In this episode, we celebrate remarkable advancements in space exploration and the intriguing discoveries that challenge our understanding of the universe. We kick off with the inspiring story of Michaela Benthaus, who has made history as the first paraplegic and wheelchair user to fly to space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, showcasing the importance of accessibility in space travel. Next, we delve into NASA's groundbreaking PUNCH mission, which is set to provide an unprecedented view of the solar wind, allowing us to track solar phenomena and improve space weather forecasting like never before.Shifting our focus to lunar exploration, we discuss innovative engineering solutions for building reusable launch pads on the Moon using in situ resource utilization. This ambitious project aims to utilize lunar regolith to create durable surfaces, paving the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon.Then, we venture into the depths of space to explore a bizarre lemon-shaped planet, PSR J2322 2652B, orbiting a pulsar. Its unusual carbon-rich atmosphere and oblong shape challenge our current understanding of planetary formation around such extreme celestial objects.Finally, we return to Mars, where NASA's Perseverance rover is examining massive megaripples on the Martian surface, providing insights into the planet's dynamic climate history. Join us as we unpack these fascinating stories and more in this packed episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – 00:33 – 01:28 – 03:44 – 06:15 – 08:32 – 09:35 – ### Sources & Further Reading
1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/)
2. Blue Origin (https://www.blueorigin.com/)
3. James Webb Space Telescope (https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/)
4. NASA Mars Exploration (https://mars.nasa.gov/)
5. Space.com (https://www.space.com/)
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00:00:01 --> 00:00:03 Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 the podcast that brings you the
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 universe, one story at a time. I'm
00:00:07 --> 00:00:07 Avery.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 Today, we've got a great lineup from a
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 historic first for accessibility in
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 space to a bizarre lemonshaped planet
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 orbiting a dead star.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 >> Plus, we'll be looking at how NASA is
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 getting an unprecedented new view of the
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 sun and how future astronauts might
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 build landing pads on the moon itself.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 It's a packed show.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 >> It certainly is. Let's get right to it.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 First up, a truly inspiring story of
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 breaking barriers. German engineer
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 Michaela Bentouse just became the first
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 paraplegic person and the first
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 wheelchair user to fly to space.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 >> Wow, that's incredible. This was with
00:00:48 --> 00:00:49 Blue Origin, right?
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 >> That's right. On their New Shepard
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 rocket for a 10-minute suborbital
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 flight. What's really fascinating is how
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 few adjustments were needed. The capsule
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 was apparently designed with a high
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 degree of accessibility from the start.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 >> That's the key, isn't it? Proactive
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 design rather than reactive
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 accommodation. It shows that space
00:01:08 --> 00:01:09 doesn't have to be the exclusive domain
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 of a select few.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 >> Exactly. Bent house herself said she
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 wants to be a role model, showing that
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 physical limitations shouldn't prevent
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 people from pursuing their dreams. It's
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 a huge step forward for making space
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 truly for everyone.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 >> Absolutely. A fantastic piece of good
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 news to start the day. All right, from
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 human space flight, let's turn our
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 attention to our own star. NASA's Punch
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 mission is giving us a view of the sun.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 That's well, it's completely new.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 >> Punch, that stands for polarimeter to
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 unify the corona and heliosphere. And
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 what it's doing is pretty revolutionary.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 >> It is. Instead of just looking at the
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 corona, Punch is watching the solar
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 wind, the stream of particles flowing
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 out from the sun as it expands and fills
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 the solar system. It's using a
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 constellation of four small spacecraft.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 >> Mhm. Like a wide angle lens for the
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 solar system.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 >> Exactly. They fly in formation and
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 together their cameras capture this
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 continuous panoramic view of the
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 material as it flows past Earth. For the
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 first time, we can see the entire
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 process from the corona to a full
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 astronomical unit away, which is Earth's
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 distance from the sun.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 >> And this is crucial for understanding
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 space weather. Things like coronal mass
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 ejections or CMEs are massive eruptions
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 of plasma that can disrupt satellites
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 and power grids here on Earth.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 >> Right before Punch, we'd see a CME leave
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 the sun and then we'd have to wait for
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 it to hit a satellite near Earth to know
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 its structure. Now we can track its
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 entire journey.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 >> So it gives us a much better ability to
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 forecast the impact of space weather.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 It's moving from seeing the cannon fire
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 to actually tracking the cannonball
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 through the air.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 >> That's a perfect analogy. It's a
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 gamecher for protecting our technology
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 both in orbit and on the ground.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 >> And the way it achieves this is so
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 clever. The four satellites are
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 essentially imaging polarized light. The
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 sunlight scatters off the electrons in
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 the solar wind. And by measuring the
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 polarization, they can build a 3D
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 picture of its structure and density.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 >> It's like giving us 3D glasses to see
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 the invisible solar wind. And because
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 the four satellites are in different
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 positions, they can combine their views
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 to get a truly global perspective that a
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 single spacecraft just couldn't achieve.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 >> Exactly. It's a leap from a single
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 snapshot to a continuous systemwide
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 movie. This kind of data will be
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 invaluable not just for Earth, but for
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 planning future robotic and crude
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 missions throughout the solar system,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 protecting them from solar outbursts.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 Speaking of ambitious missions, our next
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 story takes us to the moon where
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 engineers are tackling a very dusty
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 problem. How to build a launchpad that
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 can be used over and over again.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 >> Right? Because rocket exhaust is
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 incredibly powerful. And on the moon
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 with its lower gravity and lack of
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 atmosphere, it would just blast lunar
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 dust or regalith everywhere at high
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 speeds.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 >> Exactly. That dust is sharp and abrasive
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 and it could damage the lander itself or
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 any nearby habitats or equipment. So a
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 new paper is looking at how to solve
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 this using the regalith itself,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 >> using the local materials in sichu
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 resource utilization. That's the holy
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 grail for sustainable space exploration.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 It is. The idea is to essentially melt
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 the regalith into a solid, durable
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 surface, a process calledining. They're
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 thinking of using microwaves or lasers
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 delivered by robotic builders to create
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 these launch pads.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 >> So, you send robots ahead to pave a
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 landing zone for you. That sounds very
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 sci-fi.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 >> It does, but it's a very practical
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 challenge. The launchpad needs to
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 withstand incredible temperature swings
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 and the stress of repeated launches. The
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 engineers are planning tests to see how
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 the centered regalith holds up under
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 simulated rocket plume conditions.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 >> And I imagine maintenance is a big
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 issue, too. If a pad gets cracked, you
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 can't just send out a construction crew
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 easily.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 >> That's a huge part of it. The plan would
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 have to include robotic systems, not
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 just for building the pads, but for
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 inspecting and repairing them as well.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 It's a foundational piece of the puzzle
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 for a permanent human presence on the
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 moon.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 >> It's fascinating to think about the
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 logistics. Are we talking about paving
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 an entire spaceport or just a small
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 landing circle?
