Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E74
In this exciting episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on a journey through the latest advancements and discoveries in space exploration. From the U.S. Space Force's certification of a new rocket to a captivating look at a mysterious galaxy, this episode is packed with cosmic insights that will leave you inspired.
Highlights:
- ULA's Vulcan Centaur Rocket Certification: Discover the significance of the U.S. Space Force's recent certification of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket for national security missions. This milestone enhances America's launch capabilities for sensitive military payloads and marks a significant step forward in national security.
- Upcoming Partial Solar Eclipse: Mark your calendars for March 29, 2025, when a partial solar eclipse will be visible across parts of Europe, Africa, and North America. Learn about the eclipse's unique characteristics and how to safely view this celestial event.
- Surprising Discovery of Ancient Light: Explore the groundbreaking findings from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which has identified bright hydrogen emissions from a galaxy observed just 330 million years after the Big Bang. This unexpected discovery challenges our understanding of the early universe and opens new questions about galaxy formation.
- China's Expanding Satellite Network: Get the latest on China's successful launch of the Tianlian 204 satellite, which enhances the country's data relay capabilities for its space program. This mission underscores China's ambitions in space and its plans for future exploration.
- NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Learn about the Europa Clipper's upcoming mission to scout landing sites on Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. This strategic reconnaissance will aid in future explorations of this intriguing ocean world and could pave the way for humanity's first landing beyond Earth.
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 Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - ULA's Vulcan Centaur certification
10:30 - Upcoming partial solar eclipse details
17:00 - Webb's discovery of ancient light
22:15 - China's new satellite launch
27:30 - Overview of NASA's Europa Clipper mission
✍️ Episode References
Vulcan Centaur Certification
[United Launch Alliance]( https://www.ulalaunch.com (https://www.ulalaunch.com/) )
Partial Solar Eclipse Information
[NASA Eclipse Page]( https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html (https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html) )
James Webb Telescope Discoveries
[NASA Webb]( https://www.nasa.gov/webb (https://www.nasa.gov/webb) )
China's Tianlian Satellite Launch
[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]( http://www.casc.cn/ (http://www.casc.cn/) )
Europa Clipper Mission Details
[NASA Europa Clipper]( https://europa.nasa.gov/ (https://europa.nasa.gov/) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26310374?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your source
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 for the latest and most exciting news in
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 space exploration and astronomy I'm your
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 host Anna and today we're diving into
00:00:09 --> 00:00:10 several fascinating developments from
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 across the cosmos we've got a packed
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 episode ahead covering everything from
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 the space Force's certification of a new
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 rocket for National Security launches to
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 an upcoming partial solar eclipse that
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 will Grace our skies this week we'll
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 also explore a mysterious Galaxy that's
00:00:26 --> 00:00:27 challenging what we thought we knew
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 about the early Universe check in on
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 China's expanding satellite Network and
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 learn how NASA's Europa Clipper will
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 Scout potential Landing sites on one of
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 the most promising worlds for finding
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 extraterrestrial life so settle in as we
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 journey through these captivating
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 stories that remind us just how Dynamic
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 and ever changing our understanding of
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 space truly is the US space force has
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 officially certified United launch
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket for
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 National Security missions after
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 analyzing data from the vehicle's two
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 certification launches that took place
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 in January and October of
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 2024 this Milestone announcement came on
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 March 26th from the space forces space
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 systems command marking the completion
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 of a long awaited certification process
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 space force Brigadier General Kristen
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 panzenhagen who serves as the program
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 executive officer for assured access to
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 space emphasized the significance of
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 this development noting that assured
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 access to space is a core function of
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 the space force and a critical element
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 of National Security she added that the
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 Vulcan certification adds launch
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 capacity resiliency and flexibility
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 needed for the nation's most critical
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 space-based
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 systems this certification is
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 particularly notable as Ula now joins
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 SpaceX as only the second provider
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 certified to carry out launches under
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 the National Security space launch
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 program enhancing America's launch
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 capabilities for sensitive military and
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 intelligence payloads
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 the path to certification wasn't without
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 challenges the second Vulcan
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 certification flight experienced an
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 incident when the nozzle of one of its
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 two solid rocket boosters fell off
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 approximately half a minute after
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 liftoff remarkably the vehicle
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 compensated for the diminished thrust
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 and still completed its Mission
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 successfully ula's president and CEO Tor
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Bruno later explained that a
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 manufacturing defect in an internal
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 insulator part caused the nozzle
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 separation and appropriate corrective
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 action were implemented and verified
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 through static fire testing looking
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 ahead Ula has ambitious plans for their
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 launch Cadence Bruno has indicated that
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 the company is projecting a dozen
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 launches this year split roughly evenly
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 between their Atlas and Vulcan Rockets
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 serving both National Security and
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 Commercial missions the First National
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 Security space launch mission on Vulcan
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 is planned for this summer in North
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 America Ula aims to establish a baseline
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 tempo of two launches per month by the
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 end of this year and performed 20
00:03:02 --> 00:03:03 launches in
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 2025 Bruno noted that the company has
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 been strategically stockpiling critical
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 components such as B4 engines and solid
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 rocket boosters to support this
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 accelerated launch schedule this
