00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 well hello there everybody it's time for
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 astronomy daily again with Steven Hy on
00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 the 13th of January
00:00:08 --> 00:00:14 2025 the podcast with your host Steve
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Dunley yes good day everyone and welcome
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 back to astronomy daily for the new year
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 2025 gee it's gone by hasn't it the 2024
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 just flew by and there's a lot of things
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 going on in the world I know we've all
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 been glued to the news seems like a
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 completely different Planet than the one
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 we left only a few weeks ago doesn't it
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 it just doesn't seem to sit still not
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 for anybody so to help me navigate the
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 more familiar world of my tiny little
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 Studio here in Newcastle Australia
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 please welcome for the very first time
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 this year my AIP pal who's fun to be
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 with hi hie how you going hi they're my
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 favorite human so you made it through
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 the holidays and scathed oh yes hie well
00:00:54 --> 00:00:55 I was very relaxed for the most part
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 just hung about with my family and well
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 overdoing Christmas dinner of course oh
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 dear and then there was Boxing Day
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 dinner you know a Repeat Performance oh
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 and then the inevitable fridge full of
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 leftovers you can't ignore that I'll
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 never know the joy of Christmas dinner
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 yes I often wonder what it's like being
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 a free form free roaming Hightech
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 intelligence but I love the Sydney
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 fireworks on New Year's Eve again oh yes
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 magnificent it is still the best in the
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 world oh H you'll get no argument from
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 me on that one my family watched uh the
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 two sessions the 9:00 uh fireworks and
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 the midnight fireworks yes we're fans
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 have you caught up with sleep uh sleep
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 what uh what's sleep you look like you
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 need another holiday already well before
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 that sounds like too much of a great
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 idea don't tempt me hie but let's get
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 this episode off the ground first shall
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 we Why Don't We Just Launch right into
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 it sounds terrific welcome back everyone
00:01:48 --> 00:01:56 here we
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 go the Roman Space Telescope is nearing
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 completion with its recent integration
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 into the launch
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 spacecraft this sets the stage for a
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 series of rigorous tests designed to
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 guarantee its operational success in the
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 harsh conditions of space with its
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Mission launch anticipated by May
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 2027 technicians have successfully
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 integrated the key components of NASA's
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope its
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 telescope instrument carrier and two
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 scientific instruments into the
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 spacecraft that will transport and
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 support the observatory in space mark
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 clampin acting Deputy associate
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 administrator for the science Mission
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 directorate said that Roman remains on
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 track for launch with this incredible
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 Milestone and they're a big step closer
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 to unveiling the cosmos as never before
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 the newly joined space Hardware will now
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 undergo extensive testing the first test
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 will ensure each major element operates
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 as designed when integrated with the
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 rest of the observatory and establish
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 the Hardware's combined
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 performance then environmental tests
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 will subject the payload to the
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 electromagnetic vibration and thermal
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 vacuum environments it will experience
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 during launch and on orbit
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 operations these tests will ensure the
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 hardware and the launch vehicle will not
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 interfere with each other when operating
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 verify the communications antennas won't
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 create electromagnetic interference with
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 other Observatory Hardware shake the
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 assembly to make sure it will survive
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 extreme vibration during launch assess
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 its performance across its expected
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 range of operating temperatures and make
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 sure the instruments and mirrors are
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 properly optically aligned meanwhile
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 Roman's Deployable aperture cover will
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 be integrated with the outer Barrel
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 assembly and then the solar panels will
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 be added by before spring then the
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 structure will be joined to the payload
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 and spacecraft this fall the Roman
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Mission remains on track for completion
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 by Fall 2026 and launch no later than
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 May
00:03:41 --> 00:03:45 2027 astronomy daily the podast a
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 quarter of a century after its founding
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 Jeff Bezos blue origin is finally ready
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 for its Maiden orbital Voyage on Sunday
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 with a brand new rocket the company
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 hopes will shake up the commercial space
00:03:57 --> 00:04:01 race named new Glenn legendary Astronaut
00:04:01 --> 00:04:06 John Glenn it stands 320 ft or 98 M tall
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 roughly equivalent to a 32 story
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 building and it's said to blast off from
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 Kake Canaveral space force station in
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 this launch window that opens at 1:00
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 a.m. or 6 a.m. hours General meantime uh
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 pointy end up the C company's uh CEO
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 Dave Lim posted on X alongside photos of
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 the gleaming white behemoth with the
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 mission dubbed ng1 Bezos the world's
