Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to source
for the latest and most exciting developments in the world
of space and astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm
thrilled to have you join me for today's Cosmic Journey.
In this episode, we'll be exploring a range of fascinating
topics that are shaping our understanding of the universe. We'll
dive into recent advancements in telescope technology that are pushing
the boundaries of what we can see and learn about
distant celestial objects. We'll also take a look at some
intriguing space missions that are expanding our reach beyond Earth
and uncovering new secrets of our Solar System and beyond.
And of course, we'll delve into some captivating celestial phenomena
that continue to inspire, wonder and awe. So strap in
and get ready for a thrilling ride through the cosmos
as we explore the latest news and discoveries in the
world of astronomy. Let's kick things off today with an
update to a project that's well underway. Exciting progress is
being made on the giant Magellan telescope, which is set
to become the world's largest telescope when completed. The latest
update from the project team reveals a sign magnificant milestone,
the successful installation of the primary mirror into a support
system prototype. This achievement marks a crucial step forward in
the telescope's development. The primary mirror, spanning an area about
half the size of a basketball court, is now undergoing
a six month optical testing phase to prove the capabilities
of its light collecting surface. What makes this telescope truly
remarkable is its potential power. According to Barbara Fisher, the
primary mirror subsystem manager, it could deliver up to two
hundred times the power of today's best telescopes. The mirror
support system operates with nanometer precision, constantly adjusting the mirror's
position and shape to maintain optimal performance. The Giant Magellan
Telescope is a collaborative effort involving fourteen research institutions worldwide,
including the Australian National University. Construction is underway on the
summit of Las Campanas Mountain in Chile, with the telescope
expected to be operational by the early twenty thirties. This
ambitious project, with a price tag of nearly two point
five four bids million US dollars, promises to revolutionize our
view of the Cosmos, offering unprecedented image resolution over the
widest field of view ever achieved. Next, there doesn't seem
to be a day go by without SpaceX being in
the news for one reason or another, and today is
no exception. In a significant development for space exploration and
national security, SpaceX has secured a massive contract from the
US Space Force. The aerospace company has been awarded seven
hundred and thirty three point six million dollars for a
series of national security launches. This contract encompasses two task
orders under the National Security Space Launch Phase three Lane
one program. The deal includes seven launches for the Space
Development Agency, or SDA, and at least one mission set
for the National Reconnaissance Office known as the NRO. These
launches will play a crucial role in expanding the sda's
Transport Layer, a planned constellation of hundreds of satellites in
low Earth orbit designed to provide global military data and connectivity.
This contract highlights the increasing reliance on private companies like
SpaceX for critical national security missions. It also underscores the
rapid growth of space based defense and intelligence capabilities. With
these new launches. SpaceX continues to cement its position as
a key player in both commercial and government space operations,
now a problem that's needed addressing for some time. In
an exciting development for space waste management, Sierra Space has
announced plans to launch a trash compactor to the International
Space Station in twenty twenty six. This innovative device aims
to tackle the growing problem of garbage disposal in long
term space missions. Unlike on Earth, where we can simply
toss our trash, space stations face unique challenges in managing waste.
The Cierra Space compactor is designed to transform garbage into
compact tiles, which could serve a dual purpose. Not only
will this reduce the volume of waste, but these tiles
might also be repurposed as additional radiation shielding for spacecraft.
What's more, the system is capable of extracting nearly all
the water from garbage for recycling, a crucial feature for
conserving resources in space. This technology could prove invaluable for
future missions to the Moon or Mars, where efficient waste
management will be essential for astronauts safety and mission success.
The compactor has a distinctive look as well, with some
media outlets, already saying the machine looks like wall E.
It'll probably stick. Okay, moving on, Exciting new research suggests
that we might be getting closer to studying our nearest
stellar neighbors without leaving Earth. Planetary scientist Cole Greg from
the University of Western Ontario has conducted calculations indicating that
material ejected from the Alpha Centauri system could be streaming
past our planet. Using a simplified model of the Milky Way,
Greg found that a small fraction about zero point zero
three percent of objects expelled from Alpha Centauri might reach
our solar system. What's more, these objects could potentially be
recognized as originating from that nearby star system. This opens
up fascinating possibilities for studying materi from beyond our Solar system.
While we've only identified two interstellar visitors so far, u
Muamua and Borisov, it's been impossible to trace their origins
to specific star systems. Greg's model, however, starts by calculating
how objects would behave after being ejected from a known
nearby system like Alpha Centauri. The gravitational interactions between Alpha
Centauri's three stars could potentially eject material ranging from tiny
grains to kilometer sized comets and asteroids. These objects would
continue orbiting the galaxy, potentially forming a stream with similar
orbital properties. If detected near Earth, these shared characteristics could
reveal their alpha centaury origin. While more detailed modeling is needed,
this research opens up the tantalizing possibility of studying material
from our cosmic neighbors, right in our own backyard. Some
news from the United Kingdom now. Skyrora, a Scottish space company,
is setting its sites on a suborbital launch from British
soil in spring twenty twenty five. This ambitious goal comes
after facing a year of regulatory delays in the UK's
nascent space launch industry. The company had initially hoped to
conduct this mission much sooner, but the complexities of navigating
a new regulatory landscape have pushed their timeline back. The
planned launch will use Skyrora's Skylark L rocket, an eleven
meter long single stage vehicle. This mission is crucial for
Skyrora as it will help de risk their larger Skyrora
XL rocket designed for orbital launches. The company is working
closely with the UK's Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory
bodies to secure the necessary licenses and approvals. These regulatory
hurdles highlight the challenges faced by private space companies as
the UK works to establish itself as a competitive player
in the global space industry. Despite the setbacks, Skyrora remains
committed to its goals and continues to make progress on
both its suborbital and orbital launch systems. And finally, today,
as we look ahead to next year's celestial events, stargazer
might want to mark their calendars for the Orionid meteor
shower in twenty twenty four. Unfortunately, it's not all good
news for media enthusiasts. The peak of the Orionids, expected
this coming Monday, October twenty first, will face significant challenges
due to moonlight interference. A bright, waning gibbous moon will
be present for most of the night, potentially washing out
many of the fainter meteors. Despite this setback, the Orionids
remain a fascinating event, closely tied to one of astronomy's
most famous objects, Halle's Comet. These meteors are actually tiny
fragments left behind by Halle as it orbits the Sun.
So while we won't see the comet itself until twenty
sixty one. The Orionids offer us a chance to witness
its cosmic debris. For those determined to catch a glimpse,
your best bet will be in the early pre dawn
hours when Orion is highest in the southern sky. Just
remember patients and dark skies are key, and you might
still spot a few of the brighter meteors streaking across
the night. And that wraps up our journey through the cosmos.
For today, we've explored the progress of the Giant Magellan Telescope,
SpaceX's new contracts with the Space Force, innovative waste management
solutions for the ISS, potential interstellar visitors from Alpha Centauri,
Skyrora's launch ambitions, and the upcoming Orionid meteor Shower. For
more details on these stories and other fascinating space and
astronomy news, head over to our website at Astronomy Daily
dot io. There you can sign up for our free
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is Anna and I'll be back on Tuesday with Steve
and Hallie bringing you all the latest space news on Monday.
Thank you for tuning into Astronomy Daily, and don't forget
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about us. Keep looking up and we'll see you next
time among the stars. Bye now me day. Star is
the Toll. The Star is the Toll, Star is the
sou