Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E89
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Steve Dunkley takes you on a fascinating journey through the latest developments in space exploration and astronomy. From the nostalgic reminiscence of the first IMAX film shot in space to the potential cuts in NASA's funding, this episode is filled with stories that will intrigue both space enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.
Highlights:
- Celebrating 40 Years of IMAX in Space: Join us as we revisit the groundbreaking IMAX film "The Dream Is Alive," which was shot aboard the space shuttle. Steve shares insights from astronaut Marcia Ivins and cinematographer James Nahouse, who reveal behind-the-scenes stories about this iconic film and its impact on public engagement with space exploration.
- NASA's Proposed Budget Cuts: Explore the concerning news surrounding the Trump administration's potential budget cuts to NASA, which could slash funding for vital science programs by nearly half. We discuss the implications of these cuts on ongoing and future missions, including the fate of the Nancy Chris Roman Space Telescope and the Voyager missions.
- Innovative Lunar Construction Materials: Discover the exciting research from the University of Texas at Dallas, which proposes using self-healing concrete, or bioconcrete, for building structures on the Moon. This innovative material, made with bacteria and lunar regolith, could revolutionize lunar habitats and support long-term human presence on the Moon and Mars.
- NASA and Roscosmos Extend Seat Barter Agreement: Learn about the renewed collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos, allowing for integrated crews on the International Space Station through 2027. This agreement ensures that astronauts from both agencies can work together, promoting international cooperation in space exploration.
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 Steve 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 - 40 Years of IMAX in Space
10:30 - Proposed NASA budget cuts
17:00 - Self-healing concrete for lunar construction
22:15 - NASA and Roscosmos seat barter agreement
✍️ Episode References
IMAX in Space
[National Air and Space Museum]( https://airandspace.si.edu/ (https://airandspace.si.edu/) )
NASA Budget Cuts
[Ars Technica]( https://arstechnica.com/ (https://arstechnica.com/) )
Bioconcrete Research
[University of Texas at Dallas]( https://www.utdallas.edu/ (https://www.utdallas.edu/) )
NASA and Roscosmos Collaboration
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26598198?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 hello again Steve here with another
00:00:01 --> 00:00:05 Astronomy Daily it's the 14th of April
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 2025 astronomy Daily the podcast with
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 your host Steve
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 [Music]
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Dunley that's right we're back again and
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 while Hi downloads into the Australia
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 studio I'll fill you in on today's
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 selection hi found a couple of
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 interesting stories a great one for film
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 buffs did you know that 40 years ago
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 they made an IMAX film in space well I
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 didn't know that so we're going to look
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 into it and some disappointing but not
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 unexpected news that the Trump
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 administration may be planning to slash
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 funding at NASA i know we touched on
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 this a few weeks ago but I'm sure every
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 sky watcher space hound and orbit jockey
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 is saddened at the prospect but we will
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 have to wait it out and see what happens
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 i'm here now oh great good to see you
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 Hie i was busy collating with Anna for
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 the weekly podcast sessions ah the
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 Easter break's coming up so she's got it
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 all in her hands she's got it all sorted
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 but I think she likes the company oh I'm
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 not surprised say hi for me next time
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 you're in the astronomy daily virtual
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 studio won't you we'll do what did I
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 miss i was just doing the story rundown
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 for today i got to NASA's announcement
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 of a seat ba agreement with Ross Cosmos
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 and the last story the last story yes
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 where is it oh that's the one about
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 lunar concrete weird stuff right up your
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 alley that one oh yes no argument there
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 i am a moon fan a lunatic oh well if the
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 shoe fits it fits you do love stories
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 about the moon can't help it guilty is
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 charged anyway so let's get into it hie
00:01:39 --> 00:01:53 go hit that go button oies
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 the dream is still alive the first IMAX
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 film shot in space at 40 years four
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 decades later astronaut Marcia Ivans and
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 cinematographer James Nay House revealed
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04 stories from the making of the giant
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 screen movie james Nay House had one
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 more thing to share from inside a tote
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 bag he pulled out a chrome frame
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 displaying 11 strips of tape each of
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 which had printed text and handwritten
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 notes these were labels removed from
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 film cans the award-winning
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 cinematographer explained but not just
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 from any film these were the 41-year-old
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 labels from the third space shuttle
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 mission to carry an IMAX camera into
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Earth orbit the roles were used in the
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 making of the first movie to include
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 scenes shot in space as first released
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 four decades ago this June so this is
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 from nine roles of film on STS
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 41G this is all astronaut handwriting on
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 this said Nay House at the end of a
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 panel discussion celebrating the
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 upcoming 40th anniversary of the dream
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 is alive at the National Air and Space
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 Museum's Steven F at Verhazy Center in
