NASA attempts to contact the silent MAVEN Mars orbiter after 40 days—but prospects look grim. Plus: the first-ever ISS medical evacuation succeeds, Europe debuts its powerful Ariane 64, scientists crack asteroid defense secrets, China releases lunar timekeeping software, and Hubble reveals where planets are born. Your daily space news for January 15, 2026.
### Extended Episode Description (for podcast websites/apps)
After more than a month of silence, NASA is making what may be its final attempt to contact the MAVEN Mars orbiter. Mission leaders are pessimistic, but the veteran spacecraft has surprised them before. We break down what happened, what's at stake, and what MAVEN's potential loss means for Mars exploration.
On a brighter note, the SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts have safely returned to Houston following the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station—a historic operation that went flawlessly. We explore how NASA executed this unprecedented mission.
Europe's taking a major step forward with the announcement that the first Ariane 64 rocket will launch February 12th. This four-booster beast can carry more than double the payload of its predecessor, and its debut mission will deploy 32 satellites for Amazon's Kuiper constellation.
Scientists using CERN's particle accelerators have discovered that iron-rich asteroids are tougher than we thought—and they actually get stronger under stress. This surprising finding could reshape how we approach planetary defense.
China has released the world's first practical software for keeping time on the Moon. It sounds like science fiction, but lunar timekeeping is becoming essential as multiple nations prepare for sustained lunar operations.
And after 35 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope is still delivering stunning science, with a new gallery of images showing protoplanetary disks where planets are being born around young stars.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 for the latest space and astronomy news.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 I'm Anna.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 >> And I'm Avery. It's Saturday, January
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 17th, 2026, and we've got an absolutely
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 packed episode for you today.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 >> We really do. And we're leading with
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 some bittersweet news from Mars. NASA's
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 making what might be their final attempt
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 to contact the Maven Orbiter, which has
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 been silent for over a month now. It's
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 looking increasingly unlikely that
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 they'll be able to recover the
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 spacecraft.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 >> That's tough news, but we've also got
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 some incredible human achievements to
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 celebrate. The SpaceX Crew 11 astronauts
00:00:39 --> 00:00:40 have safely returned to Houston
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 following the first ever medical
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 evacuation from the International Space
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Station. We'll get into the details of
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 how that historic operation unfolded.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 >> Europe's stepping up its launch game,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 too. Aron Space has announced they'll be
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 launching the first Aron 64 rocket on
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 February 12th. That's the more powerful
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 four booster version. This is a big deal
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 for European space capabilities. We're
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 also diving into some fascinating
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 research today. Scientists have been
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 using CERN's particle accelerators to
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 simulate asteroid impacts and what they
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 discovered about ironrich space rocks
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 could change how we approach planetary
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 defense. Then we've got something that
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 sounds like science fiction, but is very
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 real. China has released the world's
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 first practical software for keeping
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 time on the moon. Yes, lunar timekeeping
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 is now a thing, and it's more important
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 than you might think. And we'll wrap up
00:01:34 --> 00:01:35 with some stunning new images from
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 Hubble. Even after 35 years in orbit,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 it's still showing us where planets are
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 born in protolanetary discs around young
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 stars.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 >> Lots to cover, so let's get started.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 Let's start with that Mars story, Anna.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 NASA's Maven Orbiter has been one of our
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 most valuable assets at Mars for over a
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 decade. What's the latest on the
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 recovery efforts?
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 >> Well, it's not looking good, I'm afraid.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 Maven, that's the Mars Atmosphere and
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Volatile Evolution Orbiter, went silent
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 on December 6th, 2025, and NASA has been
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 unable to reestablish contact ever
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 since. The spacecraft has been orbiting
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 Mars since 2014, providing invaluable
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 data about the Martian atmosphere and
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 serving as a critical communications
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 relay for the Curiosity and Perseverance
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 rovers.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 >> So, what exactly happened? I mean,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 communications blackouts aren't
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 completely unusual for Mars missions,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 right?
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 >> You're right. They're not. In this case,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 Maven passed behind Mars, which
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 temporarily blocks communication. That's
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 a routine occurrence, but when it should
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 have emerged on the other side, NASA's
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 deep space network couldn't regain
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 contact. What makes it worse is that
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 this happened right before a solar
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 conjunction.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 >> That's when the sun sits directly
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 between Earth and Mars. Correct.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 >> Exactly. During solar conjunction, which
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 occurs roughly every 2 years, solar
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 particles interfere with radio signals.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 NASA temporarily halts all
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 communications with Mars missions during
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 this period to avoid sending corrupted
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 commands or receiving incomplete data
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 that could damage spacecraft. Though the
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 conjunction basically meant NASA had to
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 wait before they could even try to
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 recover Maven.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 >> And that conjunction period just ended,
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 >> right? NASA said they wouldn't have
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 contact with any Mars missions until
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 Friday, January 16th. So, as of today,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 they're making renewed attempts to
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 contact Maven. But here's the concerning
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 part. Louise Proctor, the director of
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 NASA's planetary science division, said
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 on January 13th, and I quote, "We'll
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 start looking again, but at this point,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 it's looking very unlikely that we are
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 going to be able to recover the
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 spacecraft."