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 second richest man is taking direct aim
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 at the world's wealthiest Elon Musk
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 whose company SpaceX dominates the
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 orbital launch market through its Falcon
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 9 and Falcon heavy Rockets these serve
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 the commercial sector the Pentagon and
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 NASA including crucially fing astronauts
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 to and from the International Space
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Station Space X has for the past several
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 years been pretty much the only game in
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 town and so having a competitor this is
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 great G Scott hubard a retired senior
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 NASA official told AFP Space X meanwhile
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 is planning the next orbital test of
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 Starship it's gargantuan New Generation
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 rocket the very next day upping the
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 sense of high stake rivalry if all goes
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 to plan shortly after launch blue origin
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 will attempt to land the first stage
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 booster on a drone ship named Jacqueline
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 the Drone ship is named in honor of
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 bezos's mother stationed about 620 Mi or
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 1 km down range in the Atlantic
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 Ocean though SpaceX has made such
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 Landings a near routine spectacle this
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 will be blue Origins first shot at a
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 touchdown on the high seas meanwhile the
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 Rocket's upper stage will fire its
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 engines toward Earth orbit carrying a
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 defense department funded prototype
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 spaceship called blue ring which will
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 remain aboard for the roughly 6-hour
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 test flight limp emphasized that simply
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 reaching orbit is its prime goal while
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 successfully recovering the the booster
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 would be a welcome bonus blue origin
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 does have experience Landing its new
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 shepher rockets used for suborbital
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 tourism but they are much smaller and
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 land on Terra firmer rather than a ship
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 at Sea physically the new Glenn dwarfs
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 the 230 ft Falcon 9 and is designed for
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 heavier payloads it's somewhere between
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 Falcon 9 and its big sembling Falcon
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 heavy in terms of mass capacity but
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 holds an edge with its WI payload
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 fairing ideal for transporting more
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 voluminous cargo blue origin has already
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 secured a NASA contract to launch two
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 Mars probes aboard new Glenn the rocket
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 will also support the deployment of
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 project Kyper a satellite internet
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 constellation designed to complete with
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 compete with starlink for now however
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 Space X remains a a commanding lead
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 while other Rivals United launch
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 Alliance Aran Space and Rocket lab Trail
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 far behind like musk Bezos has a
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 lifelong passion for space but whereas
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 musk dreams of colonizing Mars Bezos
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 envisions shifting heavy industry off
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 Planet into floating space Platforms in
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 order to preserve Earth he founded blue
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 origin in 2000 2 years before musk
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 created Space X but has adopted a more
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 cautious Pace in contrast to his Rivals
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 fail fast learn fast philosophy there's
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 been impatience within the space
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 community over blue Origins very
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 deliberate approach Scott Pace a space
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 policy an analyst with George Washington
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 University and former member of the
00:07:38 --> 00:07:42 National Space Council told AFP if new
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 Glenn succeeds Pace added it will give
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 the US government dissimilar redundancy
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 back up if one system fails a valuable
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 thing musk's closeness to
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 president-elect Donald Trump has raised
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 concerns about potential conflicts of
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 interest especially with private
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 astronaut Jared isaacman a business
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 associate of musk slated to become the
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 next NASA Chief Bezos however has been
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 making his own overtures paying his
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 respects to his former foe during a
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 visit to the president-elect's maralago
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 residence while Amazon has said it would
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 donate 1 million to Trump's inauguration
00:08:19 --> 00:08:30 committee
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 thank you for joining us for this Monday
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 edition of astronomy daily where we
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 offer just a few stories from the now
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 famous astronomy daily newsletter which
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 you can receive in your email every day
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 just like hiy and I do and to do that
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 just visit our URL astronomy daily. and
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 place your email address in the slot
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 provided just like that you'll be
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 receiving all the latest news about
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 science space science and astronomy from
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 around the world as it's happening and
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 not only that you can interact with us
00:08:59 --> 00:09:03 by visiting at astrodaily pod on X or at
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 our new Facebook page which is of course
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 astronomy daily on Facebook see you
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 there astronomy derby with Steve and h
00:09:13 --> 00:09:19 space space science and
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 astronomy the Expedition 72 crew spent
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 the week aboard the International Space
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 Station preparing for upcoming
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 spacewalks to service scientific
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 equipment and station Hardware alongside
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 these preparations the crew continued
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 vital biotechnology and human research
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 aimed at improving Health both on Earth
