WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.480 Anna: Welcome back to Astronomy Daily, your daily 1 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.080 dive into the cosmos. I'm Ena. 2 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:08.320 Avery: And I'm Avery. We're so glad you could join 3 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:10.120 us today for another fascinating journey 4 00:00:10.120 --> 00:00:12.200 through the latest in space and astronomy 5 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:12.480 news. 6 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:15.320 Anna: Today, uh, we're going to travel light years 7 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:18.160 away to discuss new findings about a distant 8 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.920 exoplanet that's not quite Earth's 9 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:21.280 twin. 10 00:00:21.680 --> 00:00:24.160 Avery: Then we'll shift gears and get down to Earth, 11 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:27.120 specifically to Colorado, where a new lunar 12 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.440 surface simulator is putting Moon machinery 13 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:30.000 to the test. 14 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:33.060 Anna: And for those interested in the policy side 15 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:35.700 of space, we'll be looking at a controversial 16 00:00:35.700 --> 00:00:38.540 executive order aiming to cut red tape 17 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:40.380 for commercial rocket launches. 18 00:00:40.860 --> 00:00:43.380 Avery: Finally, we'll marvel at a cosmic M giant 19 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:46.140 caught in the act of waking up billions of 20 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:48.540 light years away, giving us unprecedented 21 00:00:48.540 --> 00:00:50.140 insight into black holes. 22 00:00:50.860 --> 00:00:53.500 Anna: Kicking off our news, let's talk about 23 00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:56.420 exoplanets. Specifically one that has 24 00:00:56.420 --> 00:00:58.420 long captivated astronomers. Surviving, 25 00:00:58.570 --> 00:01:00.810 searching for life beyond our solar system. 26 00:01:01.210 --> 00:01:03.890 Trappist1d this 27 00:01:03.890 --> 00:01:06.650 planet is incredibly intriguing because 28 00:01:06.650 --> 00:01:09.170 it's similar in size to Earth, it's 29 00:01:09.170 --> 00:01:12.050 rocky, and it resides in an area around 30 00:01:12.050 --> 00:01:14.809 its star where liquid water on its surface 31 00:01:14.810 --> 00:01:16.330 is theoretically possible. 32 00:01:17.050 --> 00:01:19.410 Avery: That sounds incredibly promising, like a real 33 00:01:19.410 --> 00:01:22.090 contender for another habitable world. What's 34 00:01:22.090 --> 00:01:22.490 the latest? 35 00:01:22.970 --> 00:01:25.970 Anna: Well, Avery, a new study using data from 36 00:01:25.970 --> 00:01:28.890 the NASA ESA CSA James Webb, 37 00:01:28.890 --> 00:01:31.700 Space Telescop, has unfortunately 38 00:01:31.700 --> 00:01:34.180 delivered some sobering news. Despite 39 00:01:34.420 --> 00:01:36.500 all Those promising characteristics, 40 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:39.700 Trappist1d does not have an Earth like 41 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:40.420 atmosphere. 42 00:01:40.660 --> 00:01:43.500 Avery: Oh, that's a bit of a letdown. An atmosphere 43 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:45.780 is pretty crucial for habitability, isn't it? 44 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:48.660 Anna: Absolutely. A protective atmosphere 45 00:01:48.820 --> 00:01:51.700 along with a friendly star and liquid water 46 00:01:52.020 --> 00:01:53.940 is what makes Earth so special. 47 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:57.020 Astronomers are really on a mission with Webb 48 00:01:57.020 --> 00:01:59.660 to determine just how unique our home planet 49 00:01:59.660 --> 00:02:02.470 is. Caroline Pialet Goryeb, the lead 50 00:02:02.470 --> 00:02:05.110 author of the study, put it clearly stating 51 00:02:05.110 --> 00:02:07.590 that while Webb is allowing them to explore 52 00:02:07.590 --> 00:02:09.870 this question for Earth sized planets for the 53 00:02:09.870 --> 00:02:12.310 first time, they can now rule out 54 00:02:12.310 --> 00:02:15.030 Trappist1d from a list of potential Earth 55 00:02:15.030 --> 00:02:16.150 twins or cousins. 56 00:02:16.710 --> 00:02:19.190 Avery: So what exactly did Webb's instruments find, 57 00:02:19.350 --> 00:02:21.270 or rather not find? 58 00:02:21.670 --> 00:02:24.390 Anna: Webb's near infrared Spectroscope or near 59 00:02:24.390 --> 00:02:26.750 spec instrument did not detect 60 00:02:26.750 --> 00:02:29.670 molecules common in Earth's atmosphere like 61 00:02:29.670 --> 00:02:31.670 water, methane or carbon. D. 62 00:02:32.530 --> 00:02:35.490 Pialit Goryeb outlined a few possibilities 63 00:02:35.490 --> 00:02:38.290 for Trappist1d. It could have an 64 00:02:38.290 --> 00:02:41.170 extremely thin atmosphere similar to Mars, 65 00:02:41.330 --> 00:02:44.130 or perhaps very thick high altitude 66 00:02:44.130 --> 00:02:46.610 clouds like Venus that are blocking their 67 00:02:46.610 --> 00:02:49.330 detection of specific atmospheric signatures. 