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 certification represents a significant
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 advancement for America's space launch
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 capabilities ensuring redundancy and
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 resilience in the nation's ability to
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 deploy critical National Security assets
00:03:26 --> 00:03:26 to
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 orbit as Bruno remarked we're all staged
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 up and ready and as spacecraft show up
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 we'll be able to fly
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 them what a difference a year makes just
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 a year after Millions across North
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 America witnessed the spectacular total
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 solar eclipse on April 8th 2024 we're
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 already preparing for another Celestial
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 event mark your calendars for this
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 Saturday March 29th 2025 when a partial
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 solar eclipse will Grace our skies
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 though with a notably different viewing
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 audience this upcoming eclipse results
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 from the moon's Shadow falling primarily
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 on the north polar regions of Earth it's
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 actually the second eclipse in less than
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 a month coming just 2 weeks after the
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 total lunar eclipse that occurred on
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 March 13th
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 14 this pattern is what astronomers call
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 an eclipse season a roughly 37-day
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 period when the alignment of the Sun and
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 Moon can allow for eclipses to occur at
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 both full and new moon phases for this
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 March 29th event the moon will pass
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 through the opposite node of its orbit
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 compared to the lunar eclipse however
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 the moon passes this node almost too
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 early by the time it reaches new phase
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 about 19 hours after crossing the
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 ecliptic the axis of its shadow will
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 pass well to the north of Earth the dark
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 shadow cone or Umbra will completely
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 miss our planet passing about 180 Mi
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 above the North Pole this means no
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 location on Earth will experience
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 totality but instead the moon's outer
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 Shadow the penumbra will create a
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 partial eclipse VIs in varying degrees
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 the eclipse will be visible across
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 northwest Africa much of Europe
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 excluding some Eastern sections
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 Northwest Russia Iceland and Greenland
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 parts of South America including
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Suriname French Guana and Amada in
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 Brazil we see a small dent in the Sun at
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 sunrise for North Americans visibility
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 depends entirely on location if you draw
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 a line from Oakville Ontario down to
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 Virginia Beach Virginia areas west of
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 this line won't see any part of the
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 Eclipse those to the east however will
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 catch at least a glimpse near Sunrise
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 though maximum Eclipse will have already
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 occurred before the Sun appears above
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 the Horizon the farther north and east
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 you go in North America the more
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 impressive The View becomes in Baltimore
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 the sun will rise with 7.8% of its
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 diameter already eclipsed with the event
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 ending Just 4 minutes later but
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 residents of Northern New England and
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 Atlantic Canada are in for a spectacular
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 treat the town of mwasa in Far northern
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Maine will experience maximum Eclipse
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 almost precisely at Sunrise with 88.2%
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 of the Sun's diameter covered this will
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 create the stunning visual effect of the
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 sun appearing as a delicate Crescent
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 with its points aimed nearly straight up
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 resembling two lobster claws emerging
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 from Beyond the Eastern Horizon similar
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 impressive views await Atlantic Canada
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 with Halifax seeing 85.6% coverage at
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 7117 a.m. frederickton experiencing 87%
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 at 719 a.m. and St John's reaching 85.4%
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 at 752 a.m. as always with solar
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 eclipses proper eye protection is
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 essential unlike a total eclipse with
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 its brief moments of totality a partial
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 eclipse can be observed more leisurely
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 but only through specially designed
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 solar filters or eclipse
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 glasses remember that looking at the sun
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 without proper protection is extremely
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 dangerous NASA's James web Space
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 Telescope has made another
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 groundbreaking discovery that's
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 challenging our understanding of the
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 early Universe an international team of
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 astronomers has identified bright
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 hydrogen emission from an incredibly
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 distant Galaxy observed just 330 million
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 years after the big bang a mere fraction
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 of our universe's current 13.8 billion
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 year age the Galaxy designated Jade's
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 gsz 131 was first spotted in images
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 taken by web's near infrared camera as
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 part of the James web Space Telescope
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 Advanced deep extragalactic survey
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 researchers initially estimated its red
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 shift a measure of how far the Galaxy's
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 light has traveled and been stretched by
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 the expansion of space at around 12.9 to
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 confirm this extreme distance they then
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 observed it using web's near infrared
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 spectrograph instrument the resulting
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 Spectrum not only confirmed the red
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 shift at
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 13.0 placing it firmly in the very early
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 universe but also revealed something
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 completely unexpected a distinctly
