Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E163
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we'll be covering a range of exciting topics, from SpaceX's ambitious Mars plans to new discoveries about our galaxy's magnetic halo. Strap in for a cosmic journey as we explore the frontiers of space exploration and scientific discovery.
Highlights:
- SpaceX's Mars Missions : Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX aims to launch approximately five uncrewed starship missions to Mars within the next two years. These missions align with the upcoming Earth-Mars transfer window and will be crucial in determining the timeline for future crewed expeditions. If successful, the first crewed missions could launch in as little as four years.
- FAA Fine Against SpaceX : The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $633,000 fine against SpaceX for violating agency rules. This has sparked a debate about safety practices in the private space industry. FAA administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the need for rigorous safety management systems, while SpaceX disputes the claims, asserting their commitment to safety.
- Milky Way's Magnetic Halo : Scientists have discovered a magnetic halo surrounding our Milky Way galaxy, stretching 16,000 light years beyond the galactic plane. This finding, led by the National Institute for Astrophysics, reveals magnetized structures connected to the Eroceta bubbles and provides new insights into galactic growth processes.
- SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Delay : The Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station has been delayed due to Tropical Storm Helene. Originally planned for Thursday, the launch is now tentatively set for Stuart at 1:17 PM Eastern. Preparations continue, with safety remaining the top priority.
- ESA's Draco Mission: The European Space Agency is preparing for the Draco mission, aimed at understanding the final moments of a satellite's life during reentry. This mission will collect crucial data on temperature, pressure, and strain, enhancing future satellite designs and space debris mitigation strategies.
- WASP-107b Atmospheric Discover y: Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have observed an east-west asymmetry in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-107b. This discovery is crucial for understanding the climate and atmospheric dynamics of worlds beyond our solar system.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your source
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 for the latest space and astronomy news
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 I'm your host Anna and today we'll be
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 covering a range of exciting topics from
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 spacex's ambitious Mars plans to new
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 discoveries about our Galaxy's magnetic
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Halo strap in for a cosmic Journey as we
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 explore the frontiers of space
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 exploration and scientific discovery
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 Elon Musk has once again set his sights
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 on the red planet announcing ambitious
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 plans for SpaceX to launch approximately
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 within the next two years this bold
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 timeline aligns with the upcoming Earth
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 Mars transfer window presenting an ideal
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 opportunity for these pioneering flights
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 the success of these initial uncrewed
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 missions will play a crucial role in
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 determining the timeline for future
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 crude expeditions to Mars musk has
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 indicated that if these unmanned flights
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 managed to land safely on the Martian
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 surface we could see the first crude
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 missions launching in as little as 4
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 years however should any significant
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 challenges arise during these test
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 flights the timeline for human missions
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 may be pushed back by an additional 2
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 years it's worth noting that musk's
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 timelines have been known to shift and
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 earlier this year he had suggested a
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 5-year window for the first uncrewed
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 Mars Landing nevertheless these latest
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 announcements underscore spacex's
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 unwavering commitment to pushing the
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 boundaries of space exploration and
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 their ultimate goal of establishing a
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 human presence on Mars in other SpaceX
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 news today it appears a few feathers are
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 getting ruffled on both sides of this
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 story the Federal Aviation
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 Administration has recently proposed a
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 hefty $633 fine against SpaceX for
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 violating agency rules this move has
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 sparked a debate about safety practices
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 in the private space industry FAA
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 administrator Mike Whitaker has been
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 vocal about the need for SpaceX to
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 operate at the highest level of safety
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 he emphasized that the company now in
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 its 20th year of operation needs to
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 adopt more rigorous Safety Management
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 systems with ier pointed out specific
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 incidents that led to the proposed fine
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 including launches in June and July of
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 last year from Cape Canaveral Florida
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 which he claims were conducted without
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 proper permits he stated it's the only
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 tool we have to get compliance on safety
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 matters SpaceX however strongly disputes
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 these claims asserting that every
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 statement made by Whitaker was incorrect
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 the company maintains that it is the
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 safest and most reliable launch provider
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 in the world and is fully committed to
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 Safety in all its oper
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 ations this disagreement highlights the
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 ongoing challenges in regulating the
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 rapidly evolving private space industry
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 where Innovation and safety must be
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 carefully balanced now onto some
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 astronomy news in a groundbreaking
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 discovery scientists have unveiled a
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 magnetic Halo surrounding our Milky Way
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 galaxy this finding is shaking up our
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 understanding of Galactic structure and
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 evolution the study led by the National
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Institute for astrophysics has revealed
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 magnetized structures stretching an
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 incredible 16 light years beyond the
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 galactic plane these structures are
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 connected to what are known as the Eros
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 bubbles vast regions powered by intense
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 Gas and energy outflows primarily caused
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 by supern noi explosions the magnetic
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 fields Within These bubbles are
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 organized into thin filamentary
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 structures stretching up to 150 times
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 the diameter of the full moon what's
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 particularly exciting is that these
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 magnetic ridges aren't just random
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 formations they're closely linked to
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 Star forming regions in our galaxy
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 specifically the star forming ring at
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 the end of the galactic bar this
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 connection provides new insights into
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 how even relatively quiet galaxies like
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 our Milky Way can generate powerful
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 outflows potentially shedding light on
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 Galactic growth processes this discovery
