Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E40
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on an exhilarating journey through groundbreaking discoveries and theories reshaping our understanding of the universe. From the latest findings of the James Webb Space Telescope to fascinating updates from the International Space Station, this episode is packed with insights that will spark your cosmic curiosity.
Highlights:
- James Webb Space Telescope's Revelations: Explore how the James Webb Space Telescope has provided unprecedented insights into Trans Neptunian objects, revealing their diverse compositions and the secrets they hold about the early solar system's formation.
- Update from the International Space Station: Hear from NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as they clarify their extended stay aboard the ISS, debunking media myths and sharing their experiences in microgravity.
- New Perspectives on Intelligent Life: Delve into a revolutionary theory from Penn State that challenges the notion of humanity's emergence as a rare cosmic accident, suggesting that intelligent life could be an inevitable outcome of planetary evolution.
- Asteroid Bennu's Surprising Samples : Discover groundbreaking findings from NASA's Osiris Rex mission, including the presence of salt minerals that hint at ancient water activity and the potential for life's building blocks in the early solar system.
- Earth's Dynamic Inner Core: Learn about recent research revealing unexpected structural changes in Earth's inner core, which could influence our understanding of the planet's magnetic field and its overall dynamics.
- Innovative Exploration Technology: Get introduced to Splitter, a new robotic system designed for low gravity environments, showcasing how advanced technology could revolutionize exploration on asteroids and beyond.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily
01:02 - James Webb's discoveries of Trans Neptunian objects
06:30 - ISS update from astronauts Suni and Butch
12:00 - New theory on the emergence of intelligent life
16:30 - Findings from the Osiris Rex mission and asteroid Bennu
22:00 - Insights into Earth's inner core dynamics
26:00 - Introduction to the Splitter exploration robot
30:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content
✍️ Episode References
James Webb Space Telescope Insights
[James Webb](https://www.nasa.gov/webb)
International Space Station Updates
[NASA ISS](https://www.nasa.gov/iss)
Intelligent Life Research
[Penn State](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex)
Earth's Inner Core Research
[Earth's Core](https://www.sciencedaily.com/earth-core)
Splitter Exploration Robot
[UCLA Robotics](https://www.ucla.edu/robotics)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io) )
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-discoveries--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-discoveries--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25608037?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 hello and welcome to astronomy daily I'm
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 your host Anna and we have a big lineup
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 of space discoveries and breakthroughs
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 to share with you today we'll Journey
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Beyond Neptune where the James web Space
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 Telescope has made remarkable findings
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 about mysterious objects in our solar
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 systems outer reaches we'll hear from
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 astronauts aboard the International
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 Space Station who want to set the record
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 straight about their extended Mission
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25 we'll also explore a fascinating new
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 theory that challenges everything we
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 thought we knew about the emergence of
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 intelligent life in the universe plus
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 we'll examine groundbreaking analysis
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 from asteroid benu samples Peak into
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 Earth's surprisingly Dynamic intercore
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 and look at Innovative new technology
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 for exploring low gravity
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 environments strap in for an exciting
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 Journey Through the latest developments
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 in space science and exploration let's
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 get started NASA's James web Space
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 Telescope has revolutionized our
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 understanding of trans neptunian objects
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 those mysterious celestial bodies
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 orbiting Beyond Neptune's path in an
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 unprecedent Ed study web has provided
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 the first detailed look at the
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 composition of these distant objects
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 revealing surprising new insights about
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 our solar systems formation trans
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 neptunian objects or TNS include
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 everything from dwarf planets like Pluto
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 and ays to smaller bodies like aroth
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 while scientists have known about these
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 objects since Pluto's Discovery in 1930
00:01:22 --> 00:01:23 we've never been able to study their
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 composition in such detail until now
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 using web's near infrared spectrograph
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 scientists have anal analyzed over 75 TN
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 in the first 2 years of the telescope's
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 operation what they found was completely
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 unexpected these objects can be
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 categorized into three distinct spectral
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 classes based on their surface
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 composition the first group dubbed B
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 type shows strong signatures of water
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 ice and some carbon dioxide along with
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 silicate Rich dust the second
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 classification called double dip reveals
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 complex organic molecules mixed with
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 carbon dioxide and carbon monox oide IES
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 the third group known as Cliff type
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 contains the most complex organic
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 materials of all along with compounds
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 like
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 methanol this classification system
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 isn't just about categorizing space
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 rocks it's helping scientists piece
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 together the story of our solar systems
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 early days the theory is that these
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 different compositions reflect where
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 these objects originally formed with
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 bold types developing closer to the Sun
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 where temperatures were higher while
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 double dips and cliffs formed in the
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 colder outer regions particularly
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 intriguing is that all objects found in
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 undisturbed cold classical orbits belong
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 to the cliff category this suggests
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 these objects have remained largely
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 unchanged since the solar systems
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 formation making them invaluable time
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 capsules of our Cosmic history web
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 continues to study these fascinating
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 objects with new observations planned to
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 examine extreme tnos that Venture far
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 into Interstellar space these ongoing
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 studies promise to reveal even more
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 about the materials and conditions that
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 shaped our solar system billions of
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 years
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 ago next up let's pay a visit to the
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 International Space Station for an
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 update from our two favorite
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 astronauts in recent months there's been
00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 quite a bit of attention on NASA
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 astronauts Sunni Williams and Butch
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Wilmore who found themselves on an
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 unexpectedly Extended Stay aboard the
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 International Space Station while some
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 media Outlets have painted this as a
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 story of stranded astronauts the reality
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 is quite different from these dramatic
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 head lines the duo originally launched
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 on Boeing Starliner spacecraft for what
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 was planned as a 10-day Mission however
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 when Starliner experienced Thruster
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 issues during docking Maneuvers NASA
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 made the decision to adjust their plans
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 rather than rushing a solution they've
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 Incorporated Williams and Wilmore into
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 the ongoing crew rotation schedule
