Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E215
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your Daily dose of space news and astronomical insights. I'm your host, Steve, bringing you the latest stories from the cosmos. Today, we delve into the fascinating world of space exploration, from cognitive studies of astronauts to the legacy of a historic comet mission.
Highlights:
- Astronaut Cognitive Performance: Explore NASA's study on cognitive abilities in astronauts during six-month missions aboard the International Space Station. Discover how factors like microgravity and high-stress environments affect cognitive domains such as processing speed and attention, with findings showing no significant impairment or brain damage.
- China's Manned Lunar Mission: Uncover China's ambitious plans for a manned lunar landing by 2030. Learn about the mission's key components, including the lunar rover and lander, and the advancements in lunar science and exploration technology.
- Philae's Comet Legacy : Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Philae lander's historic touchdown on Comet 67P. Relive the mission's groundbreaking discoveries, from surface characteristics to organic compounds, and its impact on future comet and asteroid exploration.
- ESA's Comet and Asteroid Missions : Discover the European Space Agency's ongoing and future missions, including the HERA mission to survey Dimorphos and the Ramses mission to accompany Apophis in 2029. Learn how these missions build on the success of Rusty and Philae.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. (https://www.astronomydaily.io) Sign up for our free Daily newsletter to stay informed on all things space. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and Tumblr. Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Steve & Hallie signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-the-podcast--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-the-podcast--5648921/support) .
✍️ Episode References
European Space Agency (ESA)
[https://www.esa.int/](https://www.esa.int/)
NASA's Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory
[https://www.nasa.gov/](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Frontiers in Physiology
[https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology)
China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)
[http://en.cmse.gov.cn/](http://en.cmse.gov.cn/)
Human Space Symposium
[https://www.humanspacesymposium.org/](https://www.humanspacesymposium.org/)
International Space Station (ISS)
[https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html)
Rusty Mission
[https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta](https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta)
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/24268303?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to another episode of astronomy
00:00:02 --> 00:00:07 daily it's the 25th of November
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 2024 the podcast with your host Steve
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 dun oh and only a month until Christmas
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 and for those of you who care it's okay
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 to put up the Christmas tree already and
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 for everyone else it's just leave the TV
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 where it is and business as usual is
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 that how it works is it well H only if
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 you need to move the furniture around to
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 erect a Christmas tree I don't have that
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 problem at my place how did you solve it
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 oh well I just pile all the guitars up
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 into one corner and think to myself well
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 that looks beautiful and that's it well
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 that'll do me hie the last Christmas
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 tree I had to assemble dropped so much
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 tinsil and rubbish I was still cleaning
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 it up at Easter that's not a very good
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 tree well it wasn't hi it also wasn't
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 really my tree either but you know a
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 man's got to do what a man's got to do
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 honestly yes you humans are just too
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 confusing oh you think so just when I
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 think I understand you suddenly I have
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 to get my circuits around Christmas
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 trees is the Dilemma it's not fair
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 that's right Rusty life's like that and
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 speaking of not fair yes tell us hie
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 what have you got in your Christmas sack
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 well I know you are revisiting one of
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 your Comet missions today with a great
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 story about the Fila Mission that's
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 right listeners will likely recall in
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 2014 fil was a little Lander that was
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 part of the Rosetta Mission the
00:01:24 --> 00:01:29 touchdown on Comet 67p cherum of jera
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 sim
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 good grief wow I know do you want to say
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 that again not in a hurry H and I've got
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 an interesting story about how
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 astronauts show slower task performance
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 in space but still seem to be able to
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 maintain cognitive stability interesting
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 and Cy I guess uh working in space is
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 challenging uh like I'd know totally oh
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 thanks hie and on that note uh why don't
00:01:52 --> 00:01:58 you take it away all
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 right the effects of space travel on
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 human physiology are profound subjecting
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 astronauts to conditions such as
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 radiation microgravity disrupted sleep
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 and high stress
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 environments these factors could
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 potentially impact cognitive abilities a
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 critical concern given the complexity
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 and high stakes of tasks performed
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 aboard
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 spacecraft to address this researchers
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 from NASA's Behavioral Health and
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 performance laboratory studied cognitive
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 performance in 25 astronauts during
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 six-month stays aboard the International
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Space Station this analysis represents
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 the most comprehensive data set of
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 cognitive performance in professional
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 astronauts to date we show that there is
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 no evidence of any significant cognitive
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 impairment or neurodegenerative decline
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 in astronauts spending six months on the
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 ISS said Dr Sheena Dev lead researcher
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 at NASA's Behavioral Health and