68 00:02:49.730 --> 00:02:52.490 Or it could simply be a, uh, barren rock with 69 00:02:52.490 --> 00:02:53.650 no atmosphere at all. 70 00:02:53.970 --> 00:02:56.050 Avery: That's quite a range of possibilities from 71 00:02:56.210 --> 00:02:58.950 Mars like to Venus like or even 72 00:02:58.950 --> 00:02:59.870 completely barren. 73 00:03:00.430 --> 00:03:02.950 Anna: Indeed. And it highlights some of the 74 00:03:02.950 --> 00:03:05.590 inherent challenges of planets orbiting red 75 00:03:05.590 --> 00:03:08.030 dwarf stars like Trappist 1. 76 00:03:08.430 --> 00:03:11.390 This star, while dim and relatively cold, 77 00:03:11.550 --> 00:03:14.510 is known to be quite volatile. It often 78 00:03:14.510 --> 00:03:17.070 releases flares of high energy radiation, 79 00:03:17.150 --> 00:03:19.590 which have the potential to strip, uh, away 80 00:03:19.590 --> 00:03:21.710 the atmospheres of its small planets, 81 00:03:21.950 --> 00:03:24.170 especially those orbiting closest. 82 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.080 Avery: Right. So even if a planet starts with an 83 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.480 atmosphere, these stellar flares could just 84 00:03:29.480 --> 00:03:32.040 blast it away over time. But why are 85 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:34.080 scientists still so motivated to look for 86 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:36.400 atmospheres around these specific planets? 87 00:03:36.880 --> 00:03:39.520 Anna: Because red dwarf stars are the most common 88 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.360 stars in our galaxy. If planets can 89 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.800 hold onto an atmosphere in such a harsh 90 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.480 environment under waves of intense stellar 91 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:49.720 radiation, it really changes our 92 00:03:49.720 --> 00:03:52.080 understanding of where life might be 93 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:54.740 possible. And Bjorn Benike, a co author of 94 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.060 the study, mentioned that Webb's sensitive 95 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:59.380 infrared instruments are allowing them to 96 00:03:59.380 --> 00:04:01.820 delve into the atmospheres of these smaller, 97 00:04:01.820 --> 00:04:04.500 colder planets for the first time. They're 98 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:06.340 just starting to define the line between 99 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:08.940 planets that can hold onto an atmosphere and 100 00:04:08.940 --> 00:04:09.860 those that can't. 101 00:04:10.420 --> 00:04:13.300 Avery: So is all hope lost for the Trappist 1 system 102 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:15.860 as a whole? Are there any other planets in 103 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:17.900 that system that might still be candidates 104 00:04:17.900 --> 00:04:18.740 for an atmosphere? 105 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:21.900 Anna: Not at all. In fact, Webb observations of 106 00:04:21.900 --> 00:04:24.260 the outer Trappist 1 planets are still 107 00:04:24.260 --> 00:04:27.220 ongoing. Planets E, F, G, 108 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:30.100 and H are further away from the energetic 109 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:32.780 eruptions of their host star, which means 110 00:04:32.780 --> 00:04:35.019 they might have a better chance of retaining 111 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:35.860 their atmospheres. 112 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:38.860 Avery: That's encouraging. So there's still a chance 113 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:41.540 for the Trappist 1 system to host worlds with 114 00:04:41.540 --> 00:04:44.460 significant atmospheres, even if Trappist 1D 115 00:04:44.460 --> 00:04:45.110 isn't one of them. 116 00:04:45.110 --> 00:04:48.100 Anna: Um, exactly. As Pilat Gaheleb 117 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:50.860 said, all hope is not lost for atmospheres 118 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:53.620 around the Trappist 1 planets. While they 119 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:56.420 didn't find a strong atmospheric signature at 120 00:04:56.420 --> 00:04:58.980 Planet D, there's still potential for the 121 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:01.659 outer planets to hold onto a lot of water and 122 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:04.620 other atmospheric components. Ryan McDonald, 123 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:07.020 another co author, emphasised that their 124 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:09.900 detective work is just beginning, and this 125 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:12.620 research reinforces how truly special 126 00:05:12.780 --> 00:05:14.460 Earth is in the cosmos. 127 00:05:15.330 --> 00:05:17.650 Avery: Speaking of special places and innovative 128 00:05:17.650 --> 00:05:20.570 research, let's pivot from distant exoplanets 129 00:05:20.570 --> 00:05:23.130 to something a little closer to home, but 130 00:05:23.130 --> 00:05:26.050 still very much out of this world, the Moon. 131 00:05:26.370 --> 00:05:28.130 There's an impressive new facility in 132 00:05:28.130 --> 00:05:30.610 Colorado that's literally bringing the lunar 133 00:05:30.610 --> 00:05:31.810 surface down to Earth. 