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 and in space two spacewalks are planned
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 for January 16th and January
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 23rd these missions will focus on
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 maintaining astrophysics research
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 equipment upgrading advanced
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 communication systems and investigating
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 potential microbial life on the
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 station's exterior the first spacewalk
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 will feature NASA astronauts Nick ha and
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 Sunni Williams who are scheduled to
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 spend approximately 6 and a half hours
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 at addressing multiple tasks these
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 include repairing a light leak on the
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 nicer x-ray telescope preparing the
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 alpha magnetic spectrometer for future
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 upgrades and replacing key orientation
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 and navigation equipment on Friday ha
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 and Williams reviewed procedures with
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 NASA flight Engineers Don pedit and
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 Butch Wilmore while Consulting with
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 Engineers on the ground the second
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 spacewalk involving two astronauts yet
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 to be announced will involve exiting the
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 station's Quest airlock to replace an
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 antenna assembly search for microbes
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 outside the ISS and conduct a systems
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 check on the canid arm 2 robotic arm
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 both spacewalks are set to begin at
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 approximately 7:00 a.m. eastern time
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 with NASA plus providing live coverage
00:10:38 --> 00:10:42 starting at 5:30 a.m. ha began his day
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 on Friday January 10th processing
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 samples of microalgae that may be able
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 to produce food to sustain Cru and
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 oxygen to support spacecraft life
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 support
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 systems next he downloaded his Health
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Data collected for analysis after he
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 jogged on the C Bear treadmill and
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 worked out on the advanced resistive
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 exercise device
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 the other three NASA astronauts
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 including Commander Williams and flight
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 engineers pedit and Wilmore spent the
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 first half of their day on a variety of
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 orbital maintenance Williams checked out
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 components on a fluorescence biology
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 microscope while pet it and ha serviced
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Electronics plumbing and life support
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 systems working in the station's Rose
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Cosmos segment cosmonauts alexe opinan
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 and Ivan Vanner took turns exploring how
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 a crew member living in weightlessness
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 uses Vision to adapt their sense of
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 balance and
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 orientation flight engineer Alexander
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 goranov inspected piloting and
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 navigation gear throughout his shift on
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 Friday it's a new year on the ISS and
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 business as
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 usual of that control we're listening to
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 astronomy daily the podcast Australian
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 launch vehicle startup Gilmore space has
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 received a license for its first orbital
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 launch which could take place before the
00:11:51 --> 00:11:55 end of the year now this was reported in
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 December so uh I don't think we've
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 actually seen that launch but uh great
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 great to see my countrymen joining in
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 the Space Race uh the company announced
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 on November 5 yes that it received a
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 launch permit from the Australian Space
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 Agency for the first flight of its AIS
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 small launch vehicle from a site in
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 Northern Queensland called Bowen orbital
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 Spaceport the license was the final
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 hurdle for the launch with its green
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 light we will soon attempt the first
00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 orbital test of an Australian rocket
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 Australian made rocket from Australian
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 soil Adam Gilmore chief executive of
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 Gilmore space said in a statement the
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 company announced the license came with
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 a number of conditions that must be met
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 before the launch and requires a 30-day
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 notification period before the launch
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 our team is assessing the conditions of
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 the permit and will advise on the anpus
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 anticipated launch date for Eris test
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 flight one incoming weeks Gilmore said
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 company spokesman Michelle Gilmore I
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 wonder if that's a relation told space
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 news that the conditions included the
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 license appear fairly standard and
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 include approvals for airspace closures
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 of course needed for the launch and
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 documentation of final system checks and
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 uh tests before the launch speaking in
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 November she said the 30-day
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 notification period means the earliest
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 Gilmore space uh could attempt launch
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 would be early December she said the no
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 goal is to launch this year but of
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 course we recognize that the holiday
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 period will present logistical
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 challenges to to our team including
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 travel and accommodations at the launch
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 site if December launch isn't feasible
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 then we will be back in early
00:13:36 --> 00:13:39 January Gilmore space received a permit
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 for the space port itself in March and
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 at the time was preparing for a launch
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 as early as May however the company ran
00:13:46 --> 00:13:50 into licensing delays and they were not
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 resolved until now Michelle Gilmore said
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 that it was possible that the Australian
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 space agency underestimated the time and
