Source:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s03e141-starliner-s-uncrewed-return-solar-sail-deployment-and-blue-origin-s-suborbital-triumph--61207887
Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 30 August 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest and greatest news in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to be guiding you through today's top stories. We have some fascinating updates from the cosmos, spanning from groundbreaking scientific missions to the latest in space tourism adventures. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just a curious stargazer, there's something here for everyone. So let's dive into some exciting content that's sure to ignite your imagination and fuel your passion for all things celestial.
Highlights:
- NASA and Boeing's Starliner Mission Uncrewed Return: NASA and Boeing are gearing up for an uncrewed return mission of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft is slated to undock from the International Space Station no earlier than 06:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 6, and will begin a roughly six-hour journey to its designated landing site at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. This mission follows NASA's decision on August 24 to conduct the Starliner return without a human crew, ensuring that Starliner can perform a fully autonomous return to Earth.
- NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System: NASA has announced a significant milestone with the successful deployment of its advanced composite solar sail system. On August 29, mission operators confirmed the deployment of the sail-hoisting boom system. This innovative technology spans approximately 860 sq ft and is expected to influence the design and operation of future solar sail missions.
- Blue Origin's NS-26 Mission: Blue Origin has successfully completed its 8th human spaceflight with Mission NS-26. This latest venture included a diverse group of six thrill-seekers, among them Carson Kitchen, a 21-year-old senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who became the youngest woman to ever cross the Karman line. The entire flight lasted between ten to eleven minutes, offering these space tourists a brief but extraordinary glimpse into the cosmos.
- NASA's Lunar South Pole Research: NASA has awarded a lucrative contract to Intuitive Machines for an ambitious lunar south pole research delivery. This mission will focus on the lunar south pole, an area of great interest due to its unique conditions and potential ice deposits, marking a major step forward in lunar exploration.
- Warp Drive and Black Holes: Researchers Remo Garattini and Kirill Zatrimalov have been exploring whether a warp bubble, the key element in a warp drive, could survive the intense gravitational field of a black hole. Their findings suggest that under specific conditions, a warp bubble might just pull it off, opening up the possibility for future research into creating smaller lab-based warp drive models.
For more space news, be sure to visit our website athttps://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.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your go-to
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 podcast for the latest and greatest news
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 in space in astronomy I'm your host Anna
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 and I'm thrilled to be guiding you
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 through today's top stories we have some
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 fascinating updates from the cosmos
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 spanning from groundbreaking scientific
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 missions to the latest in space tourism
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Adventures whether you're a seasoned
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 astronomer or just a curious Stargazer
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 there's something here for everyone so
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 let's dive into some exciting content
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 that's sure to ignite your imagination
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 and fuel your passion for all things
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 Celestial stay tuned and let's explore
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 the wonders of the universe together
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 NASA and Boeing are gearing up for an
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 uncrewed return mission of the CST 100
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 Starliner spacecraft NASA teams along
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 with Boeing have completed a
00:00:41 --> 00:00:42 comprehensive deltaf flight test
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 Readiness review giving the green light
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 for the mission to proceed the
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 spacecraft is slated to undock from the
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 International Space Station no earlier
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 than 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday September
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 6th depending on weather and operational
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 Readiness once Starliner undocks it will
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 begin a roughly 6-hour journey to its
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 designated Landing site at wh sand space
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 Harbor in New Mexico the spacecraft is
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 expected to land around 12:03 a.m. on
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Saturday September 7th to ensure a
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 gentle touchdown the Starliner will
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 deploy parachutes and use inflated
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 airbags to soften the impact recovery
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 teams will be on hand at wh Sands to
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 secure the spacecraft and prepare it for
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 transport back to Boeing Starliner
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 Factory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 in Florida this Mission follows NASA's
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 decision on August 24th to conduct the
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 Starliner return without a human crew in
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 preparation Mission managers and flight
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 controllers have updated the spacecraft
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 systems with Mission specific data
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 ensuring that Starliner can perform a
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 fully autonomous return to Earth the
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 spacecraft will be monitored and
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 controlled remotely from Starliner
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 Mission Control in Houston and Boeing
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 Mission Control Center in Florida with
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 teams on standby to intervene if
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 necessary during undocking re-entry and
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 Landing procedures Starliner has
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 previously demonstrated its capability
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 for autonomous return with success
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 uccessful uncrewed entries and landings
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 during earlier orbital flight tests this
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 mission is a crucial Milestone as it
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 continues to prove the capabilities and
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 reliability of autonomous space flight
00:02:11 --> 00:02:12 Paving the way for even more ambitious
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 missions in the future NASA is certainly
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 in the news today having just announced
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 a significant Milestone with the
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 successful deployment of its Advanced
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 composite solar s system this Innovative
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 technology is blazing a trail for the
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 future of space exploration on August
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 29th Mission operators confirmed the
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 deployment of the sail hoisting boom
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 system this marked a key milestone for
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 the mission at exactly 1:33 p.m. EDT the
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 solar sale which now spans approximately
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 860 sare ft around the size of half a
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 tennis court has been flawlessly
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 extended and photographed by four
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 onboard cameras these highresolution
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 images are expected to be released soon
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 giving us a detailed look at this
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 pioneering technology over the next
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 several weeks the mission team will
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 conduct a series of extensive tests to
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 assess assess the sales maneuverability
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 they'll be looking at how well it can
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 adjust the spacecraft's orbit aiming to
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 gather critical data that could
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 influence the design and operation of
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 future solar sale missions positioned at
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 twice the altitude of the International
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 Space Station the sale could even be
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 visible from Earth depending on your
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 location and timing for those interested
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 in catching a glimpse NASA has promised
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 to keep us updated through their website
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 and social media channels this
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 achievement not only demonstrates the
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 viability of the advanced composite
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 solar sales system but also opens the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 door for its potential applications in
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 scientific and exploratory missions the
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 success of these preliminary tests could
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 pave the way for a new era in space
