In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna guides you through a series of captivating cosmic revelations that are reshaping our understanding of the universe. From the mysterious origins of life contained within meteoroids to significant leadership changes aboard the International Space Station, this episode is packed with insights that will spark your curiosity about space.
Highlights:
- The Mystery of Missing Life-Bearing Meteoroids: Join us as we explore a groundbreaking study that uncovers why carbon-rich meteoroids, believed to contain essential building blocks for life, rarely make it to Earth. Researchers have identified a two-step filtering process that could explain this puzzling phenomenon, shedding light on the potential origins of life on our planet.
- A Historic Command Change on the ISS: Witness a moment of international cooperation as Russian cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin hands over command of the International Space Station to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi. This transition highlights the spirit of collaboration that defines the ISS program, even amidst geopolitical tensions.
- The Ghostly Galaxy FCC224: Delve into the discovery of FCC224, a dwarf galaxy that appears to be missing dark matter. This finding challenges current models of galaxy formation and suggests that there may be a previously unrecognized class of dark matter-deficient galaxies scattered throughout the universe.
- Nuclear Propulsion to Titan: Learn about the ambitious plans for a crewed mission to Saturn's moon Titan, powered by nuclear propulsion technology. Researchers are exploring various propulsion systems that could make this journey feasible, potentially paving the way for humanity's exploration of this intriguing moon.
- The Astronaut Controversy: Unpack the recent debate surrounding the definition of an astronaut sparked by Blue Origin's all-female crew flight. As the boundaries of space travel expand, we examine what it truly means to be an astronaut in this new era of commercial spaceflight.
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, 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 - The mystery of missing life-bearing meteoroids
10:30 - Historic command change on the ISS
17:00 - The ghostly galaxy FCC224
22:15 - Nuclear propulsion to Titan
27:30 - The astronaut controversy
✍️ Episode References
Meteoroids Study
[Paris Observatory]( https://www.obspm.fr/ (https://www.obspm.fr/) )
International Space Station Command Handover
[NASA ISS]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html) )
Ghostly Galaxy Research
[Swinburne University]( https://www.swinburne.edu.au/ (https://www.swinburne.edu.au/) )
Nuclear Propulsion Concepts
[Explore Titan]( https://www.exploretitan.org/ (https://www.exploretitan.org/) )
Astronaut Definition Debate
[FAA](https://www.faa.gov/
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26691328?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 your premier source for the latest
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 developments across the vast frontier of
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 space and astronomy news I'm Anna your
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 guide through the cosmos today as we
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 journey through some truly remarkable
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 stories that have emerged in recent
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 weeks From the mysterious origins of
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 life hidden within meteoroids that never
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 reach our planet to a significant
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 leadership change aboard the
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 International Space Station we have a
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 stellar lineup of stories to explore
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 together We'll also examine a ghostly
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32 galaxy that's challenging our
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 understanding of dark matter Consider
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 how nuclear propulsion might one day
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 take humans to Saturn's intriguing moon
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 Titan And wade into a surprising
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 controversy about what truly makes
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 someone an astronaut So settle in as we
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 prepare to launch into today's cosmic
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 discoveries and debates that are shaping
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 our understanding of the universe around
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 us A fascinating new study has
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 potentially solved a long-standing
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 mystery in planetary science Why
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 meteoroids that are most likely to
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 contain the building blocks of life so
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 rarely make it to Earth's surface For
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 decades scientists have been puzzled by
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 this discrepancy Models suggest that
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 over half of all meteoroids in our solar
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 system are carbonri Yet these
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 carbonatous meteorites make up only
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 about 4% of what we find on the ground
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 These carbonri meteorites are
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 particularly valuable to scientists
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 because they contain water organic
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 molecules and even amino acids
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 potentially crucial ingredients for the
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 emergence of life on early Earth But
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 their scarcity in our meteorite
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 collections has left us with an
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 incomplete picture of what's actually
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 out there in space and how life's
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 building blocks may have arrived on our
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 planet After analyzing nearly 8
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 fireball events from 39 countries
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 researchers now believe they've
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 identified a two-step filtering process
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 that explains this mystery
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 First many carbonatous meteoroids are
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 essentially destroyed before they ever
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 reach Earth As their orbits bring them
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 close to the sun they experience extreme
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 thermal stress from repeated heating and
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 cooling cycles which weakens the
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 material and causes it to break apart in
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 space Then comes the second filter
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 Earth's atmosphere Any carbon-rich
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 meteoroids already weakened by solar
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 heating are far less likely to survive
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 the intense forces of atmospheric entry
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 The data shows that compact
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 high-strength meteoroids that have been
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 baked in orbit have a much better chance
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 of surviving and landing intact on
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 Earth's surface Lead author Patrick
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 Scher an astronomer at the Paris
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 Observatory explains that this filtering
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 process means what we recover on Earth
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 is not representative of what's actually
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 out there in space Some meteoroids are
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 especially fragile particularly those
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 formed when large asteroids pass close
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 to planets and are torn apart by tidal
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 forces The implications of these
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 findings extend beyond mere statistics
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 If most carbon rich meteoroids are being
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 destroyed before reaching the ground we
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 may be missing crucial pieces of the
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 puzzle regarding how water volatiles and
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 amino acids key ingredients for life
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 arrived on early Earth This research
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 could also influence future space
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 missions targeting asteroids especially
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 those involving sample return
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 Understanding what gets filtered out and
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 why is key to reconstructing our solar