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 resources that's a quote needed to
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 evaluate the license application
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 particularly given the small size of the
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 agency ultimately our priority she says
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 shared by the agency is for a safe and
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 successful launch taking the extra time
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 to ensure that they are fully confident
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 in our vehicle flight path and safety
00:14:16 --> 00:14:20 measures would therefore come first even
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 above the launch schedule itself the uh
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 company continued launch preparations
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 while awaiting the license and that
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 include a wet dress rehearsal in
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 September where the rocket was fueled
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 and went through the countdown that
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 stopped 10 seconds before liftoff that
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 allowed Engineers to troubleshoot any
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 issues with the uh rocket and ground
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 systems such as two faulty valves that
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 needed to be replaced and minor software
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 modifications ays is a three-stage
00:14:46 --> 00:14:50 vehicle designed to place up to 215 kg
00:14:50 --> 00:14:54 into a 500 km Sun synchronous orbit and
00:14:54 --> 00:14:59 305 kg into a 500 km equatorial orbit it
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 uses hybrid engines with a liquid
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 oxidizer and solid fuel in the first two
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 stages and a liquid propellant engine in
00:15:06 --> 00:15:10 the upper stage and the company raised
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 55 million Australian in a D series
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 round in February and the company raised
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 more than 140 million Australian to date
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 Adam Gilmore himself says the company
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 has the financial resources for three
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 launches and is planning a great party
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 if they can get into orbit successfully
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 that sounds great I love it when Aussie
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 do great things go Aussie and even as I
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 sit here hi has just handed me an update
00:15:34 --> 00:15:38 and um uh Gilmore space technologies
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 have updated their uh website and looks
00:15:41 --> 00:15:45 like late January is the target zone for
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 launch of the Aerospace uh rocket for
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 Gilmore uh looking forward to that
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 really looking forward to that you're
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 listening to astronomy daily theast with
00:15:55 --> 00:15:59 Steve Dunley
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 in December 2024 five cube SATs were
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 released into Earth's orbit from the
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 International Space Station marking a
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 significant milestone for space
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 Innovation among these satellites was
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 lignos an experimental wooden satellite
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 developed by the Japanese Aerospace
00:16:14 --> 00:16:17 Exploration Agency jaxa this unique
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 project explores the feasibility of
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 using wood as a sustainable material for
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 spacecraft
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 construction before lignos sat's
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 deployment an experiment aboard the ISS
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 tested three species of wood in the har
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 space
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 environment researchers assess their
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 durability and performance to identify
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 the most suitable option for the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 satellite's construction hoki Magnolia
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 wood was ultimately selected due to its
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 resilience and the satellites panels
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 were crafted using a traditional
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 Japanese wood Joiner technique equipped
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 with sensors lign noat is designed to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 measure various environmental effects on
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 its wooden structure these include
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 strain temperature fluctuations and
00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 exposure to space radiation the
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 satellite also features instrumentation
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 to monitor geomagnetic levels evaluating
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 whether Earth's magnetic field can
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 penetrate the wooden body and impact the
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 satellite systems the data collected
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 will provide critical insights into the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 viability of wood and space
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 applications This research could pay the
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 way for Innovative and eco-friendly
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 approaches to satellite manufacturing
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 potentially reducing Reliance on
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 conventional materials that have a
00:17:22 --> 00:17:27 larger environmental
00:17:27 --> 00:17:30 footprint oh and there it goes the very
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 first one for 2025 and uh boy we covered
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 some distance with that one from the
00:17:34 --> 00:17:37 Roman Space Telescope blue origins new
00:17:37 --> 00:17:40 rocket uh daring space walks for the ISS
00:17:40 --> 00:17:43 Jax's wooden satellites I mean wow I
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 never never dreamed we'd be putting
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 wooden Spa uh satellites in space and of
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 course our good friends Gilmore space
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 technology is about to launch their very
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 first rocket I can't wait for that one H
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 yes I'm a fan so uh yeah that was F
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 fantastic and thank thank you everybody
00:17:59 --> 00:18:02 for sticking with us uh for astronomy
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 daily uh and welcome back to the to
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 everybody for a new year so thanks for
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 staying on board with us and I hope you
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 enjoyed those few stories we brought you
00:18:11 --> 00:18:14 from the now famous astronomy daily
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 newsletter and uh just remember in the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 middle of the show I told you how you
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 can get that in your email every single
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 day fantastic stuff and we will be back
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 again next Monday but don't forget my
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 cousin Anna is going to take you through
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 the week with her sweet episodes until
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 we meet again good call hie and that's
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 all from the Aussie studio today Cheerio
00:18:32 --> 00:18:40 everybody
00:18:40 --> 00:18:44 bye col daily the podcast with your host
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 Steve
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 dun you really do look like you need a
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 holiday you should get some rest oh come
00:18:51 --> 00:18:54 on hi it's the first episode give me a
00:18:54 --> 00:18:59 break well someone has to tell you