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 travel driven by this cuttingedge
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 technology so keep your eyes on the
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 skies and stay tuned to NASA's official
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 channels for more updates the next few
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 weeks promise to be an exciting time as
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 we witness the unfolding potential of
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 solar sale technology truly the future
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 of space exploration looks as bright as
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 ever
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 blue origin has yet again reached New
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Heights successfully completing its
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 eighth human space flight with Mission
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 NS 26 this latest Venture included a
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 diverse group of six Thrill Seekers
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 among them Carson kitchen a 21-year-old
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 senior at the University of North
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 Carolina at Chapel Hill who became the
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 youngest woman to ever cross the Carmen
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 Line This boundary located 100 km above
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 Earth's surface marks the edge of space
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 and is a significant milestone in
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 suborbital tourism
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 the mission took off from Blue Origins
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 launch site one base in West Texas at
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 8:00 a.m. local time the Sleek new
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Shepard rocket which boast zero carbon
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 emissions blasted off into the sky after
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 liftoff the capsule separated from its
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 booster which performed a precise
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 vertical Landing back on Earth as the
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 capsule soared beyond the Carmen line
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 passengers unbuckled their seat belts to
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 experience the thrill of weightlessness
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 and to catch a sight of the Earth's
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 Majestic curvature from the darkness of
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 space the entire FL lasted between 10 to
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 11 minutes offering these space tourists
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 a brief but extraordinary glimpse into
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 the cosmos among those on board was Rob
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 furl a researcher funded by NASA who had
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 the unique opportunity to conduct an
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 experiment during the flight describing
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 the experience he said being there in
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 the darkness of space there's no way to
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 talk about how impressive that is blue
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 origin continues to forge ahead in the
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 nent field of suborbital Tourism making
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 space accessible to more people than
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 ever before although the company has not
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 publicly disclosed the cost of its
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 tickets they are believed to range
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 significantly depending on the
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 individual and what they bring to the
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 company both in financial terms and
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 Social Capital notably the first seat
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 sold in a 2021 Charity Auction went for
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 an astonishing $28 million While Blue
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 origin's main competitor in the
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 suborbital space Market Virgin Galactic
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 is currently on a 2-year pause from
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 commercial operations blue origin
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 presses on expanding the bound
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 boundaries of Civilian space travel and
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 setting the stage for more
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 groundbreaking missions in the near
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 future in other NASA news today it's
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 been announced they have awarded a
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 lucrative contract to intuitive machines
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 for an ambitious lunar south pole
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 research delivery this collaboration is
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 poised to significantly expand our
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 knowledge of the moon's Uncharted
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 territories bringing us closer to
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 unveiling its many Mysteries the mission
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 will focus on the lunar South Pole an
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 area of great interest due to its unique
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 conditions and potential ice deposits
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 these discoveries could be instrumental
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 for future missions possibly providing
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 essential resources for astronauts or
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 being utilized in a variety of
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 scientific research projects in essence
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 this contract marks a major step forward
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 in lunar exploration Paving the way for
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 groundbreaking findings in future
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 Expeditions imagine taking the concept
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 of a Sci-Fi warp drive and testing what
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 happens if it enters a black hole that's
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 exactly what researchers Remo gratini
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 and K zof have been exploring their
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 recent study delves into whether a warp
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 bubble the key element in a warp drive
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 could survive the intense gravitational
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 field of a black hole according to their
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 findings it turns out that under
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 specific conditions a warp bubble might
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 just pull it off specifically if the
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 ship enters a Schwarz child black hole
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 which has no charge and doesn't rotate
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 at a speed slower than that of light the
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 bubble could be sustained the black
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 hole's gravity would actually decrease
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 the amount of negative energy needed to
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 maintain the warp field making it more
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 feasible this study is more than just a
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 fascinating thought experiment it opens
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 up the possibility for future Research
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 into creating smaller lab based warp
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 drive models plus it challenges our
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 current understanding of both warp
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 drives and black holes pushing the
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 boundaries of theoretical
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 physics while practical warp drive
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 technology might still be decades or
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 even centuries away this pioneering
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 research is laying the groundwork who
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 knows someday we might actually see a
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 spacecraft use a warp drive to travel
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 across the Universe navigating even the
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 most dangerous black holes the universe
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 continues to amaze with its endless
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 possibilities and that wraps up today's
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 episode of astronomy daily with your
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 host Anna thank you so much for joining
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 me as we explored the latest happenings
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 from the cosmos if you're eager for more
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 space news between our episodes make
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 sure to visit our website at astronomy
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 daily. there you can easily sign up for
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 our free daily newsletter keeping you up
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 toate on everything space related from
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 new discoveries to thrilling misss our
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00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 updating news feed so you're always in
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 the loop with the latest developments
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00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 today until next time keep looking up
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 astronomy
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 Day stories told
00:09:05 --> 00:09:21 [Music]