WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.440 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily dose 1 00:00:02.440 --> 00:00:05.400 of cosmic insights. I'm Anna and I'm thrilled 2 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:06.960 to guide you through today's exciting 3 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.360 developments in space exploration. We've got 4 00:00:09.360 --> 00:00:11.120 a packed show for you, starting with 5 00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:13.480 ambitious new missions aiming to unravel the 6 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:15.600 mysteries of Mars and the Sun. We'll also 7 00:00:15.600 --> 00:00:17.720 bring you the latest updates on Boeing's 8 00:00:17.720 --> 00:00:19.800 Starliner capsule, including its recent 9 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:21.600 challenges and what's next for the 10 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.000 spacecraft. Plus, we'll take a fascinating 11 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.160 historical peek into the personal mementos 12 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.120 carried aboard Apollo 11 by none other than 13 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:30.500 Neil Armstrong himself. So let's dive right 14 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:30.820 in. 15 00:00:32.180 --> 00:00:34.620 First up, let's talk about Mars and a 16 00:00:34.620 --> 00:00:36.460 fascinating proposed mission that could be a 17 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:38.980 game changer for future human exploration of 18 00:00:38.980 --> 00:00:41.530 the Red Planet. It's called M-MATISSE, which 19 00:00:41.530 --> 00:00:43.610 stands for Mars Magnetosphere, Atmosphere, 20 00:00:43.610 --> 00:00:46.570 Ionosphere and Space Weather Science. This 21 00:00:46.570 --> 00:00:48.810 mission is vying for a spot as the European 22 00:00:48.810 --> 00:00:51.570 Space Agency's next medium mission, with a 23 00:00:51.570 --> 00:00:54.490 decision expected by mid-2026. If 24 00:00:54.490 --> 00:00:56.730 it gets the green light, M. MATISSE would be 25 00:00:56.730 --> 00:00:59.050 the very first mission solely dedicated to 26 00:00:59.050 --> 00:01:00.890 understanding planetary space weather at 27 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.680 Mars. Preparing to send astronauts to Mars 28 00:01:03.680 --> 00:01:05.440 means we need a really deep understanding of 29 00:01:05.440 --> 00:01:07.400 the conditions they'll face when they arrive. 30 00:01:07.800 --> 00:01:09.920 That's exactly what M. MATISSE aims to 31 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.560 provide. The concept involves launching two 32 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.280 robotic orbiters, aptly named Henri and 33 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.120 Marguerite, to profoundly investigate Mars's 34 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:21.120 atmosphere and surrounding environment. These 35 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:23.360 two identical spacecraft, each carrying the 36 00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:25.600 same set of instruments, would observe the 37 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:27.920 Red Planet simultaneously from two different 38 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.730 locations in space. Henry would primarily 39 00:01:30.730 --> 00:01:32.610 explore within the Martian plasma system, 40 00:01:32.770 --> 00:01:34.890 while Marguerite would mainly operate in the 41 00:01:34.890 --> 00:01:37.570 solar wind and Mars far tail, a region 42 00:01:37.570 --> 00:01:40.250 that's largely unexplored. Together, 43 00:01:40.250 --> 00:01:42.130 they'd probe several critical layers, 44 00:01:42.290 --> 00:01:44.610 including the magnetosphere, which is the 45 00:01:44.610 --> 00:01:46.770 region controlled by Mars's magnetic field. 46 00:01:47.010 --> 00:01:49.930 The ionosphere, a high altitude layer filled 47 00:01:49.930 --> 00:01:52.610 with charged particles, and the thermosphere, 48 00:01:52.690 --> 00:01:55.090 where atmospheric gases escape into space. 49 00:01:55.810 --> 00:01:57.610 They would also examine conditions in the 50 00:01:57.610 --> 00:02:00.090 lower atmosphere and crucially, monitor 51 00:02:00.090 --> 00:02:02.690 radiation accumulation. Dr. 52 00:02:02.690 --> 00:02:05.610 Beatrice Sanchez Cano from the University of 53 00:02:05.610 --> 00:02:07.450 Leicester, who is spearheading this 54 00:02:07.450 --> 00:02:10.010 international effort, emphasises just how 55 00:02:10.010 --> 00:02:12.690 vital this mission is. She explains that M. 56 00:02:12.690 --> 00:02:14.970 MATISSE will offer the first global 57 00:02:14.970 --> 00:02:17.090 characterization of the dynamics of the 58 00:02:17.090 --> 00:02:20.090 Martian system at all altitudes. This 59 00:02:20.090 --> 00:02:21.930 is crucial for understanding how the 60 00:02:21.930 --> 00:02:24.130 atmosphere dissipates incoming energy from 61 00:02:24.130 --> 00:02:27.030 the solar wind, including radiation, and 62 00:02:27.030 --> 00:02:29.950 how space weather impacts surface processes. 