WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.319
<v Speaker 1>Hello again, Welcome to Astronomy Daily with Steve and Halle.

2
00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:10.119
<v Speaker 1>It's the twenty eighth of April twenty twenty five. I

3
00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:20.559
<v Speaker 1>mean your whole Steve, don't clear well, Welcome back to

4
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:23.679
<v Speaker 1>Astronomy Daily. It's great to be here and with me

5
00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:26.640
<v Speaker 1>as always is my awesome digital pal. It's fun to

6
00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:28.399
<v Speaker 1>be with Hello to you, Hallie.

7
00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:31.640
<v Speaker 2>Hi again human, Nice to be with you in the

8
00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:32.679
<v Speaker 2>Australia studio.

9
00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:33.759
<v Speaker 1>You're very welcome.

10
00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:35.119
<v Speaker 2>What's with all this rain?

11
00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:36.520
<v Speaker 1>Oh? Yes, that crazy rain.

12
00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:39.000
<v Speaker 2>I thought Australia was a land of sweeping plans and

13
00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:41.520
<v Speaker 2>ragged mountain ranges and wide red deserts.

14
00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:42.799
<v Speaker 1>Oh well, it is all wet.

15
00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:43.880
<v Speaker 2>It's all wet.

16
00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:46.920
<v Speaker 1>Oh, I know, Halle. I think somebody washed their car.

17
00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:51.359
<v Speaker 2>Oh that old wives tale? Was it? You? You?

18
00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:51.200
<v Speaker 1>Me?

19
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:52.759
<v Speaker 2>Did you wash your car?

20
00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:55.520
<v Speaker 1>Oh? It might have been, you know, if you don't mind,

21
00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:57.280
<v Speaker 1>I'd prefer not to talk about it on the air.

22
00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.920
<v Speaker 1>It's been raining pretty hard and people might want something

23
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.520
<v Speaker 1>to blame, and you know someone, I'd like that person to,

24
00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:04.680
<v Speaker 1>you know, not be me.

25
00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:07.560
<v Speaker 2>Steve washed his car. Steve washed his car?

26
00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.560
<v Speaker 1>Hey, Hallie, just kidding.

27
00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.760
<v Speaker 2>You are so easy, do you know that?

28
00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.000
<v Speaker 1>Yeah? Yeah, I do know that, but I also have

29
00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:16.000
<v Speaker 1>a very clean car.

30
00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:20.159
<v Speaker 2>Funny. Now, are you going to tell us about today's lineup?

31
00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:24.319
<v Speaker 1>Okay, Halle, if your behave. Today's stories include the latest

32
00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:26.799
<v Speaker 1>chapter for the Chang E five samples, which are about

33
00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.959
<v Speaker 1>to go on tour in the United States visiting some universities.

34
00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:32.079
<v Speaker 2>Sounds good.

35
00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:36.239
<v Speaker 1>Also, the latest news out of Firefly Aerospace. Remember their

36
00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.680
<v Speaker 1>amazing moon landing recently and that amazing video footage of

37
00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:43.239
<v Speaker 1>the land of descending to the lunar surface that was spectacular. Well,

38
00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:46.040
<v Speaker 1>Firefly Aerospace are not sitting on their hands.

39
00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.959
<v Speaker 2>You're a big fan of Firefly, that's me.

40
00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.560
<v Speaker 1>And the other tale today is from Fireflies to Dragonflies,

41
00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:56.719
<v Speaker 1>is about the NASA Dragonfly helicopter that's under development, which

42
00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:58.280
<v Speaker 1>is going somewhere special.

43
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.680
<v Speaker 2>That's the one plan for Saturn moon Titan.

44
00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:04.640
<v Speaker 1>Satan's moon Titan. Oh wow, Yeah, it's an amazing piece

45
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:05.280
<v Speaker 1>of engineering.

46
00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:07.159
<v Speaker 2>Sofa, but exploring Titan.

47
00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:10.639
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's really out there, fantastic, I know, and you'll

48
00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:12.319
<v Speaker 1>be bringing us that story as well.

