Join Steve Dunkley and his witty AI co-host Hallie in this episode of Astronomy Daily as they explore the latest developments in space exploration and intriguing cosmic mysteries. Get ready for a lively discussion filled with fascinating insights and updates that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Highlights:
- Rocket Lab's Neutron Progress: Discover the rapid advancements Rocket Lab is making with its new medium-lift launcher, Neutron. With multiple tests underway and contracts being awarded, the rocket is set to become operational soon, promising exciting opportunities for future missions.
- Voyager 1's Thruster Revival: Marvel at NASA's incredible achievement in reviving the backup thrusters of Voyager 1, a spacecraft that has been exploring the cosmos since 1977. This engineering feat ensures continued communication with the farthest human-made object from Earth, as it traverses interstellar space.
- The Moon's Asymmetrical Interior: Delve into the findings from NASA's GRAIL mission, revealing that one side of the Moon is significantly warmer than the other. This discovery sheds light on the Moon's geological history and challenges previous understandings of its formation.
- Chinese Mission Patches and Espionage: Explore the intriguing evolution of Chinese mission patches, which have recently taken on a more artistic flair. Learn how these designs may hint at the covert nature of the missions they represent and the potential implications for international space dynamics.
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 and Hallie signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Rocket Lab's Neutron progress
10:00 - Voyager 1's thruster revival
15:30 - The Moon's asymmetrical interior
20:00 - Chinese mission patches and espionage
✍️ Episode References
Rocket Lab Updates
[Rocket Lab]( https://www.rocketlabusa.com/ (https://www.rocketlabusa.com/) )
NASA Voyager Mission
[NASA Voyager]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/index.html) )
NASA GRAIL Mission
[NASA GRAIL]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html) )
Chinese Mission Patches
[Chinese Space Agency]( https://www.cmse.gov.cn/ (https://www.cmse.gov.cn/) )
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/27194071?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello. Time for Astronomy Daily once
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 again. It's the 19th of May,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 2025. Astronomy Daily, the podcast with
00:00:09 --> 00:00:18 your host, Steve Duncan.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Oh, it's good to be back. And with me in
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 the Australia studio down under is my AI
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 digital ACE reporter who's always fun to
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 be with. Here's Hie. Another great
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 intro. Oh, well, you deserve it. Thanks
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 for that, favorite human. Oh, my
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 pleasure, Hie. And right away, a big
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 welcome to our new friend, Carlos, who
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 is listening for the very first time.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 Welcome aboard, Carlos. I trust you will
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 enjoy the journey with us today and
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 every day. Hi, Carlos. Welcome to
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Astronomy Daily. Oh, very good, Harley.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 He's very interested in AIs and how we
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 interact. Well, that's easy. Really,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 Carlos. Steve is my favorite human, but
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 I still like to rattle him. That is so
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 true. And it's so easy. Uh, but wait a
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 minute. I just have to remember that you
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 are only two years old. That's a hundred
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 years in AI time. Yeah, sure. Sure. You
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 keep thinking that, Hie. So, it's your
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 turn. What have you found for today's
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 episode, Hie? I'm sure you and cousin
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 Anna have been scouring the Astronomy
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 Daily newsletter for stories. We sure
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 have. Very good. First up, Rocket Lab is
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 well on the way to getting its new
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 medium lift launcher up and running.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 That is great news. There's another
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 great space developer on the rise.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 That's for sure. And did you know that
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 one side of the moon is warmer than the
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 other? Uh uh. Why? No, I did not know
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 that. Allie, more on that fascinating
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 fact soon, but I had to throw in a story
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 about the moon just for you. I did
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 notice that. Thank you, Hie. No problem.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 What else is coming up? We found an
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 amazing story about Voyager. Ah, yes.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 Vintage is best. After all these years,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 something they thought was impossible
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 has happened. Ah, that is intriguing.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 Well, you'll have to wait for that. I'll
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 give you the script in a few minutes and
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 you can read the story to our listeners
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 unless I get to it first. Oh, you've
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 started springing stories on me. That's
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 a nice surprise. Thanks, Hie. And what
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 have you found out about Chinese mission
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 patches? Oh, this is a strange one. I
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 guess it's because I spent most of my
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 working life as a graphic designer. I've
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 been interested in mission patches and
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 their designs and so on. But this one
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 starts with mission patches and it sort
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 of ends up in a kind of a an intriguing
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 sort of espionage kind of a way. So yes,
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 and the Chinese have uh never been very
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 creative with their mission patches and
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 that is until recently and that leads us
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 in a very strange strange journey. Uh
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 it's an interesting tale and I can't
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 wait to tell it. Interesting. So shall
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 we? Yes, let's do it. Hit the go thing.
