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Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast. My name is Anna and I'm your

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host. In our celestial journey.
Today, we'll delve into the groundbreaking strides

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pushing the bounds of space exploration and
uncover the triumphs and challenges of space technology.

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We're discussing NASA's innovative use of earth
bound simulations to prepare for life on

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Mars, unveiling a significant leap in
electric propulsion that might redefine the future of

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small spacecraft missions. We'll also navigate
the pioneering efforts of China's Changu six mission,

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which seeks to retrieve precious samples from
the Moon's mysterious far side. As

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our solar sentinel mounts to its fiery
peak, we'll learn how NASA scientists are

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gearing up for intense solar activity that
could impact the future of human and robotic

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endeavors on Mars. And what about
staying connected when we step on the lunar

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surface. Nokia might just have the
answer, as they're forging a lunar communication

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network that could revolutionize how we stay
in touch in space. So look to

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the stars and prepare to be enlightened
as we embark on this interstellar voyage through

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the latest developments in astronomy and space
science the Astronomy Day podcast. Imagine gearing

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up for a voyage to Mars,
feeling the anticipation of space travel, the

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red dust beneath your boots, yet
not straying far from home. That's the

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reality for four intrepid volunteers as they
embark on NASA's latest simulation mission, stepping

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into the shoes of astronauts inside a
carefully crafted Mars habitat right here on Earth.

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Set against the backdrop of NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston. These individuals

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will spend forty five days in the
Human Exploration Research Analog, also known as

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HARA. Jason Lee, Stephanie Navarro, Sharif Al Ramathi and Piumi we Yasakara

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were chosen to simulate the life of
Martian explorers tasked with operating within the confines

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of this mocked up red planet abode
from May tenth through to the twenty fourth

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of June. They're not actors on
a stage, but rather crucial participants in

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an elaborate study, one that could
shape the very future of human spaceflight,

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as they carry out scientific research and
engage in operational tasks. They'll also delve

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into the virtual Martian landscape, experiencing
simulated walks on the planet's surface, complete

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with the communication delays astronauts will face
when speaking to mission control across millions of

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miles of space. But this simulation
extends beyond the high tech virtual reality.

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It's about understanding how isolation, confinement, and the remoteness akin to deep space

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missions truly impact the human mind and
body. Two alternates, jose Bacha and

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Brandon Kent, stand ready to step
in ensuring the mission's smooth course. NASA's

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Human Research Program orchestrates the simulation meticulous, investigating suitable measures to preserve astronauts health

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and safety in the Cosmos. The
data amassed from this mission will join a

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growing pool of knowledge in collaboration with
international partners such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid

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Space Center and the European Space Agency. While the future of space travel unravels

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above our heads, these analog astronauts
will be offering insights that help NASA scientists

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stitch together strategies to confront space's adversities. It's these small steps in the isolation

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of a Houston habitat that herald our
giant leap toward the unknowns of deep space.

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The frontier of space exploration continues to
expand with NASA's recent unveiling of a

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powerful sub kilowatt propulsion technology. This
is not just another step forward, it's

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a substantial leap in enhancing the capabilities
of small spacecraft. Picture this innovation as

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the gateway for a new era of
planetary exploration missions, where the vastness of

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our Solar system becomes ever more accessible. So what's the big deal about this

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propulsion system, called the NASA H
seventy one m hal Effect Thruster, its

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proficiency in low power operation and high
propellant throughput represents a game changer. It's

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designed to execute high delta five maneuvers, the complex navigational feats essential for spacecraft

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to escape planetary gravities or smoothly enter
foreign orbits. What's truly impressive about this

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advancement is how it paves the way
for small spacecraft to independently journey from Earth's

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orbit to lunar landscapes, or from
geostationary transfer orbits all the way to Mars.

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It's no easy task, but the
technology promises a capability that was once

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a distant dream. It's also a
boon for autonomous missions, as these crafts

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could utilize excess launch capacity sold at
low costs, thereby increasing the frequency and

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reducing the expense of lunar and martian
science missions. NASA's collaboration with industry partners

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such as Space Logistics illustrates the commer
marcial potential of this propulsion technology, which

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will be integrated into small spacecraft to
provide extended mission duration for satellites already launched

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into space. The implications of this
are profound for the future of space exploration,

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increasing not only our capacity to reach
distant worlds, but also understanding our

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place within them. As we celebrate
this technological triumph, we also recognize the

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monumental strides we are making towards becoming
an interplanetary species. China is racing towards

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a landmark achievement with the upcoming launch
of the Chang six spacecraft on May third,

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Engineered for the daunting task of returning
lunar samples from the far side of

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the Moon. This challenging mission,
poised for liftoff atop the mighty long March

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five rocket, seeks to conquer a
frontier never before touched by human technology.