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 >> Initially, just a hardened pad about 50
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 meters in diameter to mitigate the dust
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 problem. But the research paper suggests
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 that this technology is scalable. If you
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 can build one pad, you can link them
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 together over time to create taxiways
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 and larger operational areas.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 >> And what about the energy source?
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Sensoring regalith with lasers or
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 microwaves sounds incredibly power
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 inensive. That's a major challenge on
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 the moon.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 >> It is. The leading concepts involve
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 leveraging solar power with large
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 deployable arrays, potentially charging
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 batteries during the long lunar day to
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 power construction activities. It's a
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 classic chicken and egg problem. You
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 need infrastructure to build
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 infrastructure. This is step one. Well,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 from building on our moon to exploring
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 truly bizarre worlds far beyond it,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 astronomers using the James Webb Space
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 Telescope have found something that,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 well, it looks like it belongs in a
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 different universe.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 >> I think I know which one you're talking
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 about. Is this the lemon-shaped planet?
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 >> The one and only. Its official name is
00:06:35 --> 00:06:40 PSRJ2322-2652b,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 but lemonshaped planet is much easier to
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 remember. And the name is literal. It's
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 being tidily distorted into an oblong
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 shape by the immense gravity of the star
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 it orbits.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 >> And that star isn't a normal star,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 right? It's a pulsar, a super dense,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 rapidly spinning remnant of a massive
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 star that went supernova.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 >> Precisely. The gravity is so intense,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 it's literally stretching the planet.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 But that's not even the weirdest part.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 Its atmosphere is unlike anything we've
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 seen. It's extremely rich in carbon. So,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 not a water world, but a carbon world.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 What does that even mean for its
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 appearance?
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 >> The model suggests it could have clouds
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 of soot and an atmosphere thick with
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 hydrocarbons. It's a completely alien
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 environment that really challenges our
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 understanding of how planets can form
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 and what they can be made of, especially
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 around such an extreme object like a
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 pulsar.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 >> It really is. And it raises the question
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 of how it even survived. The supernova
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 that created the pulsar should have
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 completely obliterated any nearby
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 planets.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 >> There are a couple of theories. One is
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 that it's a second generation planet
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 formed from the debris disc left over
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 after the supernova. The carbonri
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 composition might support that idea.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 >> Or it could have been a captured rogue
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 planet that wandered too close to the
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 pulsar long after the explosion. But
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 getting into such a tight orbit without
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 being torn apart is a tricky
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 gravitational dance.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 >> Either way, it's a testament to the
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 universe's ability to create stability
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 in the most chaotic of environments. A
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 warped, sy lemon-shaped world, calmly
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 orbiting one of the most violent objects
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 we know of. It's poetic in a strange
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 way.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 >> Incredible. Every time we think we have
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 a handle on the types of planets out
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 there, JWST finds another one to break
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 all the rules. Okay, let's bring it back
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 to our own solar system for our last big
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 story today. Over to the red planet.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 NASA's Perseverance rover has been
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 getting an uplose look at some
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 fascinating features on the Martian
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 surface. Mega ripples.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 >> These aren't like the little ripples you
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 see in sand at the beach, are they?
00:08:51 --> 00:08:55 >> Not at all. These are huge. up to 2 m
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 tall. They're formed by wind, just like
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 dunes on Earth, but their size and shape
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 give us vital clues about Mars' more
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 recent climate history and wind
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 patterns.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 >> So, by studying them, we can learn about
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 the Martian weather today and in the
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 notsodistant past.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 >> That's the idea. The rover has been
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 examining a field of them, nicknamed
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 Honey Guide. By analyzing the grain size
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 and structure, scientists can figure out
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 the wind speeds needed to build them. It
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 helps paint a picture of Mars as a
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 dynamic, active world, not just a static
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 one.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 >> It's amazing how much geology can tell
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 us about a planet's atmosphere.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 >> Right. But for now, from accessible
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 space flight to alien worlds, it's been
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 quite a day in astronomy.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 >> It certainly has. And that's all the
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 time we have for this episode of
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 Astronomy Daily. We hope you've enjoyed
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 this tour of the latest cosmic
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 happenings.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 >> We always appreciate you joining us. Be
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 sure to subscribe wherever you get your
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 podcast so you don't miss an episode.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 Until next time, I'm Avery
00:09:58 --> 00:10:02 >> and I'm Anna. Keep looking up. Astronomy
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 day.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:20 Stories told.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:24 story for told.