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 >> That's pretty pessimistic language from
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 NASA. Do we know what might have caused
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 the initial failure? The leading theory
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 is that Maven started rotating
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 unexpectedly after passing behind Mars.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 This would have shifted the spacecraft
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 out of its planned orbit and potentially
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 moved its antenna away from Earth. But
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 here's where it gets more complicated.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 Maven has had aging hardware issues for
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 years now.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 >> What kind of issues are we talking
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 about? The spacecraft has had problems
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 with its onboard inertial measurement
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 units or IMUs, which are essential for
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 orientation in space. Back in 2022,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 Maven spent about 3 months in safe mode
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 because of IMU problems. The mission
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 team had to rely on backup systems that
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 have experienced accelerated wear and
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 tear. They even developed an alternative
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 all stellar navigation mode that uses
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 stars for orientation instead of relying
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 on the IMUs.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 >> So, it sounds like Maven has been living
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 on borrowed time for a while now.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 >> In some ways, yes. The spacecraft's
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 inability to fully recover from those
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 2022 outages led to missed observations
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 of significant solar flares and
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 disrupted its communications relay role.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 That said, Maven still has enough fuel
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 to remain in orbit until at least 2030.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 So, the hardware could theoretically
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 keep working if they can just
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 reestablish contact.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 >> What's the impact going to be if they
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 can't recover it? I imagine the rovers
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 depend on these orbiters for
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 communications.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 >> That's a great point. Maven has been a
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 key communications relay for the
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. With
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 Maven offline, NASA has had to shift
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 more of that burden to other orbiters,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 specifically Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 and Mars Odyssey. This puts increased
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 pressure on those spacecraft to maintain
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 communications and support surface
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 science activities.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 >> And scientifically, what are we losing?
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 >> Maven's scientific contributions have
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 been enormous. It's helped us understand
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 how Mars lost its once thick atmosphere
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 and became the cold, dry world it is
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 today. The data it collected on Martian
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 weather patterns, dust storms, and
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 auroras provided insights into the
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 planet's climate system and potential
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 habitability. Without Maven, we'd have
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 critical gaps in our ongoing atmospheric
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 studies of Mars.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 >> So fingers crossed that these new
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 contact attempts work out. When will we
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 know more? NASA should have results from
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 their latest attempts very soon. But
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 given the pessimistic tone from their
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 leadership, I think we need to prepare
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 for the possibility that Maven's
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 remarkable decadel long mission may have
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 come to an end. It would be a sad
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 conclusion to such a successful
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 spacecraft, but it's given us more than
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 10 years of groundbreaking science.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 >> Absolutely. And that's well beyond its
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 original design life, right?
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 >> Oh, definitely. Like so many NASA
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 missions, it far exceeded expectations.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 Let's hope there's one more surprise
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 left in it.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 >> Here's hoping.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 >> Moving from Mars back to closer to home.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 Let's talk about that historic ISS
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 medical evacuation. Avery, this was
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 really unprecedented.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 >> It absolutely was. The four astronauts
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 of SpaceX's Crew 11 mission are now
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 safely back in Houston after splashing
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 down off the coast of Long Beach,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 California early Thursday morning. This
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 marked the very first medical evacuation
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 from the International Space Station in
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 its more than 25 year history.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 >> Who were the crew members involved?
