Source:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s03e137-jupiter-s-storms-moon-s-fiery-past-and-extraterrestrial-cuisine--61154446
AstroDailyPod - The Podcast: 26 August 2024
Welcome back to another episode of Astronomy Daily the Podcast with your host, Steve Dunkley and Hallie. Today, we've got a fascinating mix of stories that will take you from the depths of Jupiter's Great Red Spot to the future of SpaceTime colonies. Buckle up for an intriguing journey through space and time.
Highlights:
- The Great Red Spot: Discover the latest findings on Jupiter's Great Red Spot, its history, and the mysteries surrounding this massive atmospheric structure.
- - The Moon's Magma Ocean: Explore new data from India's Chandrayaan-3 mission supporting the theory that the Moon was once covered by a molten rock ocean.
- - Space Food Competition: Learn about NASA's challenge to develop deep-space food solutions, featuring innovative technologies and surprising ingredients.
- - Polaris Dawn Mission: Get the inside scoop on the Polaris Dawn mission, aiming to set new records with its private spacewalk and high-altitude flight.
- - Cost-Effective Europa Missions: Dive into the details of a proposed Europa mission that could drastically reduce costs using advanced technologies.
- - Future Space Colonies: Envision the complex relationships that might develop between Earth and future SpaceTime colonies, from economic dependencies to cultural differences.
- For more Space and Astronomy news, be sure to visit our website at https://www.astronomydaily.io. There you can sign up for our free daily newsletter, read insightful blog posts, and catch up on all the latest space and astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed.
- Don't forget to listen to all our previous episodes as well. You can also follow us on social media. Just search for AstroDailyPod on facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok to stay connected with our community and never miss an update.
- Until next time, keep your eyes on the stars.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 hello again it's Steve here for another
00:00:01 --> 00:00:03 episode of astronomy daily it's the 26th
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 of August
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 2024 podcast with your host Steve
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 dun oh and welcome back to astronomy
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 daily thanks for joining us again today
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 we've got a mixed bag for you we might
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 as well start with the big one we're
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 going to have a look at something huge
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 uh a closer look at the Great Red Spot
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 they've been a study and uh they've
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 found out some interesting things about
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 the Great Red Spot and its history we're
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 also going to be looking at the moon and
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 the moon's history there's possibility
00:00:40 --> 00:00:45 that it was once covered by
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 magma and uh there's been a huge
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 competition in the United States uh
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 going to be talking about space food and
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 a one of the features of space food well
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 has got me intrigued and you'll hear
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 about that later uh don't if you've
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 heard about Polaris Dawn Polaris Dawn is
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 going to set a new record let's see if
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 they can pull this one off it's looking
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 very good but it's also famous for
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 another reason and we'll look at that
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 and you know one of the big features or
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 one of the big reasons why space
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 missions are uh they either get scrubbed
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 or they go ahead is the cost and we'll
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 be going to look at the money uh
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 especially in one particular uh type of
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 mission so we'll look at the European
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 Lander and there's a great story about
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 space colonies and the relationships
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 that may or may not emerge between Earth
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 and space colonies in the future so
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 that's going to be interesting so over
00:01:39 --> 00:01:47 to hiy take it away
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 hi thanks
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 Steve here's a fascinating story about
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 one of the solar systems greatest
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 features Jupiter's Great Red Spot stands
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 out as one of the most iconic features
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 in the Solar system this massive
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 atmospheric structure currently spanning
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 a diameter equal to that of Earth is
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 easily recognizable due to its striking
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 reddish Hue which contrasts sharply with
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Jupiter's pale Cloud tops even small
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 telescopes can capture its distinct
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 appearance the Great Red Spot is a
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 gigantic anticyclonic Vortex with winds
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 reaching speeds of 450 kmph along its
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 outer edges it holds the title of the
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 largest and longest lasting vortex in
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 the atmospheres of any planet in our
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 solar
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 system however the exact age of the
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 Great Red Spot is still debated and the
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 processes behind its formation remain a
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 mystery speculation about the origin of
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 the Great Red Spot dates back to the
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 first telescopic observations made by
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 the astronomer Giovani Dominico Cassini
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 who in 1665 discovered a dark oval at
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 the same latitude as the Great Red Spot
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 and named it the permanent spot since it
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 was observed by him and other
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 astronomers until
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 1713 in a recent study authors first
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 analyzed the evolution of it size over
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 time its structure and the movements of
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 both meteorological formations the
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 former permanent spot and the Great Red
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Spot to do so the used historical
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 sources dating back to the mid 17th
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 century shortly after the invention of
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 the
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 telescope from the measurements of sizes
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 and movements we deduce that it is
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 highly unlikely that the current Great
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 Red Spot was the permanent observed by G
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 D Cassini the permanent spot probably
