00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 hello everybody here we are again
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 welcome to astronomy daily your daily
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 dose of space and astronomy news I'm
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 your host Anna and today we have an
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 exciting lineup of stories from across
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 the cosmos we'll be diving into spacex's
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 latest mission to the International
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Space Station exploring groundbreaking
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 discoveries about Mars and Venus and
00:00:19 --> 00:00:20 catching up with several other
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 fascinating developments in space
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 exploration from commercial space flight
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 to planetary science we've got an
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 incredible show ahead so let's get
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 started SpaceX has kicked off the week
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 with another successful launch to the
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 International Space Station marking
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 their 31st commercial resupply Mission
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 the dragon spacecraft lifted off Monday
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 in Florida carrying more than 6
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 pounds of vital supplies and fascinating
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 new scientific experiments to our
00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 orbiting
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 laboratory among the cargo are several
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 groundbreaking experiments that could
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 shape the future of space
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 exploration one particularly Innovative
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 project will test a new way to repair
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 spacecraft hulls From the Inside Out
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 called astrobeat this experiment will
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 explore cold welding in microgravity
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 potentially leading to revolutionary
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 repair methods that don't require heat a
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 crucial advancement for future deep
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 space missions the mission also includes
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 the coronal diagnostic experiment or
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 codex which will help us better
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 understand solar wind formation using a
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26 special instrument called a coronograph
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 to block out most of the Sun's light
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 scientists will be able to study the
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 solar Corona in unprecedented detail in
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 what could be a glimpse into future
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 space farming researchers are sending
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Antarctic Moss to test how well it
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 handles the combined effects of cosmic
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45 radiation and
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 microgravity this research could be
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 vital for identifying plants suitable
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 for long duration space missions the
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 dragon spacecraft is scheduled to remain
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 docked at the station until December
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 when it will return to Earth with
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 research samples and cargo SPL flashing
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 down off the Florida coast this Mission
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 represents another step forward in our
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 ongoing efforts to maintain and utilize
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 the International Space Station as our
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 Premier orbital research
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 platform now one for our listeners down
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 under Australia space industry has just
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 achieved a remarkable Milestone that
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 marks a new chapter in the country's
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 space exploration
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 capabilities Gilmore space Technologies
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 has been awarded Australia's first ever
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 orbital launch permit clearing the way
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 for their AIS ET to make its Maiden
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 flight from the Bowen orbital Spaceport
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 in North
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 Queensland this historic permit was
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 granted by the minister for industry and
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 Science and the Australian space agency
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 under the space launches and returns act
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 the legislation requires that any
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 objects launched from Australian soil
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 reaching altitudes above 100 kilm must
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 meet strict safety and operational
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 conditions including providing a 30-day
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 notice before launch the company's
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 journey to this point has been
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 impressive since beginning their rocket
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 program in 2015 Gilmore space has grown
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 to employ over 200 people and built a
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 network of more than 300 Australian
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 suppliers they've already completed
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 crucial pre-launch testing including a
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 successful wet dress rehearsal that
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 brought their AIS rocket to within 10
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 seconds of launch the Bowen orbital
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 Spaceport which opened its doors in
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 April after receiving its license in
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 March stands as Australia's first
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 orbital launch facility it's one of only
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 a handful of private orbital launch
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 sites worldwide positioned to support
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 launches into low and mid inclination
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 orbits this development isn't just about
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 reaching space it's about creating
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 opportunities right here on Earth the
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 project has already generated
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 significant economic impact across the
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 region with rockets being designed on
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 the Gold Coast and launched from North
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 Queensland it's a perfect example of how
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 space industry development can drive
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 local Innovation and create high value
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 jobs in multiple
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 regions next up let's head back to the
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 sun NASA's Parker solar probe is gearing
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 up for a pivotal moment in its
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 groundbreaking mission on November 6th
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 the spacecraft will execute its final
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 Venus gravity assist maneuver swooping
00:04:12 --> 00:04:16 within just 233 miles of the planet
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 surface this carefully choreographed
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 Celestial dance will set the stage for
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 an unprecedented achievement in space
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 exploration the Venus flyby will adjust
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 Parker's trajectory into its final
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 orbital configuration ultimately
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 bringing it closer to our star than any
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 human-made object has ever ventured on
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 December 24th the probe will skim just
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 3.86 million miles from the solar
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 surface literally touching the outer
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 Corona of our sun what's particularly
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 fascinating about these Venus flybys is
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 how they've yielded unexpected
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 scientific Treasures the probe's
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 Widefield imager or whisper made a
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 remarkable Discovery during a previous
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 Venus encounter when scientists pointed
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 the instrument at Venus hoping to study
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 its cloud cover they found it could
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 actually see through the planet's thick
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 atmosphere right down to the surface
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 which glows in near infrared light due
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 to its scorching temperature of 869 de F
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 this final flyby has been carefully
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 planned to help solve some intriguing
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 mysteries from previous passes The
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 Whisper images have shown puzzling