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 bright wavelength of light known as
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 Lyman Alpha emission radiating from
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 hydrogen atoms this emission was Far
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 stronger than scientists thought
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 possible during this ancient
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 epic what makes this finding so
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 perplexing is that the early Universe
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 was filled with a thick fog of neutral
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 hydrogen gas this fog should have
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 completely blocked such emissions until
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 a process called reionization cleared it
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 away a process that wasn't completed
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 until about 1 billion years after the
00:08:28 --> 00:08:32 big bang yet here was Jadis gsz 131
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 shining through this Cosmic fog more
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 than 600 million years earlier than
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 should be possible Roberto melino from
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 the University of Cambridge and
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 University College London explains why
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 this is so
00:08:44 --> 00:08:48 significant gsz 131 is seen when the
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 universe was only 330 million years old
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 yet it shows a surprisingly clear
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 Telltale signature of Lyman Alpha
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 emission that can only be seen once the
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 surrounding fog has fully lifted
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 this result was totally unexpected by
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 theories of early Galaxy formation and
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 has caught astronomers by
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 surprise before and during the
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 reionization era the neutral hydrogen
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 surrounding galaxies should have blocked
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 any energetic ultraviolet light they
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 emitted much like colored glass filters
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 light until Enough stars had formed to
00:09:19 --> 00:09:23 ionize this hydrogen gas no such light
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 including Lyman Alpha emission should
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 have been able to escape and reach Earth
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 we really should have found a Galaxy
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 like this given our understanding of the
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 way the universe has evolved says Kevin
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 hanline from the University of
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 Arizona we could think of the early
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 universe as shrouded with a thick fog
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 that would make it exceedingly difficult
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 to find even powerful lighthouses
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 peeking through yet here we see the beam
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 of light from this galaxy piercing the
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 veil scientists aren't yet certain what
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 caused this unexpected emission but they
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 have theories one possibility is that
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 the Galaxy contains some of the
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 universe's first generation of stars
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 much more massive hotter and more
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 luminous than stars formed later another
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 explanation could be a powerful active
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 Galactic nucleus driven by one of the
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 first super massive black holes whatever
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 the explanation this discovery opens
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 exciting new questions about the
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 earliest chapters of our Cosmic history
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 and how the first stars and galaxies
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 formed the research was published in the
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 journal Nature marking another
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 remarkable achievement for the web
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 telescope as it continues to transform
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 our understanding of the universe's
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 Origins China has taken another
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 significant step forward in its space
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 infrastructure with the successful
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 launch of a new Data Tracking and relay
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 communication satellite the tenan
00:10:46 --> 00:10:50 24 lifted off on March 26th at 11:55
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 a.m. eastern time from the XI Chong
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 satellite launch Center in Southwest
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 China aboard a long march 3B rocket the
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 China Aerospace science and Technology
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 Corporation or KSC announced the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 mission's success about an hour after
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 liftoff while the launch was anticipated
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 due to airspace closure notices the
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 exact payload wasn't revealed until
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 after the successful deployment tanan 2
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 04 is now in geosynchronous transfer
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 orbit and will eventually maneuver to
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 take up its final position along the
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 geostationary belt approximately
00:11:22 --> 00:11:26 35,7 186 km above earth's equator from
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 this vantage point it will join China's
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 second generation geostationary orbit
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 data relay satellite
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 constellation these satellites serve a
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 critical function for China's Space
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 Program providing data relay and
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 Telemetry tracking and command services
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 for the nation's crude spacecraft this
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 includes supporting the tiangong space
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 station and sheno spacecraft as well as
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 assisting medium and low earth orbit
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 satellites and launch operations the
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 tianan network performs a role similar
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 to NASA's tracking and data relay
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 satellite system with satellites
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 strategically positioned around
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 geostationary orbit to provide nearly
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 continuous coverage according to Cassie
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 this newest addition to the fleet
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 features several technical upgrades
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 compared to its predecessor Klean
00:12:09 --> 00:12:13 23 which was launched in July 2022 these
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 improvements include enhanced
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 transmission capacity and faster
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 response speeds aimed at meeting China's
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 growing needs for data relay and
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 tracking Services while also
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 strengthening the autonomy and security
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 of their second generation relay system
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 the chanan program has a long history
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 beginning with China's first tanan
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 satellite launched in 2008 the earlier
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 tanan 1 series satellites have now been