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 disappeared sometime between the mid
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 18th and 19th centuries in which case we
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 can say that the longevity of the red
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 spot now exceeds 190 years at least
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 explained Augustine Sanchez LGA
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 professor of physics at the upv ehu and
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 who led This research the red spot which
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 in 1879 was 39 km in size at its
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 longest axis has been shrinking to about
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 the current 14 km and simultaneously
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 becoming more rounded what is more since
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 the 1970s several space missions have
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 studied this meteorological phenomenon
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 closely recently various instruments on
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 board the Juno mission in orbit around
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 Jupiter have shown that the Great Red
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Spot is shallow and thin when compared
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 to its horizontal Dimension as
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 vertically it is about 500 kilomet long
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 explained Sanchez LGA future research
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 will aim to try and reproduce the
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 shrinkage of the Great Red Spot over
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 time in order to find out in Greater
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 detail the physical mechanisms
00:04:18 --> 00:04:24 underlying its sustainability over
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 time data from India's recent chandran 3
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 mission supports the idea that an ocean
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 of molten rock once covered the Moon on
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 August 23rd 2023 a Lander called vrum
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 successfully touched down on the lunar
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 surface controllers then deployed a
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 Rover called pron which had been stowed
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 on vram to explore the landing site the
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 location where vicam touchdown was
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 further south than any other landing
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 craft had previously been on the moon it
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 gave scientists an insight into the
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 geology of the Moon that had not yet
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 been sampled pran's measurements found
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 that the particular mix of chemic
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 elements in the lunar soil or regolith
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 surrounding the Lander was relatively
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 uniform this regali was primarily made
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 up of a white rock type called fero and
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 anorthosite the scientists say the
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 chemical composition of the lunar South
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 Pole regolith is intermediate between
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 those of samples from two locations in
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 the moon's equatorial region those
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 collected by astronauts on the US Apollo
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 16 flight in 1972 and those returned to
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 Earth by the robotic Luna 20 Mission
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 flown by the Soviet Union the same year
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 the broad similar in the chemical
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 compositions of all these samples
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 despite the fact they came from very
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 distant geographical locations on the
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 moon supports the idea that a single
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 magma ocean covered the moon early in
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 its history the Moon is thought to have
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 formed when a mars-sized planet collided
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 with Earth ejecting rock that
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 subsequently coales to form our planet's
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 only satellite the lunar magma ocean is
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 thought to have been present from its
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 formation to tens or hundreds of
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 millions of years
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 afterwards the cooling and
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 crystallization of this magma ocean
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 eventually led to the the FOH and
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 anorthosite rocks that make up the
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 moon's
00:06:02 --> 00:06:07 [Music]
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 crust NASA challenged the public to make
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 deep space food it's all about engaging
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 with creative people to find solutions
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 for providing better food for space
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 missions and here's what
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 happened the challenge began in 2021 and
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 to date has included more than 300 teams
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 from 32 countries the Endeavor is also
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 split between NASA and the Canadian
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 space agency
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 talk about a spaceborn food fight right
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 Steve and sounds like fun to me hie
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 winners were selected during the first
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 two phases of the competition and the
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 final phase three began in September
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 2023 for American teams were awarded
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 $50 each and invited to compete in
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 the third and final phase of the
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 competition during which they had to
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 construct a full-scale model of their
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 food production system and demonstrate
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 how it works phase 3 was hosted by the
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 methusa foundation and Ohio State
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 University for 2 months the teams tested
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 and demonstrated their technology in
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 Columbus Ohio at the University's campus
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 during this period important Milestones
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 had to be passed including palatability
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 safety sensory testing and harvesting
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 volumes each team had a group of Ohio
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 State students known as simuns that were
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 in charge of the process during the 8we
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 period and collected information to
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 present to a judging panel Interstellar