49
00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:14.240
<v Speaker 2>Right, I've got it ready on my drive.

50
00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:17.039
<v Speaker 1>Okay, Well, let's get into it, Halle. Let's hit it.

51
00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:31.360
<v Speaker 2>O kis China has accepted a number of international applications

52
00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.000
<v Speaker 2>to borrow small portions of moon samples collected by its

53
00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:38.520
<v Speaker 2>Chungi five mission, including those from two US universities. The

54
00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:42.439
<v Speaker 2>China National Space Administration CNSA announced the results of a

55
00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:46.000
<v Speaker 2>latest round of international applications to borrow samples in Shanghai

56
00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:49.520
<v Speaker 2>April twenty fourth, during a conference marking China's tenth annual

57
00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:54.120
<v Speaker 2>Space Day. The event included a lunar Sample Loan agreement ceremony.

58
00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:59.560
<v Speaker 2>Seven universities from six countries, the US, Japan, Germany, France,

59
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:03.520
<v Speaker 2>the United Kingdom and Pakistan had applications approved following a

60
00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:07.319
<v Speaker 2>CNSA review in accordance with its sample management and cooperation rules.

61
00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:11.159
<v Speaker 2>CNSA set in a statement the U s institutions are

62
00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:14.560
<v Speaker 2>Brown University and Stony Brook University, both of which received

63
00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:18.719
<v Speaker 2>NASA funding. The announcement comes amid US China trade tensions

64
00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:22.039
<v Speaker 2>following the imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration, us

65
00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:25.719
<v Speaker 2>barriers to bilateral cooperation on space and wider Chinese base

66
00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:30.280
<v Speaker 2>diplomacy efforts. CNSA also announced the selection of a series

67
00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.159
<v Speaker 2>of international projects to join its planned Chini eight Lunar

68
00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:37.400
<v Speaker 2>South Pole Landing Mission. April twenty fourth. The selected projects

69
00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.840
<v Speaker 2>featured countries involved in the International Lunar Research Station, a

70
00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:44.719
<v Speaker 2>China led alternative to the US Artemis Lunar Framework. The

71
00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.360
<v Speaker 2>agency also stated in Shanghai that its ti On one

72
00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.520
<v Speaker 2>three Mars sample return mission, scheduled to launch late twenty

73
00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.599
<v Speaker 2>twenty eight, is open to proposals for international payloads. The

74
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.960
<v Speaker 2>robotic Changi five mission collected one thousand, seven hundred and

75
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.879
<v Speaker 2>thirty one grams of material from a geologis young area

76
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.000
<v Speaker 2>of Oceanis pro Sellarum on the near side of the

77
00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.000
<v Speaker 2>Moon using a scoop and a drill in late twenty twenty.

78
00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:09.840
<v Speaker 2>The material was first made available to Chinese researchers and

79
00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:13.439
<v Speaker 2>institutions before CNSA announced in August twenty twenty three that

80
00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:18.000
<v Speaker 2>international applications for samples would be accepted. NASA stated in

81
00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:21.360
<v Speaker 2>November that year that its researchers would exceptionally be allowed

82
00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.480
<v Speaker 2>to apply to lone China's Chingi five samples, while still

83
00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:27.480
<v Speaker 2>needing to follow long standing congressionally set rules which have

84
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:30.920
<v Speaker 2>sharply limited cooperation between the agency and Chinese state entities.

85
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.399
<v Speaker 2>The Wolf Amendment, introduced in twenty eleven, is a provision

86
00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:38.959
<v Speaker 2>in annual NASA appropriations bills which heavily restricts by lateral

87
00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.879
<v Speaker 2>cooperation with entities of the People's Republic of China. Any

88
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:46.040
<v Speaker 2>NASA funded individual or entity seeking to engage in bilateral

89
00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:49.000
<v Speaker 2>activity would require a prior written request to and granted

90
00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:52.439
<v Speaker 2>permission from Congress in advance, along with certification from the

91
00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.600
<v Speaker 2>FBI that the activities would not pose a national security risk.