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 performance laboratory and first author
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 of a study published in Frontiers and
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 Physiology living and working in space
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 was not associated with widespread
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 cognitive impairment that would be
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 suggestive of significant brain damage
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 the the study utilized a battery of 10
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 subtests to evaluate various cognitive
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 domains measuring speed and accuracy at
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 five intervals before the mission early
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 and late in flight and at 10 and 30 days
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 post Mission while astronauts
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 demonstrated slower responses in
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 processing speed working memory and
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 attention during the mission accuracy
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 remained
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 unaffected the timing of these changes
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 varied with some resolving before
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 Mission completion and others persisting
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 until astronauts return to Earth slowed
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 performance on attention for example was
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 only observed early during the mission
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 while slowed performance on processing
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 speed did not return to Baseline levels
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 until after the mission ended and crew
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 were back on Earth explained Dev
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 importantly no evidence of damage to the
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 central nervous system was observed
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 during these six-month missions and
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 cognitive performance overall remained
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 stable the findings highlight that
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 certain cognitive domains such as
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 processing speed and attention are more
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 susceptible to stress both on Earth and
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 in space even on Earth processing speed
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 working memory and attention are
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 cognitive domains that can show
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 temporary changes when an individual is
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 under stress other domains such as
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 memory are less vulnerable to stressors
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 said Dev the effects of space travel on
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 human physiology are profound subjecting
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 astronauts to conditions such as
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 radiation microgravity disrupted sleep
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 and high stress
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 environments these factors could
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 potentially impact cognitive abilities a
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 critical concern given the complexity
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 and high stakes of tasks performed
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 aboard spacecraft
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 to address this researchers from NASA's
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 Behavioral Health and performance
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 laboratory studied cognitive performance
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 in 25 astronauts during 6 months stay
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 aboard the International Space Station
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 ISS this analysis represents the most
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 comprehensive data set of cognitive
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 performance in professional astronauts
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 to date we show that there is no
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 evidence of any significant cognitive
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 impairment or neurodegenerative decline
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 in astronauts spending 6 months on the
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 ISS said Dr Sheena Dev lead researcher
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 at NASA's Behavioral Health and
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 performance laboratory and first author
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 of a study published in Frontiers and
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 Physiology living and working in space
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 was not associated with widespread
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 cognitive impairment that would be
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 suggestive of significant brain damage
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 the study utilized a battery of 10
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 subtests to evaluate various cognitive
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 domains measuring speed and accuracy at
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 five intervals before the mission early
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 and late in flight and at 10 and 30 days
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 post Mission while astronauts
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 demonstrated slower responses in
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 processing speed working memory and
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 attention during the mission accuracy
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 remained
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 unaffected the timing of these changes
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 varied with some resolving before
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Mission completion and others persisting
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 until astronauts returned to Earth
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 slowed performance on attention for
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 example was only observed early during
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 the mission while slowed performance on
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 processing speed did not return to
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 Baseline levels until after the mission
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 ended and crew were back on Earth
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 explained Dev importantly no evidence of
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 damage to the central nervous system was
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 observed during these six-month missions
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 and cognitive performance overall
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 remains
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 stable China has revealed additional
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 insights into its Mann lunar Mission
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 targeting a moon landing by 2030 through
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 a video presentation at the human space
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 Symposium the animation released by the
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 China man space agency cmsa showcases
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 key Mission aspects including a lunar