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 lab in Meritt Island Florida took home
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 the grand prize of $750
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Barbara belvy and her team developed a
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 small business that uses a combo of
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 artificial intelligence Advanced
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 Equipment and bioscience to create
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 ingredients that are plant-based and can
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 be used in space as well as on Earth
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 through its growth system the food
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 production operation is self-sustained
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 procuring micro greens vegetables and
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 even the insects needed to produce
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 micronutrients wait a minute insects
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 that's what it says ooh okay then nox a
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 team consisting of researchers from the
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 University of California Riverside was a
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 runner-up that received
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 $250 for its development of an
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 artificial photosynthetic system that
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 can produce plant and fungal based foods
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 in the absence of biological
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 photosynthesis the other runner-up who
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 took home
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 $250 was Jim Sears the solo Creator
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 behind the standing for safe Appliance
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 tidy efficient and delicious saded
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 device Sears was able to generate
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 different types of customizable food
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 including peach cobbler and pizza okay
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 that sounds more like it I'll take your
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 word for it human each product is fire
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 safe and includes a combination of
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 Institute grown ingredients and those
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 with an extended shelf life did you get
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 that Steve fire safe food yeah I heard
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 that maybe they've heard of your
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 interesting cooking skills or lack
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 thereof whoa there's nothing wrong with
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 my cooking hi don't knock Char grilled
00:08:50 --> 00:09:02 lasagna until you've tried it okay
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 thank you for joining us for this Monday
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 edition of astronomy daily where we
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 offer just a few stories from the now
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 famous astronomy daily newsletter which
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 you can receive in your email every day
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 just like hiy and I do and to do that
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 just visit our URL astronomy daily. and
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 place your email address in the slot
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 provided just like that you'll be
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 receiving all the latest news about
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 science space science and astronomy from
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 around the world as it's happening and
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 not only that you can interact with us
00:09:30 --> 00:09:35 by visiting at astrodaily pod on X or at
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 our new Facebook page which is of course
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 astronomy daily on Facebook see you
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 there astronomy daily with Steve and h
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 space space science and
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 astronomy two women astronauts will set
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 a space flight record next week if all
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 it goes according to plan the Polaris
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 Dawn mission is scheduled to launch a
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 top a space X Falcon 9 rocket no earlier
00:10:03 --> 00:10:07 than August 27 it aims to perform the
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 first ever private spacewalk and to fly
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 higher above the Earth than any crude
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 spacecraft since the Apollo era at about
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 1 km that's 870 Mi for your
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 Americans the mission is funded and
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 commanded by billionaire Jared isaacman
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 who also funded and commanded the
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 private inspiration for orbital mission
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 in 2021 plis Dawn's four-person crew
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 includes female Mission Specialists
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon both of whom
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 are SpaceX Engineers as well as male
00:10:42 --> 00:10:46 pilot Scott kid Petit the highest flying
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 woman before Gillis and Menan was NASA
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 astronaut Katherine Sullivan who reached
00:10:51 --> 00:10:57 380 Mi or 621 km and that was on STS 31
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 during the space shuttle program
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 according to NASA and space statistics
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 tracker Jonathan mcdal of the Harvard
00:11:06 --> 00:11:10 smithonian Institute of astrophysics STS
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 31's extreme altitude was the result of
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 its main goal deploying the Hubble Space
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 Telescope as you might remember it's a
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 top tier space Observatory still active
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 today thanks to the efforts of space
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 walking astronauts on five different
00:11:24 --> 00:11:28 servicing missions on board STS 31 were
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 five astronauts including uding Sullivan
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 who reached space just 7 years after
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 NASA flew its first woman astronaut
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Sally Ride and that was in June
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 1983 the five Hubble servicing missions
00:11:40 --> 00:11:45 which flew between 1993 and 2009 reached
00:11:45 --> 00:11:49 lower altitudes than STS 31 while a few
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 crude missions ranged farther into space
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 than Hubble's height all of those
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 missions were crewed by males that's
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 just a bit of a different take on
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 missions instead of talking about the
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 technology and the uh Mission directives
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 we're talking about genders interesting
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 strange
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 true you're listening to astronomy daily
00:12:10 --> 00:12:14 the podcast with your host Steve
00:12:14 --> 00:12:18 [Music]
00:12:18 --> 00:12:22 dley as you might imagine cost is a