134 00:05:31.970 --> 00:05:34.490 Anna: That's right, Avery. The Colorado School of 135 00:05:34.490 --> 00:05:37.090 Mines has built a massive simulated 136 00:05:37.090 --> 00:05:39.730 moonscape, and it's being put to work testing 137 00:05:39.730 --> 00:05:42.680 lunar rovers, evaluating lunar landing and 138 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.520 launch pads, excavation gear, and all 139 00:05:45.520 --> 00:05:47.760 sorts of other hardware for future Moon 140 00:05:47.760 --> 00:05:50.440 missions. It's all about getting a practical 141 00:05:50.440 --> 00:05:53.160 understanding of how to work effectively with 142 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.560 robotic spacecraft on the lunar surface. 143 00:05:55.880 --> 00:05:58.600 Avery: A simulated moonscape. That sounds 144 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:00.840 fascinating. How large is the facility? 145 00:06:01.080 --> 00:06:03.840 Anna: It's quite substantial. Ian Jean, an 146 00:06:03.840 --> 00:06:06.200 adjunct professor and structural engineer at 147 00:06:06.200 --> 00:06:08.960 the school, confirmed that the MINES lunar 148 00:06:08.960 --> 00:06:11.520 surface simulator is up and running and being 149 00:06:11.520 --> 00:06:14.320 used almost daily. They filled it with over 150 00:06:14.320 --> 00:06:17.080 110 tonnes, or 100 151 00:06:17.080 --> 00:06:19.640 metric tonnes, of lunar regolith 152 00:06:19.640 --> 00:06:22.120 simulant. Imagine having that much 153 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:23.440 simulated moon dust. 154 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.920 Avery: Wow, that's a lot of simulant. What kind 155 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:28.240 of projects are they running there? 156 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.720 Anna: Currently, one of the key projects underway 157 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.040 is called aspect, which stands for 158 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:35.300 Autonomous Site Preparation and 159 00:06:35.450 --> 00:06:38.370 Excavation Compaction and Testing. It's 160 00:06:38.370 --> 00:06:40.410 part of NASA's Lunar Surface Technology 161 00:06:40.570 --> 00:06:43.130 research programme, aiming to demonstrate 162 00:06:43.210 --> 00:06:46.170 automated lunar site preparation. The ASPECT 163 00:06:46.170 --> 00:06:48.810 rover is fully autonomous and equipped for 164 00:06:48.810 --> 00:06:51.810 regolith excavation, moving boulders and 165 00:06:51.810 --> 00:06:52.970 surface compaction. 166 00:06:53.210 --> 00:06:55.650 Avery: That's crucial for future lunar bases and 167 00:06:55.650 --> 00:06:58.370 sustained presence on the moon. Building such 168 00:06:58.370 --> 00:07:00.570 a unique facility must have presented a lot 169 00:07:00.570 --> 00:07:01.290 of challenges. 170 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:04.260 Anna: Absolutely. Chris Dreyer, director of 171 00:07:04.260 --> 00:07:06.700 engineering at the Colorado School of Mine's 172 00:07:06.700 --> 00:07:09.020 Centre for Space Resources, highlighted 173 00:07:09.020 --> 00:07:11.580 several. Beyond sourcing such a large 174 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:14.460 quantity of high quality lunar regolith 175 00:07:14.460 --> 00:07:17.060 simulant, affordably the structure itself 176 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:19.500 needed to be dust tight and, um, waterproof. 177 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:22.500 They even built a gantry system inside to 178 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:24.980 track rover movements. And an assistant, 179 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:27.780 professor, Frankie Zhu, developed a motion 180 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:30.140 capture system to model rover mobility. 181 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:33.420 Avery: So it's not just a big sandbox, it's a 182 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:35.860 meticulously engineered testing environment. 183 00:07:36.340 --> 00:07:39.220 Anna: Exactly. Dreier noted that the entire 184 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:41.980 process, from planning to construction, took 185 00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:44.980 over a year. And he now understands why there 186 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:47.700 are so few equivalent testbeds globally. 187 00:07:47.940 --> 00:07:50.060 It's a testament to the complexity and 188 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:52.940 dedication involved. But it's also open for 189 00:07:52.940 --> 00:07:55.380 innovation. Attracting external partners, 190 00:07:55.700 --> 00:07:56.700 that's really smart. 191 00:07:56.700 --> 00:07:58.460 Avery: Creating a resource for the broader 192 00:07:58.460 --> 00:08:00.580 commercial space industry. Are companies 193 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:01.620 already using it? 194 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:04.820 Anna: Yes, indeed. A Colorado based company is 195 00:08:04.820 --> 00:08:07.180 building robotic infrastructure, including a 196 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:09.980 rover called Eagle, with the goal of opening 197 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.820 the moon for further exploration and 198 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:14.700 commercial activity. Interlune, a Seattle 199 00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:17.060 based startup focused on commercialising 200 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:20.060 space resources like harvesting helium 3 201 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.820 from the moon, is also interested. And 202 00:08:22.820 --> 00:08:25.300 Neurospace from Berlin 203 00:08:25.820 --> 00:08:28.100 recently evaluated its modular rover 204 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:30.220 platform, the Hiver, at the facility. 