Source:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s03e151-polaris-dawn-s-private-spacewalk-moon-mapping-challenge-and-milky-way-mysteries--61335167
Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 11th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest and greatest in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have some thrilling stories lined up for you. Sit tight as we dive into groundbreaking missions, celestial discoveries, and much more. Buckle up, stargazers. It's going to be an exciting ride through the cosmos.
Highlights:
- SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission: Earlier this week, SpaceX made history with the launch of its Polaris Dawn mission, introducing an extraordinary era of private space exploration. Aboard the modified Crew Dragon capsule, four courageous private astronauts embarked on a groundbreaking journey, one that is slated to include the first-ever private spacewalk. The mission is led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, with Scott Petit, Sara Gillis, and Anna Menon joining as crew members. This mission also debuts new SpaceX spacesuits designed for greater ease of movement.
- NASA's Moon Mapping Challenge: NASA is offering a $50,000 reward for groundbreaking solutions to navigate the rugged terrain of the moon's south pole and map the enigmatic Shackleton crater. This ambitious challenge is part of the Artemis campaign, aiming to facilitate human landing on lunar surfaces and pave the way for future missions to Mars.
- Origins of the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole: New research from the Nevada Center for Astrophysics at UNLV might have unearthed a crucial piece of the cosmic puzzle surrounding Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the core of the Milky Way. Researchers propose that it may have formed as a result of a massive cosmic merger, possibly coinciding with the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy around 9 billion years ago.
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe: NASA's Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for a significant milestone on November 6, with its final planned Venus flyby. This maneuver is designed to harness Venus's gravitational pull to tighten the spacecraft's orbit around the sun, bringing it closer than ever before. The probe is currently in its 21st orbit and will begin a science encounter that will peak with a close approach to the sun on September 30.
- NASA's Voyager 1: NASA's Voyager 1 has been an incredible explorer for over 47 years, recently overcoming technical difficulties. The mission team successfully switched the spacecraft to a different set of thrusters, ensuring it continues to send valuable scientific data from over 14 billion miles away in interstellar space.
For more space news, be sure to visit our website at https://www.spacenutspodcast.com. There you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter, catch up on all the latest space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating news feed, and listen to all our back episodes.
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Thank you for tuning in, and remember to keep your eyes on the skies. Until next time, keep looking up.
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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 in
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 space and astronomy I'm your host Anna
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 and today we have some thrilling stories
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 lined up for you sit tight as we dive
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 into groundbreaking missions Celestial
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 discoveries and much more in today's
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 episode we'll explore spacex's
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 pioneering Polaris Dawn Mission which
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 just launched with the first ever
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 private spacewalk we'll also delve into
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 NASA's exciting $50 reward challenge
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 for mapping the moon's mysterious South
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 Pole but that's not all we've got new
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 research shedding light on the
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 fascinating origins of the Milky Way's
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 super massive black hole plus we'll
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 track NASA's Parker solar probe As It
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 prepares for its critical final flyby of
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 Venus and finally don't miss the
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 incredible story of how NASA's Voyager
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 won journeying through Interstellar
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 space successfully overcame technical
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 difficulties after 47 years buckle up
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 stargazers it's going to be an exciting
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 ride through the cosmos earlier this
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 week SpaceX made history with the launch
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 of its Polaris Dawn mission introducing
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 an extraordinary era of private space
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 exploration aboard the modified crew
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 Dragon capsule four courageous private
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 astronauts embarked on a groundbreaking
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 Journey one that is slated to include
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 the first ever private spacewalk lifting
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Florida the mission began at the crack
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 of dawn 5:23 a.m. EST to be precise just
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 9 and a half short minutes later the
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 crew Dragon capsule gracefully entered
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 orbit a small plush astronaut dog
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 floating freely in zero gravity
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 signaling the onset of the Grand
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 Adventure upon reaching space the
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 capsule offered the crew a stunning view
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 of the earth bathed in sunlight the
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 separation from the support trunk
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 provided a picturesque backdrop of our
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 home planet as seen from a vantage point
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 so few have ever experienced The Man
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 Behind this ambitious mission is Jared
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 isaacman a 41-year-old billionaire
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 entrepreneur and pilot joining him are
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 Scott petite a 50-year-old retired US
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and space
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 XX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menan
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 who both serve as senior Engineers this
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 diverse crew is not just making history
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 they are also serving as test subjects
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 for an array of scientific experiments
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 their mission to better understand the
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 effects of cosmic radiation in the
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 vacuum of space on the human body one of
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 the most exciting aspects of Polaris
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Dawn is the debut of brand new SpaceX
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 space suits unlike traditional thick and
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 bulky designs these suits are slimmed
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 down and optimized for greater ease of
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 movement the TR test of these suits will
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 come on the mission's third day when
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Isaac man and Gillis plan to venture
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 outside the crew Dragon for a 20-minute
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 spacewalk at a staggering altitude of
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 700 km this mission is particularly
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 challenging and risky the crew Dragon
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 capsule has no airlock meaning the
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 entire cabin will have to be
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 depressurized for The Space Walk This is
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 a nod to the methods used during early
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 space missions in the 1960s unlike
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 previous spacewalks that have been the
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 domain of highly trained government
