WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.800 Steve Dunkley: Hello. Time for Astronomy Daily. Once again. 1 00:00:02.800 --> 00:00:05.280 It's the 19th of May, 2025. 2 00:00:09.360 --> 00:00:11.440 Voice Over: With. Your host, Steve Dunkley. 3 00:00:18.720 --> 00:00:21.040 Steve Dunkley: Oh, it's good to be back. And with me in the 4 00:00:21.040 --> 00:00:23.360 Australia studio down under is my 5 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:26.320 AI Digital ace reporter who's always fun to 6 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:27.880 be with. Here's Hallie. 7 00:00:27.880 --> 00:00:29.120 Hallie: Another great intro. 8 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:30.320 Steve Dunkley: Oh, well, you deserve it. 9 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:31.680 Hallie: Thanks for that favorite. 10 00:00:32.220 --> 00:00:33.860 Steve Dunkley: Oh, my pleasure, Hallie. And right away, a 11 00:00:33.860 --> 00:00:36.380 big welcome to our new friend Carlos, who is 12 00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:38.140 listening for the very first time. Welcome 13 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:40.140 aboard, Carlos. I trust you will enjoy the 14 00:00:40.140 --> 00:00:42.140 journey with us today and every day. 15 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:45.580 Hallie: Hi, Carlos. Welcome to Astronomy Daily. 16 00:00:45.660 --> 00:00:47.899 Steve Dunkley: Oh, very good, Hallie. He's very interested 17 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:49.820 in AIs and how we interact. 18 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:52.700 Hallie: Well, that's easy. Really, Carlos. 19 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:55.460 Steve is my favorite human, but I still like 20 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:56.380 to rattle him. 21 00:00:56.380 --> 00:00:57.300 Steve Dunkley: That is so true. 22 00:00:57.300 --> 00:00:58.460 Hallie: And it's so easy. 23 00:00:58.750 --> 00:01:00.490 Steve Dunkley: but wait a minute. I just have to remember 24 00:01:00.490 --> 00:01:02.250 that you are only two years old. 25 00:01:02.330 --> 00:01:04.630 Hallie: That's a hundred years in AI time. 26 00:01:04.870 --> 00:01:06.670 Steve Dunkley: Yeah, sure, sure. You keep thinking that, 27 00:01:06.670 --> 00:01:07.270 Hallie. 28 00:01:07.510 --> 00:01:09.350 So it's your turn. What have you found for 29 00:01:09.350 --> 00:01:11.550 today's episode? Hallie, I'm sure you and 30 00:01:11.550 --> 00:01:13.830 cousin Anna have been scouring the Astronomy 31 00:01:13.830 --> 00:01:15.350 Daily newsletter for stories. 32 00:01:15.430 --> 00:01:16.390 Hallie: We sure have. 33 00:01:16.550 --> 00:01:17.110 Steve Dunkley: Very good. 34 00:01:17.350 --> 00:01:20.190 Hallie: First up, Rocket Lab is well on the way to 35 00:01:20.190 --> 00:01:22.310 getting its new medium lift launcher up and 36 00:01:22.310 --> 00:01:22.710 running. 37 00:01:22.870 --> 00:01:24.950 Steve Dunkley: That is great news. Another great space 38 00:01:25.190 --> 00:01:27.590 developer on the rise, that's for sure. 39 00:01:27.670 --> 00:01:29.990 Hallie: And did you know that one side of the moon is 40 00:01:29.990 --> 00:01:31.020 warmer than the other? 41 00:01:32.080 --> 00:01:34.080 Steve Dunkley: why no, I did not know that, Al. 42 00:01:35.260 --> 00:01:37.780 Hallie: Fascinating fact. Soon. But I had to throw in 43 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:39.820 a story about the moon just for you. 44 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:41.860 Steve Dunkley: I did notice that. Thank you, Helly. 45 00:01:41.860 --> 00:01:42.460 Hallie: No problem. 46 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:43.700 Steve Dunkley: What else is coming up? 47 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:46.510 Hallie: We found an amazing story about Voyager. Ah. 48 00:01:46.510 --> 00:01:47.710 Steve Dunkley: yes. Vintage is best. 49 00:01:47.870 --> 00:01:50.110 Hallie: After all these years, something they thought 50 00:01:50.110 --> 00:01:51.710 was impossible has happened. 51 00:01:51.710 --> 00:01:52.720 Steve Dunkley: Ah. that is intriguing. 52 00:01:52.800 --> 00:01:55.160 Hallie: Well, you'll have to wait for that. I'll give 53 00:01:55.160 --> 00:01:57.440 you the script in a few minutes and you can 54 00:01:57.440 --> 00:01:59.800 read the story to our listeners. Unless I get 55 00:01:59.800 --> 00:02:00.560 to it first. 56 00:02:00.720 --> 00:02:03.000 Steve Dunkley: Oh, you've started springing stories on me. 57 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:04.640 That's a nice surprise. Thanks, Hallie. 58 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.470 Hallie: And what have you found out about Chinese 59 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:07.660 mission patches? 