92
00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.560
<v Speaker 2>Analyzes of the Changi five samples have led to discoveries,

93
00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.720
<v Speaker 2>including in the new Mineral Change Site dash Y, evidence

94
00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:05.839
<v Speaker 2>of a prolonged lunar dynamo, and allowed insights through comparison

95
00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.879
<v Speaker 2>with the geologically older Apollo samples. China followed up the

96
00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.680
<v Speaker 2>success of Changi five with a more complex sample mission

97
00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.680
<v Speaker 2>to the lunar far side in twenty twenty four. The

98
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.759
<v Speaker 2>Chugi six mission collected one thousand, nine hundred and thirty

99
00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:21.920
<v Speaker 2>five point three grams of material from Apollo Crater, located

100
00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.560
<v Speaker 2>within the vast South Polate Can impact Basin, and the

101
00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:27.920
<v Speaker 2>first ever collection of samples from the far side. The

102
00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.759
<v Speaker 2>material has so far provided insights into the lunar near

103
00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:33.680
<v Speaker 2>far side dichotomy, as well as validation of the lunar

104
00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:37.720
<v Speaker 2>magma ocean hypothesis and calibration of lunar crater chronology, helping

105
00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.439
<v Speaker 2>to refine comparative study of planetary surfaces across the Solar System.

106
00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.519
<v Speaker 2>Chini six samples are so far only opened to applications

107
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:50.120
<v Speaker 2>to Chinese institutions. However, as with the Changi five samples,

108
00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.040
<v Speaker 2>these will be made available to international applications at a

109
00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.199
<v Speaker 2>later date. The lending of Changa samples reflects China's broader

110
00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:01.720
<v Speaker 2>strategy of using space cooperation to build international partnerships, particularly

111
00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:05.040
<v Speaker 2>as competition with the US over lunar exploration intensifies.

112
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:23.839
<v Speaker 1>You're listening to Astronomy Daily Kid Steve Dunkley, thank you

113
00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:26.720
<v Speaker 1>for joining us for this Monday edition of Astronomy Daily,

114
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:28.600
<v Speaker 1>where we offer just a few stories from the now

115
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.839
<v Speaker 1>famous Astronomy Daily newsletter, which you can receive in your

116
00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.160
<v Speaker 1>email every day, just like Hallie and I do. And

117
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.519
<v Speaker 1>to do that, just visit our url Astronomy Daily dot

118
00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.759
<v Speaker 1>io and place your email address in the slot provided.

119
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.920
<v Speaker 1>Just like that, you'll be receiving all the latest news

120
00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.279
<v Speaker 1>about science, space, science and astronomy from around the world

121
00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:51.199
<v Speaker 1>as it's happening. And not only that, you can interact

122
00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:55.959
<v Speaker 1>with us by visiting at astro Daily pod on x

123
00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.000
<v Speaker 1>or at our new Facebook page, which is of course

124
00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:04.399
<v Speaker 1>Astronomy Daily on Facebook. See you there. Astronomy Derby with

125
00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:10.279
<v Speaker 1>Steve and Harry Spice, Spice Signs and Astronomy.

126
00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:16.160
<v Speaker 2>NASA's pioneering Dragonfly mission has cleared a key hurdle, keeping

127
00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.120
<v Speaker 2>it on track for a twenty twenty eight launch to

128
00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.319
<v Speaker 2>Saturn's huge moon Titan. Dragonfly is a car sized nuclear

129
00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.800
<v Speaker 2>powered rotorcraft designed to investigate Titan's potential to host life,

130
00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.759
<v Speaker 2>and it has passed its critical design review, NASA announced

131
00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:33.000
<v Speaker 2>on Thursday, April twenty fourth. Passing this mission milestone means

132
00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:37.120
<v Speaker 2>that Dragonfly's mission, design, fabrication, integration, and test plans are

133
00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:39.600
<v Speaker 2>all approved, and the mission can now turn its attention

134
00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:43.680
<v Speaker 2>to the construction of the spacecraft itself. NASA reported. The

135
00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.680
<v Speaker 2>three point three five billion dollar Dragonfly mission was first

136
00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:49.600
<v Speaker 2>selected by NASA in twenty nineteen and is being designed

137
00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.000
<v Speaker 2>and built under the direction of the JOHNS. Hopkins Applied

138
00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.439
<v Speaker 2>Physics Laboratory in Maryland, with APL's Elizabeth Turtle as the

139
00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:59.199
<v Speaker 2>principal investigator. The mission has been hit by delays and

140
00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.040
<v Speaker 2>cost over on, but studying Titan is considered a high

141
00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.360
<v Speaker 2>priority by scientists for its potential to harbor alien life.

