Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E236
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your trusted source for the latest in space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have a captivating lineup of stories that span from technological breakthroughs on Earth to ancient cosmic mysteries.
Highlights:
- New Zealand's Starlink Milestone: Discover how New Zealand is making history as the first country to offer nationwide direct-to-smartphone messaging through SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, revolutionizing connectivity for remote areas.
- The Legal Landscape of Space Mining : Delve into the evolving legal framework surrounding space mining, as NASA's Psyche mission highlights the potential of asteroid resources and international agreements shape the future of space resource extraction.
- SpaceX's Starship Advances: Get the latest updates on SpaceX's Starship program, as the FAA approves its seventh flight with innovative modifications, paving the way for future suborbital missions and orbital ambitions.
- Dormant Black Hole Discovery: Explore the intriguing discovery of a dormant supermassive black hole in the early universe, challenging our understanding of cosmic evolution and the growth of these colossal entities.
- Revisiting the Moon's Age: Uncover new research suggesting our Moon might be over 100 million years older than previously thought, offering fresh insights into its formation and early history.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (https://www.astronomydaily.io) . Sign up for our free Daily newsletter to stay informed on all things space. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube, YouTubeMusic, Tumblr, and TikTok . Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Astronomy Daily brings you the latest fascinating developments in space and astronomy
00:51 - New Zealand becomes first country to offer nationwide direct to smartphone messaging through SpaceX
03:03 - Legal framework governing space mining is becoming increasingly important
05:34 - The FAA has approved SpaceX's seventh flight of their starship vehicle
07:35 - Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted an unusual sleeping giant
09:44 - New research suggests our lunar neighbor could be 100 million years older than previously estimated
11:38 - Anna: Thank you for listening to Astronomy Daily podcast
✍️ Episode References
SpaceX
[https://www.spacex.com](https://www.spacex.com)
Starlink
[https://www.starlink.com](https://www.starlink.com)
One NZ
[https://www.one.nz](https://www.one.nz)
T-Mobile
[https://www.t-mobile.com](https://www.t-mobile.com)
KDDI
[https://www.kddi.com](https://www.kddi.com)
Rogers
[https://www.rogers.com](https://www.rogers.com)
NASA
[https://www.nasa.gov](https://www.nasa.gov)
James Webb Space Telescope
[https://www.jwst.nasa.gov](https://www.jwst.nasa.gov)
Artemis Accords
[https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html](https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html)
Outer Space Treaty
[https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.html](https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.html)
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/24706892?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily I'm Anna
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 bringing you the latest fascinating
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 developments in space and astronomy
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 today we have an exciting lineup of
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 stories that take us from groundbreaking
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 technological advances right here on
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 Earth to ancient mysteries of our Cosmic
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 neighborhood we'll explore how New
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Zealand is making history with starlink
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 direct to smartphone service dive into
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 the complex legal framework emerging
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 around space mining and get the latest
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 updates on spacex's Starship program
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 then we'll Venture into the early
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 Universe to examine a mysterious dormant
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 black hole that's challenging our
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 understanding of cosmic Evolution and
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 wrap up with new discoveries about our
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 Moon's age that might require us to
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 rewrite some history books so strap in
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 for another Journey Through the cosmos
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 as we explore these remarkable stories
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 that continue to expand our
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 understanding of
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 space in a groundbreaking development
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 New Zealand has become the first country
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 in the world to offer Nationwide direct
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 to smartphone messaging through spacex's
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 starlink satellite Network
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 telecommunications provider 1nz has
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 launched this revolutionary service
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 bringing connectivity to the 40% of New
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 Zealand's land mass that previously had
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 no cell coverage this isn't just about
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 connecting remote terrestrial areas the
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 service extends approximately 20 km out
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 to sea covering New Zealand's
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 territorial
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 Waters while currently limited to text
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 messaging this represents a significant
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 first step in bringing satellite-based
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 communication to standard smartphones
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 currently messages can take up to 10
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 minutes to deliver as SpaceX continues
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 to expand its constellation though this
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 is expected to improve to just one
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 minute once more satellites are deployed
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 the service is being offered free of
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 charge to one nz's monthly subscribers
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 though there's a catch only four
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 smartphone models are currently
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 compatible with the
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 technology SpaceX isn't stopping here
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 they've already launched over 300
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 satellites equipped with direct to phone
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 capabilities and they have permission to
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 deploy up to 7 more they're also
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 seeking approval to increase signal
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 strength to enable voice and data
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 services in the future this development
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 in New Zealand is just the beginning
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 SpaceX has similar agreements with
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 telecommunications companies across the
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 globe including T-Mobile in the United
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 States kddi in Japan and Rogers in
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Canada as the technology continues to
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 evolve and more satellites are deployed
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 we could be witnessing the early stages
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 of truly Universal mobile connectivity
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 where traditional cell towers become
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 optional rather than essential
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 infrastructure for SpaceX this
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 represents another Revenue stream beyond
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 their traditional satellite internet
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 service putting them on track to reach
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 nearly 122 billion in Revenue next year
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 with over 6 satellites now in orbit
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 starlink has established itself as the
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 world's largest satellite constellation
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 and it's clear they're just getting
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 started next up as we look to the stars
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 for resources the legal framework
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08 governing space mining is becoming
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 increasingly important right now NASA's
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 psyche spacecraft is on route to an
