1
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,720
Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space

2
00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,440
and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and we've got

3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,000
an exciting lineup for you. Today. We'll be diving into

4
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,880
recent developments in asteroid detection, exploring NASA's ambitious europe emission,

5
00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:18,239
discussing Earth's upcoming mini moon, recapping the first ever private spacewalk,

6
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,879
and examining the potential for servicing spacecraft at the L

7
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,359
two lagrange point. Get ready for a cosmic journey as

8
00:00:25,359 --> 00:00:28,559
we explore these fascinating topics from across the Solar System

9
00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,280
and beyond. To get us started, let's dive into some

10
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,640
exciting developments in asteroid detection. On September fourth, astronomers spotted

11
00:00:35,679 --> 00:00:38,719
a small asteroid just one meter in diameter heading towards Earth.

12
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,320
This space rock, known as RW one, harmlessly burned up

13
00:00:43,359 --> 00:00:45,880
in the atmosphere near the Philippines later that same day,

14
00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:51,280
creating a spectacular fireball that lit up social media. What's

15
00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,280
remarkable about this event is that our W one was

16
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,079
only the ninth asteroid ever detected before impact. It's a

17
00:00:58,119 --> 00:01:00,920
testament to our improving ability to spot even small objects

18
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,599
hurtling towards Earth. But what about larger, more dangerous asteroids.

19
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:10,040
Scientists are working tirelessly to enhance our early warning systems. Currently,

20
00:01:10,079 --> 00:01:13,079
we know of about thirty six thousand near Earth objects,

21
00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,280
ranging from a few meters to several kilometers in size. However,

22
00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,239
statistical models suggest there could be nearly a billion such

23
00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,799
objects out there. To address this challenge, NASA has allocated

24
00:01:23,879 --> 00:01:27,040
ninety million dollars to hunt for near Earth objects. New

25
00:01:27,079 --> 00:01:30,079
projects like the Sutter Ultra and NASA's Neo Surveyor Infrared

26
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,920
Telescope Mission are being developed to detect hazardous objects from space.

27
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,200
Artificial intelligence is also playing a crucial role. Advanced algorithms

28
00:01:38,239 --> 00:01:40,640
are being employed to automate the process of sorting through

29
00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,159
the massive amount of image data generated by detection programs

30
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,359
every day. While we've made significant progress, there's still work

31
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,359
to be done. As of twenty twenty three, we've identified

32
00:01:50,359 --> 00:01:53,519
about thirty eight percent of all existing near Earth objects

33
00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,879
one hundred and forty meters or larger. With new telescopes

34
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,319
coming online like the US via Rubin eight point five

35
00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:03,640
meter telescope, we hope to increase this to sixty percent

36
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,120
by twenty twenty five, and potentially up to seventy six

37
00:02:07,159 --> 00:02:11,479
percent by twenty twenty seven with NASA's Neo Surveyor. These

38
00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,879
advancements are crucial for our planetary defense. While we may

39
00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,680
never detect every object that could cause localized damage, our

40
00:02:18,719 --> 00:02:21,879
improving capabilities give us a better chance to prepare and

41
00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,479
react to potential threats from space. While on the topic

42
00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:29,800
of NASA projects, NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission is set

43
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,199
to embark on an extraordinary journey to one of Jupiter's

44
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,719
most intriguing moons. Europa has long fascinated scientists due to

45
00:02:37,759 --> 00:02:40,960
the strong evidence of a vast salty ocean hidden beneath

46
00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,439
its icy crust. This mission aims to investigate whether this

47
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,639
distant world could potentially harbor life. The Europa Clipper spacecraft

48
00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,800
is a marvel of engineering, standing as the largest planetary

49
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,840
mission spacecraft ever built by NASA. Its massive solar arrays,

50
00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,000
spanning one hundred feet from end to end, are designed

51
00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,680
to capture enough sunlight light in the dim Jovian System

52
00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,840
to power its suite of advanced instruments. The mission's primary

53
00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:09,439
objective is to determine if Europa possesses the necessary ingredients