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 astronauts this daring Endeavor sets a
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 new precedent for private space
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 exploration despite having to overcome a
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 series of technical delays including a
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 helium leak and a recovery failure of
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 unrelated missions SpaceX managed to
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 pull off a near-perfect launch after a
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 brief weather delay the science and data
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 collected from Polaris Dawn will
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 undoubtedly pave the way for future
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 missions this is just the first in a
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 plan series under Isaac man's Polaris
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 program which aims to culminate in a
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 Monumental flight aboard spacex's
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 Starship the massive vehicle intended
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 for moon and Mars Expeditions as the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 voyage continues know that the
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 pioneering Spirit of these private
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 astronauts isn't just pushing boundaries
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 in space it's shedding light on human
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 resilience Ingenuity and the endless
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 possibilities that lie beyond our
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 Earthly confines next up today NASA is
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 once again pushing the envelope of space
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 exploration this time offering a $50
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 reward for groundbreaking solutions to
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 navigate the rugged terrain of the Moon
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 South Pole and map the enigmatic
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Shackleton crater this ambitious
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 challenge is part of the Artemis
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Campaign which aims to facilitate human
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 landing on lunar surfaces and pave the
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 way for future missions to Mars the
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 Artemis campaign represents NASA's Grand
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 return to lunar missions after over half
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 a century with a special focus on the
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 South Pole of the Moon particularly
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 targeting Shackleton crater the reason
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 behind this choice is both scientific
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 and strategic the permanently shadowed
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 regions here may house Water Ice
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 reserves which could prove indispensable
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 for sustaining future long-term missions
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 especially those venturing out to Mars
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 to make this audacious vision of reality
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 NASA has introduced two key challenges
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 the first challenge tasks participants
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 with developing an Innovative
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 orientering Aid to help astronauts
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 navigate the lunar surface safely and
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 efficiently revisiting techniques used
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 during the Apollo missions NASA seeks
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 fresh and unique technologies that are
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 accurate easy to use and functional even
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 when astronauts are wearing bulky
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 pressurized gloves if you're one of the
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 brains behind a winning solution you
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 could be walking away with a part of the
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 $15 prize purse allocated for this
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 challenge alone but NASA isn't stopping
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 there the Second Challenge focuses on
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 creating a robust mapping system that
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 can effectively operate in the extreme
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 and harsh conditions of Shackleton
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 crater imagine an instrument that can
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Brave the Relentless cold temperatures
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 that hover around 90 Kelvin and
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 successfully map out the crater
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 characterizing and quantifying its
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 contents the winning designs will not
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 only need to withstand these conditions
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 but also relay invaluable data back to
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 Earth thereby supporting future
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 exploratory missions the stakes are high
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 as this challenge has a $30 prize
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 purse up for grabs altogether the
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 available prize pool for these two
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 challenges is
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 $50 with an additional $5
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 reserved for exceptional Solutions the
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 rewards are not just Financial
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 contributing to this groundbreaking
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 effort can mean a place in The
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 Chronicles of space history if you think
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 you have what it takes make sure to
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 submit your entries by November 25th
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 20124 this is a golden opportunity to
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 collaborate with NASA and play a pivotal
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 role in the next giant leap in lunar
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 exploration for more detailed
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 information about how you can
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 participate you can visit the
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 competition page on freelancer.com so if
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 you're an innovator engineer or simply a
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 space Enthusiast with a killer idea
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 Now's the Time To Shine this isn't just
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 a challenge it's a call to be part of
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 something Monumental to contribute to
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 knowledge that could one day support
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 Humanity's Journey to Mars and Beyond
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 whether it's through high-tech Solutions
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 or ingenious lowtech devices the goal is
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 the same to arm astronauts with the
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 tools they need to explore the moon's
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 most mysterious regions unlocking
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 secrets that have Lin hidden in the
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 shadows for Millennia so if you're
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 passionate about space and Innovation
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 take up the gauntlet help NASA navigate
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 the Moon South Pole map Shack crater and
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 get one step closer to Mars the deadline
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 is approaching fast and the Stars might
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 just align in your favor now onto one of
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 our favorite subjects one of the most
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 intriguing mysteries in astrophysics
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 centers around super massive black holes