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 moved to graveyard orbits above the
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 geostationary belt while the newer
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 generation continues active service like
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 earlier satellites in the series tienan
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 24 was developed by the China Academy of
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 space technology a major spacecraft
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 making Institute under Cass C this
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 launch marks China's 15th orbital
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 mission of 2025 demonst ating the
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 country's increasingly ambitious Space
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 Program with expanded space port
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 capabilities ongoing Mega constellation
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 projects and new launch Vehicles set to
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 debut China could potentially Target
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 around 100 or more launches this year
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 far exceeding their previous National
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 Record of 68 launches set last year the
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 country's space agenda remains packed
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 with other major upcoming missions
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 including the sheno 20 and 21 crude
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 flights to the Chang gong space station
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 and the Chan 2 near Earth asteroid
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 sample return Mission expected to launch
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 around
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 May let's move a bit further out into
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 space now looking ahead to one of NASA's
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 most anticipated deep space missions new
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 research presented at the 2025 lunar and
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 planetary science conference has
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 revealed how the Europa Clipper will
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 help identify potential Landing sites
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 for a future mission to Jupiter's icy
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 moon this strategic reconnaissance
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 capability could prove crucial for the
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 next phase of exploring this ocean world
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 the Europa Clipper scheduled to reach
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 the Jovian system in April 2030 will
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 follow a complex orbital pattern around
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 Jupiter performing 49 close flybys of
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 Europa unlike Mars orbiters that follow
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 relatively simple circular paths the
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 Clipper can't orbit Europa directly due
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 to Jupiter's intense radiation
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 environment which would damage the
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 spacecraft instead it will follow
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 carefully designed looping orbits that
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 minimize radiation exposure while still
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 allowing close study of the Moon
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 planetary geologist Jennifer Scully and
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 her team at NASA's jet propulsion
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 laboratory have carefully assessed which
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 of these flybys would be most suitable
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 for identifying future Landing sites
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 they determined that any recable flyby
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 must meet three key requirements proper
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 lighting conditions with the surface in
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 sunlight specific incidence angles
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 between 30 and 60° and an altitude of
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 approximately 50 to 100 km to ensure
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 appropriate image resolution without
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 blurring based on these criteria the
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 researchers identified 12 flybys as
00:15:01 --> 00:15:05 fully Recon and another 13 as supporting
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 most notably a flyby designated e19
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 stands out as particularly valuable for
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 landing site selection its ground track
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 extends over 700 km and covers a
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 fascinating transition between europa's
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 ridged Plains and a region called pois
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 Regio one of the moon's mysterious chaos
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 terrains where the surface appears
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 jumbled and disrupted potentially
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 offering clues about the ocean beneath
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 the Europa Clipper sophisticated Europa
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 Imaging system with its narrow and wide-
00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 angle cameras will collect crucial data
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 for what's known as terrain relative
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 navigation this is the same guidance
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 system that allowed NASA's perseverance
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 Rover to safely navigate to its Landing
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 site on Mars a future Europa Lander
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 would use these detailed surface images
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 combined with real-time camera data to
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 guide itself safely to the surface the
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 researchers note that their current
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 assessments are based on older data from
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 the Galileo Mission and rankings will
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 likely change once the Europa Clipper
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 begins returning high resolution
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 images some potential Landing areas
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 haven't even been photographed at high
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 resolution yet highlighting just how
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 much we still have to discover about
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 this intriguing World This research
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 provides a critical road map for Mission
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 planners as they prepare for the Europa
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 Clippers operations in the
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 2030s and lay groundwork for what could
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 eventually become human human's first
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 landing on an ocean World beyond
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 Earth and that wraps up today's episode
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 of astronomy daily from the space force
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 certifying ula's Vulcan rocket to the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 upcoming partial solar eclipse web's
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 surprising discovery of Ancient Light
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 China's new data relay satellite and the
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 Europa Clippers mission to scout Landing
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 sites on Jupiter's ocean Moon we've
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 journeyed across the solar system and
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 beyond I'm Anna and it's been my
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 pleasure to bring you these fascinating
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 stories from across the cosmos whether
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 you're a seasoned astronomer or just
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 curious about what lies beyond our
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 atmosphere I hope you've enjoyed today's
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 Cosmic update visit our website at
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 astronomy daily. where you can sign up
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00:17:38 --> 00:17:45 [Music]