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 bright patterns that don't quite match
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 what we expected from earlier radar
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 mapping missions scientists hope this
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 last close approach will help them
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 determine whether these variations are
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 due to different surface materials or
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 perhaps areas where more recent volcanic
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 activity has left its Mark after
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 completing this Venus maneuver Parker
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 will be primed for its historic solar
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 Approach at this extreme proximity it
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 will pass through plasma still
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 physically connected to the Sun and
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 potentially weather solar eruptions from
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 inside them much like a surfer diving
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 beneath a braking Wave It's a testament
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 to Modern engineering that we've built
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 something capable of withstanding such
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 extreme
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 conditions next up why is the surface of
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Mars so crusty I'll answer that question
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 right after a quick word from a
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 sponsor now let's head off to Mars in a
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 fascinating breakthrough scientists have
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 finally unraveled one of Mars enduring
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 Mysteries why its soil forms such a
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 distinctive crusty layer this discovery
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 comes from an unexpected Source NASA's
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Insight Mission which landed on the red
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 planet back in 2018 while the mission's
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 heat flow and physical properties
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 package nicknamed The Martian mole
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 didn't reach its intended depth it still
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 provided invaluable data about the
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 planet's surface composition the
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 instrument managed to penetrate just 16
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 in into the Martian soil encountering
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 what scientists Now understand is a
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 remarkably complex layer of material the
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 German Aerospace center team analyzing
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 the data found that the top 40 cm of
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 Martian soil experiences dramatic
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 temperature swings while the surface
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 temperature fluctuates by a staggering
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 110 to 130° C during a Martian day just
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 beneath the surface these variations
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 decrease to only 5 to
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 7° this sophisticated temperature dance
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 creates perfect conditions for a
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 fascinating chemical process during
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 winter and spring when there's
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 sufficient moisture in the atmosphere
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 salty brins form in the soil for about
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 10 hours each day as these brins
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 solidify they create a natural cement
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 that hard hardens the soil into what
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 scientists call durac crust this process
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 explains why Mars has such a
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 characteristic hardened surface layer
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 extending about 8 in deep the soil
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 itself has proven to be an excellent
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 insulator with properties similar to
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 basaltic sand below the Crusty surface
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 layer scientists found material
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 comparable to Consolidated sand mixed
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 with coarser Basalt fragments one
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 scientist compared the mechanical
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 properties to Floral foam lightweight
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 and por
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 but with a distinctive
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 structure this discovery isn't just
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 academically interesting it has
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 significant implications for future Mars
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 exploration understanding the soil's
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 properties and behavior is crucial for
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 planning future missions especially when
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 considering human exploration of the red
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 planet the way the soil forms and
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 behaves will impact everything from
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 construction projects to potential
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 resource utilization on
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 Mars finally today we need to say
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 goodbye to an old friend of planet Earth
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 after 15 years of dedicated service
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 NASA's neowise spacecraft has completed
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 its final mission in dramatic fashion
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 burning up in Earth's atmosphere on
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 November 1st this veteran Space
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 Telescope which has been one of our most
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 successful asteroid Hunters leaves
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 behind an impressive Legacy of Discovery
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 and scientific advancement originally
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 launched as wise the Widefield infrared
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 survey Explorer in December 2009 the
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 spacecraft began its Journey with a
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 different Mission altogether it was
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 initially C with studying the universe
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 in infrared wavelengths where it
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 excelled at finding luminous galaxies
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 and hidden black holes but it was when
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 the spacecraft got its second chance at
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 life as neowise that it truly made its
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 Mark in planetary defense when its
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 original coolant Supply ran out in 2011
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 Engineers found they could repurpose the
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 spacecraft for a new Mission hunting
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 near Earth objects this twist of fate
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 proved remarkably successful as neowise
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 went on to identify and track over 3
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 neear objects during its extended
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 Mission the spacecraft's eventual demise
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 was not unexpected its low earth orbit
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 combined with the current solar maximum
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 a period of increased solar activity
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 sealed its fate as the sun's heightened
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 activity caused Earth's atmosphere to
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 expand neowise lacking any propulsion
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 system was gradually pulled down until
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 its final plunge but this isn't the end
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 of NASA's asteroid hunting efforts the
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 torch will be passed to NEOS surveyor
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 scheduled for launch in 2027 this new
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 spacecraft will be the first Space
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 Telescope specifically designed for
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 hunting near Earth objects in infrared
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 wavelengths carrying forward Neo wise's
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 crucial mission of planetary defense
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 with even more advanced
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 capabilities well that's all for today's
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 episode of astronomy daily I'm Anna and
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 I want to thank you for joining me on
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 this journey through the latest
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 developments in space exploration and
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 astronomical discoveries if you'd like
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 to stay up to date with with everything
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 happening in the world of space and
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00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 up on any episodes you might have missed
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00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 us as Astro daily pod on Facebook X
00:10:53 --> 00:10:57 YouTube Tumblr and Tik Tok until next
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 time keep looking up and wondering about
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 the mysteries of our universe this is
00:11:00 --> 00:11:08 Anna signing off
00:11:08 --> 00:11:22 [Music]