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 colossal beasts that can be millions of
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 times more massive than our sun nestled
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 at the heart of most galaxies including
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 our very own Milky Way these enigmatic
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 entities have long puzzled scientists
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 however new research from the Nevada
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 Center for astrophysics n CFA at UNL V
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 might just have Unearthed a crucial
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 piece of this Cosmic puzzle the study
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 recently published in nature astronomy
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 takes a closer look at Sagittarius A the
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 super massive black hole that lies at
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 the core of the Milky Way using data
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 from The Event Horizon telescope EHT
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 which astonished the world with the
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 first ever image of sear asterisk in
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 2022 researchers yian Wang and Bing Jong
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 offer a compelling new Theory they
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 propos that sugur asterisk may have
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 formed as a result of a massive Cosmic m
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 to delve deeper into this possibility
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 the researchers analyze the peculiar
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 characteristics of cesd asterisk one key
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 observation is the black hole's unusual
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 rapid Spin and its misalignment with the
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 Milky Way's angular momentum these
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 anomalies have long baffled scientists
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 but Wang and Jang suggest they are best
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 explained by a Monumental merger event
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 specifically a collision between Sig a
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 asterisk and another super massive black
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 hole this isn't just a captivating
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 notion the research team used Advanced
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 simulations to model the aftermath of
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 such a cataclysmic Collision their
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 findings indicate that a merger with a
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 mass ratio of 4:1 and a highly inclined
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 orbit could generate the spin properties
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 observed in sdra asterisk moreover the
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 team estimates that this colossal
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 Collision likely occurred around 9
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 billion years ago possibly coinciding
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 with the Milky Way's merger with the
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 Gaia and celus Galaxy this discovery
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 paves the way for our understanding of
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 how super massive black holes grow and
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 evolve explains Yan Wang on the other
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 hand Bing Jang points out that this
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 event not only adds credibility to the
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 hierarchical black hole merger Theory
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 but also offers significant insights
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 into the dynamic history of our galaxy
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 as cgar a asterisk sits more than 27
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 light years away from Earth obtaining
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 concrete proof of these findings remains
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 a challenge nevertheless future missions
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 like the laser interferometer space
00:09:23 --> 00:09:27 antenna Lisa set to launch in 2035 hold
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 promise Lisa's advance aned
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 gravitational wave detection
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 capabilities could uncover similar
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 merger events in other parts of the
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 universe further validating Wang and
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 jang's groundbreaking research
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 understanding the origins of Sagittarius
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 A is more than an answer to a long-held
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 astrophysical question it opens doors to
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 a deeper understanding of the complex
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 ballet of cosmic forces playing out
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 across the universe as technology
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 advances and new observational tools
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 become available such as the EHT and
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 Lisa our compr hension of these awe
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 inspiring Celestial phenomena will only
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 continue to grow NASA's Parker solar
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 probe is gearing up for a significant
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 Milestone on November 6th the final
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 planned Venus flyby this maneuver is
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 designed to harness Venus's
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 gravitational Pole to tighten the
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 spacecraft's orbit around the sun
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 ultimately bringing it closer to our
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 star than ever before it's fascinating
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 to note the precise engineering and
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 planning that goes into such a mission
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 on August 26th the space spacecraft
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 executed a brief but critical Thruster
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 burn adjusting its velocity by less than
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 a mile hour this seemingly minor
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 correction is crucial it ensures Parker
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 solar probe is on the optimal path for a
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 targeted approach point just 240 Mi
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 above venus' surface this flyby is the
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 seventh and closest among the gravity
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 assists Parker has performed bringing it
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 nearer to the planet than any of its
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 previous
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 encounters the proximity to Venus will
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 allow the Parker solar probe to use the
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 planet its gravity to adjust its
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 trajectory this will enable the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 spacecraft to move significantly closer
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 to the sun down to a distance of just
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 3.8 million miles an achievement that
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 promises to yield a trove of
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 unprecedented data about our solar
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 systems furnace yanping guo the mission
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 design and navigation manager at the
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 John's Hopkins Applied Physics
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 laboratory explains that precise
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 positioning is everything when it comes
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 to these Maneuvers the upcoming Venus
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 flyby isn't just essential it's critical
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 it represents the last major step
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 required for Parker solar probe to reach
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 its minimum solar distance this November