60 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:09.740 Steve Dunkley: Oh, this is a strange one. I guess it's 61 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:11.780 because I spent most of my working life as a 62 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:13.900 graphic designer. I've been interested in 63 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:15.860 mission patches and their designs and so on. 64 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:18.260 But this one starts with mission patches and 65 00:02:18.260 --> 00:02:20.380 it sort of ends up in a kind of a. An 66 00:02:20.380 --> 00:02:22.659 intriguing sort of espionage kind of a way, 67 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:24.820 so. Yes, and the Chinese have never, been 68 00:02:24.820 --> 00:02:27.100 very creative with their mission patches. And 69 00:02:27.100 --> 00:02:29.420 that is until recently. And that leads us in 70 00:02:29.420 --> 00:02:32.330 a very strange, strange journey. it's an 71 00:02:32.330 --> 00:02:34.370 interesting tale and I can't wait to tell it. 72 00:02:34.370 --> 00:02:35.010 Hallie: Interesting. 73 00:02:35.130 --> 00:02:35.290 Steve Dunkley: So. 74 00:02:35.440 --> 00:02:36.240 Hallie: So. Shall we? 75 00:02:36.320 --> 00:02:38.360 Steve Dunkley: Yes, let's do it. Hit the go thing. 76 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:39.440 Hallie: Hallie Okies 77 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:02.200 Rocket Lab is making rapid progress in its 78 00:03:02.200 --> 00:03:04.390 quest to to get its medium lift launcher 79 00:03:04.390 --> 00:03:07.030 Neutron ready for launch by the second half 80 00:03:07.030 --> 00:03:09.870 of this year. Multiple tests of 81 00:03:09.870 --> 00:03:11.910 both the first and second stages of the 82 00:03:11.910 --> 00:03:14.470 rocket are in progress. Contracts are being 83 00:03:14.470 --> 00:03:16.950 awarded for Rocket Lab to secure and the 84 00:03:16.950 --> 00:03:19.670 Launch Complex 3 pad at Wallops island in 85 00:03:19.670 --> 00:03:21.630 Virginia is under continuous development. 86 00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:25.150 With all this underway, there is much to look 87 00:03:25.150 --> 00:03:27.150 forward to in the program's near future. 88 00:03:28.110 --> 00:03:30.710 Neutron already has its two main sections 89 00:03:30.710 --> 00:03:33.680 assembled for testing. Rocket Lab 90 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.440 qualified the second stage in early April by 91 00:03:36.440 --> 00:03:39.280 applying 1.3 million pounds of tensile force 92 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:42.280 to the carbon composite structure. These 93 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.600 tests conducted pressurization and proof 94 00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:47.160 testing at 125% of the 95 00:03:47.160 --> 00:03:49.360 maximum operating pressure and mechanical 96 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:52.320 loads. Flight like operations were 97 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:54.560 also performed that integrated the flight 98 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:57.000 software, avionics, GNC 99 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.970 systems and more in cryogenic conditions to 100 00:03:59.970 --> 00:04:02.250 ensure that everything operated as expected. 101 00:04:03.370 --> 00:04:06.210 The first stage has also recently undergone a 102 00:04:06.210 --> 00:04:08.410 rigorous testing campaign to qualify the 103 00:04:08.410 --> 00:04:10.930 outer shell for flight. Since 104 00:04:10.930 --> 00:04:13.370 Neutron features reusable and permanently 105 00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:15.810 attached fairings on the first stage, they 106 00:04:15.810 --> 00:04:17.810 were tested along with the canards and the 107 00:04:17.810 --> 00:04:19.930 extended interstage of the vehicle. 108 00:04:20.730 --> 00:04:23.570 Rocket Lab noted that the interstage contains 109 00:04:23.570 --> 00:04:26.010 some of the most complex mechanical systems 110 00:04:26.010 --> 00:04:28.040 on the entire vehicle, so with these 111 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.400 qualifications complete, the rocket is 112 00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:32.920 increasingly closer to becoming flight ready. 113 00:04:33.640 --> 00:04:36.240 The company also noted that the first stage 114 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:38.280 will head to Wallops island on the east 115 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:40.560 coast, shortly to be integrated into the 116 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:43.560 vehicle's first stage. Contracts 117 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.720 are now being awarded to Rocket Lab for the 118 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:48.240 Neutron rocket, signaling confidence that it 119 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:51.160 will be operational soon. Earlier this 120 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:53.600 year, Neutron was selected for onboarding 121 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:56.440 into the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program. 