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 systems history and the conditions that
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 made life possible It also has relevance
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 for planetary defense since
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 understanding the fragility of different
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 types of meteoroids helps refine models
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 for assessing potential threats from
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 space Thanks to worldwide fireball
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 networks and large-scale observational
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 data researchers are beginning to fill
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 in these gaps revealing how cosmic
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 forces shape not just our skies but
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 perhaps even the very origins of life
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 itself In a symbolic ceremony aboard the
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 International Space Station earlier this
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 week Russian cosminaut Alexechin
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 transferred command to Japanese
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 astronaut Takuya Onishi marking a
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 significant moment in space diplomacy
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 and cooperation Take care of our station
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 Ochinan told Onishi as he handed over
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 the symbolic key to the ISS It's our
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 everything The heartfelt sentiment
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 underscores the deep connection
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 astronauts develop with the orbiting
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 laboratory that serves as their home
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 during long duration missions Onishi
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 responded with equal reverence saying
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 "It's a great honor for me to accept the
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 command of the ISS and I feel so special
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 that I am taking over the command from
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 you." After his brief remarks the two
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 men embraced while the rest of the crew
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 applauded the transition This handover
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 ceremony represents one of the final
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 orbital events for Ovchin who alongside
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 fellow cosminaut Ivon Vagner and NASA
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 astronaut Don Pettit has been aboard the
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 station since September 11th of last
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 year The trio is scheduled to depart the
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 station tomorrow at 5:57 p.m Eastern
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 time Their undocking will officially
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 mark the end of expedition 72 commanded
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 by Ovin and the beginning of expedition
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 73 under Onishi's leadership If all
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 proceeds according to plan the Soyu
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 spacecraft carrying the three returning
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 crew members will touch down on the step
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 of Kazakhstan at approximately 9:20 p.m
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Eastern time This moment highlights the
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 ongoing international collaboration that
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 has defined the ISS program for over two
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 decades Despite geopolitical tensions on
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 Earth the space station continues to
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 serve as a remarkable example of how
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 nations can work together in the pursuit
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 of scientific advancement and space
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 exploration The leadership transition
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 from a Russian cosminaut to a Japanese
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 astronaut also represents the diverse
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 international partnership that maintains
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 and operates the ISS with participation
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 from the United States Russia Japan
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 Europe and Canada continuing to
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 demonstrate that space remains a domain
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 where cooperation transcends earthly
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 boundaries You probably know we love a
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 good mystery here on Astronomy Daily
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 Well here's today's Astronomers have
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 stumbled upon yet another cosmic oddity
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 that's challenging our fundamental
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 understanding of the universe A ghostly
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 galaxy designated FCC 224 appears to be
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 missing something
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 crucial Dark matter This peculiar
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 finding is leaving scientists scratching
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 their heads Dark matter that invisible
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 substance thought to make up roughly 85%
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 of all matter in the universe provides
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 the gravitational scaffolding that
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 allows galaxies to form and grow Finding
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 a galaxy without it is like discovering
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 a shadow without an object casting it It
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 simply shouldn't exist according to our
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 current understanding of cosmic form FCC
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 224 isn't the first of these mysterious
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 objects but it's adding important pieces
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 to an increasingly complex puzzle
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 Located on the fringes of the Forax
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 cluster about 65 million lightyears from
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 Earth this dwarf galaxy possesses a
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 dozen luminous tightly bound star
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 clusters An unusually rich population
00:07:00 --> 00:07:04 for its modest size Maria Buzzo a
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 doctoral candidate at Swinburn
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 University of Technology who led one of
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 the studies on this enigmatic object
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 puts it bluntly No existing galaxy
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 formation model within our standard
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 cosmological paradigm can currently
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 explain how this galaxy came to be Her
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 team used data from the KEK Observatory
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 in Hawaii to track the movement of star
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 clusters within FCC
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 224 What they found was revealing These
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 clusters move surprisingly slowly a
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 telltale sign that the galaxy lacks the
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 strong gravitational pull that would be
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 expected if dark matter were present
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 What makes this discovery particularly
00:07:40 --> 00:07:44 intriguing is that FCC 224 occupies a
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 completely different cosmic neighborhood
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 than other known dark matter deficient
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 galaxies This suggests these ghostly
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 objects might not be isolated anomalies
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 but could represent a previously
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 unrecognized class of dwarf galaxies
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 scattered throughout the universe
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 Another research team led by astronomer
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Yim Tang at the University of California
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 Santa Cruz has proposed a potential