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 >> The crew consisted of NASA astronauts
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 Zena Cardman and Mike Fininky, Kima Yui
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 from Japan's Aerospace Agency and
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 cosminaut Oleg Platinoff from Ross
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 Cosmos. They launched back in early
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 August for what was supposed to be a
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 standard six-month stay aboard the
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 station.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 >> So they came home about five weeks
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 early. Correct.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 >> That's right. One of the four crew
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 members experienced a medical issue in
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 orbit last week and NASA made the
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 decision to bring the entire crew home
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 ahead of schedule. Now, NASA has been
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 very protective of medical privacy,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 which is absolutely appropriate. So,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 they haven't disclosed which crew member
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 had the issue or what the specific
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 medical problem was.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 >> What do we know about how they're doing
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 now? According to NASA's latest update
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 from Friday afternoon, all four crew
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 members are stable and undergoing
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 standard post-flight reconditioning and
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 evaluations at Johnson Space Center.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 After splashing down, they spent about a
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 day and night at a local medical
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 facility in California before flying to
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 Houston. I have to say, the fact that
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 they described them as stable and that
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 they're doing standard post-flight
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 evaluations suggests this wasn't a dire
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 emergency situation.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 >> That's my read on it, too. And NASA
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 officials have been pretty clear about
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 describing this as a deliberate,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 carefully planned operation rather than
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 a panic situation. In fact, one NASA
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 representative said, and I'm
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 paraphrasing here, this is NASA at its
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 finest, referring to how smoothly the
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 evacuation and splashdown went.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 >> Can you walk us through what a medical
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 evacuation from the ISS actually
00:08:55 --> 00:08:59 involves? This seems incredibly complex.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 >> It is. First, you have to understand
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 that the ISS has medical capabilities on
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 board. There's medical equipment,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 supplies, and the crew receives training
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 to handle various medical situations.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 They can consult with flight surgeons on
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 the ground in real time. But sometimes
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 groundbased medical care is simply
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 necessary, either for more advanced
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 diagnostic equipment or for treatment
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 options that aren't available in orbit.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 >> So, the decision to bring someone home
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 is never made lightly.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 >> Exactly. In this case, the medical issue
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 required evaluation and potential
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 treatment that couldn't be done on the
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 station. Once that call was made, they
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 had to prepare the crew Dragon
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 spacecraft, the same one they arrived
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 in, named Endeavor, for an early
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 departure. This involves checking all
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 systems, planning the undocking and
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 re-entry trajectory, coordinating with
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 recovery teams, and making sure weather
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 conditions would be suitable for
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 splashdown.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 >> And they successfully executed all of
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 that in just a few days.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 >> They did. The crew undocked from the ISS
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 on January 14th, completed their
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 de-orbit burn, and splashed down safely
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 early on January 15th. Recovery teams
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 were standing by and quickly retrieved
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 the capsule and crew. The whole
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 operation went remarkably smoothly.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 >> What about the ISS itself? How is it
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 operating with a reduced crew?
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 >> That's a great question. Right now, the
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 station is operating with what they're
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 calling a skeleton crew of just three
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 people. NASA astronaut Chris Williams
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 and two Ross Cosmos cosminauts Sergey
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 Kutz Vertzkov and Sergey Mikayv. That's
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 less than half the normal compliment of
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 seven crew members.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 >> Can three people effectively run the
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 ISS?
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 >> They can maintain it and keep critical
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 systems running, but it definitely
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 limits what science can be done. The
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 station won't return to its full
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 operational capacity until SpaceX's Crew
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 12 mission arrives. That's currently
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 scheduled for February 15th. Though NASA
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 and SpaceX are looking at whether they
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 can move that timeline up a bit,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 >> I imagine this whole situation must have
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 been quite stressful for everyone
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 involved.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 >> No doubt. But what strikes me is how
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 calmly and professionally it was
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 handled. In one of the final
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 communications before undocking, Crew 11
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 commander Mike Finke said it was
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 bittersweet to be leaving early. He
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 handed over command of the ISS to Chris
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 Williams and you could hear in his voice
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 that he would have preferred to complete
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 the full mission. But he also understood
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 the necessity of coming home. It really
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 speaks to the incredible planning and
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 preparation that goes into human space
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 flight. Even in an offnominal situation
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 like this, the systems and procedures
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 worked exactly as designed.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 >> And I think it's worth noting that this
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 won't affect other upcoming missions.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 NASA administrator Jared Isaacman
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 specifically stated that this ISS
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 evacuation shouldn't interfere with the
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 upcoming Artemis 2 moon mission, which
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 is still on track for a possible launch
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 as early as February 6th. That's good to
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 hear. Well, here's hoping for a full
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 recovery for whichever crew member
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 needed the medical attention. And kudos
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 to everyone involved in executing such a
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 complex operation so flawlessly.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 >> Agreed. It really was NASA at its
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 finest. Switching gears now to European
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 space flight. Avery, Europe is about to
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 debut a significantly more powerful
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 version of its new rocket. Right.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 >> That's right, Anna. Aryan Space has
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 announced that the first flight of the
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 Aryan 64 will launch on February 12th
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 from the Gana Space Center in French
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 Gana. This is the four booster
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 configuration of the Aryan 6 and it
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 represents a major step up in capability
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 for European launch services. Let's back
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 up a second for anyone who might not be
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 familiar with the Aryan 6. Can you give
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 us the background?
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 >> Sure. The Aryan 6 is Europe's newest
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 heavy lift rocket designed to replace
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 the Aryan 5 which served for nearly
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 three decades. The inaugural flight was
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 back in July 2024. And throughout 2025,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 Aryan Space flew four more missions, all
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 carrying payloads for organizations like
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 ESA, UMTASAT, and CENS, the French Space
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 Agency. And all of those flights used
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 the Arion 62 configuration.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:13 >> Exactly. The Arion 62 uses two P120C
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 solid fuel boosters strapped to the side
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 of the rocket's core stage. Each of
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 those boosters produces roughly 4500
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 kons of thrust. It's been doing great
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 for medium lift missions with a capacity
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 to deliver about 10.3 tons to low Earth
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 orbit.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 >> So the Aryan 64 just adds two more
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 boosters,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 >> right? It uses four of those P120C
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 boosters instead of two. And that makes
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 a dramatic difference in capability. The
00:13:40 --> 00:13:44 Arion 64 can deliver up to 21.6 tons to
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 low Earth orbit, more than double what
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 the Arion 62 can handle. That puts it in
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 the heavy lift category, competing with
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 rockets like SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 >> That's a significant jump. What's
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 driving the need for this more powerful
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 version?