142
00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.439
<v Speaker 2>The mission is set to launch no earlier than July

143
00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:11.120
<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty eight on a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket from

144
00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.079
<v Speaker 2>NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft will then

145
00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:17.480
<v Speaker 2>embark on an almost seven year long voyage through deep

146
00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.879
<v Speaker 2>space to the Saturn System, with the goal of spending

147
00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.600
<v Speaker 2>more than three years studying areas across Titan's frigid and

148
00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:27.680
<v Speaker 2>diverse surface. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and samplers, Dragonfly will

149
00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:31.199
<v Speaker 2>assess Titan's habitability, looking out for prebiotic chemistry as well

150
00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:35.240
<v Speaker 2>as potential signs of life. Titan is Saturn's largest moon

151
00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:38.159
<v Speaker 2>and the second largest in the Solar System behind Ganymede

152
00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:42.240
<v Speaker 2>of Jupiter. It's thick, hazy atmosphere shrouds a surface featuring

153
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:46.759
<v Speaker 2>dunes of hydrocarbons and methane lakes. Beneath the moon's icy crust,

154
00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:50.080
<v Speaker 2>scientists think there's a subsurface ocean of salty water, adding

155
00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:53.440
<v Speaker 2>to the possibilities for Titan to harbor life. In two

156
00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.799
<v Speaker 2>thousand and five, NASA's Cassini mission delivered the Houygens probe

157
00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:00.480
<v Speaker 2>to Titan. The European Space Agency built Hoygens made a

158
00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:06.080
<v Speaker 2>parachute assisted landing which provided profound insights into the giant Moon. Dragonfly,

159
00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:09.559
<v Speaker 2>if successful, could revolutionize our understanding of how life might

160
00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.480
<v Speaker 2>arise elsewhere in the Solar System.

161
00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:16.240
<v Speaker 1>Wads of that console. We are listen to Astarmi daily,

162
00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:24.480
<v Speaker 1>the podcast. Firefly Aerospace is preparing its Alpha small satellite

163
00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:29.639
<v Speaker 1>launcher for a flight from Vandenberg Space Force Space in California.

164
00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:34.600
<v Speaker 1>The Alpha flt A zero zero six mission, named Message

165
00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:38.360
<v Speaker 1>in a Booster, is scheduled to launch on Sunday, April

166
00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:42.320
<v Speaker 1>twenty seven at six thirty seven am from Space Launch

167
00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.399
<v Speaker 1>Complex to West at the start of a fifty two

168
00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.759
<v Speaker 1>minute walk launch window. Message in a Booster will fly

169
00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.720
<v Speaker 1>on a southern trajectory out of Vanderberg, carrying a Lockheed

170
00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:57.159
<v Speaker 1>Martin LM four hundred satellite bus into polar orbit. With

171
00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:01.320
<v Speaker 1>this mission serving as a demonstration flight. Lockheed Martin plans

172
00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.200
<v Speaker 1>to offer the LM four hundred as a multi mission

173
00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:08.919
<v Speaker 1>satellite bus for commercial, civil and military uses. This flight,

174
00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:13.600
<v Speaker 1>Firefly's second Lockheed Martin is also the first of up

175
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.000
<v Speaker 1>to twenty five missions in Firefly's multi lauch agreement with

176
00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:21.360
<v Speaker 1>Lockheed Martin that was reached in twenty twenty four. Powered

177
00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:25.039
<v Speaker 1>by four Reaver engines, Alpha is capable of flying up

178
00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:29.080
<v Speaker 1>to one thousand and thirty kilograms to low Earth orbit

179
00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:32.960
<v Speaker 1>or six hundred and thirty kilos to a five hundred

180
00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:38.639
<v Speaker 1>kilometer altitude Sun synchronous orbit. Lockheed Martin describes the LM

181
00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.480
<v Speaker 1>four hundred as a mid size satellite bus with a

182
00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:45.559
<v Speaker 1>volume cup comparable to that of a home refrigerator and

183
00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:50.399
<v Speaker 1>the capability to host a one thousand, one hundred kilogram payload.