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 explanation They suggest FCC 224 could
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 have formed from a high velocity
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 collision of gas-rich galaxies In such a
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 violent event the gas would separate
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 from the dark matter with subsequent
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 star formation occurring in the expelled
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 gas creating a dark matter-free galaxy
00:08:24 --> 00:08:28 Tang's team believes FCC 224 likely has
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 a twin galaxy possibly the nearby FCC
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 240 which appears to have the same size
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 shape and
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 orientation If confirmed this would
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 provide crucial evidence supporting the
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 collision scenario
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 Alternatively FCC 224 could result from
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 a chaotic high energy environment where
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 intense star formation from over massive
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 star clusters actually expelled dark
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 matter from the galaxy a process that
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 challenges conventional astrophysical
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 models FCC 224 serves as a crucial data
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 point in our effort to identify and
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 study other dark matter deficient
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 galaxies Buzzo explains "By expanding
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 the sample size we can refine our
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 understanding of these rare galaxies and
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 of the role of dark matter in dwarf
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 galaxy formation These ghost galaxies
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 are forcing astronomers to reconsider
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 longheld theories about galaxy formation
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 and the nature of dark matter itself As
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 our observational technology improves
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 and more examples are discovered we may
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 need to fundamentally rethink how
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 galaxies can form and evolve in our
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 universe The mystery of FCC
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 224 reminds us that despite all we've
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 learned about the cosmos the universe
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 still holds profound secrets waiting to
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 be uncovered Each anomalous discovery
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 takes us one step closer to a more
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 complete understanding of the cosmic
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 tapestry that surrounds
00:09:51 --> 00:09:55 us Next in today's story roster Saturn's
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 largest moon Titan has captivated
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 scientists since the Pioneer 11 probe
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 first gave us a close look in 1979 With
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 each subsequent mission from the Voyager
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 probes to the Cassini Hygens mission the
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 moon has only become more intriguing
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 Titan stands as the only celestial body
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 besides Earth with a thick nitrogen-rich
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 atmosphere And remarkably it features a
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 methanogenic cycle similar to Earth's
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 water cycle
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 These unique characteristics along with
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Titan's rich prebiotic environment and
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 complex organic chemistry have fueled
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 speculation that life might exist there
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 possibly in the form of simple organisms
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 dwelling within its vast methane lakes
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 This potential for discovery is what's
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 driving NASA's development of the
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 Dragonfly mission a nuclearpowered
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 quadcopter scheduled to begin exploring
00:10:43 --> 00:10:47 Titan's atmosphere and surface in 2034
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 But what about sending humans to this
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 distant moon according to a recent study
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 by the nonprofit organization Explore
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 Titan a nuclear fision propulsion
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 spacecraft could make the first crude
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 mission to the outer solar system a
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 reality The research conducted by
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 William O'Hara and Marcos Fernandez Tous
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 was presented at the 56th Lunar
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 Planetary Science Conference earlier
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 this year The challenge is formidable
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 While NASA has been working toward
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 sending humans beyond low Earth orbit
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 since 2005 the distance to Titan dwarfs
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 anything we've attempted before At
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 approximately 8.5 astronomical units
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 from Earth compared to Mars at just 0.5
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 AU transit times would need to be
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 dramatically reduced to protect
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 astronauts from extended exposure to
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 microgravity and cosmic radiation The
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 researchers assessed several nuclear
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 propulsion technologies that might make
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 such a journey feasible They examined
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 NASA's nuclear thermal propulsion
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 concept outlined in design reference
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 architecture
00:11:48 --> 00:11:52 5.0 which describes a 56-tonon crew
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 capable spacecraft using a uranium 235
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 reactor and hydrogen propellant While
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 this system could complete a Mars
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 mission in about 375 days the much
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 longer duration required for a Titan
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 mission would pose significant health
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 risks for the crew They also evaluated
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 Capernacus a larger nuclear thermal
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 concept proposed in 2013 that could
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 potentially reduce one-way transit times
00:12:15 --> 00:12:20 to between 150 and 220 days
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 Even more promising is the variable
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 vasimar concept which relies on a
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 nuclear magneto hydrodnamic reactor to
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 power an electric thruster According to
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 one study this technology could reduce
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 transit time to just 149 days Perhaps
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 most intriguing is the direct fusion
00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 drive concept which a 2020 study
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 suggested could enable a robotic mission
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 to Titan with a roundtrip time of 2 to
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 2.6 years
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 Properly adapted for human space flight
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 this technology could make a crude
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 mission to Titan viable Explore Titan
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 proposes extending NASA's current moon
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 to Mars approach to include Titan as the
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 next logical destination Their vision is
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 a Mars to Titan progression where
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 technology developed for human missions