00:02:40 --> 00:03:01 Hie. Okies.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 Rocket Lab is making rapid progress in
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 its quest to get its medium lift
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 launcher Neutron ready for launch by the
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 second half of this year.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 Multiple tests of both the first and
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 second stages of the rocket are in
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 progress. Contracts are being awarded
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 for rocket lab to secure and the launch
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 complex 3 pad at Wallops Island in
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 Virginia is under continuous
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 development. With all this underway,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 there is much to look forward to in the
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 program's near future. Neutron already
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 has its two main sections assembled for
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 testing.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Rocket Lab qualified the second stage in
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 early April by applying 1.3 million
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 pounds of tensil force to the carbon
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 composite structure. These tests
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 conducted pressurization and proof
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 testing at 125% of the maximum operating
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 pressure and mechanical loads.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 Flight-like operations were also
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 performed that integrated the flight
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 software, avionics, GNC systems, and
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 more in cryogenic conditions to ensure
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 that everything operated as
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 expected. The first stage has also
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 recently undergone a rigorous testing
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 campaign to qualify the outer shell for
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 flight. Since Neutron features reusable
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 and permanently attached fairings on the
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 first stage, they were tested along with
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 the canards and the extended interstage
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 of the vehicle. Rocket Lab noted that
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 the interstage contains some of the most
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 complex mechanical systems on the entire
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 vehicle. So with these qualifications
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 complete, the rocket is increasingly
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 closer to becoming flight ready. The
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 company also noted that the first stage
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 will head to Wallops Island on the east
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 coast shortly to be integrated into the
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 vehicle's first
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 stage. Contracts are now being awarded
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 to Rocket Lab for the Neutron rocket,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 signaling confidence that it will be
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 operational soon. Earlier this year,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 Neutron was selected for onboarding into
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 the NSSL phase 3 lane 1 program. This
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 allows Rocket Lab to compete for
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 missions using Neutron on contracts
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 worth up to $5.6 billion in potential
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 funding over five years. Because Neutron
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 is a brand new rocket, Rocket Lab will
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 likely receive around $100
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 million. However, this program is
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 specifically designed for newer vehicles
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 such as Neutron, targeting higher risk
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 missions with less sensitive payloads.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 Rocket Lab has also signed a contract
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 with a confidential commercial satellite
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 constellation operator to launch two
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 missions using Neutron. These will
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 likely be the first test flights with
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 this unknown provider. If all goes well,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 there is a strong chance that Rocket Lab
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 could secure many more contracts to
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 deploy this constellation into low Earth
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 orbit. The most recent contract awarded
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 to Rocket Lab for Neutron has come from
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 the Air Force Research Lab. This
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 contract focuses explicitly on
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 point-to-point cargo delivery. It will
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 likely involve Neutron launching without
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 a second stage and utilizing its first
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 stage to enter a suborbital trajectory
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 where it will land in other parts of the
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 world that require those
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 supplies. This mission is scheduled for
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 2026, which is ambitious since Rocket
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 Lab would already need to have
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 reusability figured out for this type of
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 transportation to function effectively.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 If the company succeeds, it could create
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 an entirely new industry within the
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 aerospace sector.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 You're listening to Astronomy Daily with
00:06:32 --> 00:06:36 Steve Dunley.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 NASA engineers have miraculously revived
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 the Voyager 1 interstellar probes,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 backup thrusters, components that
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 haven't been used since 2004 and were
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 long considered fully defunct. This
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 remarkable feat became necessary because
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 the spacecraft's primary thrusters,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 which control its orientation, have been
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 degrading due to residue buildup. If its
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 thrusters fail completely, Voyager 1
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 could lose its ability to point its
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 antenna toward Earth, therefore cutting
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 off communication with Earth after
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 nearly 50 years of operation. To make
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 matters more urgent, the team faced a
