ESA's European Launcher Challenge: The European Space Agency is taking significant steps towards enhancing its commercial launch market, with member states committing over 900 million euros to the European Launcher Challenge. This initiative will see ESA acting as an anchor client, co-funding upgrades for private companies and stimulating competition and innovation in space launch services.
Starquakes and Black Holes: Scientists are uncovering the mysteries of dormant black holes through the study of starquakes, or asteroseismology. Two systems, Gaia BH2 and Gaia BH3, reveal intriguing contradictions in the ages and compositions of their red giant stars, prompting a reevaluation of our understanding of stellar behavior and black hole interactions.
Redefining Time: A philosophical exploration into the nature of time sheds light on the distinction between existence and occurrence. By clarifying the concept of time, researchers challenge long-standing beliefs and offer a new perspective on Einstein's spacetime, suggesting that time should be viewed as a map of events rather than a physical entity.
Hidden Stars and SETI: A new study proposes that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence can be improved by considering previously overlooked stars. By utilizing the Besanc Galactic model, scientists can predict hidden stars in the field of view of telescopes, expanding the search for technosignatures without the need for additional observations.
Wessen Lunar Monitoring Mission: A new mission from Hong Kong, named Wessen, aims to provide continuous monitoring of meteoroid impacts on the Moon. Set to launch by 2028, this lunar orbiter will track the bright flashes caused by impacts, crucial for ensuring the safety of future lunar infrastructure and astronauts as nations plan for lunar bases.
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 and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
✍️ Episode References
ESA's European Launcher Challenge
[European Space Agency]( https://www.esa.int/ (https://www.esa.int/) )
Starquakes and Black Holes Research
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Philosophical Insights on Time
[Physics Today]( https://www.physicstoday.org/ (https://www.physicstoday.org/) )
SETI and Hidden Stars Study
[SETI Institute]( https://www.seti.org/ (https://www.seti.org/) )
Wessen Lunar Mission Details
[Hong Kong Space Research]( https://www.hksr.org/ (https://www.hksr.org/) )
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/30382892?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 [music] the podcast that brings you the
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 latest news from across the cosmos. I'm
00:00:06 --> 00:00:07 Avery. [music]
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 Today's agenda covers a lot, from
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 [music] Europe's new ambitions in space
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 launch to the strange secrets of star
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 [music] quakes near black holes.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 >> That's right. We'll also be diving into
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 the very nature of time itself,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 searching for hidden stars that might
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 host intelligent life, and looking at a
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 new mission to monitor the dangers of
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 living on the moon. So, let's get
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 started.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 >> First up, [music] there's big news from
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 the European Space Agency. It looks like
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 they're getting very serious about
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 fostering a commercial launch market.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 >> They certainly are. Member states have
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 committed over€ 900 million e to the
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 European Launcher Challenge. That's more
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 than double what was anticipated.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 >> And what's interesting here is the
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 strategy. This isn't about ISSA directly
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 funding the development of a new rocket.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 Instead, they're acting more like a
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 customer, promising to purchase launch
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 services and co-und upgrades for private
00:01:05 --> 00:01:05 companies.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 >> Right? It's the shift from being the
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 builder to being an anchor client. It's
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 a model that has worked very well for
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 NASA with companies like SpaceX. It
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 stimulates competition and innovation.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 >> Exactly. There's a whole list of
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 companies shortlisted for this,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 including ESAR Aerospace, Rocket
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 Factory, Augsburg, and PLLD Space, among
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 others. We're seeing major contributions
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 from countries like Germany, Spain, and
00:01:31 --> 00:01:32 the UK.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 >> So, what's the timeline for this? When
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 can we expect to see these new launch
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 services in action?
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 >> The plan is to sign framework agreements
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 in 2026 with the goal of seeing launch
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 system demonstrations by 2027. If all
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 goes well, we should see actual missions
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 being flown under this program by 2030.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 It's a major step towards European
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 autonomy and space access.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 >> From launching rockets to listening to
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 stars, our next story is truly
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 fascinating. Scientists are using star
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 quakes to uncover the secrets of dormant
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 black holes. And it's rewriting what we
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 thought we knew.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 >> Star quakes? So, you mean astroismology?
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 studying the oscillations of stars.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 >> Precisely. The study focused on two
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 systems, Gaia BH2 and Gaia BH3.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 Each has a red giant star orbiting a
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 quiet black hole. In the Gaia BH2
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 system, the star quakes revealed a
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 puzzle. The star appears young, but its
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 chemical composition says it's old.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 >> That's a contradiction. How did they
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 explain that? The leading theory is that
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 the red giant is actually the product of
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 two stars that merged into one. This
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 would explain its unusually fast spin
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 rate as well. So, it had a dramatic life
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 even before it got captured by the black
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 hole.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 >> Incredible. And what about the other
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 system Gaia BH3?
