Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna. Today we're
diving into some exciting space and astronomy news. We'll explore
a newly discovered planet orbiting our nearest stellar neighbor, investigate
a SpaceX launch anomaly, examine lunar samples from the far
side of the Moon, and unveil China's ambitious plans for
future Moon missions. Stay tuned for these stories and more
on today's episode of Astronomy Daily. Kicking things off today,
some exciting news from the world of exoplanet discovery. Astronomers
using the European Southern Observatory's very large telescope have made
a groundbreaking find right in our cosmic backyard. They've detected
a new planet orbiting Barnard Star, which is the closest
single star to our Sun, just six light years away.
This newly discovered exoplanet, dubbed Barnard B, is truly remarkable.
It's one of the lowest mass exoplanets we've ever found,
with at least half the mass of Venus. What's even
more fascinating is its incredibly short orbital period. Barnard B
whips around at star in just three point one five
Earth days. To put that in perspective, a year on
this planet is shorter than a week here on Earth.
The planet's proximity to Barnard's Star means it's far too
hot for liquid water to exist on its surface, with
temperatures reaching around one hundred and twenty five degrees celsius.
While this rules out the possibility of life as we
know it, the discovery is still incredibly valuable for our
understanding of planetary formation and the diversity of worlds in
our galaxy. But the excitement doesn't stop there. The research
team has also uncovered tantalizing hints of three more exoplanet
candidates orbiting Barnard's Star. While these potential planets still need
to be confirmed with additional observations, the discovery suggests that
our cosmic backyard might be teeming with low mass planets
we've yet to detect. This finding aligns with other recent
discoveries like the planets around Proxima Centauri, painting a picture
of a local galactic neighborhood bustling with planetary activity. It's
a thrilling prospect that challenges our understanding of planetary formation
and distribution in the universe. Let's move on to an
update to a story we brought you a couple of
days ago. In a recent development, the US Federal Aviation Administration,
or FAA, has mandated an investigation into an anomaly that
occurred during the SpaceX Crew nine mission launch. The issue
arose after the Falcon nine rocket successfully deployed the Crew
Dragon capsule carrying NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Russian cosmonaut
Alexander Gorbanov towards the International Space Station. According to SpaceX,
the Falcon nine's upper stage experienced what they termed an
off nominal deorbit burn. This unexpected event resulted in the
upper stage landing in the ocean outside of its designated
disposal area. While the primary mission objective of delivering the
astronauts to orbit was achieved, this deviation from the planned
disposal procedure has raised concerns. The FAA has made it
clear that this investigation is not optional, emphasizing the importance
of understanding and addressing any irregularities in spaceflight operations. As
space missions become more frequent, ensuring the safety and precision
of every aspect of these launches is paramount. This pause
in SpaceX launches could have significant ripple effects across their
busy schedule. While the company investigates the upper stage anomaly,
several high profile missions are now in a holding pattern,
most notably NASA's Europa Clipper mission may face delays. This
crucial mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa is currently slated
for an October launch aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. Given
that the Falcon Heavy uses the same upper stage as
the Falcon nine, it's unclear if this launch will proceed
as planned. SpaceX's typically rapid launch cadence means even a
short delay could impact multiple missions. The length of this
hiatus remains uncertain, leaving many in the space community eagerly
awaiting updates on when launches might resume. Time now to
visit our old friend, the Moon. Chinese scientists have made
a significant breakthrough in lunar research with their analysis of
the first ever samples collected from the far side of
the Moon. These samples, brought back by the Changai six mission,
are shedding new light on the Moon's evolution and the
differences in volcanic activity between its near and far sides.
The study, published in the National Science Review, reveals that
the samples are a mixture of local basaltic material and
non mare material from other parts of the Moon. This
composition offers valuable insights into the lunar farsides's volcanic history
and the composition of the lunar Highland crust. These findings
are particularly exciting because they provide a unique perspective on
the Moon's geological diversity. Until now, all lunar samples had
come from the near side, leaving scientists with an incomplete
picture of our celestial neighbour's history and composition. The Changai
six samples are helping to fill in these gaps, potentially
leading to new theories about the Moon's origin and evolution.
They may even refine our understanding of how terrestrial planets
in our Solar system developed. Now more exciting news to
report today. First up, NASA's web Space Telescope has made
an exciting discovery Karen, Pluto's largest moon. For the first time,
scientists have detected traces of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide
on its surface. This finding is significant because it gives
us new insights into Karen's composition and how it may
have formed. Previously, we knew that Karen's surface was covered
in water ice thanks to observations from NASA's New Horizon
spacecraft in twenty fifteen, but the Web telescope's advance capabilities
have allowed us to see chemicals that were previously hidden
from view. Scientists believe the hydrogen peroxide might have formed
when radiation interacted with water molecules on Karen's surface. As
for the carbon dioxide, it's thought that it could be
emerging from beneath the surface, possibly due to impacts. This
discovery is not just important for understanding Karen itself, it
could also help scientists learn more about the formation and
makeup of other distant moons and planets in our Solar system. Next,
in a groundbreaking achievement, esay's Juice mission has captured the
sharpest ever image of Earth's radiation belts. This remarkable feat
occurred during the spacecraft's recent lunar earth flyby a crucial
maneuver in its journey to Jupiter. The image was taken
by NASA's Jenny instrument on board Juice, showcasing the power
of international collaboration in space exploration. What makes this image
truly special is its unparalleled clarity, revealing the vast ring
of hot plasma encircling our planet in unprecedented detail. This
accomplishment isn't just a pretty picture. It's a vital dry
run for Juice's future observations of Jupiter. The data gathered
during this flyby will help scientists fine tune their instruments
and strategies for studying the complex magnetosphere of the gas giant.
The success of this imaging test has sparked excitement among researchers,
who are now even more eager to see what Juice
will reveal when it reaches Jupiter in twenty thirty one.
It's a promising sign that we're on track to uncover
new secrets about our Solar System's largest planet. Finally, today,
China has taken a significant step forward in its lunar
exploration ambitions by unveiling its new moon landing space suit.
The design, which draws inspiration from traditional Chinese armour, was
showcased in a recent ceremony in Chongqing. This cutting edge
suit is tailored specifically for China's planned lunar missions, set
to commence by twenty thirty. The spacesuit's design beautifully merges
functionality with cultural heritage. It features a rugged and resolute appearance,
reminiscent of ancient Chinese armour, while incorporating modern elements like ribbons,
a staple in Chinese spacesuit design. During the demonstration, a
technician put the suit through its paces showcasing its flexibility
and range of motion, even climbing ladder rungs with ease.
This new lunar suit is an evolution of China's Facian
spacesuit used for low Earth orbit missions. Unlike its predecessor,
the moon landing suit is designed to be lightweight and flexible,
catering to the unique demands of a low gravity environment.
It allows for a wider range of movements, including squatting
and bending, crucial for lunar surface activities. The suit's advanced
features include a protective fabric to shield against extreme temperatures
and lunar dust, a panoramic glareproof visor, and side mounted
cameras for video recording. A multifunctional control console on the
chest enhances operational efficiency. As China races to join the
select group of nations capable of crude lunar missions, this
spacesuit unveiling marks a significant milestone in their space exploration journey.
And that wraps up our cosmic journey for today. I'm Anna,
your host for Astronomy Daily. If you're hungry for more
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