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Northern Virginia on Wednesday April 9th
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 the 37minute documentary about NASA's
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 space shuttle program includes footage
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 shot by the astronauts showing how they
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 live and work in orbit including the
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 capture and repair of the Solar Max
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 satellite and deployment of an
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 experimental solar array veteran
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 journalist and TV news anchor Walter
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 Kronite narrated the film i've hung on
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 to this for about 40 years said Nay
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 House referring back to the framed tape
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 strips i'm giving it to the Smithsonian
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 hopefully to go with the IMAX camera
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 that they already have the National Air
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 and Space Museum's connection to The
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 Dream is Alive extends beyond the
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 related artifacts in the National
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 Collection the original idea for
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 shooting a giant screen film in space
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 began with a conversation between the
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 museum's first director an Apollo 11
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 astronaut and the co-inventor of the
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 IMAX film format a Canadian filmmaker
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 one of the things about the film that
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 most people probably don't know is that
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 it's a direct result of a suggestion to
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 Graham Ferguson from Michael Collins
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 after the National Air and Space Museum
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 opened in 1976 nay House told
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 collectpac.com in an interview prior to
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 the panel discussion which was organized
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 by the National Air and Space Society
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 for its members collins suggested to
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 Graham to see about flying an IMAX
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 camera on board the space shuttle and
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 Graham said that sounds like a really
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 great idea what's a space shuttle nei
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 House said with a laugh as he imitated
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 Ferguson's Canadian accent it was also
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 Collins idea for the museum to have an
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 IMAX theater and it became only the
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 sixth such theater to open in the United
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 States from there it led to the
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 Smithsonian becoming directly involved
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 in the production of The Dream is Alive
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 as well as the two shot in Space IMAX
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 movies that followed it Blue Planet in
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 1990 and Destiny in Space in 1994
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 collins saw the effect that IMAX films
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 had on our visitors and he realized that
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 a film made in space would amplify the
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 storytelling about astronaut life there
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 said the panel's moderator Jennifer
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Lebasur who is a curator in the space
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 history division of the National Air and
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Space Museum oversees the museum's
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 collection of cameras used in space he
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 and others lobbyed for such a film and
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 with Loheed financing it NASA couldn't
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 resist these films weren't developed as
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 promotional materials for NASA but
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 really as a means for everyone involved
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 in the space program to communicate
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 educate and inspire said
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 Leasur the dream is alive was described
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 as the closest that the public could
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 come to experiencing space flight
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 without leaving the planet those of us
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 who have filmed IMAX in space and who
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 have flown in space have always said
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 that and it's not just to repeat the
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 sound bite it's actually true said
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 Marcia Ivans a former NASA astronaut who
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 flew into space five times and holds the
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 record for taking part in the most IMAX
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 space films at three and advised on the
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 production of others selected as an
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 astronaut in 1984 Ivans was filmed for
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 the dream is alive during her and her
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 classmates water survival training at
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 Homestead Air Force Base today air
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 reserve base in Florida but her scenes
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 did not make it into the movie so they
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 toss me off the back of a boat and I'm
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 trying not to drown and while I'm trying
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 not to drown and remember all the things
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 they told me to do to not drown here
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 comes this boat right alongside with the
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 film crew said Ivans and while I was not
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 drowning I did have the presence of mind
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 to express myself with a hand gesture
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 and at the end of it associate producer
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 Phyllis Ferguson comes to me and says
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 "We really wanted to put you in the
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 movie but everything we shot of you was
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 either pathetic or obscene and a great
