Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for all
Speaker 1: the latest in space and astronomy news. I'm your host Anna.
Speaker 1: In today's episode, we have some fascinating stories lined up
Speaker 1: for you. We'll start with the latest updates from NASA
Speaker 1: and Boeing as they meticulously analyze data from the crew
Speaker 1: flight test of the Starliner spacecraft. Then we'll delve into
Speaker 1: an exciting development by Space Perspective as they unveil the
Speaker 1: world's first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising to revolutionize spaceflight experiences.
Speaker 1: And finally, we'll explore a groundbreaking discovery made in lunar
Speaker 1: soil from China's Chiang A five mission, the identification of
Speaker 1: naturally formed few layer graphene, which could have significant implications
Speaker 1: for materials science here on Earth. Stay tuned for these
Speaker 1: incredible updates. NASA and Boeing teams are diligently working on
Speaker 1: analyzing data from their recent ground in spacecraft tests. This
Speaker 1: painstaking process is absolutely crucial as they evaluate the Starliner
Speaker 1: spacecraft's propulsion system during NASA's Boeing crew flight test mission.
Speaker 1: The focus here is twofold ensuring astronauts safety and guaranteeing
Speaker 1: system reliability. One of the significant aspects of their analysis
Speaker 1: includes a detailed inspection of results from the recent docked
Speaker 1: hot fire testing. This is where the spacecraft's propulsion system
Speaker 1: was put through its paces while attached to the International
Speaker 1: Space Station. The teams are using these results to finalize
Speaker 1: the rationale for the spacecraft's integrated propulsion system. In simpler terms,
Speaker 1: they're making absolutely sure that every component functions perfectly before
Speaker 1: Starliner makes its journey back to Earth. There's also a
Speaker 1: considerable amount of planning underway for the spacecraft's undocking procedures.
Speaker 1: This includes operational strategies that could be employed in flight
Speaker 1: if necessary, to boost the system's reliability even further. These
Speaker 1: steps are essential in building confidence that the Starliner will
Speaker 1: perform flawlessly when it detaches from the space station. Heads
Speaker 1: for Earth Ground and mission support teams aren't just analyzing data.
Speaker 1: They're actively preparing for the undocking event itself. They're participating
Speaker 1: in integrated simulations with space station operations teams, ensuring that
Speaker 1: every scenario is considered and rehearsed. These simulations are a
Speaker 1: key component in making sure that all systems are go
Speaker 1: when the actual undocking takes place. Next up in the
Speaker 1: agenda for the NASA and Boeing teams is the completion
Speaker 1: of Starliner's return planning. This process is expected to continue
Speaker 1: into the next week. Once they nail down all the details,
Speaker 1: they'll share more information about their readiness review and will
Speaker 1: likely hold a media briefing to update the public and
Speaker 1: the press. As always, the prime directive here is the
Speaker 1: safety of the astronauts. Nothing takes precedence over making sure
Speaker 1: they're brought back to Earth securely. On board the ISS
Speaker 1: NASA astronauts which Wilmore and Sunny Williams, are not sidelined
Speaker 1: in this process. They're keeping a close eye on ground developments,
Speaker 1: keeping themselves in the loop with what's happening back on
Speaker 1: Terra Firma. At the same time, they are fully engaged
Speaker 1: in their daily workload aboard the station, coordinating their activities
Speaker 1: with the expedition's seventy one crew. Recently, Wilmore spent his
Speaker 1: time meticulously inspecting advanced plumbing hardware and packing life support
Speaker 1: components that need to be returned to Earth. Williams, on
Speaker 1: the other hand, has been setting up high definition video
Speaker 1: equipment in the Columbus Laboratory module and inspecting barcode readers
Speaker 1: and radio frequency hardware. Both astronauts have also taken on
Speaker 1: organizing cargo in the Tranquility module, showcasing the kind of
Speaker 1: teamwork and adaptability that space missions demand. Their day to
Speaker 1: day tasks may seem routine, but in space, every little
Speaker 1: job contributes to the overall mission. Toward the end of
Speaker 1: their day, Wilmore and Williams joined a conference call with
Speaker 1: Boeing mission controllers, further solidifying the close collaboration between the
Speaker 1: astronauts and the ground support teams. As it stands, there's
Speaker 1: no official return dates for the Starliner astronauts aboard the ISS.
Speaker 1: NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stitch mentioned in a
Speaker 1: recent press conference that while substantial progress has been made,
Speaker 1: there hasn't been a major announcement concerning a return date yet.
Speaker 1: The emphasis remains on thoroughness and precision, key factors for
Speaker 1: a successful and safe mission completion. Through every step of
Speaker 1: the way, NASA and Boeing exemplify meticulous planning and unwavering
Speaker 1: dedication to astronauts safety, showcasing why they remain leaders in
Speaker 1: space exploration and innovation. Space Perspective has unveiled the world's
Speaker 1: first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising a truly unique and
Speaker 1: carbon neutral spaceflight experience. MS Voyager, an impressive two hundred
Speaker 1: and ninety four foot vessel, is set to revolutionize how
Speaker 1: we think about space travel. In collaboration with Geese Offshore,
Speaker 1: the ship is specially outfitted for launch and retrieval operations,
Speaker 1: positioning Space Perspective as a groundbreaking player in the Mareene
Speaker 1: based global launch experience sector. The innovative launch system on
Speaker 1: board MS Voyager features a series of rollers that work
Speaker 1: in sync to maneuver and stand the balloon's upright on
Speaker 1: the vessel's extensive two hundred foot deck. This design not
Speaker 1: only reduces the environmental footprint compared to traditional balloon launches,
Speaker 1: but also negates the need for an aircraft carrier, making
Speaker 1: the operation more efficient and eco friendly. Taber McCallum, the
Speaker 1: co founder and co CEO of Space Perspective, emphasize the
Speaker 1: significance of this advancement. According to McCallum, the capability to
Speaker 1: launch and retrieve the Neptune capsule at sea offers unparalleled
Speaker 1: global scalability and enhances the safety of routine operations. With
Speaker 1: MS Voyager now stationed at Port Canaveral in Florida. Space
Speaker 1: Perspective is well poised to bring this revolutionary space flight
Speaker 1: capability to the space coast and beyond. Named in honor
Speaker 1: of the iconic Voyager one space probe, mission, MS Voyager
Speaker 1: is an engineering marble equipped with dynamic position four engines
Speaker 1: and four generators. The vessel is designed to be highly maneuverable.
