Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna, and
you're tuned in to your essential source for
the latest developments beyond our
atmosphere. We've got a packed episode for
you today as we journey from the scorching
vicinity of our sun all the way to the
emerging frontiers of space law and security.
Our cosmic journey begins close to home.
Well, Relatively speaking, as NASA's
Parker Solar Probe completes its 23rd close
approach to the Sun. Navigation Matching its
own impressive records for both proximity and
speed, this intrepid spacecraft continues to
push the boundaries of what we can learn
about our star. Then we'll look into a
mysterious blue spiral that captivated sky
gazers across Europe this week. The
spectacular phenomenon had social media
buzzing with theories ranging from the
scientific to the extraterrestrial. We'll
reveal what really caused this mesmerizing
celestial light show. Looking toward
humanity's future among the stars will
explore how 3D printing technology may be the
key that unlocks sustainable living on other
worlds. Just as early pioneers had to
adapt to new environments using local
resources, future space colonists will need
innovative solutions to survive on the Moon
and Mars. We'll also check in on NASA
astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore,
who recently returned to Earth after an
unexpectedly extended nine month stay aboard
the International Space Station. Their
prolonged exposure to microgravity has
resulted in fascinating physical changes, and
we'll discuss what their recovery process
might look like. Finally, we'll venture into
more speculative territory with a look at an
emerging concern that might sound like
science fiction but is being taken very
seriously by experts. Space
piracy. As commercial activities in
orbit expand, security specialists are
warning that criminal exploitation may not be
far behind. So whether you're a casual
space enthusiast or a dedicated follower of
astronomical advances, stay with us as we
explore these fascinating developments from
across the cosmos on today's edition of
Astronomy Daily.
Let's get started. NASA's
Parker Solar Probe has achieved another
remarkable M milestone in its mission to
study our star up close. On March
22, the spacecraft completed its 23rd
close approach to the sun, reaching
perihelion at 6:42pm Eastern
Daylight Time. During this close encounter,
the probe once again equaled its own
impressive distance record, coming within
approximately 3.8 million miles of the Sun's
surface. To put this incredible proximity
into perspective, that's about 4% of the
distance between Earth and the Sun. At this
close range, the Parker Solar probe
experiences temperatures that would melt most
spacecraft. But thanks to its revolutionary
heat shield, it continues to operate in this
extreme environment. The probe didn't just
match its distance record. It also matched
its speed record, hurtling around the sun at
a mind boggling 430,000 miles
per hour, or 692,000
kilometers per hour. That's fast enough to
travel from New York to Los Angeles in just
over 20 seconds. This incredible velocity
makes Parker the fastest human made object
ever created. Mission operators at the Johns
Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel,
Maryland, where the spacecraft was designed
and built, received a beacon tone on
Tuesday, confirming that the probe was in
good health, with all systems operating
normally despite the intense conditions it
had just experienced. This perihelion
marked the midpoint of the probe's 23rd Solar
Encounter, which began on March 18 and
continued through March 27. During these
close approaches, Parker Solar Probe conducts
unrivaled scientific measurements of the
solar wind, the stream of charged particles
flowing from the sun, and related solar
activity. The data collected during these
encounters is transforming our understanding
of the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the
corona, and helping scientists solve
long standing solar mysteries. One
of the biggest questions involves why the
corona is millions of degrees hotter than the
Sun's visible surface, which defies what we'd
expect to see as you move away from a heat
source. Parker's measurements are also
critical for understanding how solar
eruptions affect space weather, which can
impact satellites, power grids, and
telecommunications systems back on Earth.
By better understanding these solar
processes, scientists hope to improve
forecasting of, uh, potentially damaging
solar storms. This mission continues to push
the boundaries of engineering and scientific
discovery. With each close approach, Parker
Solar Probe ventures into territory no
spacecraft has ever explored before, sending
back valuable data from the very edge of our
star. As it continues its planned series of
increasingly close solar encounters, we can
expect even more groundbreaking discoveries
about the star that makes life on Earth
possible.
Next up, a mystery for our European listeners
has been solved with a rather straightforward
answer. A mysterious blue spiral lit up
the night skies across Europe on March 24,
creating a social media frenzy as residents
from the UK Croatia, Poland and Hungary
shared photos and videos of the strange
celestial phenomenon. The eerie blue
whirlpool, which many compared to a spiral
galaxy, prompted wild speculation about its
origin, with some even suggesting it might be
evidence of extraterrestrial visitors.