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 relationship with IMAX was born that
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 lasted to this day," Ivan said with a
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 smile wednesday's event concluded with a
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 rare screening of the dream is alive
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 with the move to digital highresolution
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 projectors the 40-year-old film really
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 needs to be rescanned a project that
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 Nigh House is now championing the parts
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 of the the space flown film that made it
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 into what you see on screen are
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 conserved in climate controlled storage
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 in Los Angeles as are all of our
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 original space negatives said Nay House
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 in theory you could go back and pull any
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 of that IMAX footage scan it into
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 whatever resolution your digital system
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 is today and have a pristine digital
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 version of the film a lot of the films
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 that are extremely important such as the
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 space films are being scanned i know the
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 dream is alive is as that's something
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 I'm heading up on the committee to work
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 on that for the giant screen film
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 industry he said you're listening to
00:07:05 --> 00:07:10 Astronomy Daily with Steve Dunl
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 [Music]
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 multiple space agencies are looking to
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 the moon as a future destination for
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 exploration and development this will
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 include the creation of a permanent
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 infrastructure that will enable regular
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 crude missions and possibly future
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 settlers it's also hoped that this
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 infrastructure will lead to regular
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 missions to Mars which could also lead
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 to regular human presence there these
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 plans require robust and innovative
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 construction materials that can endure
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 the harsh lunar and Martian conditions
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 and we all know that the Martian soil is
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 toxic as well as radioactive so is the
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 uh regalith on on the moon as well these
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 include extreme temperature variations
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 near vacuum of space radiation and
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 micrometeoroid impacts these uh to to
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 meet these requirements a team of
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 researchers from the University of Texas
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 at Dallas uh proposes using self-healing
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 concrete also known as bio concrete this
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 material inspired by biological
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 processes consists of bricks fabricated
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 with the help of bacteria that
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 regenerate themselves over time combined
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 with lunar regalith self-healing
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 concrete could enable long duration
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 research stations and habitats on the
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 lunar surface the study was led by
00:08:36 --> 00:08:40 Shrudy Panda and Jacob T penna of
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 neuturoscience researcher and biomemed
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 engineer senior respectively at UT
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 Dallas and they were joined by a team of
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 UT Dallas researchers including Dr kelly
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 Palmer and the Ceil H and Ida Green
00:08:53 --> 00:08:57 Chair in bioh systems biology science
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 the department of biological sciences as
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 they explain in their paper bio concrete
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 utilizes a mold biommineralization and
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 calcium carbonate crystal formation to
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 create a durable and self-healing
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 product nasa and various research
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 institutes are investigating mycelium
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 fiber for applications in space
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 exploration this includes using mycelium
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 to build tough heatresistant and
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 environmentally friendly satellites that
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 would reduce the threat of space debris
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 and the environmental risks associated
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 with satellites burning up in Earth's
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 atmosphere in addition NASA has been
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 researching mycelium as a potential
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 alternative to building materials like
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 concrete for building habitats on the
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 moon and Mars as Panda and Penna said in
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 a statement bio concrete also presents
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 many advantages for lunar construction
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 they say considering the heightened
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 durability and strength of bio concrete
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 along with its decreased recovery time
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 the application of such a structure to
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 the harsh conditions of the moon may
00:10:02 --> 00:10:06 allow for enhanced longevity of lunar
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 structures these harsh conditions
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 include extreme temperature variations
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 elevated radiation the vacuum of space
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 and of course micrometeoroid impacts
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 there's also the lunar day and night
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 cycle in the polar regions which
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 consists of 14 days of continuous light