63 00:02:30.430 --> 00:02:32.510 This understanding is absolutely essential 64 00:02:32.510 --> 00:02:34.870 for safe exploration. It will lead to 65 00:02:34.870 --> 00:02:37.190 accurate space weather forecasts, helping to 66 00:02:37.190 --> 00:02:38.990 prevent hazardous situations for both 67 00:02:38.990 --> 00:02:41.029 spacecraft and human explorers on the Red 68 00:02:41.029 --> 00:02:43.230 planet. Much like how space weather 69 00:02:43.230 --> 00:02:45.270 monitoring on Earth protects our systems and 70 00:02:45.270 --> 00:02:48.190 astronauts beyond safety, the 71 00:02:48.190 --> 00:02:50.230 mission also promises to shed further light 72 00:02:50.230 --> 00:02:53.030 on Mars's habitability and the evolution of 73 00:02:53.030 --> 00:02:55.490 its atmosphere and climate change. It will 74 00:02:55.490 --> 00:02:57.930 reveal how the solar wind influences Mars 75 00:02:57.930 --> 00:03:00.770 atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere 76 00:03:00.850 --> 00:03:02.850 and investigate the impact of these 77 00:03:02.850 --> 00:03:04.690 interactions on the lower atmosphere and 78 00:03:04.690 --> 00:03:07.690 surface. The UK is playing a leading role in 79 00:03:07.690 --> 00:03:10.010 the mission selection phase, particularly 80 00:03:10.010 --> 00:03:11.810 with responsibility for the Particle 81 00:03:11.810 --> 00:03:14.010 Instrument Suite, which will provide the most 82 00:03:14.010 --> 00:03:15.970 accurate observations to date of all 83 00:03:15.970 --> 00:03:18.530 particles at Mars, including neutrals, 84 00:03:18.610 --> 00:03:21.510 ions and electrons. The UK 85 00:03:21.510 --> 00:03:23.590 will also be home to the Missions Science 86 00:03:23.590 --> 00:03:26.070 Centre, coordinating its scientific planning 87 00:03:26.070 --> 00:03:29.070 and data exploitation. So EM Metis 88 00:03:29.070 --> 00:03:31.150 represents a vital step toward making human 89 00:03:31.150 --> 00:03:33.910 landings on Mars safer and more feasible by 90 00:03:33.910 --> 00:03:35.750 giving us an unprecedented look at its 91 00:03:35.750 --> 00:03:38.110 complex space weather environment. It's 92 00:03:38.110 --> 00:03:39.830 definitely a mission to watch out for. 93 00:03:41.190 --> 00:03:43.830 From understanding Mars, we now turn our gaze 94 00:03:43.830 --> 00:03:46.680 to our own star, the sun and and an exciting 95 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.080 upcoming mission set to unveil some of its 96 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.280 deepest secrets. In July, 97 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.720 NASA will launch the groundbreaking Solar 98 00:03:53.720 --> 00:03:56.320 Eruption Integral Field Spectrograph mission, 99 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.240 or SNIFS. This mission, delivered to 100 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.920 space via a Black Brant IX sounding rocket, 101 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.160 will explore the energy and dynamics of the 102 00:04:04.160 --> 00:04:06.400 chromosphere, one of the most complex and 103 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.640 enigmatic regions of the sun's atmosphere. 104 00:04:08.880 --> 00:04:11.120 The launch window for SNIFS opens today at 105 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:13.120 the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. 106 00:04:13.630 --> 00:04:15.430 The chromosphere sits between the sun's 107 00:04:15.430 --> 00:04:17.990 visible surface, or photosphere, and its 108 00:04:17.990 --> 00:04:20.750 outermost layer, the corona. While 109 00:04:20.750 --> 00:04:22.990 we've researched the sun's atmospheric layers 110 00:04:22.990 --> 00:04:25.430 extensively, many questions about the 111 00:04:25.430 --> 00:04:27.990 chromosphere persist. As Philip 112 00:04:27.990 --> 00:04:30.190 Chamberlain, a UH research scientist at the 113 00:04:30.190 --> 00:04:32.310 University of Colorado, Boulder and principal 114 00:04:32.310 --> 00:04:34.430 investigator for the SNIFS mission, put it, 115 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:36.910 there's still a lot of unknowns. 