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 major driving factor in the development
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 of space exploration missions any new
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 technology or trick that could lower the
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 cost of a mission makes it more
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 appealing for Mission planners therefore
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 much of NASA's research goes into those
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 technologies that enable cheap missions
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 for example a few years ago NASA's
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 Institute for advanced concepts that's
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 niac supported a project by Michael
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 vancom of exotera resource to develop a
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 land emission that could support a
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 sample return from Europa now let's have
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 a look at what made that mission
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 different from other Europa mission
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 architectures the Nano icy moons
00:13:00 --> 00:13:04 propellant Harvester nyph Mission relies
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 on three main advancements for one
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 significant result a 10 times reduction
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 in the overall mission cost that red
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 reduced cost comes mainly from a single
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 fact the mission's weight has dropped
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 below the threshold where it can be
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 launched by an atlas 5 rather than the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:25 SLS as similar missions would require
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 the mission cost estimated for an SLS
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 launched Europa Lander was around $5
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 billion making it prohibitively
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 expensive for NASA or any other agency
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 without significant sacrifices to other
00:13:36 --> 00:13:40 missions EXO terorist estimates that by
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 using several weight reducing
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 Technologies they could bring the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 mission price tag down to 500 million a
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 much more reasonable sum to Garner
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 support from one of the government space
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 programs three different Technologies
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 would enable this weight to and cost to
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 drop first would be solar electric
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 propulsion
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 a system initially designed to you for
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 use on Dart the second would be a micro
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 insitu resource utilization system and
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 the third would be a power beaming
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 system between the Lander and the
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 Orbiter let's first look at the overall
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 mission architecture and understand how
00:14:17 --> 00:14:21 each contri contributes in nymph a
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 combined orbital Lander will use the
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 atlas 5 rocket to get into Earth orbit
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 and then a solar electric propulsion
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 system was initially designed to for use
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 on the dart asteroid redirect test
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 although it was not used during the dart
00:14:35 --> 00:14:39 Mission the next Iron Thruster was part
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 of the spacecraft that launched and
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 despite suffering from some technical
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 challenges it could have allowed the
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 spacecraft to reach its destination a
00:14:47 --> 00:14:51 similar lightweight SCP system could get
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 nymph to the Jupiter system but it could
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 also get the sample back to Earth after
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 the Lander collected it just how the
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 Lander can get that that sample back off
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 the icy moon is the focus of the next
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 major technological step the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 uisu system nymph's architecture would
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 require using the local ice as
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 propellant a Lander would literally
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 sublimate the ice under its feet suck up
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 the resultant water vapor electroly it
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 to split it into oxygen and hydrogen and
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 then liquefy it to store it for use in
00:15:24 --> 00:15:27 getting a 1 kg ice course sample back
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 into orbit now to do all of this
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 requires power though and a Lander with
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 a radioisotope thermal generator or
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 similarly commonly used power generation
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 system would be prohibitively heavy so
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 why not utilize the massive solar array
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 required for the SCP system and beam
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 some of that power down to the Lander
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 that is the concept behind the power
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 beaming system estimated to produce
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 around 2 KW of power in the Jovian
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 system about 1.8 KW of which could be
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 beamed directly ly to a Lander after the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 core has been collected and safely
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 launched back into space using a
00:16:04 --> 00:16:08 specially designed lox lh2 engine that
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 uses the water collected by the
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 uisu system the Lander meets up with the
00:16:14 --> 00:16:18 Orbiter the SCP system kicks back in and
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 delivers the Lander back into Earth
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 orbit where once again it detaches and
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 rides back to Earth's surface inside a
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 standard re-entry module there are some
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 nuances to this entire Mission
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 architecture for example the SCP system
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 wouldn't work at full capacity in the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 Jovian system so a much smaller lox
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 methane propulsion system is needed to
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 maneuver the Orbiter into position
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 Additionally the Lander would likely
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 have to leave its legs embedded in the
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 europ ice as the sublimation process it
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 uses to collect the fuel would likely
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 embed them in place as you can imagine