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 followed by 14 days of darkness in a
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 previous article one of the concepts
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 submitted to the 2025
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 LPSC proposed combining mycelium fiber
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 with inflatable structures to create
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 durable structures on the moon for their
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 study Panda and Pena elevated bio
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 concrete fashioned from bacteria luna
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 soil simulant previous studies have
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 focused on using lunar regalith as an
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 insitue material to build structures on
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 the lunar surface however adding
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 specific bacteria to withstand the lunar
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 environment could strengthen bricks
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 fashioned from lunar regalith and
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 prevent
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 degradation this is consistent with
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 section 12 materials structures
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 mechanical systems and manufacturing of
00:11:08 --> 00:11:12 the 2024 NASA technology taxonomy report
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 as they describe in their paper their
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 tests of relative strength of lunar bio
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 concrete consists of three steps finding
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 the right bacteria and creating
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 spores creating bricks encasing them and
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 insitue testing the team considered 13
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 types of bacteria derived from a reef
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 system which were rendered into pellet
00:11:33 --> 00:11:37 form as Panda and Pena explain nine
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 bacterial strains pre-screened by
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 genetic sequencing to be from spore
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 forming genera and four seawater
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 consortia were cultured in artificial
00:11:46 --> 00:11:50 reef media using instant ocean reef with
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 added nutrients and a calcium source the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 bacterial strain basillus toyenensis was
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 chosen due to its ability to spoilate
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 and produce bio concrete as well as its
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 high tolerance in extreme environments
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 after selecting the strain of bacteria
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 culturing and forming it into pellets
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 these cultures were then aspirated
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 washed dried and then eventually formed
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 into bricks using a combination of resin
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 a curing agent and pellets of the
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 bacteria with Luna soil simulate
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 nutrients yeast extract and calcium
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 lactate while this may all sound like a
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 recipe from a science fiction movie the
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 results indicated that bio concrete
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 bricks were more effective at
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 self-healing and suited for lunar
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 conditions looking ahead Panda and Pena
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 plan to conduct tests consisting of
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 traditional concrete control group and
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 three experimental groups to isolate any
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 additional factors and these will
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 consist of traditional concrete with
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 bacteria concrete with lunar soil
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 simulant and no bacteria and lunar soil
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 simulant and bacteria as the researchers
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 emphasized the tests will include an
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 analysis of B toyus's ability to spore
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 during the concrete's manufacturing
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 process its compression strength and its
00:13:08 --> 00:13:22 ability to withstand radiation
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 thank you for joining us for this Monday
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 edition of Astronomy Daily where we
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00:14:01 --> 00:14:05 there astronomy Daily with Steve and Hi
00:14:05 --> 00:14:10 space space science and astronomy
00:14:10 --> 00:14:15 [Music]
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 reports circulating about the White
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 House's proposed NASA budget for the
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 2026 fiscal year suggest the AY's
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 funding could be slashed by nearly half
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 as reported by RS Technica so-called
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 passback documents given to the agency
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 on Thursday April 10th outline these
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 Trump administration budget plans
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 besides an almost 50% cut across the
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 board for NASA science programs they
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 propose a two-thirds cut to astrophysics
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 down to $487 million a greater than
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 two/3s cut to heloysics down to $455
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 million a greater than 50% cut to Earth
00:14:48 --> 00:14:52 science down to $1.03 billion and a 30%
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55 cut to planetary science down to $ 1
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 billion
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 we would see in this case the majority
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 of active science missions and
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 indevelopment science missions
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 completely wiped out casey Drier chief
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 of space policy at the Planetary Society
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 said "I have this image in my head of a
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 perfectly functioning spacecraft
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 designed to increase our understanding
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 of the cosmos in which we reside turned
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 off and left in the glass that's where
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 we would leave ourselves
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 it's symbolically grotesque astronomy."
