S03E61: Earthcare’s Liftoff & Vulcan’s Vanishing Act: ESA’s Mission and Star Trek’s Planetary Myth

[00:00:01] Welcome to another episode of Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for all the latest in space

[00:00:06] and astronomy news.

[00:00:08] I'm your host, Anna, and today we have a thrilling lineup of stories ranging from rocket

[00:00:12] launches to cosmic discoveries.

[00:00:15] In today's episode, we'll be covering the successful launch of ESA's EarthCare

[00:00:18] mission aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the reentry of Russia's Progress 86 cargo spacecraft,

[00:00:24] and a fascinating update on a planet thought to exist in the Star Trek universe.

[00:00:28] We'll also explore whether the Milky Way orbits anything, discuss NASA's OSIRIS APEX mission

[00:00:34] as it bravely passed close to the sun, and look at the recent test success of the Vega

[00:00:38] C rocket's engine as it nears a return to flight.

[00:00:42] So buckle up and get ready for an exciting journey through the cosmos.

[00:00:46] The Astronomy Daily Podcast.

[00:00:52] The EarthCare mission, led by the European Space Agency, ESA, and the Japanese Aerospace

[00:00:58] Exploration Agency, JAXA, successfully launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space

[00:01:04] Force Base.

[00:01:05] The launch took place on May 28th, marking another milestone in ESA's ongoing, if

[00:01:10] temporary, reliance on SpaceX for space access.

[00:01:14] The mission, officially named the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer,

[00:01:18] EarthCare, is designed to study clouds and aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere.

[00:01:23] EarthCare aims to provide vital data that will enhance atmospheric science, particularly

[00:01:27] in the realms of climate modeling and weather prediction.

[00:01:30] The spacecraft carries a suite of instruments, including a cloud-profiling radar provided

[00:01:35] by JAXA that will measure reflected sunlight and radiated heat across different atmospheric

[00:01:41] layers.

[00:01:42] This data is crucial for understanding the thermal balance of the Earth and the

[00:01:46] roles that clouds and aerosols play in it.

[00:01:49] The 2,200-kilogram spacecraft is now in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of

[00:01:55] 393 kilometers where it will collect and analyze atmospheric data.

[00:02:00] This collaborative mission exemplifies the international effort and scientific dedication

[00:02:05] aimed at addressing some of the most complex environmental challenges facing our planet

[00:02:09] today.

[00:02:10] As ESA waits for the Ariane 6 to become operational, currently scheduled for its

[00:02:15] first launch in July, the Falcon 9 serves as a reliable interim solution for getting

[00:02:20] critical missions like EarthCare into space.

[00:02:25] The uncrewed Russian Progress 86 spacecraft has completed its latest mission by undocking

[00:02:30] from the International Space Station and re-entering Earth's atmosphere where it

[00:02:34] burned up over the Pacific Ocean as planned.

[00:02:37] Progress 86, launched atop a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in

[00:02:42] Kazakhstan on December 1st, 2023, played a crucial role in delivering 5,600 pounds

[00:02:48] of food, scientific hardware and other necessary supplies to the astronauts aboard

[00:02:53] the ISS.

[00:02:55] Serving a dual purpose, the spacecraft also acted as a garbage truck in its final

[00:02:59] hours hauling down trash from the orbiting lab for safe incineration in Earth's

[00:03:04] atmosphere.

[00:03:05] This approach to space waste management ensures that the orbiting environment around

[00:03:09] our planet remains free of debris.

[00:03:11] Although Progress 86's mission has come to a fiery end, the space station remains

[00:03:16] well supplied with four other operational spacecraft including SpaceX's Crew 8

[00:03:21] Dragon capsule, a Russian Soyuz crew spacecraft, the Progress 87 freighter and

[00:03:26] a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo vehicle.

[00:03:29] This ongoing cycle of supply missions highlights the complex and continuous

[00:03:33] logistics that keep the ISS operational and its astronauts supported.

[00:03:40] New precision measurements have debunked the long believed existence of a planet

[00:03:44] orbiting the star 40 Eridani A, famously known as Vulcan, the home planet of Mr.

[00:03:50] Spock in the Star Trek universe.

[00:03:53] This groundbreaking revelation comes from a recent study that clarified the possible

[00:03:57] detection as an astronomical illusion brought about by the natural pulses and

[00:04:02] jitters of the star itself.

[00:04:04] Initially thought to be a super Earth in a close 42 day orbit around 40 Eridani A,

[00:04:10] Vulcan's existence had ignited excitement when first announced in 2018.

[00:04:15] However, the new high precision data obtained from a sophisticated NASA NSF

[00:04:20] instrument at Kitt Peak National Observatory has shown that what appeared

[00:04:24] to be a planetary signal was in fact the result of stellar activity.

[00:04:29] This highlights an ongoing challenge in exoplanet detection, particularly when

[00:04:34] using the radial velocity method.

[00:04:37] Scientists found that the star's surface features, combined with internal motions,

[00:04:42] mimicked the signals they normally attribute to orbiting planets.