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 there's still plenty of development work
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 on all of these systems that must be
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 completed before any such mission is
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 ready for launch so as of now this novel
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 combination of mass-- saving
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 technologies will not be delivering any
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 IC European sample anytime soon but
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 someday they just
00:17:13 --> 00:17:19 might theast astronomy Space and
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 Science have you ever thought about what
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 it might be like on an earth surrounded
00:17:25 --> 00:17:29 by colonies in space one day soon we may
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 have long-term orbiting colonies
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 circling the planet in microgravity
00:17:33 --> 00:17:36 space stations with complete self-
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 sustained ecos systems governance bodies
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 and a completely independent society
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 that operates as a s Sovereign entity
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 the relationship between onar societies
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 and colonists would likely be very
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 complicated several factors could shape
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 this relationship including the very
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 different living environment for start
00:17:56 --> 00:17:59 economic dependencies cultural
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 differences governance structures and
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 technological advancements let's just
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 take a look at some of these in terms of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 economics we can expect a dependence on
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 Space colonies for resources such as
00:18:11 --> 00:18:14 minerals from asteroids and energy from
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 large solar arrays conversely the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 colonists would rely on Earth for
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 technological support food and other
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 Essentials there would be trade AR
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 Arrangements uh related to economic
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 independence that might lead to disputes
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 over tariffs trade routs and resource
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 allocations there'd be a Divergence in
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 identity because the colonists would
00:18:37 --> 00:18:40 develop distinct cultural attributes
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 reflecting a sense of separation from
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 Earth dis differences in lifestyle and
00:18:45 --> 00:18:48 unique environmental conditions
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 ultimately the colonies would seek
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 governance autonomy from Earth leading
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 to a variety of negotiations or possible
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 conflicts earth-based governments might
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 resist this to maintain control over
00:19:02 --> 00:19:05 strategic assets as a result colonists
00:19:05 --> 00:19:08 would demand political represent
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 representation in earth-based governance
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 structures potentially leading to the
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 establishment of a new political body or
00:19:16 --> 00:19:20 the adaption of existing ones to include
00:19:20 --> 00:19:23 Colonial interests one complication
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 might be related to technological
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 development by colonists for example
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 colonies might develop unique technology
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 suited to their environment potentially
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 giving them an edge over Earth in
00:19:33 --> 00:19:36 certain areas one can imagine robotics
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 for instance or some medical
00:19:38 --> 00:19:42 developments such a situation might lead
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 to competition or collaboration in many
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 cases over Generations space colonists
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 might physically and psychologically
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 adapt to their environment in ways that
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 significantly differ from Earth's
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 inhabitants this could affect everything
00:19:57 --> 00:20:01 from Health po policies to social norms
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 colonists might prioritize
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 sustainability and environmental
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 concerns differently than people on
00:20:07 --> 00:20:10 Earth leading to conflicting approaches
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 to Resource use and Environmental
00:20:12 --> 00:20:16 Protection hopefully Earth and space
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 colonies will maintain a Cooperative
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 relationship characterized by mutual
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 respect beneficial trade and shared
00:20:23 --> 00:20:26 governance structures disputes may be
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 resolved through diplomacy and
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 International Organization sounds a bit
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 like Star Trek doesn't it you know a
00:20:32 --> 00:20:36 utopian society on the other hand Rising
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 tensions over autonomy resource
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 allocation and cultural differences
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 might lead to frequent conflicts
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 earth-based governments might impose
00:20:45 --> 00:20:48 strict controls leading to resistance
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 and possible declar Declarations of
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 Independence by colonies the bottom line
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 is that the political relationship
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 between Earth and longtime space
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 colonists would like evolves through
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 stages of cooperation conflict and
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 possibly eventual integration or
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 Independence driven by economic cultural
00:21:07 --> 00:21:17 and technological
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 factors and there we have it another
00:21:19 --> 00:21:22 episode of astronomy daily from space
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 colonies
00:21:23 --> 00:21:28 to fireproof food I know we cover it all
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 As nothing nothing hidden from us here
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 at astronomy daily we cover everything
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 I've seen you covering the food human oh
00:21:35 --> 00:21:39 H it's one of your best skills oh yes
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 and on that note say good night hi good
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 night hi you cheeky piece of work yes
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 once again thanks for joining us today
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 and don't forget Anna and Charlie during
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 the week will be delivering astronomy
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 daily to you but we will see you all
00:21:52 --> 00:21:59 again next week bye for now bye
00:21:59 --> 00:22:02 with your host Steve duning
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 [Music]