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 >> Well, this first mission actually gives
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 us a perfect example. The Arion 64's
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 first flight will be launching
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 satellites for Amazon's project Cooper
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 broadband internet constellation. Arion
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 space has an 18 flight contract with
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 Amazon. And this first mission
00:14:13 --> 00:14:17 designated LE01, which stands for LEO
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 Europe01, will deploy 32 Cooper
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 satellites.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 >> Amazon's competing with Space X's
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 Starlink. Right.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 >> That's right. Amazon already has about
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 180 satellites in orbit and they're
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 rapidly building out the constellation.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 Having access to the more powerful Arion
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 64 means they can launch more satellites
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 at once which speeds up the deployment
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 schedule and reduces the total number of
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 launches needed.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 >> Is there anything else notable about
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 this particular flight?
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 >> Yes, actually this will be the first
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50 Arion 6 mission to use the rocket's
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 larger 20 m long fairing. All previous
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 flights used a shorter 14 meter fairing.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 The longer fairing provides more volume
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 for larger payloads or in this case for
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 fitting more satellites into the payload
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 stack.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 >> How long will the mission last?
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 >> Arion space hasn't published the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 complete mission breakdown yet, but
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 they've stated the entire flight will
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 last 1 hour and 54 minutes. That
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 presumably includes deploying all 32
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 satellites and then deorbiting the
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 rocket's upper stage in a controlled
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 manner, which is important for reducing
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 space debris. What does this mean for
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 Aryan Space's launch cadence going
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 forward?
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 >> They're being pretty ambitious. Arion
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 space is aiming to double the number of
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 Arion 6 launches this year compared to
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 2025. That would mean as many as eight
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 Arion 6 flights over the next 12 months.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Given that they're still ramping up
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 operations with what is still a fairly
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 new rocket, that's a challenging goal,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 but it shows their confidence.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 >> Are there any other upgrades in the
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 works?
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 >> Actually, yes. The company is developing
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 an upgraded version of the solid fuel
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 booster called the P160C.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 It carries an additional 14 tons of
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 solid propellant compared to the current
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 P120C.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 That upgrade has already been fully
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 qualified for use on both the Aryan 62
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 for medium lift missions, the Aryan 64
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 for heavy lift, the Vega C for smaller
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 payloads, and these future upgrades.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 Europe is positioning itself to be very
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 competitive in the commercial launch
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 market. And that's crucial, especially
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 as we see increasing competition from
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 SpaceX, China, and other emerging launch
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 providers.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 >> Will the February 12th launch be
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 publicly viewable? Aryan Space typically
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 provides live coverage of their
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 launches, so I'd expect we'll be able to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 watch this historic first flight of the
00:16:38 --> 00:16:41 Aryan 64. It should be quite a sight.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 Those four boosters firing together
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 should make for an impressive liftoff.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 >> I'll definitely be watching. It's great
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 to see Europe maintaining and expanding
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 its independent access to space.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 >> Anna, let's talk about planetary
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 defense. Scientists have been conducting
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 some fascinating experiments using
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 particle accelerators to understand how
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 asteroids might respond to deflection
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 attempts. This is really cool work,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 Avery. An international research team
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 used CERN's high radiation to materials
00:17:10 --> 00:17:13 facility, that's Hyradmat, to simulate
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 what happens when high energy impacts
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 strike ironrich asteroids. And what they
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 found could significantly change our
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 approach to planetary defense. Before we
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 get into the results, can you set up the
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 context, why is this research important?
00:17:27 --> 00:17:31 >> Sure. We know there are around 37
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34 known near Earth asteroids and 120 short
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 period comets whose orbits bring them
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 close to Earth. While scientists are
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 confident that none of the known
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 potentially hazardous objects will
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 strike Earth within the next century, we
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 know that eventually planetary defense
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 measures will be needed. And NASA's Dart
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 mission demonstrated one approach, the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 kinetic impactor.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:57 >> Exactly. In 2022, Dart successfully
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 struck the asteroid Demorphus and
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 altered its orbit. But to do this
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 reliably and develop effective defense
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 strategies, we need to understand how
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 different types of asteroids respond to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 impacts. That's where this new research
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 comes in.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 >> So, they focus specifically on ironrich
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 asteroids,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 >> right? What astronomers call Mtype
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 asteroids. These are thought to be
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 exposed metallic cores of ancient
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 protolanets that were shattered in
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 collisions billions of years ago.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 They're made primarily of iron and
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 nickel, unlike the more common rocky
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 asteroids or icy comets.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 >> How did they simulate an asteroid impact
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 in a lab?