54
00:03:09,439 --> 00:03:13,639
for life, water, energy, and the right chemical composition. To

55
00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:18,120
accomplish this, Europa Clipper will perform forty nine close flybys

56
00:03:18,159 --> 00:03:22,199
of the Moon, each time diving through Jupiter's intense radiation

57
00:03:22,319 --> 00:03:26,400
belts to collect crucial data. The spacecraft carries nine cutting

58
00:03:26,479 --> 00:03:32,000
edge scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and radar systems. These

59
00:03:32,039 --> 00:03:35,840
tools will work in concert to map Europa's surface, probe

60
00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,919
its internal structure, and analyze its potential for habitability. One

61
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,360
of the most exciting aspects of this mission is the

62
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,319
possibility of detecting plumes of water vapor erupting from Europa's surface.

63
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,680
If found, these plumes could provide a direct sample of

64
00:03:49,719 --> 00:03:52,800
the subsurface ocean without the need to drill through miles

65
00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,280
of ice. Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in October

66
00:03:56,319 --> 00:04:00,319
twenty twenty four, embarking on a complex trajectory that will

67
00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,560
use Mars and Earth for gravity assists before reaching Jupiter

68
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,639
in twenty thirty. This ambitious mission promises to revolutionize our

69
00:04:07,719 --> 00:04:10,840
understanding of icy worlds and expand our search for life

70
00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,039
beyond Earth. Here's something we don't get to say too often.

71
00:04:14,479 --> 00:04:16,720
Earth is about to get a new companion, albeit a

72
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,000
temporary one. This month, a tiny asteroid known as twenty

73
00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,959
twenty four PT five will become our planet's second moon

74
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,800
for a brief period of about two months. Unlike our

75
00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,639
familiar lunar companion that's been with us for billions of years,

76
00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:32,879
this mini moon is just passing through. It belongs to

77
00:04:32,879 --> 00:04:35,839
the Arjuna asteroid Belt, a collection of space rocks that

78
00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:39,439
follow orbits similar to Earth's. These mini moon events occur

79
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,279
when objects approach Earth at just the right distance and speed,

80
00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,199
allowing our planet's gravity to temporarily capture them. In the

81
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,800
case of twenty twenty four PT five, it will come

82
00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:52,000
within about two point eight million miles of Earth, traveling

83
00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,920
at a relatively slow two thy two hundred miles per hour.

84
00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:57,879
While this celestial visitor won't be visible to the naked

85
00:04:57,879 --> 00:05:01,399
eye or even most amateur telescopes, it represents an interesting

86
00:05:01,439 --> 00:05:05,319
astronomical phenomenon. These temporary captures happen more often than you

87
00:05:05,399 --> 00:05:09,519
might think, with several occurring each decade. Unfortunately, twenty twenty

88
00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,959
four PT five won't complete a full orbit around Earth

89
00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,360
during its brief stay. Think of it more as a

90
00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:18,439
cosmic window shopper, briefly drawn in by Earth's gravitational pull

91
00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:21,439
before continuing on its journey around the Sun. This event

92
00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:23,759
serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our

93
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,319
Solar system and the complex dance of celestial bodies constantly

94
00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:30,839
occurring around us. Next up, in a historic moment for

95
00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:35,040
commercial space exploration, the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission recently achieved

96
00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,319
the first ever spacewalk by private astronauts. Mission commander Jared

97
00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:43,079
isaac Mann and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis ventured outside their

98
00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,800
Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in the private space industry.