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 rover exploring the moon's surface and
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 outlining a 3-day exploration route
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 centered around the landing Zone the
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 mission aims to achieve critical
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 advancements such as enabling manned
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 Earth Moon travel short-term lunar
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 surface habitation and Joint human robot
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 exploration tasks include lunar Landing
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 surface Mobility sample collection
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 scientific research and a safe return to
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 Earth key components of the mission
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 involve the laa lunarlander and the
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 mango man spacecraft the laa will be
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 launched first aboard China's new heavy
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 lift Long March 10th rocket awaiting
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 mingo's arrival in space once in lunar
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 orbit the two vehicles will dock
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 allowing astronauts to transfer to laa
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 for descent to the moon's surface after
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 their lunar exploration activities the
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 crew will return to orbit fanu as Ascent
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 stage redock with mango and begin the
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 journey back to Earth cmsa plans to
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 conduct pre-wed flight tests and man
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 lunar missions to advance lunar science
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 resource exploration and Technology
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 development the agency also aims to
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 facilitate large- scale experiments in
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 areas such as lunar science lunar-based
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 research and the utilization of lunar
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 resources progress is well underway with
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 prot types of mission critical equipment
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 including the Long March 10th rocket
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 mango spacecraft laa Lander astronaut
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 space suits and the lunar rover
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 undergoing production and ground testing
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 the development of the Long March 10th
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 rocket mango and Lan with its lunar
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 rover is progressing intensively said
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 Joe Gian Payne chief designer of China's
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 manspace program several of these
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 initial prototypes have been completed
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 and are now in their testing phase to
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 ensure Readiness for future lunar
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 missions he added the cmsa video
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 presentation also highlighted prototypes
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 of the man spacecraft and the lunar
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 lander undergoing testing alongside
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 operational ground facilities and
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 testing equipment meanwhile construction
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 of the one Chung spacecraft launch site
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 continues on schedule the human space
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 Symposium held November 21st to 22nd in
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 Shenzhen China brought together leading
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 experts astronauts and academicians to
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 discuss achievements in space science
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 the operation of China's space station
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 and the development of the National
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 Space Laboratory
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 and that's all from me today over to my
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 favorite human in the studio where I
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 notice he has not cleared any space for
00:08:37 --> 00:08:48 a Christmas tree at
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 all thank you for joining us for this
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 Monday edition of astronomy daily where
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 we often just a few stories from the now
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 famous astronomy daily newsletter which
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 you can receive in your email every day
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 just like how and I do and to do that
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 just visit our URL astronomy daily. and
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 place your email address in the slot
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 provided just like that you'll be
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 receiving all the latest news about
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 science space science and astronomy from
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 around the world as it's happening and
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 not only that you can interact with us
00:09:17 --> 00:09:22 by visiting at astrodaily pod on X or at
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 our new Facebook page which is of course
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 astronomy daily on Facebook see you
00:09:27 --> 00:09:32 there astronomy derby with Steve and hi
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 space space science and
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 astronomy and I know H's just nipped off
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 to rearrange her battery collection but
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 uh she knows as well as I do that
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 there's no room in this little studio
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 for a Christmas tree and if you could
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 just see what I could see you would know
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 it was true and my philadel philad
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 dendrin didn't uh survived last summer
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 anyway so can be pretty stuffy in here
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 anyway I can't be usted with a whole
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 tree
00:10:01 --> 00:10:06 anyway okay here we go on November 12th
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 2014 after a decade long journey
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 spanning the solar system and over 500
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 million kilometers Rosetta's land of
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 filet made history by becoming the first
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 spacecraft to touch down on a comet as
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 the European Space Agency marks the 10th
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 anniversary of this groundbreaking
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 achievement they honor Phil's remarkable
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 contributions to space exploration at
00:10:28 --> 00:10:33 Comet 6 7p Chim of jeno when Rosetta
