00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to [music] Astronomy
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 Daily, the podcast that brings you the
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 biggest news from across the cosmos. I'm
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 Avery and as always, I'm joined by the
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 brilliant Anna.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 >> Hi Avery and hello to all our listeners.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 We have a packed show [music] today
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 covering everything from drama in low
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 Earth orbit to the ancient history of
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 Mars. [music]
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 >> It's going to be a great one. Let's
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 start with a story that sounds like
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 something out of a movie. a damaged
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 [music] spacecraft making an emergency
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 return to Earth.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 >> That's right. We're talking about
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37 China's Shenzho 20 spacecraft. It was up
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 at the Tong Gang space station, but it's
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 now being sent back to Earth uncrrewed
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 after sustaining some damage.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 >> Damage from what? This is the scary part
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 of space travel.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 >> The suspected culprit is a
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 micrometeoroid estimated to be smaller
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 than 1 mm. It appears to have caused a
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 crack in the window of the return
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 capsule.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 >> Wow, less than 1 millm. It's amazing how
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 something so tiny can be such a huge
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 threat at orbital velocities. So, what
00:01:10 --> 00:01:11 happened to the crew?
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 >> Well, this is where the safety protocols
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 really shine. The crew was forced to
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 return to Earth on a different vessel,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 the Shenzhia 19, which was docked as a
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 lifeboat. This is actually a first for
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 China's space program, having to use a
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 backup ride home like this.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 >> That's a testament to good planning. So
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 now they're bringing the damaged capsule
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 back on its own to figure out exactly
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 what happened.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 >> Exactly. The uncrrewed return will allow
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 engineers to inspect the damage up
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 close. It's a critical learning
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 opportunity for understanding the
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 realworld risks of orbital debris and
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 micrometeoroids.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 >> Absolutely. Now, from the dangers in our
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 cosmic neighborhood, let's zoom way out
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 to look at how a galaxy's neighborhood
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 shapes its entire life.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 >> Right. This comes from a huge project
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 called the Deep Extragalactic Visible
00:02:07 --> 00:02:11 Legacy Survey, or Devils for short.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 >> Got to love the acronyms. So, what did
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 the Devil's Survey find?
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 >> It confirmed something astronomers have
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 long suspected. that a galaxy's local
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 environment, its neighborhood, has a
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 huge impact on its evolution.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 >> So, it's cosmic real estate. Location,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 location, location.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 >> Pretty much. The data shows that
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 galaxies in more crowded environments,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 like dense galaxy clusters, have much
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 slower star forming rates compared to
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 their more isolated cousins out in the
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 cosmic voids.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 >> That makes sense. In a crowded cluster,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 there are more gravitational
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 interactions, more mergers, and
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 processes like ram pressure stripping,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 where a galaxy's star forming gas can be
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 torn away as it moves through the
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 cluster.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 >> That's the leading theory. And this new
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 data release from Doubles provides some
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 of the strongest evidence yet to back it
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 up. It helps us understand why some
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 galaxies are vibrant and full of new
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 stars while others are old, red, and
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 retired.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 >> It's cosmic evolution in action. The
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 Devil's Survey is essentially creating a
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 census of these different galactic
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 lifestyles, helping us piece together
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 the complete life cycle of galaxies
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 across the universe.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 >> A fascinating study indeed.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 >> Speaking of crowded environments, things
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 are getting very busy right here at
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 home. This week is absolutely jam-packed
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 with launches.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 >> It really is. There are 10 orbital
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 launches on the calendar. Let's run
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 through the highlights.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 >> Leading the charge, as usual, is SpaceX.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 They have a staggering five Starlink
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 deployment missions scheduled for this
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 week alone. The internet constellation
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 just keeps growing. Then over in French
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 Guana, Arian Space is set to launch
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 South Korea's Comat 7 satellite, which
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 is a very highresolution Earth
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 observation satellite.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 >> Mhm. And don't forget Rocket Lab.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 They're launching from New Zealand
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 carrying the Rays 4 Demonstrator
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 Satellite for JAXA, the Japanese Space
00:04:16 --> 00:04:20 Agency. And speaking of Japan, their own
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 new heavy lift rocket, the H3, is slated
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 to launch a crucial navigation satellite
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 for their national GPS system. Plus,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 China has two of their own launches
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 scheduled. It's non-stop.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 >> That H3 rocket launch for Japan is
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 particularly significant, isn't it?
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 They've had a few setbacks with that
00:04:39 --> 00:04:39 program.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 >> It is. The H3 is Japan's next generation
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 flagship rocket. Designed to be more
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 affordable and flexible than its
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 predecessor. A successful launch is
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 crucial for securing Japan's independent
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 access to space and for competing in the
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 commercial launch market. This mission
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 will be a major test of its capabilities
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 and reliability after a failure on its
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 debut flight.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 >> And the Comat 7 for South Korea, what's
00:05:06 --> 00:05:10 its primary role? Comat 7 is a powerful
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 reconnaissance satellite. With its very
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 high resolution imaging, it can be used
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 for national security, disaster
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 monitoring, and managing natural
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 resources. It's part of a growing trend
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 of nations developing their own advanced
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Earth observation capabilities.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 >> It really shows you the current pace of
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 the global space industry. Okay, from
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 low Earth orbit, let's journey to a
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 place that was once much more active,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 the surface of Mars.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 >> This is one of my favorite stories this
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 week. A new study has produced an
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 incredible map of 16 massive ancient
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 river drainage systems on Mars.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 >> 16 separate systems? Are we talking
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 about small streams here?