One observer initially thought it was the
moon moon behind clouds until it started
moving with spiraling light emanating from
it. Others watched in awe as the
spectacular formation expanded and persisted
in the sky for several minutes before
gradually fading away. The sight was
particularly striking against the dark
European skies, appearing as an icy blue
vortex that seemed almost otherworldly
despite the alien theories circulating online
the explanation is rooted in modern space
technology rather than science fiction. The
spiral was actually created by a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket that had launched earlier
that day from Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station in Florida. The rocket was carrying
the secretive NROL 69 mission for the
National Reconnaissance Office when it
created this unexpected light show thousands
of miles away. What witnesses observed is
sometimes called a SpaceX spiral, a
phenomenon that occurs after the upper stage
of a Falcon 9 rocket has separated from its
first stage booster, while the lower stage
returns to Earth for recovery. Minutes after
launch, the upper stage continues its journey
to deliver its payload to orbit. After
releasing its cargo, the upper stage begins
its own descent back to Earth. During this
descent, the upper stage enters a spinning
motion while simultaneously venting any
remaining fuel. At the high altitude where
this occurs, the expelled fuel instantly
freezes in the cold vacuum of space, creating
a swirling pattern that perfectly preserves
the spinning motion of the booster. When
sunlight reflects off this frozen fuel
formation, it produces the stunning spiral
that captivated European skywatchers.
Physicist and science communicator Brian Cox
took to social media to reassure concerned
citizens that the event was indeed associated
with the SpaceX launch and not something more
alarming. Amateur astronomers and
smartphone photographers captured remarkable
images of the phenomenon, with some
describing it as unforgettable and stunning.
While these SpaceX spirals remain relatively
rare sightings, they may become more common
as the frequency of rocket launches continues
to increase. As commercial space activities
ramp up worldwide, these spectacular but
harmless light shows could become a more
familiar sight in our night skies. One social
media user humorously expressed
disappointment at the rational explanation,
writing that they wished it was an invasion
so they could use the time off work.
But for most observers, witnessing this rare
and beautiful cosmic spectacle was more than
enough excitement for one evening, even if it
didn't herald the arrival of visitors from
another world.
While on the subject of visiting other worlds
throughout history, when pioneers ventured
into uncharted territories, they carried only
the essentials and relied on local
resources to build new lives.
In the coming era of space exploration,
astronauts will face even greater challenges
than those early settlers, but with one
crucial technological advantage, 3D
printing. Unlike the Vikings who reached
Greenland with axes and plows, today's space
pioneers will bring advanced manufacturing
capabilities that can transform the alien
environments of the Moon and Mars into
habitable outposts. These remarkable
machines will be essential for extending
human presence beyond Earth, allowing
astronauts to create tools, structures, and
habitats from materials found on these
distant worlds. The technology is already
proving its value in space. Aboard the
International Space Station, astronauts
regularly use 3D printers to manufacture
tools and spare parts. From ratchet wrenches
to brackets and clamps, these items can be
produced in hours rather than waiting months
for supplies from Earth. NASA has even
begun recycling waste plastic to create new
components with the UH Refabricator, an
advanced printer installed in 2019.
Why not simply bring everything from Earth?
The answer comes down to economics and
practicality. Launching materials into
space is prohibitively expensive, with NASA
estimating costs around $500,000 per
pound just to reach the Moon. Building
sustainable outposts requires using resources
available at the destination, a concept known
as in situ resource utilization. The primary
building material on both the Moon and Mars
will likely be regolith, the fine,
dusty sand like particles covering these
worlds. Unlike Earth soil, regolith
contains few nutrients and no living
organisms, but researchers believe it could
serve as an excellent printing medium for
constructing protective structures. These
habitats must shield astronauts from extreme
temperature fluctuations, radiation,
micrometeorite impacts, and the absence of
breathable atmosphere. Engineering teams are
exploring several promising approaches. Some
are developing a regolith UH based concrete
partially made from surface ice. Others are
experimenting with melting regolith at high
temperatures and molding it while liquid, or
using concentrated sunlight, lasers, or
microwaves to fuse particles together without
requiring binders, a process called SINK.