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 marks a significant Leap Forward in our
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 understanding of the Milky Way's complex
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Dynamics and the intricate relationship
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 between Star formation and large scale
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Galactic structures spacex's crew n
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 mission to the international space
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 station has hit a snag due to Mother
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Nature the launch originally planned for
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Thursday afternoon has been pushed back
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 by at least 2 days because of tropical
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 storm Helen this powerful storm is
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 expected to intensify into a category 3
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 hurricane as it approaches Florida's
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 Gulf Coast NASA and SpaceX are now
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 eyeing Saturday as the earliest possible
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 launch date with a tentative liftoff
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 time of 17 p.m Eastern the decision to
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 delay comes as a precautionary measure
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 as the storm's large system is is
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 expected to bring high winds and heavy
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 rain to the Cape Canaveral and Meritt
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 Island regions on Florida's East Coast
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 despite the delay preparations continue
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 the Falcon 9 rocket and crew Dragon
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 capsule named Freedom have already been
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 rolled out to the Launchpad the mission
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 team plans to conduct rehearsal
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 activities before moving the hardware
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 back to the hanger to protect it from
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 potential storm activity as always
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 safety Remains the top priority for both
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 NASA and SpaceX they'll continue to
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 monitor the weather condition closely
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 and make further adjustments to the
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 launch schedule if
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 necessary next up in a groundbreaking
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 effort to understand the final moments
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 of a satellite's life the European Space
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Agency is gearing up for an exciting new
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 mission called Draco short for
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 destructive re-entry assessment
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 container object this project aims to
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 capture never-before-seen data as a
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 satellite breaks apart during reentry
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 for decades we've watched satellites
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 burn up in Earth's atmosphere but we've
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 never had a clear picture of exactly
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 what happens during those final moments
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 Draco is set to change that the mission
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 will involve launching a specially
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 designed satellite that mimics an
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 average low earth orbit satellite as it
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 plummets back to Earth it will collect
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 crucial data on temperature pressure and
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 strain but here's the clever part inside
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 this doomed satellite is an
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 indestructible pod this pod equipped
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 with sensors and cameras Will Survive
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 the fiery descent and transmit its
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 valuable data back to Earth it's like
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 giving a satellite a blackbox recorder
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 this Mission isn't just about scientific
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 curiosity the data collected will be
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 invaluable for improving future
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 satellite designs and enhancing our
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 space debris mitigation strategies as we
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 continue to launch more satellites
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 understanding how to safely bring them
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 down becomes increasingly important
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 finally today let's return to an
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 exoplanet that's fast becoming a friend
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 here at astronomy daily in an exciting
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 breakthrough astronomers have used
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 NASA's James web space telescope to
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 observe the atmosphere of a truly
00:06:32 --> 00:06:36 remarkable exoplanet known as wasp 107b
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 this planet is not only incredibly hot
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 but also uniquely inflated what makes
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 this observation particularly
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 groundbreaking is the discovery of an
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 East West asymmetry in its atmosphere
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 this asymmetry means there's a
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 significant difference between the
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 eastern and western edges of the
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 planet's atmosphere it's the first time
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 such a phenomenon has been observed in
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 an exoplanet during its Transit of its
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 star from space this finding is crucial
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 for understanding the climate
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 atmospheric Dynamics and weather
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 patterns of Worlds beyond our solar
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 system wasp 107b is a fascinating object
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 it's about the size of Jupiter but only
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 a tenth of its mass resulting in an
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 extremely low density the planet is
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 tidally locked to its star meaning one
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 side always faces the scorching heat
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 while the other remains in Perpetual
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 Darkness using a technique called
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 transmission spectroscopy researchers
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 were able to capture detailed snapshots
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 of the planet's atmosphere as it passed
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 in front of its host star these images
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 reveal valuable information about the
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 gases clouds and overall structure of
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 the atmosphere this discovery challenges
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 some existing models and opens up new
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 questions about how such a symmetry can
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 exist on a planet like wasp 107b it's a
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 testament to the power of the James web
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 Space Telescope and the Ingenuity of
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 astronomers in pushing the boundaries of
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 our understanding of alien
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 worlds that's all for today's episode of
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 astronomy daily I'm Anna and I hope
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 you've enjoyed this Cosmic Journey
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 Through the latest space and astronomy
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 news remember to visit our website at
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 astronomy daily. where you can sign up
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 for our free daily newsletter catch up
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 on all the latest space and astronomy
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 news with our constantly updating
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 Newsfeed and listen to all our back
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 episodes you can also find us on social
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00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 next time keep looking up and stay
00:08:28 --> 00:08:36 curious about the one of our universe
00:08:36 --> 00:08:52 [Music]