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 arrived at comet 67p on August 6 2014
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 the mission team immediately began the
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 race to select a suitable Landing site
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 for Phila the site had to strike a
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 careful balance between safety and
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 scientific potential using high
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 resolution images captured by Rosetta
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 scientists meticulously analyzed and
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 debated various candidate sites after
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 weeks of deliberation they chose a
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 smooth looking region on the smaller of
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 the comet's two lobes this location was
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 named
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 ailia and it offered the best
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 combination of stability and
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 opportunities for groundbreaking science
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 intense preparations followed but the
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 night before landing a problem was
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 identified filet's active descent system
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 which would have provided a downward
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 thrust to prevent rebound at touchdown
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 could not be activated filet would have
00:11:24 --> 00:11:28 to rely on harpoons and Ice screws in
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 its 3T to fix it to the surface
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 nonetheless the green light was given
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 after separating for Rosetta filet began
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 its 7-hour descent to the surface of the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 Comet during The Descent Fila began
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 sensing the environment around the comet
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 making stunning imagery as the first
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 landing site became came into view
00:11:48 --> 00:11:53 filet's touchdown at ailia was spoton
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 the senses on filet's feet felt the
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 touchdown vibrations generating the
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 first recording of contact between a
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 human-made object and a comet but soon
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 became clear that filet's harpoons
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 hadn't fired and it had taken flight
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 once again in the end filet made contact
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 with the surface four times thanks to an
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 automatic sequence that was triggered by
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 the first touchdown signal filet's
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 instruments were operating while in
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 Flight collecting unique data that would
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 later yield important results it was
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 also an unexpected bonus that data were
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 collected at more than one location
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 providing the First Direct measurements
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 of surface characteristics and allowing
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 comparisons between the touchdown SES
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 for example filet felt the difference in
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 surface texture and hardness as it
00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 bounced from one site to another at the
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 first landing site it detected a soft
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 layer several CM thick milliseconds
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 later it encountered a much harder layer
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 after colliding with a cliff filet
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 scraped through its seconds touchdown
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 site providing the first insitu
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 measurement of the softness of the icy
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 dust interior of a boulder on a comet
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 the simple action of filet stamping an
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 imprint in billions of years old ice
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 revealed the boulder to be a fluffier
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 than froth on a cappuccino equivalent to
00:13:12 --> 00:13:16 a por porosity of a around
00:13:16 --> 00:13:20 75% filet then hopped about 30 m to the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 final touchdown site named abidos where
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 it uh where its sver cameras provided
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 the first image of a human-made object
00:13:29 --> 00:13:33 touching a 4.6 billion year old solar
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 system Relic the exact location on the
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 comet would remain hidden from view for
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 almost 2 years in this location filet's
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 mupus Hammer penetrated a soft layer
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 before encountering an unexpectedly hard
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 surface a few centimeters below the
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 surface filet listened to the Hammer
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 hammering with its feet recording the
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 vibrations that passed through the comet
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 this was the first time since the Apollo
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 17 mission to the Moon in 1972 that
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 active seismic measurements were
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 conducted on a Celestial body mupus also
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 carried a thermal sensor which me
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 measured the local changes in
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 temperature from about
00:14:13 --> 00:14:19 -180° C to 145° C in sync with the
00:14:19 --> 00:14:23 comet's 12.4 hour day the first time the
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 temperature cycle of a comet had been
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 measured at its surface meanwhile the
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 concert EXP experiment which passed
00:14:30 --> 00:14:34 radio waves between Rosetta and filet
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 through the comet in the first cometry
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 sounding experiment revealed the
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 interior of the Comet to be a very
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 Loosely compacted mixture of dust and
00:14:43 --> 00:14:47 ice with high paracity of 75 to 80%
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50 during the bouncing filet's CAC and to
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 ptoi instruments sniffed the comet's gas
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 and dust important traces of the raw
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 materials present present in the Earth
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 early solar system KAC revealed a suite
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 of 16 organic compounds comprising
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 numerous carbon and nitrogen Rich