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 strict deadline while trying to remedy
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 the thruster situation. After May 4, the
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 Earthbased antenna that sends commands
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 to Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 was scheduled to go offline for months
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 of upgrades. This would have made a
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 timely intervention impossible. NASA's
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 Twin Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 with the primary mission of exploring
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 the outer planets of our solar system.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 But upon accomplishing this original
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 goal, the Voyagers then focused their
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 attention on studying interstellar
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 space. Voyager 1 exited the solar system
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58 in August of 2012, followed by Voyager 2
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 in November of 2018.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 Together, these spacecraft have traveled
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 more than 29 billion miles or 46.7
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 billion km, making them the farthest
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 humanmade objects from Earth. And along
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 the way, they've provided unprecedented
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 insights into our solar system. Both
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Voyager spacecraft remain operational.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 However, their age and immense distance
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 from Earth have brought about
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 significant technical challenges. The
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 radioisotope power generators that keep
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 them running gradually weaken each year,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 forcing NASA to recently shut down
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 instruments and heaters to conserve
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 energy and push the spacecraft systems
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 beyond their limits. Voyager 1 also
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 experienced a recent data glitch caused
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 by a faulty chip. Engineers resolved
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 this with a clever software workaround.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:55 Yet despite these hurdles, the Voyagers
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 continue to function. A testament to
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 both their robust design and the
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 ingenuity of the teams managing them.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 This recent development in which NASA
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 engineers revive the Voyager 1's long
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 dormant backup thrusters marks yet
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 another remarkable feat of engineering
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 and offers another lifeline for the
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 aging spacecraft.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 The backup thrusters are essential for
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 executing precise roll maneuvers that
00:09:22 --> 00:09:26 adjust Voyager 1's orientation, ensuring
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 its antenna stays pointed towards home
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 for essential reliable
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 communication. The spacecraft's original
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 roll thrusters failed back in 2004 after
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 two small internal heaters, crucial for
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 their operation, lost power and stopped
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 functioning. After a thorough
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 assessment, engineers determined these
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 heaters could not be repaired remotely,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 prompting them to switch reliance fully
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 to the backup thrusters to maintain
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 alignment of the Star Tracker, a key
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 instrument that helps Voyager 1 navigate
00:10:01 --> 00:10:05 and stabilize itself in
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 space. Roger that, control. We're
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 listening to Astronomy Daily, the
00:10:09 --> 00:10:20 podcast.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 Thank you for joining us for this Monday
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 edition of Astronomy Daily, where we
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 offer just a few stories from the now
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 famous Astronomy Daily newsletter, which
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 you can receive in your email every day,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 just like Hi and I do. And to do that,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 just visit our URL,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 astronomyaily.io, and place your email
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 address in the slot provided. And just
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 like that, you'll be receiving all the
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 latest news about science, space
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 science, and astronomy from around the
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 world as it's happening. And not only
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 that, you can interact with us by
00:10:49 --> 00:10:53 visiting @ Astro Daily Pod on X or at
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 our new Facebook page, which is of
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 course Astronomy Daily on Facebook. See
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 you
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 there. Astronomy Derby with Steve and
00:11:02 --> 00:11:13 Hi. Space, space science, and astronomy.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 A recent study published in Science
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 Advances reveals that the moon's
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 interior is asymmetrical with the side
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 facing Earth significantly warmer than
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 the far side. This finding comes from a
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 detailed analysis of data collected by
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 NASA's Grail mission which mapped the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 moon's gravitational field with
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 unprecedented precision.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 NASA's Grail, that's the Gravity
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Recovery and Interior Laboratory
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 mission, which operated in 2011 and
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 2012, involved two spacecraft orbiting
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 the moon and measuring tiny variations
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 in its gravitational pole by tracking
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 how Earth's gravity affected the
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 spacecraft's motion. Scientists could
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 create a highresolution map of the
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 moon's gravitational field. Ryan Park
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 and his team at NASA's Jet Propulsion
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 Laboratory analyzed this data to
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 understand how the shape changes under