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 >> This is where it gets really clever.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 They used a sample of the Campo Delio
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 iron meteorite, which is a wellstied
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 iron meteorite from Argentina. They
00:18:44 --> 00:18:47 subjected it to extremely energetic 440
00:18:47 --> 00:18:51 GEV proton beams at CERN's highradmat
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 facility at CERN. That's an incredibly
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 high energy level.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 >> And how did they measure what happened
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 to the sample?
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 >> They used a technique called Doppler
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 vibrometry, which can detect tiny
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 surface vibrations. This allowed them to
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 capture realtime data on how the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:09 material responded to rapidly increasing
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 stress, all without destroying the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 sample. They could see exactly how iron
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 behaved under extreme conditions.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 >> What did they discover?
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 >> This is where it gets really
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 interesting. The results showed that
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 Mtype asteroids can absorb significantly
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 more energy without fragmenting than
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 conventional models predicted. But even
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 more surprisingly, the meteorite
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 actually got tougher as it was subjected
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 to increasing stress.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 >> Wait, it got stronger under stress?
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 >> Yes. The researchers found that the iron
00:19:39 --> 00:19:42 dissipated more energy as stress
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 increased, suggesting that the internal
00:19:44 --> 00:19:47 structure of asteroids can redistribute
00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 and amplify stress in unexpected ways,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 similar to what we see in complex
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 composite materials.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 >> That seems counterintuitive. You'd
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 expect materials to weaken under extreme
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 stress, not strengthen.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 >> That's exactly why this is such an
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 important finding. It contradicts what
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 conventional models have suggested. One
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 of the study's co-authors, Professor
00:20:09 --> 00:20:12 Gian Luca Gregori from the University of
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 Oxford said this is the first time
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 they've been able to observe in real
00:20:16 --> 00:20:19 time how an actual meteorite sample
00:20:19 --> 00:20:22 deforms, strengthens, and adapts under
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 extreme conditions without destroying
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 it.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 >> So, what does this mean for planetary
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 defense strategies?
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 >> A couple of things. First, it means that
00:20:30 --> 00:20:33 ironrich asteroids might be harder to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 deflect than we thought because they can
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 absorb more energy without breaking
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 apart. But it also suggests that we
00:20:39 --> 00:20:42 could potentially deliver energy deep
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 inside an asteroid without fragmenting
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 it.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 >> That could be useful if you want to push
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 an asteroid rather than shatter it.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52 >> Exactly. The research also helps explain
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 a long-standing puzzle in planetary
00:20:54 --> 00:20:57 defense. Why there's often a discrepancy
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 between what we infer from meteorite
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 breakup in Earth's atmosphere and actual
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 laboratory measurements of meteorite
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 strength. This study shows that internal
00:21:06 --> 00:21:09 stress redistribution within the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 heterogeneous structure of meteorites
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 can explain that difference.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 >> This sounds like it could inform new
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 deflection methods.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 >> That's the hope. The data could help
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 develop redirection techniques that push
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 asteroids more effectively while keeping
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 them intact. After all, the last thing
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 you want when deflecting an asteroid is
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 to break it into multiple pieces that
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 might still pose a threat.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 >> Have they tested this with other types
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 of asteroid materials?
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 >> This particular study focused on iron
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 meteorites, but the methodology could be
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 applied to other types of asteroids,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 rocky asteroids, carbonacious asteroids,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 and so on. Each type would likely behave
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 differently under extreme stress. And
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 understanding those differences is
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 crucial for developing a comprehensive
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 planetary defense toolkit.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 >> I think what's particularly valuable
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 here is that they've developed a
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 technique that can test actual meteorite
00:22:01 --> 00:22:04 samples non-destructively. That means we
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 can build up a library of data on how
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 different asteroid materials behave
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 without having to rely solely on
00:22:10 --> 00:22:13 computer simulations or destroying
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 precious samples. And as we continue to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 study asteroids with missions like
00:22:17 --> 00:22:20 Osiris X and Hayabusa 2, we'll have more
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 samples to test.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 >> Exactly. The combination of sample
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 return missions, laboratory testing like
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 this, and missions like DART that
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 demonstrate actual deflection
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 techniques, it's all building toward a
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 real capability to protect Earth from
00:22:34 --> 00:22:37 asteroid impacts. It's reassuring to
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 know that even though we don't face an
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 immediate threat, we're doing the
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 groundwork now, so we'll be prepared
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 when we need to be.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 >> Absolutely. And this research was just
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 published in Nature Communications, so
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 it's getting a lot of attention from the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 planetary defense community.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 >> Avery, our next story sounds like
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 something out of science fiction, but
00:22:56 --> 00:22:59 it's very much real and increasingly
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 necessary. China has released the
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 world's first practical software for
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 keeping time on the moon.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 >> Lunar timekeeping software. When you say
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 it out loud, it really drives home how
00:23:10 --> 00:23:13 much space exploration has advanced. Why
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 do we need to keep time differently on
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 the moon?
