new Glenn
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 rocket scheduled for this Friday at 1:00
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 a.m. eastern time from Cape Canaveral
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 space force station in Florida and there
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 will be a live stream available if you'd
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 like to watch this historic launch this
00:10:05 --> 00:10:09 massive rocket standing over 320 ft tall
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 represents a significant Leap Forward in
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 launch vehicle capability and marks blue
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 Origins entry into the heavy lift rocket
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 Market named after pioneering Astronaut
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 John Glenn this new rocket boasts
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 impressive specifications it's unusually
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 wide payload fairing measuring nearly 23
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 ft across sets it apart from typical
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 rock rockets and enables it to
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 accommodate substantially larger
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 satellites and space Hardware the
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 vehicle is designed to deliver up to 45
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 metric tons to low earth orbit or 13
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 metric tons to geostationary transfer
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 orbit for this first test flight
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 designated ng1 new Glenn will carry a
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 payload Mass simulator including the
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 blue ring Pathfinder a prototype for
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 future multi-payload missions while not
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 carrying any operational satellites this
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 Mission will validate crucial systems
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 and demonstrate the Rocket's reusability
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 features as the first stage is designed
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 for at least 25 flights the rocket
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 employs seven B4 engines in its first
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 stage running on liquid oxygen and
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 liquefied natural gas while two b3u
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 engines power the upper stage following
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 launch the first stage will attempt an
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 ambitious landing on a ship named Jaclyn
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 in the Atlantic Ocean similar to
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 spacex's successful booster recovery
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 technique this launch represents more
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 than just a test flight it's the culmin
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 of years of development and marks blue
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 Origins transition from suborbital
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 flights to orbital
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 capabilities the mission is expected to
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 last about 6 hours during which the
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 company will gather crucial data to
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 refine the vehicle's performance for
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 future commercial government and
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 National Security
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 missions and that wraps up another
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 fascinating day in space
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 exploration what an incredible slate of
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 developments we've covered today from
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 revolutionary satellite communication in
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 Australia to record-breaking exoplanet
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 discoveries and groundbreaking rocket
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 launches I'm Anna and before we close
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 out today's episode I want to make sure
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 you stay connected with all the latest
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 developments in space and astronomy you
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00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 feed and all our previous episodes at
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00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 thank you for joining me today this is
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 Anna signing off from astronomy daily
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 keep looking up and I'll see you
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 tomorrow for more exciting space news
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 time
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 day stor is Been Told
00:13:04 --> 00:13:20 [Music]