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 specifically as part of spacex's crew 9
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 Mission both astronauts have been quick
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 to set the record straight about their
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 situation as Wilmore recently explained
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 to CNN's Anderson Cooper we don't feel
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 abandoned we don't feel stuck we don't
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 feel stranded in fact he emphasized that
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 mission extensions are simply part of
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 the job in human space flight where
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 being prepared for contingencies is
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 fundamental to their training what's
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 particularly noteworthy is that both
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 astronauts have maintained their regular
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 duties throughout this Extended Stay
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 Williams has even managed to break the
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 record for most cumulative space walking
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Time by a woman during this period
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 they've been fully fully integrated into
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 the station's operations with access to
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 all necessary supplies and equipment the
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 situation gained additional attention
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 when it became part of a political
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 discussion but the astronauts have
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 remained focused on their mission
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 they're now scheduled to return to Earth
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 in March following the arrival of crew
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 10 as Wilmore puts it they're not
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 stranded they're prepared and committed
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 which is exactly what you'd expect from
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 seasoned space professionals both
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 Williams and Wilmore Veterans of
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 previous long duration space missions
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 have expressed their continued enjoyment
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 of life in orbit as Williams noted it's
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 just amazing how quickly you readapt to
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 life in space she even admitted that
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 when the time comes to return home
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 they'll likely feel a touch of sadness
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 at leaving their weightless environment
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 behind and just a little side note how
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 famous has that hair
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 become all right let's get back on track
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 new research from Penn State is
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 challenging our long-held assumptions
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 about the likelihood of intelligent life
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 in the universe for decades scientists
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 believe that Humanity's emergence was an
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 incredibly rare Cosmic accident but this
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 fresh perspective suggests something
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 quite different the traditional view
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 known as the hard steps Theory argued
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 that the evolution of intelligent life
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 required an unlikely series of fortunate
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 events however this new study proposes
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 that intelligence might be more of an
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 inevitable outcome of planetary
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 Evolution both on Earth and potentially
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 on other worlds the researchers
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 explained that that Earth's environment
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 wasn't always hospitable to complex life
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 forms instead it evolved through
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 distinct phases creating what they call
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 Windows of habitability for instance the
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 development of complex animal life
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 required specific oxygen levels in the
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 atmosphere this didn't happen by chance
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 it was a natural consequence of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 photosynthesizing microbes gradually
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 changing Earth's atmosphere over time
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 what's particularly intriguing is their
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 suggestion that humans didn't evolve
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 early or late in Earth's history but
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 right on time when conditions were
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 finally suitable as Dan Mills one of the
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 study's authors explains it may simply
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 be a matter of time before other planets
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 achieve similar conditions with some
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 potentially reaching these Milestones
00:06:42 --> 00:06:46 faster or slower than Earth did the team
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 combining expertise from both
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 astrophysics and geobiology argues that
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 we should view Evolution through the
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 lens of geological time scales rather
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 than comparing it to the sun's lifespan
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 this shift in perspective suggests that
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 the development of intelligence might be
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 more of a predictable process unfolding
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 AS Global conditions allow This research
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 opens up exciting possibilities about
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 the prevalence of intelligent life in
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 the universe if intelligence emerges
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 naturally when planetary conditions are
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 right rather than through an improbable
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 series of accidents we might not be as
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 alone in the cosmos as we once
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 thought next an update from the mission
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 that just keeps on giving in a
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 remarkable scient scientific achievement
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 NASA's Osiris Rex Mission has revealed
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 groundbreaking discoveries from its
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 sample collection of asteroid benu the
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 mission which successfully returned
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 approximately 120 gram of pristine
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 asteroid material to Earth last
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 September Is providing unprecedented
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 insights into the early solar system
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 analysis of the samples has yielded an
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 extraordinary finding the presence of
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 tiny crystals of salt minerals
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 specifically halite and sylvite this
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 discovery is particularly significant
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 because is extremely rare in meteorites
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 having been found in only three out of
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 hundreds of thousands of known specimens
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 on Earth the presence of these salt
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 minerals suggests that water activity
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 may have once existed on Ben's parent
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 body the research team has also
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 identified various other salt minerals
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 including sodium carbonates phosphates
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 sulfates and fluorides these minerals
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 typically form through the evaporation
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 of brins similar to the deposits we see
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 in Earth's Salt Lakes this discovery
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 provides compelling evidence of ancient
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 water activity in the earliest days of
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 our solar system but perhaps even more
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 intriguing is what these salt minerals
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 mean for the potential development of
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 life's building blocks on Earth these
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 minerals act as catalysts for forming
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 organic compounds such as nucleo bases
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 and nucleo sides the fundamental
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 components of biological systems indeed
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 further analysis of the benu samples
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 revealed a diverse array of organic
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 compounds including 14 of the 20 amino