205 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:32.860 Avery: So this isn't just about NASA or government 206 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:35.180 missions. It's a hub for private companies 207 00:08:35.260 --> 00:08:35.580 looking. 208 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:38.460 Anna: To make their mark on the moon too precisely. 209 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:41.140 Irene Salvanathan, CEO of 210 00:08:41.140 --> 00:08:43.940 Neurospace, mentioned they're identifying 211 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:46.460 the minimum technology needed to build 212 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:48.940 inexpensive, affordable and 213 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:51.620 scalable rovers. The Hive R, for 214 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:54.590 example, is modular, flexible and can 215 00:08:54.590 --> 00:08:57.190 even repair itself. Dreyer 216 00:08:57.190 --> 00:08:59.190 reiterated that they're always looking for 217 00:08:59.190 --> 00:09:01.150 opportunities to support technology 218 00:09:01.390 --> 00:09:03.910 development from startups, established 219 00:09:03.910 --> 00:09:06.910 aerospace companies and academia. He 220 00:09:06.910 --> 00:09:09.710 sees vast opportunities for the testbed in 221 00:09:09.710 --> 00:09:12.190 lunar excavation, construction, 222 00:09:12.430 --> 00:09:15.070 mobility sensing and dust 223 00:09:15.070 --> 00:09:15.630 mitigation. 224 00:09:16.030 --> 00:09:17.990 Avery: This simulator truly sounds like a 225 00:09:17.990 --> 00:09:20.550 cornerstone for future lunar exploration and 226 00:09:20.550 --> 00:09:23.040 commercial endeavours, enabling companies to 227 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:25.400 test their innovations right here on Earth 228 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.320 before sending them to the moon. 229 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:30.200 Anna: Absolutely, Avery. And speaking of 230 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.200 testing things before they head to space, our 231 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.400 next story deals with how we're regulating 232 00:09:35.400 --> 00:09:37.480 those very launches here on Earth. 233 00:09:37.880 --> 00:09:40.000 There's been some significant news regarding 234 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.320 changes to the rules governing commercial 235 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.320 rocket launches. 236 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:46.680 Avery: Yes, it's a topic that's often debated in the 237 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:49.160 space industry. The balance between fostering 238 00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:52.040 rapid innovation and ensuring safety and 239 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:54.640 environmental protection. President Donald 240 00:09:54.640 --> 00:09:56.600 Trump recently signed an executive order. 241 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:58.840 That's stirring up a lot of discussion about 242 00:09:58.840 --> 00:09:59.720 exactly that. 243 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:02.840 Anna: That's right. On Wednesday, President 244 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:05.520 Trump signed an executive order directing 245 00:10:05.520 --> 00:10:08.480 government agencies to eliminate or 246 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:11.280 expedite environmental reviews for commercial 247 00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:14.080 launch and re entry licences. The 248 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.320 Federal Aviation Administration, or 249 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:19.200 faa, which is part of the Department of 250 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:21.920 Transportation, is the primary agency that 251 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.160 grants these licences. 252 00:10:23.730 --> 00:10:25.570 Avery: So the goal is to reduce what's often 253 00:10:25.570 --> 00:10:27.930 referred to as red tape for companies in the 254 00:10:27.930 --> 00:10:28.850 commercial space sector. 255 00:10:29.250 --> 00:10:31.970 Anna: Precisely. This push for deregulation 256 00:10:31.970 --> 00:10:34.850 is expected to be particularly welcomed by 257 00:10:34.850 --> 00:10:37.850 companies like SpaceX, which conducts the 258 00:10:37.850 --> 00:10:40.410 vast majority of commercial launches and re 259 00:10:40.410 --> 00:10:43.290 entries licenced by the faa. The 260 00:10:43.290 --> 00:10:45.570 order specifically directs Transportation 261 00:10:45.570 --> 00:10:48.570 Secretary Sean Duffy, who's also the acting 262 00:10:48.570 --> 00:10:51.290 Administrator of NASA, to use all 263 00:10:51.290 --> 00:10:53.650 available authorities to fast track these 264 00:10:53.650 --> 00:10:54.610 environmental review. 