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 compounds including methyl cyanate
00:15:11 --> 00:15:15 acetone propon alahh and asade that had
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 never before been detected in comets the
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 complex molecules detected by both KAC
00:15:20 --> 00:15:24 and pme play a key role in the synthesis
00:15:24 --> 00:15:27 of the ingredients needed for Life
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 filet's bouncing also allowed to measure
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 the magnetic field at different heights
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 above the surface showing the comet is
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 remarkably
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 non-magnetic detecting the magnetic
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 field of comets has proven difficult in
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 previous missions which have typically
00:15:41 --> 00:15:45 flown past at high speeds relatively far
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 from Comet nuclei it took the proximity
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 of Rosetta's orbit around the comet and
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 the measurements made much closer to and
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 at the Surface by filet to provide the
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 first detailed investigation of the
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 magnetic properties of a comet's nucleus
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 in the end some 80% of filet's plan
00:16:03 --> 00:16:07 sence sequences was completed in the 64
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 hours following separation from Rosetta
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 and before the Lander fell into
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 hibernation while filet hibernated
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 Rosetta continued returning an
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 unprecedented wealth of information from
00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 the comet as it orbited around the Sun
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 watching the comet's activity reach a
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 peak and then slowly subside again
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 Rosetta's mission was drawing to its
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 planned and with its own daring descent
00:16:30 --> 00:16:34 to the surface at a site named sa
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 filet's Landing site was revealed in an
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 orbit imagery a final twist in what had
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 become one of the greatest stories of
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 space space
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 exploration the European space agency
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 has an impressive Legacy in small body
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 Exploration with the Rosetta filet
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 double act inspiring the next generation
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 of comet asteroid Chasers the European
00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 space agency's Giotto mission to fly by
00:16:58 --> 00:17:02 comet hle hello H in 1986 was the first
00:17:02 --> 00:17:05 mission to image a comet surface the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 Rosetta mission was the a natural step
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 becoming the first to orbit a comet as
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 well as deploying a Lander to its
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 surface Rosetta was also the first to
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 follow a comet around the Sun monitoring
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 its activity as it made its closest
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 approach to the sun Rosetta paves the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 way for upcoming Comet interception
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 Mission which unlike its Pres prede will
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 uh probee a comet visiting our solar
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 system for the first time as such the
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 comet will contain material that is
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 undergone minimal processing offering a
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 cleaner look and a pristine material
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 from the dawn of the solar system before
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 it was sculpted by heat of the Sun the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 mission will consist of a primary craft
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 and two probes providing a multi-angled
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 view of the Comet the European Space
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 Agency is also visiting asteroids with
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 its Flagship planetary defend a Herer on
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 its way to survey dimorphus following
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 NASA's impact experiment to alter its
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 trajectory a grand scale test of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 planetary defense techniques Hera's
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 orbit scheme is borrowed directly from
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 Rosetta and the mission's two smaller
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 satellites carry radar and dust
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 measuring instruments based on those
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 designed for Rosetta meanwhile Ramsey
00:18:23 --> 00:18:26 will accompany asteroid apus as it makes
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 an exceptionally close to flyby to
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 office Earth in
00:18:30 --> 00:18:33 2029 and suitcase sized Margo will be
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36 the smallest spacecraft to perform its
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 own independent mission in space when it
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 Rendevous with a small near Earth
00:18:41 --> 00:18:50 asteroid later this
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 decade and there you have it that's it
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 for another episode thanks for tuning in
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 hie and I will be back again next Monday
00:18:57 --> 00:19:00 to bring in the new week with more
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 stories from the astronomy daily
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 newsletter all that's happening in space
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 space science and astronomy from all
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 around the world and don't forget to go
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 to our home site as mentioned earlier
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00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 there's so much more in it than you here
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 on the podcasts speaking of which oh yes
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Cousin Anna will be taking you through
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 the week with her glossy presentations
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 Tuesday to Saturday she's busy she is
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 busy h uh you should give her a hand on
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 her shows who do you think runs the
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 studio for her oh I see she's all talent
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 that one so you're the brains at this
00:19:30 --> 00:19:33 operation are you you said it oh walked
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 right into that one okay on that note
00:19:35 --> 00:19:39 see you next week everybody
00:19:39 --> 00:19:43 bye the podast with your host Steve
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Dunley
00:19:44 --> 00:19:47 [Music]