Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for the
latest news in space and astronomy. I'm your host Anna.
Today we have an exciting lineup of stories to share
with you. We'll dive into NASA's decision making process on
whether to extend astronauts stay aboard the International Space Station
amidst ongoing issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule. We'll also
explore a groundbreaking new method developed by researchers to terraform
Mars using engineered nanoparticles, a technique that could make the
Red planet more hospitable for future colonists. Additionally, we'll look
at NASA's Perseverance Rover as it embarks on a challenging
new mission to climb the western rim of Ja Zero
Crater in search of ancient life signs. Lastly, we'll shed
light on a fascinating project by Honeybee Robotics to install
massive street lights on the Moon, which could revolutionize future
lunar exploration. Stay tuned, as these stories promised to be
out of this world. NASA is currently in a critical
decision phase determining the fate of two astronauts station to
board the International Space Station, Originally expected to be away
only for a short stint, butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams
have found their mission extended much longer than anticipated due
to complications with Boeing's Starliner capsule. The spacecraft faced numerous challenges,
including thruster failures and helium leaks, which have cast doubt
on its ability to safely bring the astronauts back to Earth.
In light of these issues, NASA is considering an alternative plan,
having Wilmore and Williams return via SpaceX's Dragon capsule. This
would mean their mission could extend until early next year,
potentially adding several more months to their time on board
the ISS. It's worth noting that SpaceX's Dragon has a
strong track record since its first man mission in twenty twenty,
making it a reliable option for NASA. The decision to
switch to SpaceX, however, isn't straightforward. It would necessitate reshuffling
the upcoming crew assignments. As SpaceX's next flight is already
set for late September with its own planned crew, Wilmore
and Williams would need to replace two astronauts on this
mission to secure their seats home. Additionally, the ISS's limited
docking capacity means that Boeing's Starliner would have to vacate
its spot to allow the Dragon capsule to dock. Despite
Boeing's reassurances that the Starliner can still perform a safe
return trip, NASA is taking a cautious approach, prioritizing comprehensive
data analysis to ensure crue safety. Given the mixed history
with Boeing's earlier unmanned test flight, which required extensive fixes
costing over a billion dollars, NASA is wary of rushing
any decisions. This prolonged deliberation underscores NASA's commitment to ensuring
no stone is left unturned, valuing thorough analysis and safety
above all. Researchers from the University of Chicago and Northwestern
have unveiled a revolutionary approach to warming Mars, potentially making
the red planet more conducive to life. Their method involves
using engineered dust particles to increase Mars's temperature by over
fifty degrees fahrenheit. This significant temperature rise could create conditions
favorable for microbial life, marking a critical step toward making
Mars habitable for future human colonization. What sets this approach
apart is its impressive efficiency. By using resources already available
on Mars, researchers have found a way that's five thousand
times more effective than previous terraforming proposals. Rather than importing
materials from Earth or mining rare resources on Mars, this
strategy smartly leverages what Mars naturally offers. The particles are
designed to trap escaping heat and scatter sunlight toward the
Martian surface, enhancing its greenhouse effect. According to Edwin Kite,
a professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago,
this method suggests that the barriers to warming Mars to
allow liquid water are not as high as previously thought.
While there is still a long way to go before
humans can walk on Mars unaided, this breakthrough brings us
closer to transforming Mars into a world where life can
begin to thrive, one scientifically thrilling step at a time.
Speaking of Mars, NASA's per per severance, Rover is gearing
up to tackle one of its toughest challenges yet, climbing
the western rim of Ja Zero Crater. This ascent marks
the start of its fifth science campaign since it touched
down on the red planet in February twenty twenty one.
After spending over two and a half years exploring the
crater's floor and its river delta, Perseverance is ready to
take on some of the steepest and most challenging terrains
it has encountered to date. The new mission, set to
begin the week of August nineteenth, will see the rover
navigating slopes as steep as twenty three degrees, using its
advanced auto navigation capabilities to avoid hazards. The team has
carefully planned a route that balances safety with scientific discovery,
ensuring that Perseverance can continue its groundbreaking work without interruption.
At the top of Jaesaro Crater, the rover will explore
two priority regions, Pico Turkeno and Witch Hazel Hill. These
areas are of significant interest to scientists because they may
offer clues about Mars's ancient history. Pico Turkeno, for instance,
has fractures that might have been caused by highhydrothermal activity
and intriguing hint of the planet's past geological processes. Meanwhile,
Which Hazel Hill features layered materials that date back to
an era when Mars had a much different climate, possibly
even harboring life during its River Delta exploration Perseverance collected
twenty two rock cores, some of which contain sedimentary rock,
the only samples of their kind ever gathered from another planet.
These rocks are vital for understanding the history of water
on Mars and could even provide evidence of ancient microbial life.
As the rover ascends to new heights, scientists are eager
to see what additional secrets Mars may reveal, and, finally,
for today, Honeybee Robotics has put forward a fascinating proposal
to help illuminate the long dark lunar nights with massive
street lights. This project, known as Lunar Saber, aims to
construct three hundred thirty foot tall towers on the Moon
that will store solar energy and provide powerful floodlight illumination
during the lunar nights, which last the equivalent of two
Earth weeks. Such a development could be crucial in supporting
future human exploration and settlement on the Moon. These towering
structures aren't just about lighting up the lunar surface. They
serve a dual purpose. During the lengthy sun drenched lunar days,
these towers will absorb and store solar energy. Once the
two weeks of sunlight are over, the towers will switch
rolls and provide much needed light to withstand the frozen knights,
which can be particularly harsh and perilous. This innovation is
not only aimed at lighting, but also at potentially recharging
lunar rovers and other infrastructure, thus creating a rudimentary power
grid on the Moon. Honeybee Robotics, part of Jeff Bezos's
Blue Origin, is leading the charge on this initiative with
funding from DARPA, the US government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Although the project is still in its early development stages
here on Earth, it represents one of the pioneering steps
toward making the Moon more habitable for human settlers. If
the Lunar Saber Project can achieve its goals, it could
very well become a cornerstone and the infrastructure required for
extended lunar missions and even permanent settlements. In summary, the
Lunar Saber initiative could mark a significant leap forward in
our efforts to not only return to the Moon, but
to stay there by providing necessary illumination and energy storage capabilities.
These colossal street lights will help ensure that the Moon
remains a well lit and powered outpost, paving the way
for future exploration and possibly even long term human habitation.
That's it for today's episode. You've been listening to Astronomy
Daily with Meanna. For more updates, visit our website at
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