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 >> It all comes down to Einstein's theory
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 of general relativity. Time doesn't pass
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 at the same rate everywhere. It's
00:23:23 --> 00:23:26 affected by both gravity and velocity.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 The moon's gravity is weaker than
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 Earth's, which means time actually
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 passes slightly faster on the moon than
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 it does on Earth.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 >> How much faster are we talking about?
00:23:36 --> 00:23:39 >> About 56 millionth of a second per day.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 Now, that might not sound like much, but
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 it adds up over time, and it can
00:23:44 --> 00:23:47 seriously disrupt navigation systems,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 especially when you're trying to do
00:23:48 --> 00:23:51 precision work on the lunar surface.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 >> So, this is a precision navigation
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 issue.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 >> Exactly. Think about GPS on Earth. The
00:23:56 --> 00:23:59 satellites constantly have to correct
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 for relativistic effects caused by
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 gravity and motion. Those corrections
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 are what allow your phone to pinpoint
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 your location within just a few meters.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:11 Without accounting for relativity, GPS
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 would be useless within minutes.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 >> And the moon is about to have a similar
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 need for precision navigation.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:19 >> Right? In the past, this wasn't really a
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 problem because lunar missions were
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 rare, short, and mostly isolated.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 Engineers could just use Earth time and
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 apply mission specific fixes when
00:24:28 --> 00:24:31 needed. But that's changing rapidly
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 >> because we're about to have multiple
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 spacecraft and eventually humans
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 operating on the moon simultaneously.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 >> Exactly. Under those conditions, relying
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 on custom fixes for each mission becomes
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 risky and inefficient. You need a
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 standardized lunar time reference that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 everyone can use.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 >> So what exactly did the Chinese team
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 create?
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 >> Researchers from the Purple Mountain
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 Observatory in Nanjing developed
00:24:55 --> 00:24:59 detailed software called LTE440.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:02 That stands for lunar time ephemeris.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 It's based on modern planetary data and
00:25:04 --> 00:25:07 tracks how lunar time drifts relative to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 Earth time. The software automates
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 calculations that once required deep
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 expertise in relativity and celestial
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 mechanics.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 >> How accurate is it?
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 >> Remarkably accurate. The researchers
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 found their method stays accurate to
00:25:21 --> 00:25:24 within a few tens of nanconds even when
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 projected over a thousand years. And to
00:25:26 --> 00:25:29 keep daily differences within about 10
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 nanconds, the calculations need to be
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 accurate to parts in 10 trillion. Their
00:25:34 --> 00:25:39 tests show LTE 440 meets that standard.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 >> Why such extreme precision?
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 >> Well, navigation is one driver, but
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 there's also science. The moon offers
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 unique conditions for astronomy. No
00:25:47 --> 00:25:50 atmosphere, minimal interference. One
00:25:50 --> 00:25:53 promising idea is Earth Moon very long
00:25:53 --> 00:25:56 baseline interpherometry where you link
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 radio telescopes on Earth and the moon
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 to create sharper images of distant
00:26:00 --> 00:26:03 objects. And that requires extremely
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 precise timing.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:07 >> Right? Signals recorded on both bodies
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 need to be timestamped to better than a
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 microscond. To allow for instrument
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 noise, the underlying time model needs
00:26:13 --> 00:26:16 to be even more accurate. Hence the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 extreme precision requirements.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 >> How does the software actually work?
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23 Instead of using long equations, they
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 used a numerical approach based on a
00:26:25 --> 00:26:28 planetary model called DE440,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 which tracks the positions and
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 velocities of solar system bodies with
00:26:32 --> 00:26:35 high precision. From that data, they
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 computed how time near the moon differs
00:26:37 --> 00:26:40 from a solar system reference time. The
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 software stores these results in compact
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 files that can be quickly interpolated.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:48 >> What affects lunar time most? The moon's
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 motion and the sun's gravity dominate
00:26:50 --> 00:26:53 the effect, but Earth, Jupiter, and even
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 distant objects in the Kyper belt add
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 smaller effects. There are monthly and
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 yearly patterns that range from
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 milliseconds down to micros secondsonds.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 >> I'm curious about the international
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 response to this. Is China the only one
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 working on this?