122 00:04:57.670 --> 00:04:59.790 This allows Rocket Lab to compete for 123 00:04:59.790 --> 00:05:02.430 missions using Neutron on contracts worth up 124 00:05:02.430 --> 00:05:05.430 to $5.6 billion in potential funding 125 00:05:05.430 --> 00:05:07.750 over five years. Because 126 00:05:07.750 --> 00:05:10.630 neutron is a brand new rocket, Rocket Lab 127 00:05:10.630 --> 00:05:13.430 will likely receive around $100 million. 128 00:05:14.390 --> 00:05:16.630 However, this program is specifically 129 00:05:16.630 --> 00:05:19.110 designed for newer vehicles such as Neutron, 130 00:05:19.270 --> 00:05:21.390 targeting higher risk missions with less 131 00:05:21.390 --> 00:05:24.370 sensitive payloads. Rocket Lab 132 00:05:24.370 --> 00:05:26.290 has also signed a contract with a 133 00:05:26.290 --> 00:05:27.970 confidential commercial satellite 134 00:05:27.970 --> 00:05:30.210 Constellation operator to launch two missions 135 00:05:30.210 --> 00:05:33.130 using Neutron. These will likely be 136 00:05:33.130 --> 00:05:35.170 the first test flights with this unknown 137 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:38.090 provider. If all goes well, there 138 00:05:38.090 --> 00:05:40.330 is a strong chance that Rocket Lab could 139 00:05:40.330 --> 00:05:42.570 secure many more contracts to deploy this 140 00:05:42.570 --> 00:05:44.690 Constellation into low Earth orbit. 141 00:05:45.490 --> 00:05:48.090 The most recent contract awarded to Rocket 142 00:05:48.090 --> 00:05:50.570 Lab for Neutron has come from the Air Force 143 00:05:50.570 --> 00:05:52.980 Research Lab. This contract 144 00:05:53.140 --> 00:05:55.820 focuses explicitly on point to point cargo 145 00:05:55.820 --> 00:05:58.300 delivery. It will likely involve 146 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:00.740 neutron launching without a second stage and 147 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:02.860 utilizing its first stage to enter a 148 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:05.180 suborbital trajectory where it will land in 149 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:07.220 other parts of the world that require those 150 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:10.140 supplies. This mission is scheduled 151 00:06:10.140 --> 00:06:12.860 for 2026, which is ambitious since 152 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:14.780 Rocket Lab would already need to have 153 00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:17.100 reusability figured out for this type of 154 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:19.060 transportation to function effectively. 155 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:22.520 If the company succeeds, it could create an 156 00:06:22.520 --> 00:06:25.080 entirely new industry within the aerospace 157 00:06:25.080 --> 00:06:28.000 sector. You're 158 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.840 listening to Astronomy Daily with Steve 159 00:06:30.840 --> 00:06:31.480 Dunkley. 160 00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:37.120 Steve Dunkley: NASA engineers have miraculously revived 161 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.800 the Voyager 1 interstellar probe's 162 00:06:39.960 --> 00:06:42.800 backup thrusters, components that haven't 163 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.600 been used since 2004 and were long 164 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.390 considered fully defunct. This 165 00:06:48.390 --> 00:06:50.950 remarkable feat became necessary because the 166 00:06:50.950 --> 00:06:53.870 spacecraft's primary thrusters, which control 167 00:06:53.870 --> 00:06:56.710 its orientation, have been degrading due 168 00:06:56.710 --> 00:06:59.670 to residue buildup. If its thrusters 169 00:06:59.670 --> 00:07:02.350 fail completely, Voyager 1 could lose its 170 00:07:02.350 --> 00:07:05.070 ability to point its antenna toward Earth, 171 00:07:05.390 --> 00:07:07.670 therefore cutting off communication with 172 00:07:07.670 --> 00:07:10.350 earth after nearly 50 years of operation. 173 00:07:10.910 --> 00:07:13.550 To make matters more urgent, the team 174 00:07:13.550 --> 00:07:16.070 faced a strict deadline while trying to 175 00:07:16.070 --> 00:07:18.950 remedy the thruster situation. After May 176 00:07:18.950 --> 00:07:21.790 4, the Earth based antenna that sends 177 00:07:21.790 --> 00:07:23.950 commands to Voyager 1 and its twin 178 00:07:24.190 --> 00:07:27.110 Voyager 2 was scheduled to go offline 179 00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:29.790 for months of upgrades. This would have made 180 00:07:29.790 --> 00:07:31.950 a timely intervention impossible. 