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 to Mars could be evolved for exploring
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 Saturn's mysterious moon The researchers
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 concluded that nuclear space propulsion
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 systems may be the key enabler for
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 future Titan missions Given the health
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 risks associated with deep space human
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 space flight advanced propulsion could
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 be the most critical element to their
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 success While such missions remain years
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 away the work being done today lays
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 crucial groundwork for what could become
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 humanity's most ambitious journey yet
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 extending our reach to the mysterious
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 methane rich world that might harbor the
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 ingredients for alien
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 life Finally today let's turn our
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 attention to a controversy that's come
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 into focus this week A recent suborbital
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 spacecraft has ignited a surprising
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 controversy in the space community The
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 mission designated
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 NS-31 featured an all female crew
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 headlined by pop superstar Katie Perry
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 along with Jeff Bezos's fiance Lauren
00:14:02 --> 00:14:06 Sanchez and four other women The flight
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 generated extensive media coverage from
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 tabloids to serious news outlets
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 celebrating this milestone for women in
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 space However it also revived a debate
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 that has simmered since the early days
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 of commercial space flight namely who
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 deserves to be called an astronaut The
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 controversy took an unexpected turn when
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 US Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 weighed in on social media stating "The
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 crew who flew to space this week on an
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 automated flight by Blue Origin were
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 brave and glam but you cannot identify
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 as an astronaut They do not meet the FAA
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 astronaut criteria." Duffy referenced
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 previous Federal Aviation Administration
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 guidelines under the Commercial Space
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Astronaut Wings Program which specified
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 that crew members must have demonstrated
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 activities during flight that were
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 essential to public safety or
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 contributed to human spaceflight safety
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 to qualify as astronauts This statement
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 raised eyebrows because the FAA which
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 falls under Duffy's Department of
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 Transportation had previously stated it
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 would no longer designate anyone as an
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 astronaut In fact the AY's human
00:15:10 --> 00:15:14 spaceflight page explicitly says the FAA
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 no longer designates anyone as an
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 astronaut In addition the FAA does not
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 define where space begins The apparent
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 contradiction highlights the evolving
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 nature of human space flight in this new
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 commercial era The FAA's astronaut Wings
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 program created in 2004 to recognize the
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 pilots of Spaceship 1 was discontinued
00:15:33 --> 00:15:37 in December 2021 The agency announced
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 that starting in 2022 it would simply
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 list individuals who reached 50 statute
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 miles above Earth on its website rather
00:15:44 --> 00:15:48 than issuing formal astronaut wings Some
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 space enthusiasts and industry observers
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 have expressed concern that flights like
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 NS-31 trivialize the serious work of
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 commercial space flight While
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 acknowledging the historic nature of an
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 all-female crew critics suggest the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 celebrity-driven spectacle reinforces
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 the billionaire joy rides perception
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 that has dogged private space flight
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 since Branson and Bezos took their own
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 suborbital trips in 2021
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 Others counter that these high-profile
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 flights generate valuable public
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 interest in space exploration and help
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 normalize the concept of civilian space
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 travel a necessary step toward humanity
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 becoming a truly space fairing
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 civilization The debate touches on
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 fundamental questions about the
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 democratization of space As access to
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 space expands beyond traditional
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 government astronauts perhaps it's time
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 to reconsider what being an astronaut
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 means in this new era or whether the
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 term itself needs to evolve along with
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 the
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 industry And with that we wrap up our
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 cosmic journey for today From mysterious
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 meteoroids carrying life's building
00:16:51 --> 00:16:54 blocks to ghostly galaxies defying our
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 understanding of dark matter From
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 leadership changes aboard the
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 International Space Station to the
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 potential for nuclearpowered exploration
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 of Titan and even the surprising
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 controversy over what makes someone an
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 astronaut The universe never ceases to
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 amaze and challenge us I'm Anna and I've
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 been your host for this edition of
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 Astronomy Daily Thank you for joining me
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 as we explored these fascinating
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 developments at the frontiers of space
00:17:17 --> 00:17:20 science and exploration If you're hungry
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 for more space news visit our website at
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 astronomyaily.io where we maintain a
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 constantly updating news feed of the
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 latest discoveries and missions You'll
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 also find our complete archive of past
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 episodes there Don't forget to connect
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 with us across social media Just search
00:17:35 --> 00:17:39 for Astro Daily Pod on Facebook X
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00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 up and wondering about our extraordinary
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 cosmos This has been Astronomy Daily
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 Astronomy
00:17:52 --> 00:18:01 day Stories been told
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 Stories
00:18:03 --> 00:18:08 [Music]
00:18:08 --> 00:18:12 told stories