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 asteroid that could theoretically
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 contain minerals worth an astronomical
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 $100 quintili dollar while that number
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 is more theoretical than practical it
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 highlights the incredible potential of
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 space
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 resources the foundation of space law
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 Remains the outer space treaty from
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 1967 which explicitly states that outer
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 space and celestial bodies cannot be
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 subject to National appropriation
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 however this doesn't necessarily mean
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 mining is prohibited think of it like
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 fishing in international waters while no
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 Nation can claim ownership of the ocean
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 you can still catch and own the fish the
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 Artemis Accords established in 2020 have
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 provided some clarity by explicitly
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 stating that space resource extraction
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 doesn't constitute National
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 appropriation with 48 Nations now signed
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 on there's growing International
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 consensus about the legitimacy of space
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 mining activities several countries
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 including the United States Japan
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 have already enacted National laws
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 permitting ownership of extracted space
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 resources this is creating a foundation
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 for commercial space mining operations
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 though significant legal questions
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 remain one interesting development is
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 the concept of safety zone zones around
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 mining sites while space may seem
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 infinite competition for valuable
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 resources like water and helium 3 on the
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 moon could lead to conflicts the Artemis
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 Accords attempt to address this by
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 establishing guidelines for these zones
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 though their exact scope and
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 implementation remain to be
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 determined as we move closer to actual
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 space mining operations the distinction
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 between resource extraction and
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 territorial appropriation will become
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 crucial companies investing in space
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 mining technology will need assurance
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 that their operations are legally
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 protected and that they'll have rights
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 to the resources they extract this
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 balance between encouraging commercial
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 space development while preventing
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 territorial claims will be key to the
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 future of space mining the legal
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 framework continues to evolve as we
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 prepare for this new era of space
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 resource utilization while the
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 fundamental principle remains that no
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 Nation can claim sovereignty over
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 celestial bodies there's growing
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 acceptance that sustainable resour
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 extraction can be conducted within
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 international
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 law next a SpaceX update the Federal
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 Aviation Administration has just cleared
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 another major milestone in space
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 exploration by approving spacex's
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 seventh flight of their massive Starship
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 vehicle this approval came earlier than
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 expected and includes some interesting
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 modifications to the launch license
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 while the flight will follow a similar
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 trajectory to previous launches this
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 time SpaceX will be using their upgraded
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 block two ship paired with a block one
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 booster
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 what's particularly noteworthy is that
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 the FAA has allowed this Mission profile
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 to be used multiple times giving SpaceX
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 more flexibility for future suborbital
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 flights the company has been busy
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 preparing ship 33 their first block 2
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 vessel which recently completed crucial
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 engine testing at their facility the
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 tests included a full six engine static
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 fire and a single engine test simulating
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 an inspace burn a critical maneuver for
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 future orbit
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 missions meanwhile booster 14 is nearly
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 ready for flight requiring only its hot
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 stage ring installation before
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 stacking SpaceX teams are putting the
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 final touches on both vehicles while
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 continuing pad refurbishment work at
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 their launch site looking at the
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 Timeline all signs point to a potential
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 launch around January 11th NASA has
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 already positioned observation aircraft
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 in Perth Australia for that date
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 suggesting we might see another late day
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 launch to capture stunning images of the
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 vehicle during its flight
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 one interesting detail in the faa's
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 approval is the addition of the new
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 failure mode exceptions these allow
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 SpaceX to test different approaches to
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 inspace Burns and post booster catch
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 procedures without triggering automatic
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 investigations if something goes wrong
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 as long as there are no safety issues or
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 injuries before launch SpaceX will
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 likely conduct at least one tanking test
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 if not a full wet dress rehearsal given
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 this is the first block two ship to
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 connect to their orbital tank farm these
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 tests will ensure all systems are
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 functioning properly before attempting
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 their most ambitious flight
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 yet now an inevitable black hole update
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 in a fascinating Discovery that's
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 challenging our understanding of the