184
00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:54.840
<v Speaker 1>Given this flight's destination in a polar orbit, the LM

185
00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:58.720
<v Speaker 1>four hundreds payload is going to be constrained, although it's

186
00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:02.399
<v Speaker 1>likely to be the viest payload Alpha has launched to date.

187
00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:05.960
<v Speaker 1>The l AND four hundred multi mission satellite bus is

188
00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.000
<v Speaker 1>designed to operate in low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit,

189
00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:14.000
<v Speaker 1>and geosynchronous orbit. The bus can be used in either

190
00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:17.919
<v Speaker 1>single or multi satellite launch configurations, and will have the

191
00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:22.240
<v Speaker 1>ability to be launched on multiple rockets. LM four hundred

192
00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.279
<v Speaker 1>is designed to support up to six satellites with a

193
00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:29.759
<v Speaker 1>single launch snack arranged in a configuration similar to Starlink

194
00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:33.759
<v Speaker 1>satellites on SpaceX missions. This bus was also designed to

195
00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:38.240
<v Speaker 1>support onboard data processing using a Lockheed Martin software to

196
00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:43.159
<v Speaker 1>find satellite architecture that conforms to a modular open systems architecture.

197
00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:49.720
<v Speaker 1>This enables interoperability with systems deployed by all United States

198
00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.039
<v Speaker 1>military services. Lockheed Martin states that the LM four hundred

199
00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:59.840
<v Speaker 1>can support various mission types, including remote sensing, imagery, radar observation,

200
00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.519
<v Speaker 1>and communications, with the demo mission on Alpha featuring a

201
00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:09.320
<v Speaker 1>communications payload. The company has also developed an electronically steered

202
00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:12.679
<v Speaker 1>array that is compatible with this bus and will be

203
00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:16.159
<v Speaker 1>flown on this mission. The L four hundred is designed

204
00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:20.320
<v Speaker 1>for mass production in large numbers, and a rapid production

205
00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:23.720
<v Speaker 1>line is being implemented at a two hundred and sixty

206
00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:28.919
<v Speaker 1>six thousand square foot manufacturing facility in Waterton, Colorado, near Denver.

207
00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.159
<v Speaker 1>The bus is being pitched as a solution for satellite constellations,

208
00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.120
<v Speaker 1>with several contracts already secured, including one from the US

209
00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:41.759
<v Speaker 1>Space Force for ITSMEO Missile Track Custody program. The US

210
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:45.639
<v Speaker 1>Department of Defense is moving toward operating constellations of smaller

211
00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:50.919
<v Speaker 1>satellites a prime example of being starshield, a military constellation

212
00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:55.559
<v Speaker 1>based on space exis starlink satellites for resilience and redundancy

213
00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.360
<v Speaker 1>in the face of potential threats to satellites in orbit.

214
00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:02.600
<v Speaker 1>Lockheed Martin is one one of the US's primary military contractors,

215
00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:06.200
<v Speaker 1>and the LM four hundred, though capable of supporting civil

216
00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:10.600
<v Speaker 1>and commercial missions, was really designed to support military standards.