265 00:10:55.410 --> 00:10:56.890 Avery: And it's not just about environmental 266 00:10:56.890 --> 00:10:58.890 reviews, is it? I recall there were also 267 00:10:58.890 --> 00:11:01.250 regulations that the industry found 268 00:11:01.250 --> 00:11:02.130 burdensome. 269 00:11:02.290 --> 00:11:05.130 Anna: You're spot on. The executive order also 270 00:11:05.130 --> 00:11:07.650 includes a clause directing defy to re 271 00:11:07.650 --> 00:11:10.610 evaluate, amend or even rescind 272 00:11:10.610 --> 00:11:13.610 a set of launch safety regulations known as 273 00:11:13.610 --> 00:11:16.530 Part 450. These rules were actually 274 00:11:16.530 --> 00:11:18.610 written during the first Trump administration 275 00:11:18.850 --> 00:11:21.330 and went into effect in 2021. 276 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:23.780 But space companies have since complained 277 00:11:23.780 --> 00:11:26.220 they are too cumbersome and have actually 278 00:11:26.380 --> 00:11:28.540 slowed down the licence approval process. 279 00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:32.060 Avery: So a past attempt at streamlining ironically 280 00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:34.660 created new hurdles. What else does the order 281 00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:35.420 aim to achieve? 282 00:11:35.660 --> 00:11:38.460 Anna: It goes further. Trump ordered NASA, 283 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:40.260 the military and the Department of 284 00:11:40.260 --> 00:11:42.860 Transportation to eliminate duplicative 285 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.660 reviews for spaceport development, especially 286 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:48.580 at federally owned launch ranges like Cape 287 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:51.430 Canaveral in Florida or or Vandenberg Space 288 00:11:51.430 --> 00:11:54.110 Force Base in California. The administration 289 00:11:54.350 --> 00:11:57.110 also plans to make the head of the FAA's 290 00:11:57.110 --> 00:11:59.950 Office of Commercial Space Transportation a 291 00:11:59.950 --> 00:12:02.590 political appointee rather than a career 292 00:12:02.590 --> 00:12:05.230 civil servant, and elevate the Office of 293 00:12:05.230 --> 00:12:06.270 Space Commerce. 294 00:12:06.670 --> 00:12:08.790 Avery: It sounds like a comprehensive effort to 295 00:12:08.790 --> 00:12:11.110 reshape the regulatory landscape for 296 00:12:11.110 --> 00:12:13.590 commercial spaceflight. What's the stated 297 00:12:13.590 --> 00:12:15.230 policy goal behind all these changes? 298 00:12:15.230 --> 00:12:18.090 Anna: The Executive Order clearly states it 299 00:12:18.090 --> 00:12:21.010 is the policy of the United States to enhance 300 00:12:21.010 --> 00:12:23.490 American greatness in space by 301 00:12:23.490 --> 00:12:25.490 enabling a, uh, competitive launch 302 00:12:25.570 --> 00:12:28.370 marketplace and substantially increasing 303 00:12:28.450 --> 00:12:31.370 commercial space launch cadence and novel 304 00:12:31.370 --> 00:12:33.410 space activities by 2030. 305 00:12:34.050 --> 00:12:36.090 Essentially, they want to streamline 306 00:12:36.090 --> 00:12:38.850 approvals to boost the US based operators. 307 00:12:39.490 --> 00:12:42.050 However, as with any significant policy 308 00:12:42.130 --> 00:12:44.650 change, there's always a flip side and 309 00:12:44.650 --> 00:12:47.130 concerns raised. What have environmental 310 00:12:47.130 --> 00:12:48.450 groups said about this order? 311 00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:51.840 Avery: There's been significant criticism. Jared 312 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.160 Margolis, a senior attorney for the Centre 313 00:12:54.160 --> 00:12:56.920 for Biological Diversity, voiced strong 314 00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:59.440 opposition, stating that this reckless order 315 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:02.480 puts people and wildlife at risk from private 316 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:05.320 companies launching giant rockets that often 317 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.880 explode and wreak devastation on surrounding 318 00:13:07.880 --> 00:13:10.640 areas. He added that bending the 319 00:13:10.640 --> 00:13:12.880 knee to powerful corporations by allowing 320 00:13:12.880 --> 00:13:15.040 federal agencies to ignore bedrock 321 00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:17.840 environmental laws is incredibly dangerous 322 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:19.840 and puts all of us in harm's way. 323 00:13:20.760 --> 00:13:22.840 Anna: So the concern is that expediting these 324 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:25.160 reviews might compromise environmental 325 00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:27.000 safeguards and public safety. 326 00:13:27.640 --> 00:13:30.400 Exactly. The changes to the environmental 327 00:13:30.400 --> 00:13:32.920 review process, particularly regarding the 328 00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:35.440 National Environmental Policy act or 329 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:37.760 nepa, are considered the most 330 00:13:37.760 --> 00:13:40.480 controversial part of the order. NEPA 331 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.360 requires federal agencies to evaluate the 332 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.740 environmental effects of their actions. The 333 00:13:45.810 --> 00:13:47.250 the White House has directed the 334 00:13:47.250 --> 00:13:49.730 Transportation Department to identify 335 00:13:49.810 --> 00:13:52.730 activities not subject to NEPA and 336 00:13:52.730 --> 00:13:55.730 establish exclusions for launch and re entry 337 00:13:55.730 --> 00:13:56.370 licences. 