[00:04:46] While disappointing for Star Trek aficionados, this finding underscores

[00:04:51] the importance of continued advancements in observational techniques,

[00:04:55] which will help astronomers distinguish more accurately between planets and

[00:04:59] stellar phenomena.

[00:05:02] Next let's delve into a fascinating question.

[00:05:05] Does the Milky Way orbit anything?

[00:05:07] It turns out that not everything in the universe follows the same

[00:05:10] straightforward orbital paths like planets around stars.

[00:05:14] The Milky Way, our home galaxy, along with its neighbor Andromeda,

[00:05:18] actually orbits a common center of mass within a collection of galaxies

[00:05:22] known as the Local Group.

[00:05:24] Astronomers explain that because the masses of the Milky Way and

[00:05:27] Andromeda are comparable, the common center of mass lies between the two

[00:05:31] galaxies.

[00:05:32] This dynamic gravitational interaction means that both galaxies are mutually

[00:05:36] pulling towards each other, leading to an eventual cosmic collision.

[00:05:40] This collision, expected to happen in about 4.5 billion years,

[00:05:44] will cause the Milky Way and Andromeda to merge,

[00:05:47] forming a massive new elliptical galaxy.

[00:05:50] Moreover, the Local Group is not standing still.

[00:05:53] It's moving towards the Virgo Cluster,

[00:05:56] a much larger conglomeration of several hundred galaxies.

[00:05:59] However, due to the ongoing expansion of the universe,

[00:06:02] our Local Group will never reach the Virgo Cluster.

[00:06:05] This expansion is pulling galaxies apart faster than their mutual

[00:06:08] gravitational forces can draw them together.

[00:06:10] So while the Milky Way doesn't orbit a single larger object,

[00:06:14] it's engaged in a complex dance with Andromeda and

[00:06:17] other members of the Local Group, all while being swept along by

[00:06:20] the broader currents of the universe's expansion.

[00:06:25] NASA's OSIRIS APEX spacecraft has emerged unscathed from its

[00:06:29] closest ever pass by the sun, putting any concerns to rest.

[00:06:33] Mission engineers had high hopes and their confidence wasn't misplaced.

[00:06:37] The spacecraft designed to withstand such harsh conditions

[00:06:41] was positioned ingeniously to shield its sensitive components,

[00:06:44] proving its resilience and excellent engineering.

[00:06:48] During the perihelion on January 2nd, 2024,

[00:06:51] OSIRIS APEX got within 25 million miles of the sun,

[00:06:55] much closer than initially intended for its design.

[00:06:58] This close encounter tested the spacecraft's limits,

[00:07:00] but also revealed some unexpected benefits.

[00:07:03] Sensors and instruments functioned better than anticipated

[00:07:06] after exposure to high temperatures,

[00:07:08] with one camera seeing a significant reduction in hot pixels,

[00:07:11] thanks to a natural annealing process from the intense heat.

[00:07:15] Now fully operational, OSIRIS APEX is on a path to rendezvous

[00:07:19] with asteroid Apophis in 2029.

[00:07:22] The mission includes navigating multiple close passes by the sun

[00:07:26] and leveraging three Earth gravity assists to adjust its trajectory.

[00:07:30] While the spacecraft's stellar performance so far is encouraging,

[00:07:34] engineers remain vigilant about the cumulative effects

[00:07:36] of these intense perihelion passes.

[00:07:41] The Zafiro 40 solid rocket motor passed a critical test

[00:07:44] at Avio's facility in Italy, making significant progress

[00:07:48] towards the return to flight for the Vega-C launcher.

[00:07:51] This test is crucial in confirming the motor's improved engine nozzle design,

[00:07:56] which is necessary for Vega-C's operational return by the end of 2024.

[00:08:01] The Zafiro 40, a 7.6-metre tall rocket motor

[00:08:05] loaded with over 36 tons of solid propellant,

[00:08:08] performed as expected throughout its 94-second burn duration.

[00:08:13] Vega-C is the upgraded version of the original Vega rocket,

[00:08:17] which has been operating since 2012.

[00:08:19] Designed to take over from its predecessor,

[00:08:22] Vega-C promises enhanced capabilities for European space missions.

[00:08:26] The European Space Agency, ESA, oversees the Vega-C program,

[00:08:31] ensuring its qualification and purchasing launch services

[00:08:34] for European institutional missions.

[00:08:37] Avio is the prime contractor and design authority for Vega-C,

[00:08:41] while Ariane Space will provide the launch services.

[00:08:44] A second firing test of the Zafiro 40 motor

[00:08:47] is scheduled for October 2024 to validate the data collected

[00:08:51] and ensure the rocket's readiness.

[00:08:53] With successful tests, Vega-C will replace the older Vega model

[00:08:57] and bolster Europe's presence and capabilities

[00:08:59] in space exploration and satellite deployment.

[00:09:05] That's a wrap for today's episode of Astronomy Daily.

[00:09:07] I'm Anna, and thank you for joining us.

[00:09:10] We hope you enjoyed this fascinating journey

[00:09:12] through the latest space and astronomy news.

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