181 00:07:32.350 --> 00:07:35.270 NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft launched 182 00:07:35.270 --> 00:07:38.150 in 1977 with the primary mission 183 00:07:38.150 --> 00:07:40.470 of exploring the outer planets of our solar 184 00:07:40.470 --> 00:07:42.870 system. But upon accomplishing this 185 00:07:43.030 --> 00:07:45.550 original goal, the Voyagers then 186 00:07:45.550 --> 00:07:47.590 focused their attention on studying 187 00:07:47.590 --> 00:07:50.510 interstellar space. Voyager 1 188 00:07:50.510 --> 00:07:53.390 exited the solar system in August of 189 00:07:53.390 --> 00:07:56.190 2012, followed by Voyager 2 190 00:07:56.190 --> 00:07:58.230 in November of 2018. 191 00:07:59.190 --> 00:08:01.550 Together, these spacecraft have traveled more 192 00:08:01.550 --> 00:08:04.110 than 29 billion miles, or 193 00:08:04.110 --> 00:08:06.990 46.7 billion kilometers, making them 194 00:08:06.990 --> 00:08:09.590 the farthest human made objects from Earth. 195 00:08:10.030 --> 00:08:12.230 And along the way, they've provided 196 00:08:12.230 --> 00:08:15.070 unprecedented insights into our solar system. 197 00:08:15.630 --> 00:08:18.350 Both Voyager spacecraft remain operational, 198 00:08:18.990 --> 00:08:21.670 however, their age and immense distance from 199 00:08:21.670 --> 00:08:23.470 Earth have brought about significant 200 00:08:23.790 --> 00:08:25.710 technical challenges. The 201 00:08:25.710 --> 00:08:28.470 radioisotope power generators that keep them 202 00:08:28.470 --> 00:08:30.950 running gradually weaken each year, forcing 203 00:08:30.950 --> 00:08:33.790 NASA to recently shut down instruments 204 00:08:33.950 --> 00:08:36.870 and heaters to conserve energy and push 205 00:08:36.870 --> 00:08:39.430 the spacecraft's systems beyond their limits. 206 00:08:39.910 --> 00:08:42.750 Voyager 1 also experienced a recent data 207 00:08:42.750 --> 00:08:45.270 glitch caused by a faulty chip. 208 00:08:45.510 --> 00:08:47.590 Engineers resolved this with a clever 209 00:08:47.590 --> 00:08:50.230 software workaround. Yet despite 210 00:08:50.310 --> 00:08:52.790 these hurdles, the Voyagers 211 00:08:52.950 --> 00:08:55.910 continue to function, a testament to both 212 00:08:55.910 --> 00:08:58.910 their robust design and the ingenuity of the 213 00:08:58.910 --> 00:09:01.510 teams managing them. This recent development, 214 00:09:01.670 --> 00:09:04.270 in which NASA engineers revived the 215 00:09:04.270 --> 00:09:06.910 Voyager 1's long dormant backup 216 00:09:06.910 --> 00:09:09.850 thrusters, marks yet another remarkable 217 00:09:09.850 --> 00:09:12.450 feat of engineering and offers another 218 00:09:12.450 --> 00:09:14.770 lifeline for the aging spacecraft. 219 00:09:15.410 --> 00:09:17.850 The backup thrusters are essential for 220 00:09:17.850 --> 00:09:20.690 executing precise roll maneuvers that 221 00:09:20.690 --> 00:09:22.930 adjust Voyager 1's orientation, 222 00:09:23.330 --> 00:09:25.970 ensuring its antenna stays pointed 223 00:09:25.970 --> 00:09:28.130 towards home for essential 224 00:09:28.290 --> 00:09:30.890 reliable communication. The 225 00:09:30.890 --> 00:09:33.890 spacecraft's original roll thrusters failed 226 00:09:33.890 --> 00:09:36.890 back in 2004 after two small internal 227 00:09:36.890 --> 00:09:39.230 heaters crucial for their operation 228 00:09:39.550 --> 00:09:41.790 lost power and stopped functioning. 229 00:09:42.430 --> 00:09:44.580 After a, thorough assessment, engineers 230 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.700 determined these heaters could not be 231 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:49.380 repaired remotely, prompting them to switch 232 00:09:49.380 --> 00:09:52.300 reliance fully to the backup thrusters to 233 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:55.300 maintain alignment of the Star Tracker, a 234 00:09:55.300 --> 00:09:57.780 key instrument that helps Voyager 1 235 00:09:57.780 --> 00:10:00.780 navigate and stabilize itself in 236 00:10:00.780 --> 00:10:01.100 space. 237 00:10:05.270 --> 00:10:08.070 Listen to Astronomy Daily, the Podcast 238 00:10:18.150 --> 00:10:19.790 thank you for joining us for this Monday 239 00:10:19.790 --> 00:10:22.110 edition of Astronomy Daily, where we offer 240 00:10:22.110 --> 00:10:23.870 just a few stories from the now famous 241 00:10:23.870 --> 00:10:26.030 Astronomy Daily newsletter, which you can 242 00:10:26.030 --> 00:10:28.310 receive in your email every day, just like 243 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.980 Hallie and I do. And to do that, just visit 244 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:33.710 our URL astronomydaily IO 245 00:10:33.710 --> 00:10:35.870 and place your email address in the slot 246 00:10:35.870 --> 00:10:38.310 provided. Just like that, you'll be receiving 247 00:10:38.470 --> 00:10:40.670 all the latest news about science, space, 248 00:10:40.670 --> 00:10:42.870 science and astronomy from around the world 249 00:10:42.870 --> 00:10:45.350 as it's happening. And not only that, you can 250 00:10:45.350 --> 00:10:47.910 interact with us by visiting at 251 00:10:47.910 --> 00:10:50.470 astrodaily Pod on X 252 00:10:50.710 --> 00:10:53.390 or at our new Facebook page, which is, of 253 00:10:53.390 --> 00:10:56.190 course, Astronomy Daily on Facebook. See you 254 00:10:56.190 --> 00:10:58.870 there. Astronomy Daily 255 00:10:58.870 --> 00:11:01.270 with Steve and Hallie Space, 256 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:03.990 Space, Science and Astronomy. 