One team at NASA's Moon to Mars Planetary
Autonomous Construction Technology Program
created Mars Creit, a special concrete
used to 3D print a test structure in
2017. By 2019, they had
constructed a 1/3 scale prototype Mars
habitat using similar technology, complete
with living, sleeping, research, and food
production modules. These innovations face
significant technical hurdles.
Manufacturing behaves differently in reduced
gravity environments, with materials cooling
and crystallizing in unexpected ways. The M
moon has just 1/6 Earth's gravity, while
Mars has about 2/5. Additionally,
researchers must work with simulated
regolith, since actual lunar and Martian
materials are scarce or inaccessible. The
composition differs significantly between
worlds. Lunar regolith consists mostly of
silicates and is extremely fine and angular,
while Martian regolith contains iron oxide,
giving it its characteristic reddish color.
The technology being developed for space
habitats is already finding applications on
Earth. Engineers are adapting these
techniques to address housing shortages,
creating affordable 3D printed homes from
locally sourced materials and recycled
construction debris. This practical spinoff
demonstrates how space research often yields
unexpected benefits for terrestrial problems
as humanity prepares to establish a permanent
presence Beyond Earth. With Artemis 3
scheduled to return humans to the lunar
surface in 2027 and a potential Mars
mission as early as 2035,
3D printing technology will undoubtedly
be among the most essential tools enabling
people to truly live off alien land,
transforming these hostile environments into
humanity's second home.
Next, a little catch up. NASA
astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore
have finally touched down on Earth after what
can only be described as an unexpectedly
extended mission aboard the International
Space Station. Originally scheduled for a
brief stay after arriving last June,
technical issues with their Boeing Starliner
spacecraft left them stranded in orbit for a
remarkable nine months. Their capsule
splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. Or is
that the Gulf of America these days? On
March 18, bringing to an end a mission
that saw them complete over
4,500 orbits around Earth and
travel an astounding 121 million
miles. While the mission may have concluded,
the physical journey for these astronauts is
far from over. Extended exposure to zero
gravity environments triggers profound
changes in the human body, many of which are
already visible in Williams and Wilmore.
Comparison photos taken before and after
their mission reveal noticeable physical
differences that scientists are now studying
carefully. Dr. Christopher Mason, a
professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains
that astronauts typically experience
temporary increases in height and general
leanness upon returning to, uh, Earth. This
occurs alongside significant changes in gene
expression and telomere length, the
protective caps at the end of chromosomes
that typically lengthen during spaceflight.
All of it is, at least on some measures,
transient, Dr. Mason notes. Most of it
is a response to space flight. And usually in
a few weeks, they're mostly back to normal.
It's the first few days that are the most
really dynamic. When they get back to Earth.
Those first days can be particularly
challenging. Former NASA astronaut Jose M. Um
Hernandez, who spent 14 days in orbit,
recalls his own return. I remember my first
two words when I came down was gravity
sucks because your body starts adapting
and you've got to recalibrate your
vestibular balance system. The
physical challenges facing Williams and
Wilmore are substantial muscle atrophy
from limited movement, reduced bone density,
increased mineral content in their bodies,
and neurological shifts, including
disorientation, are all common post space
symptoms. Their bodies have also likely
experienced blood volume reduction, decreased
aerobic capacity, and potentially compromised
immune systems. Immediately after
landing, both astronauts were transported to
medical facilities for comprehensive
evaluations. They now face what could be
months of intensive physical therapy and
rehabilitation as their bodies readjust to
Earth's gravity. As Hernandez
predicted, it's going to take a couple of
months before they feel kind of normal back
here on Earth. These physical
adaptations highlight the extraordinary
sacrifices astronauts make in the name of
scientific advancement. The data
collected from Williams and Wilmore's
extended stay will prove invaluable for
NASA's ongoing research into the effects of
long duration spaceflight. Critical knowledge
as the agency prepares for future missions to
the moon and Mars, their
unexpected nine month journey has
inadvertently provided scientists with a rare
opportunity to study prolonged space
exposure, potentially helping researchers
develop better countermeasures for future
astronauts embarking on deep space missions
where returns to Earth won't be measured in
months, but years.
