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Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for all

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the latest in space and astronomy news. I'm your host Anna.

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In today's episode, we have some fascinating stories lined up

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for you. We'll start with the latest updates from NASA

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and Boeing as they meticulously analyze data from the crew

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flight test of the Starliner spacecraft. Then we'll delve into

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an exciting development by Space Perspective as they unveil the

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world's first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising to revolutionize spaceflight experiences.

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And finally, we'll explore a groundbreaking discovery made in lunar

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soil from China's Chiang A five mission, the identification of

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naturally formed few layer graphene, which could have significant implications

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for materials science here on Earth. Stay tuned for these

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incredible updates. NASA and Boeing teams are diligently working on

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analyzing data from their recent ground in spacecraft tests. This

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painstaking process is absolutely crucial as they evaluate the Starliner

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spacecraft's propulsion system during NASA's Boeing crew flight test mission.

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The focus here is twofold ensuring astronauts safety and guaranteeing

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system reliability. One of the significant aspects of their analysis

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includes a detailed inspection of results from the recent docked

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hot fire testing. This is where the spacecraft's propulsion system

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was put through its paces while attached to the International

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Space Station. The teams are using these results to finalize

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the rationale for the spacecraft's integrated propulsion system. In simpler terms,

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they're making absolutely sure that every component functions perfectly before

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Starliner makes its journey back to Earth. There's also a

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considerable amount of planning underway for the spacecraft's undocking procedures.

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This includes operational strategies that could be employed in flight

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if necessary, to boost the system's reliability even further. These

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steps are essential in building confidence that the Starliner will

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perform flawlessly when it detaches from the space station. Heads

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for Earth Ground and mission support teams aren't just analyzing data.

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They're actively preparing for the undocking event itself. They're participating

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in integrated simulations with space station operations teams, ensuring that

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every scenario is considered and rehearsed. These simulations are a

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key component in making sure that all systems are go

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when the actual undocking takes place. Next up in the

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agenda for the NASA and Boeing teams is the completion

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of Starliner's return planning. This process is expected to continue

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into the next week. Once they nail down all the details,

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they'll share more information about their readiness review and will

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likely hold a media briefing to update the public and

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the press. As always, the prime directive here is the

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safety of the astronauts. Nothing takes precedence over making sure

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they're brought back to Earth securely. On board the ISS

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NASA astronauts which Wilmore and Sunny Williams, are not sidelined

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in this process. They're keeping a close eye on ground developments,

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keeping themselves in the loop with what's happening back on

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Terra Firma. At the same time, they are fully engaged

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in their daily workload aboard the station, coordinating their activities

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with the expedition's seventy one crew. Recently, Wilmore spent his

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time meticulously inspecting advanced plumbing hardware and packing life support

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components that need to be returned to Earth. Williams, on

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the other hand, has been setting up high definition video

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equipment in the Columbus Laboratory module and inspecting barcode readers

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and radio frequency hardware. Both astronauts have also taken on

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organizing cargo in the Tranquility module, showcasing the kind of

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teamwork and adaptability that space missions demand. Their day to

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day tasks may seem routine, but in space, every little

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job contributes to the overall mission. Toward the end of

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their day, Wilmore and Williams joined a conference call with

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Boeing mission controllers, further solidifying the close collaboration between the

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astronauts and the ground support teams. As it stands, there's

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no official return dates for the Starliner astronauts aboard the ISS.

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NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stitch mentioned in a

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recent press conference that while substantial progress has been made,

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there hasn't been a major announcement concerning a return date yet.

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The emphasis remains on thoroughness and precision, key factors for

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a successful and safe mission completion. Through every step of

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the way, NASA and Boeing exemplify meticulous planning and unwavering

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dedication to astronauts safety, showcasing why they remain leaders in

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space exploration and innovation. Space Perspective has unveiled the world's

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first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising a truly unique and

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carbon neutral spaceflight experience. MS Voyager, an impressive two hundred

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and ninety four foot vessel, is set to revolutionize how

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we think about space travel. In collaboration with Geese Offshore,

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the ship is specially outfitted for launch and retrieval operations,

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positioning Space Perspective as a groundbreaking player in the Mareene

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based global launch experience sector. The innovative launch system on

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board MS Voyager features a series of rollers that work

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in sync to maneuver and stand the balloon's upright on

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the vessel's extensive two hundred foot deck. This design not

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only reduces the environmental footprint compared to traditional balloon launches,

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but also negates the need for an aircraft carrier, making

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the operation more efficient and eco friendly. Taber McCallum, the

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co founder and co CEO of Space Perspective, emphasize the

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significance of this advancement. According to McCallum, the capability to

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launch and retrieve the Neptune capsule at sea offers unparalleled

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global scalability and enhances the safety of routine operations. With

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MS Voyager now stationed at Port Canaveral in Florida. Space

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Perspective is well poised to bring this revolutionary space flight

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capability to the space coast and beyond. Named in honor

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of the iconic Voyager one space probe, mission, MS Voyager

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is an engineering marble equipped with dynamic position four engines

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and four generators. The vessel is designed to be highly maneuverable.