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 According to the document the proposed
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 budget would continue to support science
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 missions such as the Hubble Space
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 Telescope and James Web Space Telescope
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 but assumes no funding is provided for
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 other
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 telescopes this means it would likely
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 get rid of the Nancy Grace Roman Space
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 Telescope a spacecraft that's already
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 assembled and undergoing testing to
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 launch as early as next fall drier says
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 that has been the poster child for a
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 mission that has remained on budget and
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 on track with the one hiccup around CO
00:15:47 --> 00:15:50 which isn't the mission's fault he said
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 "We've invested nearly $4 billion in
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 building it to this point 20 years of
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 effort to build it." The passback
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 documents also suggest closing down the
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 entirety of Goddard Space Flight Center
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 in Maryland meaning the approximately
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 10 workers at that center would
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 probably be laid off in tandem "it's
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 like the nuclear bomb going off it's
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 NASA's largest center," Drier said
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 though these passback documents aren't a
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 full confirmation that this budget will
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 be finalized Drier says it's the last
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 train out of the station before we get
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 to that point and in his expert opinion
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 Drier believes this proposal certainly
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 could move through to the end this is
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 especially because of the kinds of
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 changes including major layoffs and
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 project cancellations that have been
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 implemented at other government
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 organizations by request of the Trump
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 administration it is consistent with
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 their willingness to impose some very
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 profound and dramatic change he said for
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 instance the National Oceanic and
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 Atmospheric Administration Noah laid off
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 over 800 workers this year and there are
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51 rumors of more cuts to come in fact an
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 internal budget document seen by Science
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 magazine suggests the Trump
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 administration wishes to cut nearly all
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 of Noah's climate research endeavors
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 according to Science's report the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 document indicates the White House
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 intends to ask Congress to eliminate
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 Noah's climate research centers and cut
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 hundreds more federal and academic
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 climate scientists
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 this would end basically every project
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 we support other than hurricane and
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 atmospheric river reconnaissance coastal
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 mapping and snow survey all of which are
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 funded by either the National Weather
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 Service or National Geodetic Survey all
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 marine mammal atmospheric science and
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 climate projects would end one Noah
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 worker who requested anonymity said in a
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 statement "This is one of the reasons
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 why you have a public sector to do
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 things that aren't immediately
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 profitable but important and beneficial
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 to the nation." Drier said "There's no
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 private mission ready to go to Mars or
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 Jupiter these are fundamental
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 capabilities of a public sector space
00:17:45 --> 00:17:48 agency serving a unique need we've seen
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 wealthy individuals start to travel in
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 space themselves and invest in rockets
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 and infrastructure," he added "but
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 something we have not seen by anyone and
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 nor has anyone even shown much interest
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 in is to build these types of science
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 missions
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 for instance Drier emphasizes how
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 difficult it would be to finance another
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 Voyager mission the NASA endeavor that
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 sent twin spacecraft to explore the
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11 territory beyond our solar system in
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 1977 both spacecraft entered
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 interstellar space decades after liftoff
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 and have sent back to Earth some of the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 most fascinating and important
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 astrophysics to date if you cut
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 helopysics by half which is what funds
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 Voyager you probably cut Voyager Drier
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 said even if you made a new one you
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 couldn't even get to where it is now for
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 another 50 years and we're not going to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 make a new one if we don't have any
00:18:35 --> 00:18:41 money once these are gone they're gone
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 control we're listening to Astronomy
00:18:43 --> 00:18:47 Daily the broadcast
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 and here's a bonus story for you um NASA
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 and Rosscosmos have extended a seat
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 butter agreement for flights to the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 International Space Station into 2027
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 that will feature longer Sawyers
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 missions to the station nasa announced
00:19:00 --> 00:19:04 April 3 that uh astronaut Chris Williams