99
00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,600
Isaac Man described opening the hatch into the void as

100
00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:53,759
an emotional experience that left him in awe. He spoke

101
00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,160
of the sensory overload from physical exertion to pressure and

102
00:05:57,199 --> 00:06:00,560
temperature changes. The view of Earth unobstruct did except for

103
00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,680
his visor, was overwhelming. Yet isaac Mann emphasized that despite

104
00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,240
the planet's beauty, the experience was far from peaceful, likening

105
00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,600
it to the challenges faced by early maritime explorers. While

106
00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:14,560
Gillis didn't have the same stunning Earth views, she had

107
00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,199
a unique experience of her own. As a classically trained violinist,

108
00:06:18,319 --> 00:06:21,199
She performed raised theme from Star wars in space using

109
00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:24,759
a specially prepared instrument that could withstand the vacuum. This

110
00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,120
groundbreaking space walk not only pushes the boundaries of commercial

111
00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,079
space activities, but also contributes to the development of SpaceX's

112
00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,759
next generation spacesuit. As private companies set their sites on

113
00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,839
more ambitious goals like Mars colonization, such milestones pave the

114
00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:44,879
way for future advancements in space exploration technology and capabilities. Now,

115
00:06:44,959 --> 00:06:47,720
let's turn our attention to an exciting new development that

116
00:06:47,759 --> 00:06:52,319
could revolutionize how we maintain our space observatories. NASA researchers

117
00:06:52,319 --> 00:06:55,480
have recently published a study exploring the potential for servicing

118
00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,079
and refueling spacecraft at the Sun Earth Lagrange point two,

119
00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,240
or L two. This is a crucial area of space

120
00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,639
where some of our most important observatories operate, including the

121
00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,560
James Webb Space Telescope and the Gay Emission. These telescopes

122
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,519
provide us with incredible scientific insights, but they're limited by

123
00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,680
factors like fuel supply and componentware. The NASA study investigates

124
00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,920
the feasibility of sending robotic missions to L two to

125
00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,879
refuel and repair these valuable assets. This could significantly extend

126
00:07:23,879 --> 00:07:27,480
their operational lifespans, giving us more bang for our astronomical book.

127
00:07:27,879 --> 00:07:31,480
The researchers focused on computing optimal trajectories for these potential

128
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,639
servicing missions. They considered various factors, including launch options from

129
00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,959
Earth or geostationary transfer orbits, the dynamics of the Lagrange point,

130
00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,480
and the challenges of rendezvousing with a moving target in space.

131
00:07:44,079 --> 00:07:47,360
While current telescopes weren't designed for on orbit servicing, future

132
00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,399
observatories could be built with this capability in mind. The

133
00:07:50,399 --> 00:07:53,600
study's findings could inform the design of both future space

134
00:07:53,639 --> 00:07:57,279
telescopes and the servicing craft that might one day maintain them.

135
00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,879
If successful, this approach could transform how we think about

136
00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:05,120
the lifespan of our space based observatories, potentially allowing us

137
00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:09,600
to keep these incredible scientific instruments operational for much longer

138
00:08:09,639 --> 00:08:12,920
than currently possible. And that brings us to the end

139
00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,639
of today's cosmic journey. Through the latest developments in space

140
00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:21,439
and astronomy. From advancements in asteroid detection to groundbreaking missions

141
00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,800
like Europa Clipper, we've covered a lot of exciting territory.

142
00:08:25,319 --> 00:08:27,519
I hope you've enjoyed this episode and found it both

143
00:08:27,519 --> 00:08:31,199
informative and inspiring. The universe never fails to amaze us

144
00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,720
with its wonders, and it's a privilege to share these

145
00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,159
stories with you. Before we sign off, I want to

146
00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:38,919
remind you that there's so much more to explore. Head

147
00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,000
over to our website at Astronomydaily dot io, where you

148
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,279
can dive deeper into these topics and stay up to

149
00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,399
date with our constantly updating news feed. While you're there,

150
00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,039
why not sign up for our free daily newsletter. It's

151
00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,759
the perfect way to start your day with a dose

152
00:08:51,759 --> 00:08:55,200
of space science. Don't forget. You can also catch up

153
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,120
on all our past episodes on the website, and if

154
00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,759
you're looking to connect with fellow space enthusiasts, find us

155
00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:06,120
on social media. Just search for astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x, YouTube,

156
00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,320
and TikTok. This is Anna signing off from Astronomy Daily.

157
00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:11,840
Keep looking up and I'll see you next time. For

158
00:09:11,919 --> 00:09:33,240
more incredible stories from the Cosmosday Star, Szo starz Star,