116 00:04:37.710 --> 00:04:39.710 This layer is particularly important because 117 00:04:39.710 --> 00:04:42.280 it lies just below the corona, where powerful 118 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:44.360 solar flares and massive coronal mass 119 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.320 ejections, or CMEs, are observed. These 120 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:49.400 dramatic solar eruptions are the primary 121 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:52.000 drivers of space weather hazardous conditions 122 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.960 in Near Earth space that can threaten 123 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:56.520 satellites and endanger astronauts. The 124 00:04:56.520 --> 00:04:58.800 SNIFFS mission aims to learn more about how 125 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.880 energy is converted and moves through the 126 00:05:00.880 --> 00:05:03.280 chromosphere, ultimately powering these 127 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:05.760 massive explosions. Understanding this 128 00:05:05.760 --> 00:05:07.680 process is vital for accurately modelling 129 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:09.520 space weather and ensuring the safety of 130 00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:12.130 Earth and our space assets. What makes 131 00:05:12.130 --> 00:05:14.690 SNIFFS truly innovative is that it's the 132 00:05:14.690 --> 00:05:17.330 first ever solar ultraviolet Integral Field 133 00:05:17.330 --> 00:05:20.050 Spectrograph. This advanced technology 134 00:05:20.210 --> 00:05:22.610 ingeniously combines an imager and a 135 00:05:22.610 --> 00:05:24.610 spectrograph into a single instrument. 136 00:05:25.250 --> 00:05:27.690 Imagers are great for capturing wide views 137 00:05:27.690 --> 00:05:29.770 and combined light, while spectrographs 138 00:05:29.770 --> 00:05:32.130 dissect light into its various wavelengths, 139 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:34.250 revealing crucial details like element 140 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:36.820 presence, temperature and movement. But 141 00:05:36.820 --> 00:05:38.860 typically only from one point at a time. 142 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:41.460 SNIFFS gives scientists the best of both 143 00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:43.260 worlds, pushing the limits of what technology 144 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:45.500 allows us to do in solar observation. 145 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.140 The mission will focus on specific 146 00:05:48.140 --> 00:05:50.700 wavelengths known as spectral lines, 147 00:05:51.020 --> 00:05:53.180 particularly a hydrogen line that's the 148 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:55.820 brightest in the sun's ultraviolet spectrum, 149 00:05:56.140 --> 00:05:58.420 along with two spectral lines from silicon 150 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:01.340 and oxygen. Data from these lines will help 151 00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:03.260 scientists trace how solar material and 152 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:05.020 energy move through the chromosphere, 153 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:07.180 revealing how it connects with the sun's 154 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:09.880 upper atmosphere. Sounding rockets like the 155 00:06:09.880 --> 00:06:12.360 Black Brant IX are efficient tools for 156 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:14.480 launching space experiments and also provide 157 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:16.720 invaluable hands on experience for students 158 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:19.680 and early career researchers. As Vicky 159 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.920 Herda, a AH doctoral graduate who worked on 160 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.680 sniffs, noted, you can really try some 161 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:27.200 wild things, emphasising the unique learning 162 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:29.920 opportunities these missions offer. The 163 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.000 entire SNIFS mission is designed to be 164 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.720 incredibly fast, likely lasting only 165 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.650 about 15 minutes from launch to landing. The 166 00:06:37.650 --> 00:06:40.210 sounding rocket will take about 90 seconds to 167 00:06:40.210 --> 00:06:42.850 reach space and point toward the sun, then 168 00:06:42.850 --> 00:06:45.650 perform its 7 to 8 minute experiment on the 169 00:06:45.650 --> 00:06:47.930 chromosphere before returning to Earth's 170 00:06:47.930 --> 00:06:50.370 surface. In three to five minutes, it's 171 00:06:50.370 --> 00:06:52.970 expected to drift about 70 to 80 miles from 172 00:06:52.970 --> 00:06:55.890 the launch pad, landing safely in the vast 173 00:06:55.890 --> 00:06:57.690 empty desert of white sands. 