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 it will come within a whisker of the sun
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 compared to its current position the
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 timing couldn't be more exciting after
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 this close approach to Venus Parker will
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 embark on its first of at least three
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 planned passes near the Sun at a record
00:11:48 --> 00:11:52 pace of 430 mph come December 24th
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 that's Christmas Eve making this holiday
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 season even more thrilling for space
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 enthusiasts as Parker solar probe
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 prepared prepares for this potentially
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 gamechanging flyby it's not taking a
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 break the spacecraft is currently in its
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 21st orbit and is set to begin a science
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 encounter that will Peak with a close
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 approach to the sun known as perihelion
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 on September 30th this period will help
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 gather critical data setting the stage
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 for what's to come in November the
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 missions trajectory adjustments and the
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 science data it will collect bring us
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 closer to understanding the sun's outer
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 Corona and the solar winds properties
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 this data is expected to provide
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 valuable insights into the mechanisms
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 driving solar phenomena which in turn
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 have direct impacts on Space weather
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 affecting everything from satellite
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 Communications to Power Systems here on
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 Earth for those wanting to follow the
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 Parker solar probes Journey updates are
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 consistently posted on the John's
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratories
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 Parker solar probe website and as always
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 here at astronomy daily will keep you
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 informed with the latest developments
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 the adventure is far from over and as ER
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 Narrows in on the sun who knows what
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 remarkable discoveries await us now the
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 spacecraft that just keeps on giving
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 NASA's Voyager one has been an
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 incredible Explorer for over 47 years
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 traveling far beyond our solar system
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 into Interstellar space recently the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 mission team at NASA's jet propulsion
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 laboratory accomplished a significant
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 feat they successfully switched the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 spacecraft to a different set of
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 thrusters due to issues with clogged
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 fuel tubes these thrusters are essential
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 for keeping Voyager one-pointed at Earth
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 allowing it to continue sending valuable
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 scientific data the problem emerged when
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 the team noticed that the fuel tubes in
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 Voyager 1's thrusters were becoming
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 clogged with silicon dioxide a byproduct
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 from the spacecraft's Aging fuel system
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 these clogs compromised the thrusters
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 efficiency which in turn made it
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 difficult for the spacecraft to maintain
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 its orientation towards Earth
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 maintaining this precise orientation is
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 crucial for communication and data
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 transmission throughout its Mission the
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 Voyager team has had to switch between
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 different sets of thrusters multiple
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 times due to similar issues this time
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 the challenge was compounded by the
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 spacecraft's extreme distance from Earth
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 and its diminishing power supply
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 scientists had to navigate the tricky
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 task of warming up the alternative set
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 of thrusters which had grown cold after
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 being dormant for years this preparation
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 was essential to ensure that turning
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 them on wouldn't cause damage the
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 solution was to temporarily redirect
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 power from one of the spacecraft's main
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 heaters to heat the Thruster assembly
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 this balance of power management was
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 crucial as the spacecraft operates on a
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 very limited power supply generated by
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 decaying plutonium after carefully
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 executing their plan the team confirmed
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 on August 27th that the backup Thruster
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 Branch was functioning as intended a
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 remarcable achievement that will allow
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 Voyager 1 to continue its groundbreaking
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 Mission Voyager 1 is now more than 14
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 billion miles from Earth exploring a
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 region known as Interstellar space this
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 area lies outside the bubble of
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 particles and magnetic field Fields
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 emanating from our sun a place no other
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 human-made object has yet ventured the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 successful Thruster swap ensures that
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 Voyager 1 will keep sending back data
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 about this distant and largely unknown
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 part of the universe the resilience and
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 adaptability of the Voyager missions
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 underscore Humanity's enduring quest for
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 knowledge even after nearly five decades
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Voyager 1 continues to push the
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 boundaries of exploration providing
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 insights that could help us better
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 understand the cosmos the mission
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 science team remains dedicated to
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 keeping the spacecraft operational as
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 long as possible unlocking new secrets
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 from the frontiers of space stay tuned
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 to astronomy daily for more updates on
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 Voyager One and other incredible
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 missions exploring the final frontier
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 that wraps up today's episode of
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 astronomy daily I've been your host Anna
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00:16:34 --> 00:16:43 [Music]