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 >> That one presented a different kind of
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 mystery. The red giant in that system is
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 ancient and what we call metal pore.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 According to our models, it should be
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 showing starquakes, but it isn't. It's
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 completely silent.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 >> So, our understanding of how these old
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 stars behave might be wrong.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 >> It suggests that yes, the research is a
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 fantastic example of how studying these
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 companion stars can refine how we
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 measure black hole masses and reveal the
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 complex violent histories these systems
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 can have. Well, from the complex history
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 of stars to the complex nature of time
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 itself, this is a topic that has baffled
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 physicists and philosophers for
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 centuries. As St. Augustine famously
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 said, we know what time is until someone
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 asks us to explain it.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 >> It's one of the ultimate questions. And
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 a lot of the confusion, according to
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 some physicists, comes from mixing up
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 two different concepts, existence and
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 occurrence. Okay, break that down for
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 us.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 >> The universe as a physical object
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 exists, but events within the universe
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 don't exist in the same way. They happen
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 or they occur. The past isn't a place
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 that still exists. And the future isn't
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 a place that's waiting for us. They are
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 just records and probabilities of
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 occurrences.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 >> That makes sense. So, this helps clarify
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 some old philosophical arguments.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 >> It does. Take the ancient Greek
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 philosopher Parmenities who argue that
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 since we can talk about the past and
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 future, they must exist. This new
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 perspective says that's a fallacy based
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 on that core confusion. The same goes
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 for how we often interpret Einstein's
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 concept of spaceime.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 >> Right. People often imagine spacetime as
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 a physical block universe that you could
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 theoretically travel through.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 >> Exactly. But it's more useful to think
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 of spaceime as a map of events. The map
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 is a real useful model, but it's not the
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 territory. The map of your city exists,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 but you can't live in the map. By
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 cleanly separating the existence of the
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 universe from the occurrence of events,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 the so-called mystery of time becomes
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 much less mysterious.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 >> Speaking of searching for things, let's
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 turn our attention to the search for
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 extraterrestrial intelligence or SETI. A
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 new study suggests we can make our
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 search much more effective by accounting
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 for stars that we've been ignoring.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 >> Hidden stars. How can a star be hidden?
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 >> It's not that they're physically hidden,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 but they're not the primary targets of
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 our surveys. Think about it. When a
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 radio telescope points at a specific
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 star, its field of view is much wider.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 It inevitably captures data from
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 countless other stars in the background
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 and foreground. The study calls this
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 stellar by catch.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 >> Ah, I see. So, we have all this data on
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 stars we weren't even intentionally
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 looking at.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 >> Precisely. The challenge is knowing
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 which stars are in that by catch. To
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 solve this, scientists are using
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 something called the Bisank galactic
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 model. It simulates our galaxy's star
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 populations, allowing them to predict
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 which hidden stars are likely in a
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 telescope's field of view at any given
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 time. So this vastly expands the number
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 of stars we're monitoring for techno
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 signatures without needing any new
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 observations or equipment.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 >> Yes. And it also helps remove human bias
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 from target selection. Projects like
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 Breakthrough Listen can now apply this
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 method to get a much more comprehensive
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 survey of our galaxy. It's a very clever
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 way to maximize the scientific return
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 from the data we're already collecting.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 For our final story, we're coming back a
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 little closer to home, to the moon. As
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 nations like China and the US make
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 serious plans for lunar bases, a new
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 mission from Hong Kong aims to monitor a
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 constant threat, things falling from the
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 sky.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 >> You mean meteoroid impacts. We know they
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 happen, but this mission aims to provide
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 the first ever continuous monitoring of
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 them from lunar orbit.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 >> That's right. The mission is called
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 Wessen, which means moon flashes. It's a
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 lunar orbiter set to launch by 2028. Its
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 primary job will be to watch for the
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 bright flashes caused by meteoroids
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 hitting the lunar surface.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 >> And this data is critical. Without an
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 atmosphere to burn them up, even small
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 pebbles can hit with the force of a hand
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 grenade. These impacts pose a very real
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 threat to future lunar infrastructure
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 and of course to astronauts.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 >> It's a huge engineering and safety
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 challenge. Wesson's data will be
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 particularly valuable for China's
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 ambitious plans to establish a lunar
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 research station. What's also notable is
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 that the telescope for the mission is
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 being designed and built in Hong Kong,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 marking a significant step for the city
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 in space exploration.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 >> It will be a great complement to other
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 monitoring efforts like NASA's
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 Earth-based observations and ISIS
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 proposed Lumio mission. To truly
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 understand the risks of living on the
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 moon, we need that constant closeup
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 view. USAN promises to deliver just
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 that.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 >> And that's all the time we have for
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 today. From commercial rockets to cosmic
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 philosophies, we've covered a lot of
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 ground.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 >> We hope you enjoyed the journey. Join us
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 next time for another edition of
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 Astronomy Daily, where we continue to
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 explore the universe one story at a
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 time. Thanks for listening.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 >> And one quick plug. For more space and
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 astronomy news and all our back catalog,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 just visit our website at
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 astronomyaily.io.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 You can also follow us on social media.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 Just search for Astro Daily Pod on your
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 favorite platforms. That's it for me.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 I'm Avery. Clear skies, everyone, and
00:08:50 --> 00:08:55 keep looking up.
00:08:55 --> 00:09:02 [music]
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 Stories told. [music]