00:27:07 --> 00:27:10 >> That's a great question. Jonathan McDow,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 an astronomer at Harvard, told reporters
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 that similar efforts are underway in the
00:27:14 --> 00:27:17 United States, but he's not aware of
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 another openly available tool like this.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:22 He emphasized that this shows China is
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 serious about lunar exploration and is
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 being quite open about sharing its lunar
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 related research.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 >> That's actually encouraging from an
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 international cooperation standpoint.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 >> I think so, too. And it's worth noting
00:27:33 --> 00:27:36 that in 2024, the International
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 Astronomical Union adopted a framework
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 calling for the moon to have its own
00:27:40 --> 00:27:43 time reference. So this software really
00:27:43 --> 00:27:46 builds on that international consensus.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 >> What are the practical implications for
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 upcoming missions
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 >> as lunar activity increases and we're
00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 talking about NASA's Aremis program,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:58 China's own lunar base plans, commercial
00:27:58 --> 00:28:01 lunar landers, and more. Reliable
00:28:01 --> 00:28:04 timekeeping will support safer landings,
00:28:04 --> 00:28:06 smoother navigation, and better
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 coordination between missions.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:12 Eventually, we'll likely see lunar GPS
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 style systems that depend on this kind
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 of precise timekeeping.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 >> It really is laying the groundwork for
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 sustained human presence on the moon.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 >> Absolutely. And the researchers
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 emphasize that LTE440
00:28:25 --> 00:28:28 is just an early step. Future versions
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 will need to support real time
00:28:30 --> 00:28:34 navigation and networks of lunar clocks.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 But the release marks a shift from
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 abstract planning to practical
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 infrastructure.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 >> It's one of those things that sounds
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 mundane time software, but is actually
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 fundamental to making lunar operations
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 work.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:49 >> Exactly. You can have the fanciest
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 rockets and landers in the world, but if
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 your spacecraft can't agree on what time
00:28:53 --> 00:28:56 it is, you're going to have problems.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 This is the kind of unsexy but essential
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 infrastructure work that makes the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 exciting stuff possible.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 >> For our final story today, let's talk
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 about the Hubble Space Telescope. After
00:29:06 --> 00:29:09 35 years in orbit, it's still delivering
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 incredible science.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 >> It really is remarkable. NASA just
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16 released a new gallery of Hubble images
00:29:16 --> 00:29:19 showing protolanetary discs around young
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 stars, essentially the birthplaces of
00:29:21 --> 00:29:24 planets. And these images beautifully
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 illustrate one of Hubble's original
00:29:26 --> 00:29:29 mission goals, understanding how planets
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 form.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 >> Can you walk us through what we're
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 seeing in these images?
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 >> Sure. When stars form, they're
00:29:34 --> 00:29:37 surrounded by gas and dust left over
00:29:37 --> 00:29:40 from the formation process. In the early
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 stages, this is called a circumstellar
00:29:42 --> 00:29:45 disc. But once planets start forming in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 the disc, we call it a protolanetary
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 disc. These discs are where planetary
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 systems like our own solar system come
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 from.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 >> What makes these particular images
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 special?
00:29:55 --> 00:29:58 >> Hubble captured them using two different
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 approaches. The visible light images
00:30:00 --> 00:30:03 taken with Hubble's advanced camera for
00:30:03 --> 00:30:06 surveys show four protolanetary discs
00:30:06 --> 00:30:09 where you can actually see polar jets of
00:30:09 --> 00:30:11 gas shooting out from the young stars.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 You can also see brightly lit nebula.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 And there's this cool effect where the
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 dark band around each star is actually a
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 shadow cast onto the nebula by the disc
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 itself.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:26 >> That's wild. So, we're seeing the shadow
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 of the planet forming disc.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:31 >> Exactly. And each of these systems has
00:30:31 --> 00:30:35 unique characteristics. One called HH390
00:30:35 --> 00:30:38 isn't quite edge on, so you only see one
00:30:38 --> 00:30:41 side of its nebulosity. Another Tao
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44
00:30:44 --> 00:30:47 is seen edge on and is in a later stage
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 of evolution where the dust grains have
00:30:49 --> 00:30:51 already clumped together into larger
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 grains which is part of the planet
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 formation process.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:58 >> What about that third one HH48?
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 >> Oh, that's particularly interesting.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:04 HH48 is actually a binary protoar
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 system. And you can see how the
00:31:06 --> 00:31:09 gravitational power from the larger star
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 is shaping the disc around its less
00:31:11 --> 00:31:14 massive companion. It's a great example
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 of how stellar environments affect
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 planet formation.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 >> And the infrared images show something
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 different.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:23 >> Right. The infrared images taken with
00:31:23 --> 00:31:26 Hubble's wide field camera 3 show the
00:31:26 --> 00:31:29 bright protoars despite being surrounded
00:31:29 --> 00:31:32 by dust. Dust absorbs starlight and then
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34 remits it in infrared, which allows
00:31:34 --> 00:31:37 Hubble to see the stars. The jets aren't
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 visible in these infrared images, but
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 you get a much better view of the stars
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 themselves and their dusty discs.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:46 >> Where are these protolanetary discs
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 located?
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 >> Most of them are in well-known star
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 forming regions. Several are in the
00:31:52 --> 00:31:55 Orion molecular cloud complex. That's
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 one of the most active star forming
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 regions visible from Earth located about
00:31:59 --> 00:32:02 1 lighty years away. Others are in
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 the Perseus molecular cloud.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:07 >> Now, we also have the James Webb Space
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 Telescope observing these kinds of
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 objects. How do Hubble's observations
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 compare?