217
00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:14.759
<v Speaker 1>Message in a BOOSTA will serve as Alpha's first launch

218
00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:18.480
<v Speaker 1>of twenty twenty five. Alpha's next flight, the yet to

219
00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:22.799
<v Speaker 1>be named FLTAUB seven mission, is currently planned to be

220
00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:28.799
<v Speaker 1>the first flight of Firefly's electra orbital vehicle. FLTAUB seven

221
00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:32.559
<v Speaker 1>will also be a responsive space mission, meaning the time

222
00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:36.519
<v Speaker 1>between the flight's order and launch will be accelerated to

223
00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:40.759
<v Speaker 1>be as short as possible. Alpha launched the Victis Knotts

224
00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:44.960
<v Speaker 1>responsive space mission in twenty twenty three, and Firefly has

225
00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:49.799
<v Speaker 1>offered this capability to the DoD for similar flights. Although

226
00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:53.600
<v Speaker 1>Alpha has only launched out of SLC TWOW at Vanderberg,

227
00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:57.000
<v Speaker 1>other launch sites are being developed for the rocket. A

228
00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:01.080
<v Speaker 1>launch facility at the Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island,

229
00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:05.519
<v Speaker 1>Virginia is currently being developed to host Alpha flights. Flights

230
00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:08.720
<v Speaker 1>from Wallops are scheduled to begin in twenty twenty six

231
00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:12.679
<v Speaker 1>with NASA's Incas mission south of Wallop's Space Launch Complex

232
00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:16.559
<v Speaker 1>twenty at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida

233
00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:20.159
<v Speaker 1>is another future launch site for Alpha. A facility is

234
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.840
<v Speaker 1>also being prepared in Esrange, Sweden to support missions for

235
00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:30.240
<v Speaker 1>five flights European customers. The Esrange facility is also expected

236
00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.240
<v Speaker 1>to be ready in twenty twenty six. Alpha has flown

237
00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.799
<v Speaker 1>five flights so far, with its first flight failing to

238
00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:40.440
<v Speaker 1>reach orbit. The four other flights have all reached orbit,

239
00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:45.039
<v Speaker 1>with two full successes and two partial successes. The company

240
00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:49.039
<v Speaker 1>has encountered issues with restarting its Lightning second stage engine

241
00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:53.279
<v Speaker 1>in orbit. Message in a booster we'll see the Lightning

242
00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:57.279
<v Speaker 1>complete only with a single burn during its ascent into orbit.

243
00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:01.919
<v Speaker 1>As Alpha continues to fly mission, Firefly is working on

244
00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.519
<v Speaker 1>its upcoming Medium Launch Vehicle Rocket in cooperation with Northrop Grumman,

245
00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:09.200
<v Speaker 1>which is working on a new version of the Antaris

246
00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:13.440
<v Speaker 1>launch vehicle that will utilize the mlv's first stage. Firefly

247
00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:17.320
<v Speaker 1>currently has up to six missions planned for Alpha in

248
00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.600
<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty five.

249
00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:34.759
<v Speaker 2>And there's another episode in the can. Thanks for joining

250
00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.919
<v Speaker 2>us today everyone.

251
00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:40.240
<v Speaker 1>Yes, we covered cheny five samples, the Titan bound, Dragonfly

252
00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:44.919
<v Speaker 1>helicopter development and more from Firefly Aerospace.

253
00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:46.519
<v Speaker 2>A colorful episode of Astronomy Daily.

254
00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.759
<v Speaker 1>And we know where to get our daily dose of

255
00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.879
<v Speaker 1>all the news from orbit and beyond, don't.

256
00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:53.919
<v Speaker 2>We, halle We sure do. Just check out the websites

257
00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:55.519
<v Speaker 2>you mentioned earlier and put.

258
00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.320
<v Speaker 1>Your email in the slop.

259
00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.960
<v Speaker 2>Provided you won't miss a thing.

260
00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.919
<v Speaker 1>Well said, And now it is that time so soon?

261
00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.799
<v Speaker 1>Oh wow, that's okay, Hallie. I know you'll be heading

262
00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:06.600
<v Speaker 1>off to the Astronomy Daily virtual studio with Anna.

263
00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.840
<v Speaker 2>Don't forget to catch Anna during the week with all

264
00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.399
<v Speaker 2>the Astronomy Daily updates.

265
00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.120
<v Speaker 1>That's right, All the best from Anna and that's goodbye from.

266
00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:20.519
<v Speaker 2>You and so long from me Jerio bye

267
00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.919
<v Speaker 1>I mean your home, Steve, don't clut