In this episode, we explore groundbreaking developments in lunar colonization and the intriguing behaviors of interstellar visitors. We kick off with a bold announcement from Russia, revealing plans to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon in collaboration with China, aiming for completion by 2036. This ambitious project signifies a shift towards sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. Next, we dive into a sci-fi-inspired innovation as Russia's Energia rocket company patents a spacecraft design featuring artificial gravity, a game-changer for long-duration space missions, potentially mitigating the adverse effects of zero gravity on astronauts.Shifting gears, we celebrate a significant achievement in satellite technology with the launch of Bluebird 6, a record-breaking satellite designed to provide broadband internet directly to smartphones, boasting the largest communication array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. However, not all news is positive, as Japan faces a setback with the failure of its H3 rocket during a critical mission to deliver the Michibiki 5 satellite, crucial for enhancing GPS accuracy in East Asia.Finally, we journey beyond our solar system to investigate the interstellar comet 3I ATLAS, which exhibits unusual behavior, including a rare sun-facing anti-tail and wobbling jets of outgassing material. This discovery provides insights into the comet's rotation, revealing its nucleus spins once every 15.5 hours. Join us as we unpack these fascinating stories and more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Today we're covering ambitious plans for lunar colonization and fascinating new discoveries
00:36 – **Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036
01:49 – **Russian rocket company has just secured a patent for a new spacecraft design
03:11 – **Indian rocket recently launched the Bluebird 6 satellite, and it's a record breaker
04:27 – **Japan's ambitions for an independent satellite navigation system suffered a significant blow
05:31 – **Astronomers studying interstellar comet 3I ATLAS have observed unusual behavior
06:59 – **Today's featured news includes ambitious plans for nuclear power on the Moon### Sources & Further Reading1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/) 2. Roscosmos (https://www.roscosmos.ru/) 3. Space.com (https://www.space.com/) 4. AST SpaceMobile (https://www.asti.space/) 5. JAXA (https://www.jaxa.jp/) ### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 that brings you the universe, one story
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 at a time. I'm Avery.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 today. We're covering everything from
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 ambitious plans for lunar colonization
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 to fascinating new discoveries about
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 visitors from beyond our solar system.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 >> That's right. We'll be talking about a
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 nuclearpowered future on the moon, a
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 sci-fi concept for artificial gravity
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 that's getting closer to reality, and a
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 record-breaking satellite launch. We've
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 also got news of a major setback for One
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 Nation space program and a wobbly
00:00:35 --> 00:00:36 interstellar comet.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 >> So, let's get right to it. Our first
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 story takes us to the moon where Russia
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 has announced some truly monumental
00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 plans.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 >> You can say that again,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 >> Avery. This isn't just about setting up
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 a temporary outpost. Russia's space
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 agency has stated its intention to build
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 a full-fledged nuclear power plant on
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 the lunar surface within the next decade
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 or so.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 >> A nuclear power plant on the moon.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:03 That's a huge undertaking. And they're
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 not doing it alone. Right.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 >> Exactly. This is part of a joint effort
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 with China. The goal is to have the
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 plant constructed and operational by
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 2036. The purpose is to provide a
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 consistent and powerful energy source
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 for a planned joint Russian Chinese
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 research station.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 >> That makes sense. Solar power is great,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 but a lunar night lasts for about 14
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 Earth days. If you want a permanently
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 functioning scientific station, you need
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 a power source that doesn't depend on
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 sunlight.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 >> Right? This really signals a shift in
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 lunar exploration from temporary visits
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 to establishing a long-term sustainable
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 human presence. It's a foundational step
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 for what could become a true lunar
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 settlement one day.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 >> It's fascinating. And speaking of
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 ambitious Russian plans for the future
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 of space travel, our next story sounds
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 like it was pulled directly from a
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 science fiction movie.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 >> Sounds intriguing. The details, please.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 >> The state-owned Eneria rocket company
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 has just secured a patent for a new
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 spacecraft design, and its main feature
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 is something astronauts have dreamed of
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 for decades, artificial gravity. This is
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 a critical piece of the puzzle for long
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 duration space missions. We know that
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 extended time in zerog has serious
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 negative effects on the human body.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 >> Mhm. Serious effects. Things like muscle
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 atrophy and significant bone density
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 loss. It's one of the biggest hurdles
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 for say a man's mission to Mars.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 >> So, how does this new design work? The
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 concept of a rotating system to create
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 centrifugal force isn't new, but what
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 are the specifics here? Well, the patent
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 describes a rotating system designed to
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 generate a gravitational force of about
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 0.5g.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 So half of Earth's gravity. While not a
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 full 1g, it's believed that even this
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 level could profoundly mitigate the
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 health problems astronauts face.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 >> Half a G would make a world of
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 difference. It means crews could arrive
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 at Mars or return to Earth in much
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 better physical condition. This could be
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 a genuine gamecher for the future of
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 human space flight.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 >> Absolutely. From future tech to current
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 accomplishments, let's shift our focus
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 to a remarkable satellite that's now in
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 orbit. Anna, tell us about Bluebird 6.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 >> This is a story about connectivity. An
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 Indian rocket recently launched the
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 Bluebird 6 satellite, and it's a
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 record-breaker. It was built by a
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 Texas-based company, AS Space Mobile,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 and its mission is to provide broadband
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 internet service directly to standard
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 off-the-shelf smartphones on the ground.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 >> Directly to phones. So, no special
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 equipment needed. That's the key. But
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 what makes it a record breaker?