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 >> Not at all. The study says these systems
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 are similar in scale to some of the
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 large drainage basins we see on Earth.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 And get this, combined, these 16 systems
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 transported nearly half of all the
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 sediment that was ever moved by rowers
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 on Mars. They were enormous.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 >> Half of all the sediment. That's
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 mindboggling. It paints a picture of a
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 very different, very wet ancient Mars.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 And I assume this has big implications
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 for the search for life. Absolutely. The
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 researchers identified these locations
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 as extremely promising places to search
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 for signs of past Martian life. If life
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 ever existed on Mars, these ancient
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 water carved river beds and deltas are
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 some of the best places we could
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 possibly look for evidence.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 >> It's incredible to think about how they
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 piece this together. How do they map
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 rivers that dried up billions of years
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 ago? They use highresolution topographic
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 data from orbiters like the Mars
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 Reconnaissance Orbiter. Scientists can
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 trace the faint outlines of river
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 channels, deltas, and aluvial fans
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 carved into the landscape. By analyzing
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 the geology and the minology, looking
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 for clays and carbonates that typically
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 form in water, they can confirm these
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 were indeed liquid water environments.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 It's like planetary scale archaeology.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 And if we do send her over there, what
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 kind of bio signatures would they look
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 for? Not fossils, I imagine.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 >> Probably not complex fossils. They'd be
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 searching for chemical bio signatures,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 specific organic molecules or isotopic
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 ratios that are difficult to explain
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 through non-biological processes.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 Finding preserved microbial mats or
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 stroalite like structures would be the
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 absolute jackpot. But chemical traces
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 are a more likely target. Well, let's
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 hope a future rover gets to visit one of
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 those spots. Okay, while Mars' water is
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 long gone, our own star is incredibly
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 active right now.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 >> That's an understatement. The sun just
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 unleashed a powerful X1.9 class solar
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 flare.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 >> And as a reminder for everyone, X-class
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 flares are the biggest and most
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 energetic category. This was a major
00:08:08 --> 00:08:08 event.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 >> It was. It erupted from a newly emerged
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 sunspot region and caused a strong
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 shortwave radio blackout over Australia
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 and the surrounding region.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 >> But that's not even the main event, is
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 it? There's something bigger on the
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 horizon.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 >> Correct. The sunspot region that caused
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 this flare is concerning. But an even
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 larger and more complex region is now
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 rotating into an earth-facing position.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 This is the very same sunspot that was
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 responsible for the powerful flares and
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 incredible aurora displays we saw last
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 month.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 >> So, space weather forecasters are
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 watching it very, very closely. We could
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 be in for another active period.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 >> Indeed. And it's important to remember
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 the potential impact. A strong
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 earthdirected coronal mass ejection,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 which often accompanies these big
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 flares, could disrupt our power grids,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 damage satellites, and interfere with
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 GPS and communications. We're far more
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 technologically dependent now than we
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 were during the last major solar
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 maximum.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 >> So, this isn't just about pretty
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 auroras. There's a real need for
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 accurate space weather forecasting to
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 protect our infrastructure.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 >> Exactly. Agencies like Noah's Space
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 Weather Prediction Center work around
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 the clock to monitor the sun. Their
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 warnings give satellite operators time
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 to put their spacecraft into safe modes
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 and utility companies time to prepare
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 their grids for potential geomagnetic
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 disturbances. It's a critical and often
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 unseen line of defense.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 >> Definitely. Now, all this activity we've
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 discussed, the launches, the satellites,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 the debris, it all leads into our final
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 story, which is about finding a
00:09:56 --> 00:10:00 sustainable way to operate in space.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 >> Right. The growing problem of space
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 debris. What's the new idea for tackling
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 it?
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 >> Experts are strongly advocating for what
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 they call a circular space economy. The
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 idea is to move away from the
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 traditional model of launching
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 something, using it, and then abandoning
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 it in orbit.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 >> So, it's about applying the principles
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 of recycling and reuse that we talk
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 about on Earth, but in orbit.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 >> Exactly. This means designing satellites
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 and spacecraft for durability, for
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 easier repair, and for potential reuse
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 or recycling of their components. It
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 also involves creating multi-purpose
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 space stations that can serve as inorbit
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 repair and refueling depots and
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 developing technologies to actively go
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 and recover existing debris.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 >> It's a huge but necessary shift in
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 mindset. If we want space to remain
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 accessible for future generations, we
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 can't keep treating it like an infinite
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 resource.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 >> That's the core of the argument. It's
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 about building a sustainable future, not
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 just for Earth, but for our activities
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 beyond it.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 >> It seems like a monumental task. Are
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 there companies actively working on this
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 technology now, or is it still mostly
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 theoretical?
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 >> Oh, it's very much moving from theory to
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 practice. You have companies like
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 Astroscale developing satellites
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 designed to capture and de-orbit space
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 debris. Others are working on robotic
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 arms for inorbit servicing to repair and
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 refuel existing satellites, extending
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 their operational lives. Even NASA is
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 investing in technologies for inspace
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 manufacturing and assembly, which
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 reduces the need to launch massive
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 monolithic structures from Earth.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 >> So, the building blocks are being put in
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 place. It's not just about cleaning up
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 the mess, but also about building
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 smarter from the start. That's the
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 fundamental shift. Sustainability have
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 to be part of the design process from
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 day one. It's an investment that will
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 pay off by ensuring that the
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 opportunities of space remain available
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 for the long term.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 >> I couldn't have said it better.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 >> A perfect note to end on. And that is
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 all the time we have for today's journey
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 through the latest in space and
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 astronomy.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 >> From near-earth challenges to the grand
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 scale of the universe, there's always
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 something new to discover. Thank you for
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 tuning in.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 >> I'm Avery
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 >> and I'm Anna. Join us tomorrow for
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 another episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 Until then, clear skies everyone and
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 keep looking up. [music]
00:12:41 --> 00:12:51 [singing]
00:12:51 --> 00:12:55 Stories [music] told.