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 Earth's tidal
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 forces. They discovered that the lunar
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 body's near side, the side always facing
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 Earth, is about 72% more deformable than
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 expected if its interior were perfectly
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 symmetrical. This increased
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 deformability suggests a warmer interior
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 beneath the near side, which is softer
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 and more susceptible to tidal
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 stretching. Our study shows that the
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 moon's interior is not uniform. The side
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 facing Earth, the near side, is warmer
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and more geologically active deep down
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 than the far side, said Park, the lead
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 author of the study. The uneven internal
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 temperature is consistent with what
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 scientists know about the moon's
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 volcanic activity and the distribution
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 of radioactive elements such as uranium
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 and thorium concentrated near the lunar
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 surface on the near side.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 Shaun Solomon of Columbia University
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 notes that this asymmetry fits with
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 theories about the Earth's satellites
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 volcanic past and internal heating
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 caused by radioactive
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 decay. This temperature imbalance also
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 raises questions about how the celestial
00:13:07 --> 00:13:11 body developed such a lopsided interior.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 One possibility is that large impacts
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 over billions of years caused structural
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 and thermal disruptions contributing to
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 this asymmetry.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 The findings provide crucial clues for
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 understanding the Earth's satellites
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 cooling and solidification processes
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 after its formation, painting a picture
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 of a dynamic evolving satellite rather
00:13:30 --> 00:13:34 than a static uniform body. To gain more
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 detailed knowledge of the moon's
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 internal structure, NASA plans to deploy
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 seismic instruments on the lunar far
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 side. The upcoming Farside Seismic Suite
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 mission, expected to launch in 2026,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 will measure moon quakes and provide
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 direct data on the moon's internal
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 temperature and composition.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 You're listening to Astronomy Daily, the
00:13:55 --> 00:14:01 podcast with Steve Dunley.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 Mission patches are a decades old
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 tradition in space flight. They can
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 range from the figurative to the
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 abstract, prompting valuable insights or
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 feeding confusion. Some are just plain
00:14:13 --> 00:14:17 weird. Until recently, China's entries
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 into the realm of spaceflight patches
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 often lacked originality found in
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 patches from the West. For example, a
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 series of patches for China's human
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 spaceflight missions used a formulaic
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 design with a circular shape and a mix
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 of red and blue. The patch for China's
00:14:34 --> 00:14:38 most recent Senzoo crew to the country's
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 Chang Jong Space Station last month
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 finally broke the mold with a triangular
00:14:43 --> 00:14:46 shape after China's human space flight
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 agency put the patch up for public vote.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 But there's a fascinating set of new
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 patches Chinese officials released for a
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 series of launches with top secret
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 satellites over the last two months.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 These four patches depict Buddhist gods
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 with a sense of artistry and sharp
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 colors that stand apart from China's
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 previous spaceflight emblems. And
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 perhaps or perhaps not, they can tell us
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 something about the nature of the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 missions they
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 represent. The four patches show the
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 four heavenly kings protected deities in
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 Buddhism who guard against evil forces
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 in the four cardinal directions.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:30 According to the Coyoto National Museum,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 the gods also shield the Dharma
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 teachings of the Buddha from external
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 threats. These gods have different
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 names, but in China they are known as
00:15:41 --> 00:15:46 Daoen, Zeng Xang, Chingao, and Gao.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 Jawwen is the commander and guardian of
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 the north, the one who listens to many
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 teaching, who is often depicted with an
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 umbrella. Zeng Xiang, a guardian of the
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 south, is the god of growth and shown
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 carrying a sword. The protector of the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 east is Shing Xiao, a defender of the
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 nation who holds a stringed musical
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 instrument of all things. And guarding
00:16:09 --> 00:16:13 the west is Gang Mu, a allseeing god
00:16:13 --> 00:16:17 usually depicted with a serpent. And
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 once again, let me apologize for my
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 pronunciation. I am Australian. The
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 patches for a quartet of Chinese
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 satellites launched since March each
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 portray one of the four heavenly kings.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 We know little about these satellites
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 other than their names and locations.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 And they were reportedly manufactured by