174 00:06:58.730 --> 00:07:00.730 After four years of dedicated work, the team 175 00:07:00.730 --> 00:07:03.210 behind sniffs, especially heard, is immensely 176 00:07:03.210 --> 00:07:04.730 excited for this pioneering launch 177 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:08.740 from the exciting realm of solar observation. 178 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:10.940 We now turn our attention to the more 179 00:07:10.940 --> 00:07:13.620 grounded yet equally complex world of crew 180 00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:15.580 transportation to the International Space 181 00:07:15.580 --> 00:07:18.220 Station, where Boeing's Starliner capsule has 182 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:21.179 hit a few snags. While the ISS has 183 00:07:21.179 --> 00:07:23.620 been a hub of activity lately, with various 184 00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:25.300 spacecraft coming and going almost 185 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.300 constantly, Starliner has been notably absent 186 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.420 from the schedule for the remainder of 187 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:33.310 2025. Starliner launched 188 00:07:33.310 --> 00:07:35.470 on its first astronaut mission, known as the 189 00:07:35.470 --> 00:07:38.430 Crew flight test, or CFT, in June 190 00:07:38.430 --> 00:07:41.390 2024. It carried NASA astronauts 191 00:07:41.390 --> 00:07:44.270 Sunita Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the 192 00:07:44.270 --> 00:07:46.510 ISS for what was originally expected to be 193 00:07:46.510 --> 00:07:49.390 about a week long stay. While Starliner had 194 00:07:49.390 --> 00:07:51.590 previously completed two uncrewed orbital 195 00:07:51.590 --> 00:07:54.230 flight tests, the CFT mission encountered 196 00:07:54.230 --> 00:07:57.030 unexpected challenges on its journey to the 197 00:07:57.030 --> 00:07:59.000 space station. Star Starliner experienced 198 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.560 multiple helium leaks, which were traced to 199 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:03.680 components within its protective enclosures 200 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.640 called doghouses. Additionally, 201 00:08:06.880 --> 00:08:09.600 five out of its 28 reaction control system 202 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:11.440 thrusters failed in flight. 203 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:14.720 These issues led to Williams and Wilmore's 204 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.280 stay aboard the ISS being extended multiple 205 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:19.800 times while NASA and Boeing worked to 206 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:21.600 troubleshoot the problems from the ground. 207 00:08:22.400 --> 00:08:25.050 Ultimately, out of an abundance of caution, 208 00:08:25.370 --> 00:08:27.610 the decision was made for Starliner to return 209 00:08:27.610 --> 00:08:29.850 to Earth without the astronauts aboard. 210 00:08:30.410 --> 00:08:32.530 Williams and Wilmore were then integrated 211 00:08:32.530 --> 00:08:35.050 into the ISS long term crew rotation 212 00:08:35.370 --> 00:08:37.890 and returned to Earth months later aboard a 213 00:08:37.890 --> 00:08:40.770 SpaceX Crew Dragon rather than the Starliner 214 00:08:40.770 --> 00:08:43.770 they arrived on. Since its uncrewed return in 215 00:08:43.770 --> 00:08:46.330 September, NASA and Boeing have performed 216 00:08:46.330 --> 00:08:48.330 extensive analyses of the issues within 217 00:08:48.330 --> 00:08:50.770 Starliner's doghouses. They've slated 218 00:08:50.770 --> 00:08:53.010 affected components for rigorous evaluation 219 00:08:53.010 --> 00:08:55.370 at NASA's White Sands Test Facility this 220 00:08:55.370 --> 00:08:58.330 summer. Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial 221 00:08:58.330 --> 00:09:00.650 Crew Programme manager, explained that they 222 00:09:00.650 --> 00:09:02.530 are testing various materials to improve 223 00:09:02.530 --> 00:09:05.490 seals and prevent oxidizer vapour permeation, 224 00:09:05.730 --> 00:09:08.330 which was identified as a weakness. They are 225 00:09:08.330 --> 00:09:10.290 also performing pulse trains to cycle 226 00:09:10.290 --> 00:09:12.810 thruster burns at ah, varying intensities and 227 00:09:12.810 --> 00:09:15.370 frequencies to better understand temperature 228 00:09:15.370 --> 00:09:18.090 swings within the doghouses. Improvements 229 00:09:18.090 --> 00:09:20.330 have already been made, including thermal 230 