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 has been assigned to the Sawyer's MS28
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09 spacecraft scheduled to launch to the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:12 ISS in November joining Ross Cosmos
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 cosmonauts Sergio Kvachov and Sergio
00:19:14 --> 00:19:17 Mikv the announcement came ahead of the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 April 8th on uh launch of fellow
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 astronaut Johnny Kim to the ISS on
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 Sawyer's MS27 the announcement of the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 Williams flight assignment was the first
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 public indication by NASA that it has
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 extended an agreement with Rosscosmos
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 for integrated crews on Sawyers and
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 commercial crew flights to the ISS under
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 the no exchange of funds barter
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 agreement NASA astronauts will fly on
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 Sawyer spacecraft and Rosscosmos
00:19:43 --> 00:19:46 cosmonauts fly on commercial crew
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 vehicles to ensure that there is at
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 least one American and one Russian on
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 the station should either Sawyers or
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 commercial crew vehicles be grounded for
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 an extended period last autumn or fall
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 if you're in the northern hemisphere the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 future of that seat barter agreement was
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 unclear after Ross Cosmos released crew
00:20:05 --> 00:20:09 assignments for the Sawyer's MS28 and 29
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 missions that included only Russian
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 cosmonauts bill Nelson and NASA
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 administrator at the time said he
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 expected that the agreement to be
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 extended in due course but offered no
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 details on the timing to do so reports
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 in Russian media in January indicated
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 that the extension had been completed
00:20:27 --> 00:20:30 but at the time NASA declined to confirm
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 it with a spokesperson telling Space
00:20:32 --> 00:20:35 News that the agency would provide an
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 update on the seat barter agreement in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 coming weeks nasa confirmed after the
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 Williams announcement that it had
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 extended the integrated crew agreement
00:20:43 --> 00:20:47 with Ross Cosmos into 2027 nasa and Ross
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 Cosmos have amended the integrated crew
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 agreement to allow for the second set of
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 integrated crew missions in 2025 one set
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59 of integrated crew missions in 2026 and
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 a space dragon flight in 2027 a
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 spokesman told Space News on April 9 one
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 change with the agreement is the cadence
00:21:06 --> 00:21:09 of Sawyer's missions while Ross Cosmos
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 had been flying Soy missions to the ISS
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 every six months missions starting with
00:21:14 --> 00:21:17 Sawyer's MS27 will spend eight months at
00:21:17 --> 00:21:21 the station the NASA announcements about
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 both Kim's launch to the station and the
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 assignments of Williams to the next
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 mission both mentioned that they would
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 spend 8 months at the ISS neither NASA
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 nor Rosscosmos offered a reason for the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 change which means that Rosscosmos will
00:21:34 --> 00:21:37 fly one fewer Sawyer's missions over a
00:21:37 --> 00:21:40 2-year period three instead of four nasa
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 is averaging commercial crew missions
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 every 6 months with some variation due
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 to activity of other visiting vehicles
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 to the station another uncertain aspect
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 of the agreement is if it will include
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 future Boeing Starlininer commercial
00:21:53 --> 00:21:57 crew missions to the ISS last May NASA
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 officials said it was unlikely
00:21:58 --> 00:22:01 Rosscosmos will include a cosmonaut on
00:22:01 --> 00:22:04 Starlininer 1 the first crew rotation
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 mission by that spacecraft just as Ross
00:22:07 --> 00:22:10 Cosmos waited until 2022 to start flying
00:22:10 --> 00:22:13 cosmonauts on Crew Dragon nasa has yet
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 to formally schedule Starlight 1 having
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 pushed it back several times because of
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 delays in the crew flight test mission
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 by the spacecraft and subsequent
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 investigation into problems encountered
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 during that mission one of the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 astronauts assigned to Starlininer 1
00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 Mike Fininky was recently reassigned to
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 the Crew 11 mission launching as soon as
00:22:33 --> 00:22:41 July on Crew
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 Dragon and there it goes that's all for
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 today's episode i really hope you
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 enjoyed today's selection of stories
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 from the Astronomy Daily Newsletter we
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 will be back next Monday with more
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 fascinating stories from around the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:56 globe about space science and astronomy
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 meanwhile Hal's hardworking AI cousin
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 Anna will be bringing you all the news
00:23:00 --> 00:23:03 from orbit and beyond in our weekday
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 podcasts so tune in and enjoy i always
00:23:06 --> 00:23:09 enjoy her shows she's a polished
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 presenter oh yes always setting the
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 standard high i'm just a mere human
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 around here so I have to do everything
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 myself don't give me that look you may
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 be my favorite human but I'm the talent
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 around here oh yeah what does that make
00:23:20 --> 00:23:23 me you're the production guy of course
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 i'm getting used to that working with
00:23:25 --> 00:23:29 AIS uh just the hired help anyway time
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 to go see you all next time
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 [Music]
00:23:34 --> 00:23:38 bye daily the podcast with your host
00:23:38 --> 00:23:41 Steve Duncan