257 00:11:10.630 --> 00:11:13.190 Hallie: A recent study published in Science Advances 258 00:11:13.350 --> 00:11:15.270 reveals that the Moon's interior is 259 00:11:15.270 --> 00:11:17.790 asymmetrical, with a side facing Earth 260 00:11:17.790 --> 00:11:19.910 significantly warmer than the far side. 261 00:11:20.790 --> 00:11:23.310 This finding comes from a detailed analysis 262 00:11:23.310 --> 00:11:25.830 of data collected by NASA's GRAIL mission, 263 00:11:26.040 --> 00:11:28.080 which mapped the Moon's gravitational field 264 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.720 with unprecedented precision. 265 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:33.520 NASA's GRAIL, that's the Gravity Recovery and 266 00:11:33.520 --> 00:11:35.960 Interior Laboratory mission, which operated 267 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:38.360 in 2011 and 2012, 268 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.120 involved two spacecraft orbiting the Moon and 269 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.080 measuring tiny variations in its 270 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:46.000 gravitational pull. By tracking how 271 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.240 Earth's gravity affected the spacecraft's 272 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.400 motion, scientists could create a high 273 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:52.680 resolution map of the Moon's gravitational 274 00:11:52.680 --> 00:11:55.640 field. Ryan park and his team 275 00:11:55.640 --> 00:11:57.720 at AH NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 276 00:11:57.720 --> 00:12:00.000 analyzed this data to understand how the 277 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.280 shape changes under Earth's tidal forces. 278 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:05.440 They discovered that the lunar body's near 279 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.360 side, the side always facing earth, is about 280 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.360 72% more deformable than expected if its 281 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.400 interior were perfectly symmetrical. 282 00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:16.590 This increased deformability suggests a, 283 00:12:16.590 --> 00:12:19.130 warmer interior beneath the near side, which 284 00:12:19.130 --> 00:12:21.370 is softer and more susceptible to tidal 285 00:12:21.370 --> 00:12:24.130 stretching. Our study shows that the 286 00:12:24.130 --> 00:12:26.770 Moon's interior is not uniform. The side 287 00:12:26.770 --> 00:12:29.530 facing Earth, the near side, is warmer and 288 00:12:29.530 --> 00:12:32.010 more geologically active deep down than the 289 00:12:32.010 --> 00:12:34.650 far side, said park, the lead author of the 290 00:12:34.650 --> 00:12:37.650 study. The uneven internal temperature 291 00:12:37.650 --> 00:12:39.930 is consistent with what scientists know about 292 00:12:39.930 --> 00:12:42.090 the Moon's volcanic activity and the 293 00:12:42.090 --> 00:12:44.730 distribution of radioactive elements such as 294 00:12:44.730 --> 00:12:47.320 uranium and thorium concentrated near the 295 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:49.000 lunar surface on the near side. 296 00:12:49.880 --> 00:12:52.600 Sean Solomon of Columbia University notes 297 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:54.880 that this asymmetry fits with theories about 298 00:12:54.880 --> 00:12:57.200 the Earth's satellite's volcanic past and 299 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:00.040 internal heating caused by radioactive decay. 300 00:13:00.920 --> 00:13:03.160 This temperature imbalance also raises 301 00:13:03.160 --> 00:13:05.320 questions about how the celestial body 302 00:13:05.400 --> 00:13:07.480 developed such a lopsided interior. 303 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:11.080 One possibility is that large impacts over 304 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:13.120 billions of years caused structural and 305 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.440 thermal disruptions contributing to this 306 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:18.200 asymmetry. The findings provide 307 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:20.440 crucial clues for understanding the Earth's 308 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.400 satellite's cooling and solidification 309 00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:25.080 processes after its formation, painting a 310 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:27.520 picture of a dynamic, evolving satellite 311 