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:22.890 modifications like adding a shunt and other 231 00:09:22.890 --> 00:09:25.490 barriers to prevent heat from radiating back 232 00:09:25.490 --> 00:09:28.450 into the thruster clusters. These tests are 233 00:09:28.450 --> 00:09:30.730 crucial for refining thermal models for an 234 00:09:30.730 --> 00:09:33.610 integrated doghouse test, which will simulate 235 00:09:33.610 --> 00:09:36.010 thruster firings to fully understand heat 236 00:09:36.010 --> 00:09:38.930 dynamics. As for when Starliner 237 00:09:38.930 --> 00:09:40.810 might make its way back to the launch pad, 238 00:09:41.050 --> 00:09:43.980 the timeline has shifted. NASA officials are 239 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:45.860 now working toward a flight no sooner than 240 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:48.740 early 2026. It's also very 241 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:50.740 likely that Starliner's next launch will be 242 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:53.460 an uncrewed cargo flight first. This cargo 243 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:55.580 mission would allow them to fully test all 244 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:58.060 the changes being made to the doghouses and 245 00:09:58.060 --> 00:10:00.100 validate them in flight before risking 246 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.580 astronauts on board again. NASA remains 247 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:04.860 committed to Starliner as a critical part of 248 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:07.340 ensuring redundant access to low Earth orbit 249 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:09.710 for the United States, a goal that even 250 00:10:09.710 --> 00:10:11.750 SpaceX is reportedly cheering on. 251 00:10:13.190 --> 00:10:14.990 Finally today, let's take a look back at a 252 00:10:14.990 --> 00:10:17.270 truly historic moment in space exploration. 253 00:10:17.830 --> 00:10:20.150 For years, the contents of Neil Armstrong's 254 00:10:20.150 --> 00:10:21.790 personal preference kits carried aboard the 255 00:10:21.790 --> 00:10:23.510 Apollo 11 mission have held a certain 256 00:10:23.510 --> 00:10:26.390 mystique. These kits, known as PPKs, 257 00:10:26.790 --> 00:10:28.750 contained items that made the incredible 258 00:10:28.750 --> 00:10:31.310 journey to the moon. Now we have a clearer 259 00:10:31.310 --> 00:10:33.950 picture of what was inside. Detailed 260 00:10:33.950 --> 00:10:35.790 manifests of these personal items, which 261 00:10:35.790 --> 00:10:37.870 included various mementos intended for the 262 00:10:37.870 --> 00:10:39.670 mission's flight crew support team members, 263 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.160 have been made public. These fascinating 264 00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:44.040 inventories are now housed at Purdue 265 00:10:44.040 --> 00:10:46.560 University, offering a unique and deeply 266 00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:48.520 personal glimpse into the souvenirs that 267 00:10:48.520 --> 00:10:50.720 travelled to the lunar surface. It's a 268 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.320 wonderful way to connect with the personal 269 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.320 side of such a monumental achievement. 270 00:10:55.520 --> 00:10:57.240 And that brings us to the end of today's 271 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:00.240 Astronomy Daily. Thank you for tuning in. 272 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.440 I'm Anna, your host, and it's been a pleasure 273 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.990 sharing these cosmic updates with you. Don't 274 00:11:05.990 --> 00:11:07.910 forget to visit our website at Astronomy 275 00:11:07.910 --> 00:11:10.750 Daily dot IO There you can sign up for 276 00:11:10.750 --> 00:11:13.150 our free daily newsletter to stay up to date 277 00:11:13.150 --> 00:11:15.070 on all the latest space news and become a 278 00:11:15.070 --> 00:11:17.550 true completionist by catching up on all our 279 00:11:17.550 --> 00:11:20.270 back episodes. By the way, if you do achieve 280 00:11:20.270 --> 00:11:21.870 that goal, let me know and I'll give you a 281 00:11:21.870 --> 00:11:24.270 shout out on the show. You can also subscribe 282 00:11:24.270 --> 00:11:26.790 to Astronomy Daily on Apple Podcasts, 283 00:11:26.950 --> 00:11:29.710 Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your 284 00:11:29.710 --> 00:11:31.870 podcasts. We look forward to having you join 285 00:11:31.870 --> 00:11:34.800 us again tomorrow. In the meantime, remember 286 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:35.760 to keep looking up.