Finally today, a subject you probably haven't
given much, if any thought to, but a problem
is looming. Ahoy, space
enthusiasts. Just when you thought the final
frontier couldn't get any more intriguing, a
new concern has emerged that sounds like it
belongs in a science fiction novel. Space
piracy. Yes, you heard that right.
Experts are now warning that the growing
commercialization of space is bringing with
it the very real threat of criminal
activity beyond our atmosphere. The
center for the Study of Space Crime Policy
and Governance, or cscpg, is at the
forefront of examining this emerging risk.
Their message is clear and comes with a touch
of humor. You may not be interested in space
piracy, but space pirates are interested in
you. Mark Feldman, the Center's
executive director, and Huw Taylor, a
specialist in cybersecurity, have co authored
a book titled Space Preparing for a
Criminal Crisis in Orbit. They describe their
work as speculative nonfiction,
emphasizing that while space piracy hasn't
fully materialized, they believe it's only a
matter of time. What's particularly
concerning is their assertion that early
forms of space crime are already underway.
We are arguing that it's already started in
very early stages with attempts to hack
satellites, taylor explains. As
commercial activities in space accelerate,
they anticipate both physical and digital
attacks on valuable space assets, potentially
beginning with disruptions to Earth based
infrastructure like launch facilities or
ground stations. One scenario Feldman
envisions involves criminals taking control
of a broadcast satellite in geosynchronous
Earth orbit to disrupt a major global media
event like the World Cup. The pirates might
demand either pay a very large amount to
ensure the televised event, or it goes
dark and other blackouts will follow.
Sounds like something out of a James Bond
film, doesn't it? Satellites involved in
shipping are also considered highly
vulnerable targets. So how do we protect
against these celestial buccaneers? The
experts suggest we need a dedicated agency to
coordinate efforts. While the U.S. space
Force might seem like the logical choice,
they currently lack the specific structure
and mandate for this mission.
Interestingly, Taylor points out that the US
Navy, with its 250 years of experience
combating maritime piracy, could be
invaluable if given the proper legal
authority. On the international front,
the United Nations Office for Outer Space
affairs may provide the best venue for
bringing together the diverse stakeholders
needed to address this issue comprehensively.
People don't like the United nations, taylor
acknowledges, but it arguably is the only
venue where everyone can come together and
talk. Feldman emphasizes the need for
developing new weapons and rapid response
capabilities. As of now, there is no way to
quickly respond, he warns, suggesting that
small, agile and appropriately armed
spacecraft might be essential for dealing
with hostage situations on commercial space
stations or similar emergencies. The
historical parallel isn't lost on these
researchers. Pirates of old drove innovation
in shipbuilding as colonial shipyards from
New England to the Carolinas designed faster,
sleeker vessels specifically for their pirate
customers. Similarly, combating space piracy
may spur technological development in ways we
can't yet imagine. The experts stress that
the United States intelligence community and
space force need to expand their focus
beyond nation state threats like China,
Russia, Iran and North Korea to
include non state actors.
Once this understanding is digested, Feldman
concludes, creative responses to prevent and
mitigate these threats will follow as we
venture further into the commercial
development of space. With private companies
launching satellites, building space
stations, and planning lunar bases, the
legal and security frameworks that govern
these activities must evolve accordingly.
Otherwise, the high seas of Earth orbit might
indeed become the next hunting ground for
those seeking to plunder the valuable
resources now floating above our heads.
Well, that brings us to the end of today's
journey through the cosmos. From the Parker
solar probe's record breaking close approach
to the sun, to the spectacular blue
spiral that captivated European
skywatchers, to the innovative
3D printing technologies that will help us
build homes on other worlds, to our returning
astronauts and their physical
transformations, and finally to the emerging
frontier of space. Face security challenges
the universe continues to amaze,
challenge and inspire us. I'd like to
thank you for spending the last 20 minutes
with astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna,
and it's been my pleasure to bring you these
fascinating developments from beyond our
atmosphere. For more space content and in
depth coverage of these stories, please visit
our website@astronomydaily.IO we're
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stunning visuals and conversations about our
universe. Until our next cosmic rendezvous,
keep looking up. The sky is not the
limit. It's just the beginning.
This has been Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna
signing off.