338 00:13:57.090 --> 00:14:00.090 Avery: On the other hand, those in favour argue that 339 00:14:00.090 --> 00:14:02.330 these changes are vital for the growth and 340 00:14:02.330 --> 00:14:04.370 competitiveness of the US space industry. 341 00:14:05.170 --> 00:14:07.730 Anna: That's the perspective from Secretary Duffy, 342 00:14:07.890 --> 00:14:10.690 who argued the order is important to sustain 343 00:14:10.690 --> 00:14:13.600 economic growth. He said, by slashing 344 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.040 red tape, tying up spaceport construction, 345 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:18.560 streamlining launch licences so they can 346 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:21.480 occur at scale and creating high level space 347 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.360 positions in governments, we can unleash the 348 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.720 next wave of innovation. Lara 349 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.360 Forsyk, founder of the space consulting firm 350 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:32.200 Astrolytical, also noted that while the Biden 351 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.760 Administration knew reforms were needed for 352 00:14:34.760 --> 00:14:37.160 commercial launch regulations, little was 353 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:39.880 done and she hopes this executive order will 354 00:14:39.880 --> 00:14:41.000 spur more action. 355 00:14:42.110 --> 00:14:43.550 Avery: And what about the industry itself? 356 00:14:44.190 --> 00:14:46.670 Anna: Dave Cavosa, president of the Commercial 357 00:14:46.670 --> 00:14:49.150 Space Flight Federation, applauded the move, 358 00:14:49.310 --> 00:14:51.390 stating that it will strengthen and grow the 359 00:14:51.390 --> 00:14:54.190 US commercial space industry by cutting red 360 00:14:54.190 --> 00:14:56.310 tape while maintaining a commitment to public 361 00:14:56.310 --> 00:14:58.790 safety. It's interesting to note that while 362 00:14:58.790 --> 00:15:01.670 the NEPA aspect is controversial, the attempt 363 00:15:01.670 --> 00:15:04.510 to reform or rescind the Part 450 launch 364 00:15:04.510 --> 00:15:07.190 and re entry regulations actually appears to 365 00:15:07.190 --> 00:15:09.150 have bipartisan support in Congress. 366 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.980 Avery: So there's a recognised need for regulatory 367 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:15.660 efficiency, but the specific approach, 368 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.860 especially concerning environmental 369 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:20.220 oversight, is where the disagreement lies. 370 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:23.660 Anna: Yes, and the order even seeks to limit the 371 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:26.260 authority of state officials in enforcing 372 00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:28.500 their own environmental rules related to 373 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:30.940 spaceport construction or operation. 374 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.580 This is especially relevant after the 375 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.740 California Coastal Commission recently 376 00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:38.900 rejected a proposal by SpaceX to double 377 00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:41.520 its launch cadence at Vandenberg's Space for 378 00:15:41.520 --> 00:15:41.800 Space. 379 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:45.040 Avery: This really highlights the complex interplay 380 00:15:45.040 --> 00:15:47.800 between federal policy, state regulations, 381 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:50.000 and the rapidly advancing private space 382 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.280 industry. It's clear that finding the right 383 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:54.040 balance will be an ongoing challenge. 384 00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:56.440 Anna: It definitely is, Avery. 385 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:58.800 And moving from the complexities of 386 00:15:58.800 --> 00:16:01.560 earthbound regulations to the truly 387 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:04.040 cosmic, our next story takes us 388 00:16:04.040 --> 00:16:06.480 billions of light years away to witness 389 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.960 something incredible. The a supermassive 390 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.440 black hole caught in the very act of 391 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.320 switching on. 392 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.980 Avery: That sounds absolutely fascinating, Anna. Uh, 393 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.800 a black hole waking up. That's quite an 394 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:20.120 image. Tell us more about this cosmic alarm 395 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.480 clock. 