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Mission control is conveniently located on the bridge, along with

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extensive capsule support equipment that covers both pre flight and

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postflight operations. Designed specifically for launching and retrieving Space Ship Neptune,

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the vessel plays a crucial role in the success and

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safety of Space Perspectives missions. Space Ship Neptune's pressurized capsule

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is designed to land gently in the water, a method

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of recovery that has been used successfully since the Apollo

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missions and continues with SpaceX today. After landing, fast boats

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will stabilize the capsule and a custom built fifty two

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foot a frame will lift it back onto MS Voyager.

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This a frame specifically built for space capsule retrieval, is

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the largest of its kind and represents the advanced technological

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capabilities of Space Perspective. What truly sets MS Voyager apart

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is its adaptability and mobility as a marine spaceport. This

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flexibility not only allows for more frequent and varied launch schedules,

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but also opens up the possibility of exploring different global

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locations for launches. As the vessel can relocate, prospective space

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travelers or space perspective explorers can witness spectacular Earth views

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from space in diverse and breathtaking settings. The global mobility

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of MS Voyager ensures that more people can engage in

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life changing spaceflight experiences and cultivate a deeper appreciation for

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Earth's beauty and fragility. By minimizing the impact of wind

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and other environmental factors, the design of this mobile marine

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spaceport guarantees safe and efficient operations, opening up space travel

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to a broader audience. In recent space news, there's been

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an electrifying discovery involving lunar soil from China's Changi five mission.

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Simply put, researchers have identified naturally formed few layer graphene

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in a sample collected during the mission back in twenty twenty.

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This is huge news because graphene, with its union sek optical, electrical,

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and mechanical properties, is highly sought after in materials science.

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The tail of this discovery begins with a two point

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nine by one point six millimeter all of shaped sample

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of lunar soil. A team led by professors Meng Zu

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and Waijong from Gelen University, as well as huge one

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Lee and when Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

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used a specialized spectrometer to examine the sample. Within a

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carbon rich section of the soil, they detected an iron

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compound essential for graphene formation. Further analysis with advanced microscopy

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and mapping techniques confirmed it. Carbon flakes consisting of two

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to seven layers of graphene were present. So how did

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this graphene come to be? The researchers believe it may

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have originated from volcanic activity in the Moon's early history.

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Solar winds might have played a role as well, by

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stirring the lunar soil and iron rich minerals enough to

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transform carbon atoms into graphene. Additionally, the high temperature and

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high pressure conditions triggered by meteorite impacts on the Moon

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could have contributed to the formation of this fascinating material.

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On Earth, graphene is a game changer, known for its

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exceptional strength, minimal weight, and superior conductivity. It's used in

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various applications ranging from electronics to advanced composites. The discovery

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of natural fue layer graphene on the Moon opens up

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new possibilities. The researchers suggest it might lead to the

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development of cost effective production methods for high quality graphene,

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potentially making this valuable material more accessible for widespread use.

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The implications are vast. This could revolutionize how we produce

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graphene here on Earth, potentially lowering costs and expanding its applications.

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In their published report, the research team emphasized that mineral

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catalyzed formation of natural graphene on the Moon offers insights

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that could spur breakthroughs in scalable synthesis techniques for graphene.

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They even hinted that this discovery might prompt a new

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wave of lunar exploration programs aimed at understanding and leveraging

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these natural processes. Imagine the potential of future missions collecting

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lunar soil samples, specifically to harvest or study naturally formed graphene.

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It aligns perfectly with our continuous quest to harness space

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resources for the benefit of life on Earth. What's clear

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is that this exciting finding is not just a milestone

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in space exploration, but also a beacon for future technological advancements.

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That's all for today's episode of Astronomy Daily. I'm your

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host Anna. To keep up with all things space, visit

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us at Astronomydaily dot io for more episodes, our free

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daily newsletter, and a constantly updating news feed. Also find

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us on social media by searching for astro Daily Pod

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on Facebook, x, YouTube, and TikTok. Thanks for tuning in

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until next time, keep looking up. Day. Star is the Toll.

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The Star is the Toll. Story is Control.