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 >> It's size. To talk to a small device
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 like a cell phone from orbit, you need a
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 very, very large antenna. Bluebird 6
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 features a communication array of nearly
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 2400 square feet.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 >> Wow. 2400 square f feet. That's massive.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 >> It is. In fact, it's the largest
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 communication array ever deployed in low
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 Earth orbit. The potential impact here
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 is enormous, offering a way to connect
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 the unconnected in the most remote parts
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 of the globe.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 >> That's an incredible piece of
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 engineering with a very noble goal. But
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 as we know, getting these complex
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 machines into orbit is the hardest part.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 Which brings us to our next story.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 Unfortunately, not all recent launches
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 have been successful.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 >> That's right, Avery. Japan's ambitions
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 for an independent satellite navigation
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 system suffered a significant blow after
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 the second major failure of its flagship
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 H3 rocket.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 >> This is a tough one for the Japanese
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 space program. The rocket was supposed
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 to deliver the Michibiki 5 satellite
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 into orbit, but it failed during its
00:04:52 --> 00:04:52 flight.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 >> And this satellite was a crucial
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 component of their Quasi Zenith
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 satellite system or QZSS.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 >> Mhm. The qzs is designed to augment GPS
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 signals, providing much more accurate
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 and reliable positioning for Japan and
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 the rest of East Asia. This failure
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 represents a major delay to the
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 expansion and improvement of that
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 system. It's a stark reminder that even
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 for established space fairing nations,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 rocket science is incredibly
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 challenging. There's just no room for
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 error. We certainly hope they can
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 identify and fix the issue for future
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 flights.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 >> Indeed, it's a reminder of the high
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 stakes in space exploration.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 >> It truly is. And for our final story,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 we're venturing far from Earth to look
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 at one from another solar system that's
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 been paying us a bit of a visit.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 Astronomers have been studying the
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 interstellar comet 3i/Atlas
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 which has begun leaving our solar system
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 and they've observed some very unusual
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 behavior. First, it has a rare
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 sun-facing anti-tail.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:59 >> An anti-tail. So, a tail of dust and gas
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 pointing towards the sun instead of away
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 from it.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 >> It's an optical illusion caused by our
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 viewing angle of the comet's dust trail.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 But what's truly remarkable is what's
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 happening within that tail. As the comet
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 approached the sun, scientists observed
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 jets of outgassing material that appear
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 to be wobbling.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 >> Wobbling jets. That's new.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 >> Completely. This is the first time such
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 an outgassing pattern has ever been
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 observed from an interstellar comet. The
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 jets were seen to wobble on a very
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 specific cycle every 7 hours and 45
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 minutes.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 >> And that tells us something fundamental
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 about the comet itself, doesn't it?
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 >> It does. This wobble implies a
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 rotational period for the comet's solid
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 nucleus. Based on the data, scientists
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 have calculated that the nucleus is
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 spinning on its axis once every 15 and a
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 half hours.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 >> That is so cool to be able to determine
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 the length of a day on an object that
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 came from an entirely different solar
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 system just by watching its jets wobble.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 It's an amazing piece of cosmic
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 detective work.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 >> It certainly is. And that's all the time
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 we have for today's top stories. From
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 ambitious plans for nuclear power on the
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 moon to the rotation of an interstellar
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 comet, the cosmos never fails to
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 inspire.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 >> A big thank you to all of you for tuning
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 in. We hope you'll join us again next
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 time for another dose of Astronomy
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 Daily. Until then, you can find us on
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 all major podcast platforms and on
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 social media. Just search for astroaily
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 pod. Full details on our website at
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 astronomyaily.io.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 >> From both of us here, keep looking up.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 Astronomy day.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:42 Stories be told.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:46 Stories told.