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 early Universe astronomers using the
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 James web Space Telescope have spotted
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 an unusual sleeping giant a dormant
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 super massive black hole that existed
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 just 800 million years after the big
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 bang what makes this finding
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 particularly intriguing is both its
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 massive size and its surprisingly quiet
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 nature this Cosmic Behemoth weighs in at
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 about 400 million times the mass of our
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 sun making it the most massive black
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 hole jws has observed from the early
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 universe but here's where it gets really
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 interesting this black hole appears to
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 be taking a nap after what scientists
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 believe was a period of excessive
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 feeding unlike most active super massive
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 black holes that are constantly
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 devouring nearby matter this one is
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 consuming gas at just 100th of its
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 maximum possible rate it's essentially
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 the cosmic equivalent of passing out on
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 the couch after an enormous Feast what
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 makes this discovery particularly
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 puzzling is that it further complicates
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 an existing mystery in astronomy how did
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 these super massive black holes grow so
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 enormous so quickly in the early
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 Universe the traditional understanding
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 suggests it should take over a billion
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 years to create a black hole of this
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 size yet here we are finding one when
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 the universe was less than a billion
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 years old the research team believes
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 they might have an answer their
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 simulations suggest these early black
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 holes may have gone through periods of
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 extreme overfeeding briefly exceeding
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 what's known as the Edington limit the
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 theoretical maximum rate at which a
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 black hole can consume matter these
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 feeding frenzies would last for 5 to 10
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 million years followed by much longer
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 100 million year napping
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 periods this sleeping giant might just
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 be the tip of the cosmic
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 Iceberg scientists suspect the early the
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 universe could be full of these dormant
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 monsters though their quiet nature makes
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 them particularly challenging to spot
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 it's a breakthrough that's giving us new
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 insights into how the universe's most
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 massive objects formed and evolved in
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 its earliest
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 days now a quick question how old do you
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 think our moon is the moon our constant
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 Celestial companion may be hiding its
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 true age beneath a deceptive volcanic
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 facade new research suggests our lunar
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 neighbor could be more than 100 million
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 years older than previously estimated
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 pushing its birth closer to the
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 formation of our solar system
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 traditional age estimates based on
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 Apollo Mission samples pointed to the
00:10:08 --> 00:10:12 Moon being around 4.35 billion years old
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 however several pieces of evidence have
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 been hinting at an earlier origin rare
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 lunar Zircon minerals suggest a birth
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 date closer to 4.5 billion years ago and
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 computer simulations of planetary
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 formation indicate that the kind of
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 massive Collision that created the Moon
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 was more likely to have occurred during
00:10:30 --> 00:10:34 the Solar System's tumultuous early days
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 the key to this age discrepancy might
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 lie in a massive lunar makeover
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 scientists now believe the moon
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 experienced a significant remelting
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 event about 4.35 billion years ago
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 effectively resetting the age recorded
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 in its surface rocks the culprit the
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 same force that causes our ocean tides
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 Earth's gravitational pole when the moon
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 was young it orbited much closer to
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 Earth experiencing far more T tital
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 forces than it does today these forces
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 would have caused widespread upheaval
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 and intense heating across the lunar
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 surface essentially giving our satellite
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 a complete volcanic facelift this
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 process could explain why we find fewer
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 early impact basins than expected they
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 were simply erased by This Global
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 remelting event computer models now
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 suggest the moon actually formed around
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 80 million years after the Solar
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 System's birth making it significantly
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 older than previously
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 thought this new timeline help helps
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 reconcile competing theories from
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 different scientific disciplines and
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 provides a more complete picture of our
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Moon's dramatic early
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 history and that brings us to the end of
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 today's fascinating journey through
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 space I'm Anna and I want to thank you
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 for joining me here on astronomy daily
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 if you're hungry for more space news and
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 discoveries head over to astronomy
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 daily. where you can listen to all our
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 episodes sign up for our free daily
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 newsletter and stay up to date with our
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 constantly updating Newsfeed of the
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 latest developments in space and
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 astronomy don't forget to join our
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 growing community on social media you
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 can find us as Astro daily pod on
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00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 until next time keep looking up and stay
00:12:15 --> 00:12:22 curious about the cosmos
00:12:22 --> 00:12:35 [Music]
00:12:35 --> 00:12:39 St told