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Change six is part of a continuum
of ambitious lunar exploration that China has embarked

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upon, and if successful, it
will be the first mission to bring back

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materials from this largely unexplored region.
The South Pole Aitken Basin, a vast

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and complex impact structure on the Moon's
far side, awaits the touchdown of the

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sophisticated probe. The mission's four key
components, an orbiter, lander, ascender,

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and re entry module, are all
set for this intricate operation. Upon

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landing, Chang's six will deploy both
a scoop and a drill to collect invaluable

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samples of dust and rock, promising
to shed light on the Moon's secretive pharside

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characteristics and the broader chronicles of Solar
System history. The orchestration of this mission

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demands precision, considering the unique challenges
of communicating and navigating on the lunar far

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side without direct line of sight to
Earth. This endeavor is not just a

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testament to China's growing prowess in space
exploration, but also a dynamic shift in

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our understanding of Earth's closest celestial neighbor. As we await the data and discoveries

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that Changai six will deliver. We
stand on the precipice of deepening our knowledge

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of lunar geology and the ancient events
that shape the heavenly bodies orbiting our Sun.

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The Astronomy Daily podcast. Amidst the
tumultuous theater of our solar system,

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the Sun commands center stage with a
performance that can impact our interplanetary ambitions significantly,

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particularly those focused on Mars. The
star at the heart of our system

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is reaching the crescendo of its cycle, a period known as solar maximum,

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approximately every eleven years. Our vigilant
scouts, the spacecraft orbiting the red planet,

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are poised to capture data on how
this peak in solar activity unleashes a

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spectrum of solar flares and coronal mass
ejections deep into space, events collectively known

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as solar storms. Now, why
does this matter for our crimson neighbor.

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Unlike Earth's robust magnetic fields that wrap
our world in a protective embrace, shielding

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us from these tempestuous solar outbursts,
Mars presents a stark contrast. Its once

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global magnetic field is long gone,
exposing it to the Sun's energetic whims.

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The intrigue lies in understanding the full
potency of these celestial disturbances at Mars,

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knowledge we must grasp before we send
astronauts to walk upon its regalith. NASA's

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Maven orbiter observes from its high vantage
point, measuring radiation, charged particles,

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and other phenomena to comprehend these space
weather events. But understanding the interplay of

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radiation with Mars's thin atmosphere requires corroborating
views from ground level, and that's where

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the Curiosity Rovers Radiation Assessment Detector or
ray D provides critical data from the Martian

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surface. Together, these robotic explorers
help us foreshadow the protective measures future human

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missions would need against solar radiation's invisible
siege. This pursuit is not only about

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astronauts safety. Investigating solar maximum periods
could offer clues to a long standing mystery

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what transformed Mars from a once warm, Earth like oasis into the frigid,

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dry world we're exploring today. It
is conceivable that intense solar and dust storm

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events through the ages conspired to strip
away the Martian atmosphere and its water,

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leading to its current arid state.
Observing Mars now gives scientists the chance to

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capture this complex atmospheric interplay at work, and perhaps unlock the secrets of the

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planet's drastic climate change. As we
stand on the threshold of human exploration of

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Mars, understanding the solar phenomena is
not a scientific indulgence, but a necessity.

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It is the muse of caution,
singing to those daring to dream of

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stepping onto alien sands, reminding us
that the journey to other worlds is paved

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with more than just technology and ambition. It also requires the wisdom to respect

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and prepare for the cosmic forces we
will face. Imagine sending a text message

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or making a call from the Moon's
surface. This may soon be a reality,

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as no Nokia is taking bold steps
in developing a four G slash LTE

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network on our lunar neighbor. In
a pioneering move. Hardware earmarked for a

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simplified version of this network is set
to launch later this year aboard the Intuitive

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Machine's IM two mission targeting the Moon's
south pole. This project entails a compact

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network in a box that will bind
together the Nova SA Lunar Lander, lunar

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outposts map rover and intuitive machines microNOVA
Hopper in a bid to validate the network's

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capacity across various lunar distances. The
notion is simple yet transformative. Treat the

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Moon like Earth, linking billions of
potential devices just as we do at home.

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In twenty twenty, as part of
the Artemis program, NASA recognized Nokia's

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vision with a fourteen point one million
dollars contract, the goal to create the

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first lunar cellular network by reinventing terrestrial
technology to withstand the rigors of the Moon's

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environment. If successful, this network
will not only streamline astronaut communication, but

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will empower robotic systems with efficient autonomy, signaling a leap in our capacities for

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lunar exploration and resident habitation. The
promises of this technology are boundless, from

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increased bandwidth eclipsing conventional space communication systems, to a pre paved path for Mars

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communication framework, perhaps even an upgrade
to five G. Nokia's innovation is meticulously

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laying the groundwork for the next two
decades of lunar operations. As we face

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the potential of moon bases and manifold
missions, it is crucial for a unified,

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economically sensible infrastructure to support this extraterrestrial
expansion, and if Nokia navigates this

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right, they could provide the backbone
that sustains future lunar civilization. That's today's

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roundup of extraterrestrial endeavors. Visit us
at Astronomy Daily dot io for more space

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news and to catch up on past
episodes. Remember to follow us on x

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formerly known is Twitter at astro Daily
Pod for the latest updates. My name

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is Anna, saying bye bye until
next time. Keep your eyes on the

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skies. You never know what you
might see. Saday Star is so start