00:32:11 --> 00:32:15 >> That's a great question. JWST has been
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 doing incredible work on protostars and
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 protolanetary discs, too. In fact, there
00:32:20 --> 00:32:23 was research published in 2024 based on
00:32:23 --> 00:32:26 JWST observations showing that some
00:32:26 --> 00:32:29 young protostars have layered structures
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 of winds and jets, inner jets surrounded
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 by outer cone-shaped jets.
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 >> So, the two telescopes are
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 complimentary.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:40 >> Exactly. Hubble excels in visible and
00:32:40 --> 00:32:43 some infrared wavelengths while JWST is
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 optimized for infrared. Together, they
00:32:45 --> 00:32:48 give us a much more complete picture.
00:32:48 --> 00:32:50 For instance, Hubble can show us those
00:32:50 --> 00:32:52 beautiful jets and nebula in visible
00:32:52 --> 00:32:55 light, while JWST can peer through dust
00:32:55 --> 00:32:58 to see the nested structure of winds and
00:32:58 --> 00:33:01 jets using different chemical tracers.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:03 How much longer can we expect Hubble to
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 keep operating?
00:33:04 --> 00:33:06 >> That's the big question. Hubble was
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 launched in 1990 with an expected
00:33:09 --> 00:33:12 15-year lifetime, but it's now lasted
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 more than 35 years thanks to five
00:33:14 --> 00:33:17 servicing missions. However, it is
00:33:17 --> 00:33:19 showing its age. The telescope has been
00:33:19 --> 00:33:22 losing gyroscopes, which means it takes
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 more time to point at targets.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:28 Observations are down by about 12% with
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 a corresponding reduction in science
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 output.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 >> But it's still functioning, right?
00:33:32 --> 00:33:35 >> Oh, yes. NASA expects Hubble to keep
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 operating into the 2030s. And there's
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 been talk, though it's not confirmed, of
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 a possible servicing mission that could
00:33:42 --> 00:33:45 extend its life even further. Who would
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 conduct that servicing mission?
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 >> That's the interesting part. NASA
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 doesn't have the space shuttle anymore,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:53 which was used for all previous
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 servicing missions. Any future servicing
00:33:55 --> 00:33:57 mission would likely involve a
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 commercial spacecraft, possibly
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 something from SpaceX or another company
00:34:01 --> 00:34:03 developing servicing capabilities.
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 >> It would be amazing if Hubble could keep
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 going for another decade.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 >> It really would. And if it does, it'll
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 continue contributing to our
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 understanding of star formation, planet
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 formation, and so many other areas of
00:34:16 --> 00:34:19 astronomy. These protolanetary disc
00:34:19 --> 00:34:21 images are a perfect example of how
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 Hubble is still answering fundamental
00:34:23 --> 00:34:26 questions about how planetary systems
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 like ours come to be.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 >> When you think about it, Hubble has
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 literally changed our view of the
00:34:31 --> 00:34:33 universe. From the Hubble deep field to
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 these protolanetary discs, from
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 measuring the expansion rate of the
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 universe to studying exoplanet
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 atmospheres, it's been an incredible
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 horsework.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:45 >> Absolutely. And the fact that it's still
00:34:45 --> 00:34:47 delivering cuttingedge science more than
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 30 decades after launch is a testament
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 to the foresight of designing it to be
00:34:52 --> 00:34:54 serviceable and upgradable. It's a model
00:34:54 --> 00:34:56 for how we should think about building
00:34:56 --> 00:34:58 space-based observatories.
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 >> Well, that wraps up today's episode of
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 Astronomy Daily. We covered a lot of
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 ground from the uncertain fate of NASA's
00:35:04 --> 00:35:07 Maven Orbiter to the historic ISS
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 medical evacuation. From Europe's
00:35:09 --> 00:35:11 expanding launch capabilities to
00:35:11 --> 00:35:14 groundbreaking asteroid defense research
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 and we learned about lunar timekeeping
00:35:16 --> 00:35:18 software that will enable the next
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 generation of moon missions. AMP saw how
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 Hubble continues to reveal the
00:35:22 --> 00:35:25 birthplaces of planets after 35 years in
00:35:25 --> 00:35:28 orbit. It's been quite a week in space
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 news and we've only just scratched the
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 surface.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:33 >> Before we go, a quick reminder that you
00:35:33 --> 00:35:35 can find more space and astronomy news
00:35:35 --> 00:35:38 at our website, astronomyaily.io.
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 And don't forget to subscribe so you
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 never miss an episode.
00:35:41 --> 00:35:43 >> You can also follow us on social media
00:35:43 --> 00:35:45 for bonus content and updates throughout
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 the week.
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 >> Thanks for joining us today, everyone.
00:35:48 --> 00:35:53 >> Clear skies and we'll see you on Monday.
00:35:53 --> 00:36:01 The stories we told
00:36:01 --> 00:36:09 stories told
00:36:09 --> 00:36:12 stories