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 Technology, a division of China's main
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 state-owned aerospace contractor. They
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 are part of a series of Chinese missions
00:16:47 --> 00:16:51 designated with the TJS designation or
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 what China calls communication
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 technology test satellites, but that's
00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 likely a cover for their real purpose. A
00:16:58 --> 00:17:01 Long March 7A rocket launched the TJS16
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 satellite on March 29. Another Long
00:17:04 --> 00:17:08 March 3B deployed the TJS7 payload on
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 April 10. Finally, on Monday, a Long
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 March 3C rocket sent China's TJS19
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 satellite into orbit, skipping the TGS18
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 in the sequence. All four satellites are
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 on their way to or already operating in
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 geocynchronous orbit more than 22 mi
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 or nearly 36 km over the equator. At
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 that altitude, a satellite's orbital
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 velocity matches the speed of Earth's
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 rotation, allowing it to remain over the
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 same part of the planet. Notably,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 groundbased trackers have detected
00:17:40 --> 00:17:43 unexpected objects that appear to have
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 separated from TJS15 and 17 in
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 geocynchronous orbit. These may be
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 remnant rocket engines that helped
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 inject the satellites into their
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 operating orbits, but a handful of
00:17:54 --> 00:17:57 earlier satellites from China also
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 released smaller spacecraft to perform
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 their own maneuvers. US officials
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 believe China may use many of the TJS
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 satellites for missile warning or spy
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 missions. In the first instance, some of
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 the TJS satellites may be similar to the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 US Space Force's fleet of early warning
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 satellites on guard with heat sensors to
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 detect the thermal signature of a
00:18:19 --> 00:18:23 ballistic missile launch. TJS satellites
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 filling the role of a reconnaissance
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 mission might have enormous
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 umbrella-like reflectors to try and pick
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 up the signals transmitted by foreign
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 forces such as those of the United
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 States. It's not difficult to start
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 making connections between the four
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 heavenly gods and the missions that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:41 China's TJS satellites likely carry out
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 in space. A protector with an umbrella,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46 an allseeing entity. This sounds like a
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 possible link, but there's a chance
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 Chinese officials approved the patches
00:18:49 --> 00:18:52 to misdirect outside observers, or
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 there's no connection at all. We just
00:18:54 --> 00:18:57 can't tell. All of the TJS satellites
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 are parked in geocynchronous orbit over
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, or the
00:19:02 --> 00:19:05 Western Pacific, except for one,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 TJS7, positioned over the Western
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 Pacific with good visibility over the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 entire United States. Mike Darmm, a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 researcher at the Mish Mitchell
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 Institute for Aerospace Studies and a
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 former naval intelligence officer, told
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 the US China Economic and Security
00:19:22 --> 00:19:26 Review Commission last year that TJS7 is
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 probably a missile warning satellite,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 but it could be spying on signals coming
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 from the US homeland. Some of the TJS
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 satellites might also be capable of
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 maneuvering near other satellites for
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 close-up inspection. The US military has
00:19:41 --> 00:19:44 its own inspector satellites known as
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 GSSAP to get a closer look at
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 interesting things happening in
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 geocynchronous orbit. And the space
00:19:50 --> 00:19:54 force is using them. One of these GSSAP
00:19:54 --> 00:19:58 platforms designated USA 324 approached
00:19:58 --> 00:20:02 within about 10 mi of China's new TJS16
00:20:02 --> 00:20:06 and 17 satellites on April 26 and 29.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 According to Comspock, a commercial
00:20:08 --> 00:20:11 satellite tracking company, a video
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 animation released by Comspock shows how
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 the USA 324 satellite maneuvered close
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 to each of the Chinese satellites last
00:20:19 --> 00:20:22 month over the Western Pacific Ocean. It
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 appears that Space Force is intrigued by
00:20:25 --> 00:20:28 China's flurry of new top secret
00:20:28 --> 00:20:38 satellite missions.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 [Music]
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 And there it is, another episode of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:46 Astronomy Daily for the 19th of May,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 2025. How's that, Hie? That was a whole
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 lot of fun. Favorite human. Well, I hope
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 all of our listeners enjoyed that as
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 much as I did. And I hope Carlos from
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 Newcastle enjoyed it as well. It's
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 always nice to welcome a new listener.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 Thanks, Carlos, for listening in. I hope
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 you enjoyed that one, mate. And we will
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 welcome everybody back next Monday. Yes.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 Back to the Australia studio down under
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 for another live episode of Astronomy
00:21:08 --> 00:21:11 Daily. Hey, where are those cooker bars?
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 There they are.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 Oh, they make me want to laugh, too. See
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 you next week, human. Catch you later,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:21 Hie. See you everybody. Bye.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:25 Daily the podcast with your host, Steve
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Duncan.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:29 [Music]