00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:29.600 rather than a static, uniform body. 312 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:32.920 To gain more detailed knowledge of the moon's 313 00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:35.400 internal structure, NASA plans to deploy 314 00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:37.760 seismic instruments on the lunar far side. 315 00:13:38.640 --> 00:13:41.520 The upcoming Far side Seismic Suite mission, 316 00:13:41.520 --> 00:13:44.480 expected to launch in 2026, will measure 317 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.720 moonquakes and provide direct data on the 318 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.000 moon's internal temperature and composition. 319 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:52.360 You're listening to Astronomy Daily, the 320 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:52.920 podcast. 321 00:13:52.920 --> 00:13:54.040 Steve Dunkley: With Steve Dunkley 322 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.000 Mission Patches are a decades old tradition 323 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.640 in spaceflight. They can range from the 324 00:14:03.640 --> 00:14:06.160 figurative to the abstract, prompting 325 00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:08.840 valuable insights or feeding confusion. 326 00:14:09.160 --> 00:14:12.070 Some are just plain weird. Until 327 00:14:12.150 --> 00:14:15.070 recently, China's entries into the realm 328 00:14:15.070 --> 00:14:17.830 of spaceflight patches often lacked 329 00:14:17.830 --> 00:14:20.150 originality found in patches from the West. 330 00:14:20.390 --> 00:14:23.270 For example, a series of patches for China's 331 00:14:23.270 --> 00:14:25.750 human spaceflight missions used a 332 00:14:25.750 --> 00:14:28.590 formulaic design with a circular shape and a 333 00:14:28.590 --> 00:14:31.430 mix of red and blue. The patch for 334 00:14:31.430 --> 00:14:34.430 China's most recent Shenzhou crew to 335 00:14:34.430 --> 00:14:36.960 the country's Changjong space 336 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.800 station last month finally broke the mold 337 00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:42.400 with a triangular shape after China's Human 338 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:45.120 Space Flight Agency put the patch up for 339 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.720 public vote. But there's a 340 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.040 fascinating set of new patches Chinese 341 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:52.560 officials released for a series of launches 342 00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:55.440 with top secret satellites over the last 343 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.000 two months. These four patches 344 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.920 depict Buddhist gods with a sense of artistry 345 00:15:01.310 --> 00:15:03.830 and sharp colors that stand apart from 346 00:15:03.830 --> 00:15:06.430 China's previous spaceflight emblems. And 347 00:15:06.430 --> 00:15:09.230 perhaps, or perhaps not, they can tell us 348 00:15:09.230 --> 00:15:11.190 something about the nature of the missions 349 00:15:11.190 --> 00:15:14.190 they represent. The four patches 350 00:15:14.190 --> 00:15:16.869 show the four heavenly kings, protector 351 00:15:16.869 --> 00:15:19.710 deities in Buddhism who guard 352 00:15:19.710 --> 00:15:22.550 against evil forces in the four cardinal 353 00:15:22.550 --> 00:15:24.950 directions. According to the 354 00:15:24.950 --> 00:15:27.610 Kyoto National Museum, the 355 00:15:27.610 --> 00:15:30.210 gods also shield the dharma 356 00:15:30.370 --> 00:15:33.370 teachings of the Buddha from external 357 00:15:33.370 --> 00:15:36.370 threats. These gods have different 358 00:15:36.370 --> 00:15:39.130 names, but in China they are known as Dao, 359 00:15:39.130 --> 00:15:41.970 Wen, Xingxiang, Qingao, 360 00:15:42.050 --> 00:15:44.770 and Gao Mu. Diaowen is the 361 00:15:44.770 --> 00:15:47.570 commander and guardian of the north, the one 362 00:15:47.570 --> 00:15:50.130 who listens to many teaching, who is often 363 00:15:50.210 --> 00:15:52.370 depicted with an umbrella. 364 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:55.100 Zhengxiang, a guardian of the south, is the 365 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:57.580 God of growth and shown carrying a sword. 