Speaker 1: Mission control is conveniently located on the bridge, along with
Speaker 1: extensive capsule support equipment that covers both pre flight and
Speaker 1: postflight operations. Designed specifically for launching and retrieving Space Ship Neptune,
Speaker 1: the vessel plays a crucial role in the success and
Speaker 1: safety of Space Perspectives missions. Space Ship Neptune's pressurized capsule
Speaker 1: is designed to land gently in the water, a method
Speaker 1: of recovery that has been used successfully since the Apollo
Speaker 1: missions and continues with SpaceX today. After landing, fast boats
Speaker 1: will stabilize the capsule and a custom built fifty two
Speaker 1: foot a frame will lift it back onto MS Voyager.
Speaker 1: This a frame specifically built for space capsule retrieval, is
Speaker 1: the largest of its kind and represents the advanced technological
Speaker 1: capabilities of Space Perspective. What truly sets MS Voyager apart
Speaker 1: is its adaptability and mobility as a marine spaceport. This
Speaker 1: flexibility not only allows for more frequent and varied launch schedules,
Speaker 1: but also opens up the possibility of exploring different global
Speaker 1: locations for launches. As the vessel can relocate, prospective space
Speaker 1: travelers or space perspective explorers can witness spectacular Earth views
Speaker 1: from space in diverse and breathtaking settings. The global mobility
Speaker 1: of MS Voyager ensures that more people can engage in
Speaker 1: life changing spaceflight experiences and cultivate a deeper appreciation for
Speaker 1: Earth's beauty and fragility. By minimizing the impact of wind
Speaker 1: and other environmental factors, the design of this mobile marine
Speaker 1: spaceport guarantees safe and efficient operations, opening up space travel
Speaker 1: to a broader audience. In recent space news, there's been
Speaker 1: an electrifying discovery involving lunar soil from China's Changi five mission.
Speaker 1: Simply put, researchers have identified naturally formed few layer graphene
Speaker 1: in a sample collected during the mission back in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1: This is huge news because graphene, with its union sek optical, electrical,
Speaker 1: and mechanical properties, is highly sought after in materials science.
Speaker 1: The tail of this discovery begins with a two point
Speaker 1: nine by one point six millimeter all of shaped sample
Speaker 1: of lunar soil. A team led by professors Meng Zu
Speaker 1: and Waijong from Gelen University, as well as huge one
Speaker 1: Lee and when Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Speaker 1: used a specialized spectrometer to examine the sample. Within a
Speaker 1: carbon rich section of the soil, they detected an iron
Speaker 1: compound essential for graphene formation. Further analysis with advanced microscopy
Speaker 1: and mapping techniques confirmed it. Carbon flakes consisting of two
Speaker 1: to seven layers of graphene were present. So how did
Speaker 1: this graphene come to be? The researchers believe it may
Speaker 1: have originated from volcanic activity in the Moon's early history.
Speaker 1: Solar winds might have played a role as well, by
Speaker 1: stirring the lunar soil and iron rich minerals enough to
Speaker 1: transform carbon atoms into graphene. Additionally, the high temperature and
Speaker 1: high pressure conditions triggered by meteorite impacts on the Moon
Speaker 1: could have contributed to the formation of this fascinating material.
Speaker 1: On Earth, graphene is a game changer, known for its
Speaker 1: exceptional strength, minimal weight, and superior conductivity. It's used in
Speaker 1: various applications ranging from electronics to advanced composites. The discovery
Speaker 1: of natural fue layer graphene on the Moon opens up
Speaker 1: new possibilities. The researchers suggest it might lead to the
Speaker 1: development of cost effective production methods for high quality graphene,
Speaker 1: potentially making this valuable material more accessible for widespread use.
Speaker 1: The implications are vast. This could revolutionize how we produce
Speaker 1: graphene here on Earth, potentially lowering costs and expanding its applications.
Speaker 1: In their published report, the research team emphasized that mineral
Speaker 1: catalyzed formation of natural graphene on the Moon offers insights
Speaker 1: that could spur breakthroughs in scalable synthesis techniques for graphene.
Speaker 1: They even hinted that this discovery might prompt a new
Speaker 1: wave of lunar exploration programs aimed at understanding and leveraging
Speaker 1: these natural processes. Imagine the potential of future missions collecting
Speaker 1: lunar soil samples, specifically to harvest or study naturally formed graphene.
Speaker 1: It aligns perfectly with our continuous quest to harness space
Speaker 1: resources for the benefit of life on Earth. What's clear
Speaker 1: is that this exciting finding is not just a milestone
Speaker 1: in space exploration, but also a beacon for future technological advancements.
Speaker 1: That's all for today's episode of Astronomy Daily. I'm your
Speaker 1: host Anna. To keep up with all things space, visit
Speaker 1: us at Astronomydaily dot io for more episodes, our free
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Speaker 1: until next time, keep looking up. Day. Star is the Toll.
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