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 acids found in Earth's biological
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 processes as well as all five nucleo
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 bases present in RNA and DNA while this
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 doesn't indicate the presence of life on
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 benu it does suggest that the asteroid's
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 parent body once provided an environment
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 conducive to assembling life's essential
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 components these findings could have
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 significant implications for our
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 understanding of similar environments
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 elsewhere in the solar system
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 particularly on bodies like Saturn's
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 moon Enceladus and the dwarf planet
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 series both of which are known to have
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 sub surface brine
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 oceans this pristine sample from benu
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 continues to offer new insights as
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 researchers delve deeper into its
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 analysis potentially reshaping our
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 understanding of the early solar system
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 and the distribution of life's building
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 blocks throughout
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 space let's turn our attention to some
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 fascinating new findings about Earth's
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 inner core that are challenging our
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 previous understanding of our planet's
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 deepest layer Recent research has
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 revealed that the inner core long
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 thought to be a solid sphere of iron and
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 nickel is actually far less rigid than
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 scientists previously believed deep
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 beneath our feet nearly 3 Mi below
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 the surface scientists have detected
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 unexpected structural changes in the
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 inner cores near surface this discovery
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 comes from analyzing seismic waves from
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 121 repeating earthquakes near the South
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 Sandwich Islands over a period spanning
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 from 1991 to
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 2024 what makes this particularly
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 interesting is how it appears appears to
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 interact with the outer core that
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 swirling layer of liquid metal that
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 surrounds it the turbulent motion of the
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 outer core seems to be capable of
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 actually deforming the inner core
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 something we hadn't observed happening
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 on human time scales before these
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 findings have significant implications
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 for our understanding of Earth's
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 magnetic field which acts as our
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 planet's protective shield against
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 harmful solar radiation the interaction
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 between the inner and outer core plays a
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 crucial role in generating and
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 maintaining this magnetic field if the
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 inner core is more malleable than we
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 thought it could help explain observed
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 variations in the field strength and
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 stability over time the research also
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 supports previous observations
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 suggesting that the inner core's
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 rotation isn't constant some models
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 indicate it may have slowed or even
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 reversed direction around 2010 which
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 aligns with observed changes in seismic
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 wave
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 patterns this could potentially
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 influence subtle changes in Earth's
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 rotation and even the length of our days
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 this new understanding of our planet's
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 core is forcing us to reconsider how
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 Earth's internal engine works and opens
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 up exciting new questions about the
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 dynamic processes occurring deep within
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 our
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 planet in our final science story today
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 we're looking at an Innovative new
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 approach to exploring low gravity
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 environments like asteroids and other
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 celestial bodies researchers at UCLA's
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 Robotics and mechanisms laboratory have
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 developed a fascinating new robot system
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 called splitter
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 that's the space and planetary limed
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 intelligent tether technology
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 exploration robot what makes splitter
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 unique is its design imagine two small
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 four-legged robots connected by a tether
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 working together like a high-tech
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 version of the game Bola but don't let
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 this simple description fool you the
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 system employs sophisticated control
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 mechanisms that allow it to move with
00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 remarkable stability even in airless
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 environments the team chose a jumping
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 Locomotion method rather than
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 traditional wheeled Rovers because it's
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 much more effective for navigating the
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 jagged uneven terrain found on asteroids
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 and unlike flying robots it doesn't need
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 an atmosphere to operate each robot
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 weighs just about 10 kg on Earth making
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 them even more agile in low-g gravity
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 environments what's particularly clever
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 about splitter is how it maintains
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 control during movement the system uses
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 something called inertial morphing where
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 the robots adjust their leg
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 configurations and tether length to
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 stabilize their motion this is managed
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 through a sophisticated predictive
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 control system that can calculate
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 exactly how to position each component
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 for optimal
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 stability the robots can even work
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 together for tasks like exploring cave
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 systems with one robot anchoring itself
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 while the other repels down using their
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 connecting tether while splitter
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 currently exists mainly as a computer
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 model it represents an exciting New
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 Direction in space exploration
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 technology that could one day help us
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 investigate some of the most challenging
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 environments in our solar
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 system well that brings us to the end of
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 another fascinating episode of astronomy
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 daily from web's groundbreaking
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 discoveries Beyond Neptune to Innovative
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 space exploration robots we've covered
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 quite a journey through space science
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 today if you'd like to stay up to dat
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 with all these incredible developments
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 in space and astronomy I encourage you
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 to visit our website at astronomy
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00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 this is Anna thank you for joining me
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 today on astronomy daily keep looking up
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