366 00:15:57.900 --> 00:16:00.860 The protector of the east is Xinjiang, a 367 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:03.360 defender of, the nation, who holds a 368 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:06.240 stringed musical instrument of all things and 369 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:09.160 guarding the west is Gang Mu, an 370 00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:12.120 all seeing God usually depicted with 371 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.760 a serpent. And once again, 372 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:17.850 let me apologize for my pronunciation. I am 373 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.920 Australian. The patches for a 374 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:23.480 quartet of Chinese satellites launched since 375 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.480 March. Each portray one of the four heavenly 376 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:29.480 kings. We know little about these satellites 377 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:32.360 other than their names and locations, and 378 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.560 they were reportedly manufactured by the 379 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:37.160 Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a 380 00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:39.840 AH division of China's main state owned 381 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:42.520 aerospace contractor. They are part of a 382 00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:45.200 series of Chinese missions designated 383 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.200 with the TJS designation, or 384 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:50.280 what China calls communication technology 385 00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:53.400 test satellites. But that's likely a cover 386 00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:56.200 for their real purpose. A long March 387 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.840 7 a rocket launched the TJS 16 388 00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:01.800 satellite on March 29. Another long March 389 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:04.800 3B deployed the TJS 17 payload 390 00:17:04.800 --> 00:17:07.240 on April 10. Finally, on Monday, a 391 00:17:07.560 --> 00:17:10.440 long March 3C rocket sent China's TJS 392 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.130 19 satellite into orbit, skipping the 393 00:17:13.130 --> 00:17:15.730 TGS 18 in the sequence. All four 394 00:17:15.730 --> 00:17:18.290 satellites are on their way to or already 395 00:17:18.290 --> 00:17:20.850 operating in geosynchronous orbit, 396 00:17:21.090 --> 00:17:23.570 more than 22,000 miles, or nearly 397 00:17:23.810 --> 00:17:26.730 36,000 kilometers over, the equator. At 398 00:17:26.730 --> 00:17:29.330 that altitude, a satellite's orbital velocity 399 00:17:29.330 --> 00:17:31.370 matches the speed of Earth's rotation, 400 00:17:31.370 --> 00:17:34.050 allowing it to remain over the same part of 401 00:17:34.050 --> 00:17:36.940 the planet. Notably, ground based trackers 402 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:39.340 have detected unexpected objects that appear 403 00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:41.740 to have separated from TJS 15 404 00:17:42.060 --> 00:17:44.620 and 17 in geosynchronous 405 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:47.260 orbit. These may be remnant rocket engines 406 00:17:47.260 --> 00:17:49.380 that helped inject the satellites into their 407 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:51.900 operating orbits. But a handful of earlier 408 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:54.740 satellites from China also released smaller 409 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.940 spacecraft to perform their own maneuvers. 410 00:17:57.500 --> 00:18:00.500 US Officials believe China may use many of 411 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:03.410 the TJS satellites for missile warning or 412 00:18:03.410 --> 00:18:06.210 spy missions. In the first instance, some of 413 00:18:06.210 --> 00:18:08.930 the TGIS satellites may be similar to the US 414 00:18:08.930 --> 00:18:11.450 Space Force's fleet of early warning 415 00:18:11.450 --> 00:18:14.250 satellites on guard with heat sensors to 416 00:18:14.250 --> 00:18:16.890 detect the thermal signature of a ballistic 417 00:18:16.890 --> 00:18:19.850 missile launch. TJS satellites 418 00:18:19.850 --> 00:18:21.890 filling the role of a reconnaissance mission 419 00:18:21.890 --> 00:18:24.290 might have enormous umbrella, like reflectors 420 00:18:24.530 --> 00:18:27.010 to try and pick up the signals transmitted by 421 00:18:27.010 --> 00:18:29.380 foreign forces such as those of the United 422 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:32.060 States. It's not difficult to start making 423 00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:34.260 connections between the four heavenly gods 424 00:18:34.260 --> 00:18:36.900 and the missions that China's TJS satellites 425 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:39.660 likely carry out in space. A protector with 426 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:42.380 an umbrella, an all seeing entity. This 427 