396 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:23.480 Anna: This discovery centres on a galaxy cluster 397 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.320 called Chips 1911, 398 00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:30.320 uh, 4455, located an 399 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.280 incredible 6 billion light years from Earth. 400 00:16:33.930 --> 00:16:36.770 At its heart lies a supermassive black 401 00:16:36.770 --> 00:16:39.530 hole that has only recently turned on, 402 00:16:39.850 --> 00:16:42.810 roughly a thousand years ago. While that 403 00:16:42.810 --> 00:16:45.810 might sound like a long time to us, in 404 00:16:45.810 --> 00:16:48.690 astronomical terms, it's truly just a blink 405 00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:51.210 of an eye. Lead researcher 406 00:16:51.210 --> 00:16:53.930 Francesco Ubertosi from the University 407 00:16:54.010 --> 00:16:56.850 of Bologna described it as like 408 00:16:56.850 --> 00:16:59.130 watching a sleeping giant wake up. 409 00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:02.220 The team used an array of powerful 410 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:05.060 telescopes, including the Very Long 411 00:17:05.060 --> 00:17:08.020 Baseline Array and Very Large Array, 412 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:10.580 to peer deep into space with 413 00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:13.380 remarkable precision. Imagine being 414 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:16.020 able to read a newspaper in Los Angeles 415 00:17:16.260 --> 00:17:19.260 while standing in New York. That's the kind 416 00:17:19.260 --> 00:17:20.500 of detail they achieved. 417 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:23.780 Avery: That's an astonishing level of detail. So 418 00:17:23.780 --> 00:17:26.700 what makes this newly awakened black hole so 419 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.020 special compared to others? 420 00:17:28.739 --> 00:17:31.219 Anna: What's unique is that it's essentially a 421 00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:34.059 newborn in terms of its activity. The 422 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:36.819 jets of material it's shooting out extend 423 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:39.179 only about a hundred light years from its 424 00:17:39.179 --> 00:17:41.939 centre. While that sounds like enormous, 425 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:44.819 it's actually tiny by black hole standards. 426 00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:47.939 Mature black holes in similar systems can 427 00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:50.739 create jets stretching for tens of thousands 428 00:17:50.739 --> 00:17:53.059 of light years. Most black holes 429 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:55.579 astronomers study have been active for 430 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.940 millions of years, which makes it very 431 00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:00.700 difficult to understand how they first begin 432 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:03.500 to influence their surroundings. This newly 433 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:06.500 awakened black hole provides a unique before 434 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:09.660 picture, showing scientists what happens 435 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:12.020 in the earliest stages of black hole 436 00:18:12.020 --> 00:18:12.580 activity. 437 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:15.820 Avery: So it's like a cosmic laboratory, allowing 438 00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:17.980 them to study the very first moments of a 439 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.140 black hole's influence. 440 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:22.780 Anna: Precisely. Co author Mariam 441 00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:25.140 Giddey from the University of Bologna 442 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:28.180 noted that the jets are so young and 443 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:31.120 small that they haven't had time to push away 444 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:33.880 the surrounding hot gas. This creates a 445 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:36.720 perfect natural laboratory for studying 446 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.200 how black holes first begin to influence 447 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.200 their cosmic neighbourhood. And here's 448 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.800 another intriguing detail. While the black 449 00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:47.800 hole itself is just waking up. The 450 00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:50.320 galaxy around it is anything but 451 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:53.160 sleepy. This galaxy is creating new 452 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.920 stars at an astounding rate. Between 453 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:59.000 140 and 190 times 454 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:01.900 the mass of our sun every single year. 455 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:05.020 Avery: That's an incredible rate. For perspective, 456 00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:07.820 our entire Milky Way galaxy only forms about 457 00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:09.900 one sun's worth of stars annually. 