Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E011
Welcome to the first episode of Astronomy Daily for 2025 for us, where we kick off the year with a stellar lineup of space news and astronomical updates. We're Steve and Hallie, and today we delve into some of the most exciting developments in the cosmos.
Highlights:
- Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Nears Completion: NASA's Roman Space Telescope is on track for a 2027 launch, with recent integration of its key components marking a significant milestone. Extensive testing is underway to ensure the telescope's readiness for its mission to unveil the universe like never before.
- Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Ready for Maiden Voyage: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is set for its inaugural orbital launch with the New Glenn rocket. Scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, this mission signifies a new chapter in the commercial space race, challenging SpaceX's dominance.
- Upcoming ISS Spacewalks: The Expedition 72 crew at the International Space Station is preparing for two critical spacewalks to maintain astrophysics equipment and upgrade communication systems. These missions aim to enhance research capabilities and explore potential microbial life on the station's exterior.
- Gilmour Space's First Orbital Launch: Australian startup Gilmour Space is gearing up for its first orbital launch with the Eris rocket. Having received its launch license, the company is poised to make history with an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil.
- Lignosat: The Wooden Satellite: In a groundbreaking experiment, Japan's Lignosat has been deployed from the ISS. This wooden satellite explores the potential of sustainable materials in spacecraft construction, offering innovative insights into eco-friendly satellite manufacturing.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, Tumblr, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok. Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Stephen Hallie signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily for the new year 2025
01:46 - NASA has successfully integrated key components of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
03:41 - Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches new rocket on Sunday with ambitious mission
09:20 - The Expedition 72 crew spent the week preparing for upcoming spacewalks
15:52 - Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency launches experimental wooden satellite into space in 2025
✍️ Episode References
NASA
Blue Origin
SpaceX
International Space Station (ISS)
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Gilmore Space Technologies
Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Starlink
Project Kuiper
https://www.aboutamazon.com/what-we-do/project-kuiper
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?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25044585?utm_source=youtube
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