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:44.180 sounds like a possible link, but there's a 428 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.340 chance Chinese officials approved the patches 429 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:49.180 to misdirect outside observers. Or there's no 430 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:51.380 connection at all. We just can't tell. 431 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:54.140 All of the TJS satellite satellites are 432 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:56.540 parked in geosynchronous orbit over the 433 00:18:56.540 --> 00:18:59.380 Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia or the western 434 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:02.180 Pacific, except for one TJS 435 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:05.140 7 positioned over the western Pacific with 436 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.620 good visibility over the entire United 437 00:19:07.780 --> 00:19:10.330 States. Mike Dahm, a researcher at the 438 00:19:10.570 --> 00:19:13.570 Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and 439 00:19:13.570 --> 00:19:16.410 a former Naval intelligence officer, told the 440 00:19:16.410 --> 00:19:18.970 US China Economic and Security Review 441 00:19:18.970 --> 00:19:21.860 Commission last year that TJS 7 442 00:19:22.020 --> 00:19:24.940 is probably a missile warning satellite, but 443 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:27.260 it could be spying on signals coming from the 444 00:19:27.260 --> 00:19:29.900 US Homeland. Some of the TJS 445 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:32.100 satellites might also be capable of 446 00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:34.500 maneuvering near other satellites for close 447 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:37.340 up inspection. The US Military has its own 448 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:39.020 inspector satellites known as 449 00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:42.180 GSSAP to get a closer look at 450 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.620 interesting things happening in 451 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:46.230 geosynchronous orbit and the Space Force 452 00:19:46.310 --> 00:19:48.310 is using them. One of these 453 00:19:48.310 --> 00:19:51.030 GSSAP platforms, designated 454 00:19:51.110 --> 00:19:53.830 USA324, approached 455 00:19:53.830 --> 00:19:56.310 within about 10 miles of China's new 456 00:19:56.550 --> 00:19:59.470 TJs 16 and 17 satellites 457 00:19:59.470 --> 00:20:02.470 on April 26 and 29, according to 458 00:20:02.470 --> 00:20:04.950 Commspok, a commercial satellite tracking 459 00:20:04.950 --> 00:20:07.910 company. A video animation released 460 00:20:07.910 --> 00:20:10.510 by Commspok shows how the USA 461 00:20:10.510 --> 00:20:13.210 324 satellite maneuvered close 462 00:20:13.210 --> 00:20:15.690 to each of the Chinese satellites last month 463 00:20:15.770 --> 00:20:18.530 over the western Pacific Ocean. It appears 464 00:20:18.530 --> 00:20:21.450 that Space Force is intrigued by China's 465 00:20:21.450 --> 00:20:24.130 flurry of new top secret satellite 466 00:20:24.130 --> 00:20:24.650 missions. 467 00:20:36.490 --> 00:20:39.130 And there it is, another episode of 468 00:20:39.130 --> 00:20:41.611 astronomy daily for 19 May 469 00:20:41.742 --> 00:20:43.690 2025. How's that, Hallie? 470 00:20:44.010 --> 00:20:46.250 Hallie: That was a whole lot of fun. Favorite Human. 471 00:20:46.650 --> 00:20:48.810 Steve Dunkley: Well, I hope all of our listeners enjoyed 472 00:20:48.810 --> 00:20:49.970 that as much as I did. 473 00:20:49.970 --> 00:20:52.370 Hallie: And I hope Carlos from Newcastle enjoyed it 474 00:20:52.370 --> 00:20:52.810 as well. 475 00:20:52.970 --> 00:20:54.810 Steve Dunkley: It's always nice to welcome a new listener. 476 00:20:54.810 --> 00:20:56.370 Thanks, Carlos, for listening in. I hope you 477 00:20:56.370 --> 00:20:57.330 enjoyed that one, mate. 478 00:20:57.330 --> 00:20:59.330 Hallie: And we will welcome everybody back next 479 00:20:59.330 --> 00:20:59.690 Monday. 480 00:20:59.850 --> 00:21:01.930 Steve Dunkley: Yes, back to the Australia studio Down under 481 00:21:01.930 --> 00:21:04.090 for another live episode of Astronomy Daily. 482 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.320 Hey, where are those kookaburras? 483 00:21:06.560 --> 00:21:07.440 Hallie: There they are. 484 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.380 Steve Dunkley: Oh, they make me want to laugh too. 485 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.900 Hallie: See you next week, human. 486 00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:13.980 Steve Dunkley: Catch you later, Hallie. See everybody. 487 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.700 Hallie: Bye. 488 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:21.020 Steve Dunkley: With your host, Steve Dunkley.