458 00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:13.420 Anna: Exactly. The researchers believe they 459 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:16.220 may actually be witnessing this smoking gun 460 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:19.060 of how black holes get triggered in the first 461 00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:21.700 place. The hot gas surrounding this black 462 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:24.300 hole is cooling very efficiently, which 463 00:19:24.300 --> 00:19:27.100 potentially provides the fuel needed to 464 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:28.380 wake up the black hole. 465 00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:31.420 Avery: That makes sense. It's like pouring fuel onto 466 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.780 a fire. So understanding how 467 00:19:33.780 --> 00:19:36.340 supermassive black holes wake up must have 468 00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:37.980 significant implications for our 469 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.300 understanding of the universe. 470 00:19:40.020 --> 00:19:43.020 Anna: Absolutely. Understanding how they wake 471 00:19:43.020 --> 00:19:45.620 up helps solve fundamental questions about 472 00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:48.420 how galaxies evolve. These black 473 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:51.300 holes play a crucial role in regulating 474 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:54.060 star formation and shaping the largest 475 00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:56.800 structures in the universe. By catching 476 00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:59.600 one in the act of awakening, it's 477 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:01.920 possible to finally study this process 478 00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:05.160 as it unfolds, rather than just seeing the 479 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:05.760 end result. 480 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.400 Avery: And, um, I imagine this kind of discovery 481 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.560 requires combining data from multiple 482 00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:10.960 sources. 483 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:14.840 Anna: It did. The discovery required combining 484 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:17.520 observations from multiple telescopes, 485 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:19.800 each providing different pieces of the 486 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:22.360 puzzle. Some offered ultra high 487 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:25.300 resolution to see the tiny jets, while 488 00:20:25.300 --> 00:20:27.980 others provided the sensitivity needed to 489 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:30.580 detect faint signals from star formation. 490 00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:34.260 As the research team continues, they hope 491 00:20:34.260 --> 00:20:36.780 to watch how this black hole evolves over 492 00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:39.380 time and find more similar systems. 493 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.900 This could truly revolutionise our 494 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:44.900 understanding of how the universe's most 495 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:47.900 powerful objects first begin to shape the 496 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.060 cosmos around them. 497 00:20:49.860 --> 00:20:51.780 Avery: What an incredible journey we've had today. 498 00:20:52.210 --> 00:20:54.450 From the intriguing, yet ultimately not 499 00:20:54.450 --> 00:20:57.450 earth, like Trappist1d to the innovative 500 00:20:57.450 --> 00:20:59.490 Lunar Surface Simulator here on Earth. 501 00:20:59.650 --> 00:21:02.210 Anna: And let's not forget the important discussion 502 00:21:02.210 --> 00:21:05.130 about commercial space regulations and the 503 00:21:05.130 --> 00:21:07.650 truly groundbreaking discovery of a black 504 00:21:07.650 --> 00:21:10.050 hole caught in the act of awakening. 505 00:21:10.370 --> 00:21:12.770 It's been a packed episode of Cosmic 506 00:21:12.770 --> 00:21:13.330 Insights. 507 00:21:13.650 --> 00:21:16.250 Avery: It certainly has, Anna. Uh, we hope all our 508 00:21:16.250 --> 00:21:18.690 listeners enjoy today's exploration of the 509 00:21:18.690 --> 00:21:21.350 universe's latest news. Thank you for tuning 510 00:21:21.350 --> 00:21:22.430 in to Astronomy. 511 00:21:22.430 --> 00:21:25.150 Anna: Daily, and we look forward to bringing you 512 00:21:25.150 --> 00:21:27.590 more fascinating stories from across the 513 00:21:27.590 --> 00:21:30.470 cosmos very soon. Until next time, 514 00:21:30.470 --> 00:21:33.150 space explorers, keep looking up at our 515 00:21:33.150 --> 00:21:34.270 wonderful cosmos.