WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:02.920 Avery: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that 1 00:00:02.920 --> 00:00:05.440 brings you the universe, one story at a time. 2 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:06.480 I'm Avery. 3 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:09.360 Anna: And I'm Anna. Today we're talking about a 4 00:00:09.360 --> 00:00:12.240 historic launch milestone in Florida, a 5 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.960 major roundup of news from China's ambitious 6 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:17.880 space program, and some big upgrades from 7 00:00:17.880 --> 00:00:18.800 Blue Origin. 8 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:21.960 Avery: Plus we'll dive into a new AI tool that 9 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:24.200 could revolutionize the search for life on 10 00:00:24.200 --> 00:00:27.120 Mars. And we'll revisit the moon's dramatic 11 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.320 origin story with some fascinating new 12 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:30.800 research. Let's get started. 13 00:00:31.890 --> 00:00:34.730 First up, a truly staggering achievement from 14 00:00:34.730 --> 00:00:37.690 Florida Space Coast. This week, a SpaceX 15 00:00:37.690 --> 00:00:40.210 Falcon 9 rocket is set to become the 16 00:00:40.210 --> 00:00:42.730 100th launch from the Cape Canaveral and 17 00:00:42.730 --> 00:00:45.410 Kennedy Space center area in a single 18 00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:45.890 year. 19 00:00:46.450 --> 00:00:49.370 Anna: 100 launches. It's a number that would have 20 00:00:49.370 --> 00:00:52.050 been pure science fiction just a decade ago. 21 00:00:52.370 --> 00:00:55.330 To put it in perspective, the space coast saw 22 00:00:55.410 --> 00:00:58.130 31 launches in all of 2021. 23 00:00:58.290 --> 00:01:00.930 And in 2022, that number nearly 24 00:01:00.930 --> 00:01:03.850 doubled to 57. And now we're at 25 00:01:03.850 --> 00:01:04.370 100. 26 00:01:04.610 --> 00:01:06.810 Avery: It's a testament to the incredible success 27 00:01:06.810 --> 00:01:09.570 and efficiency of reusable rocket 28 00:01:09.570 --> 00:01:12.050 technology, which SpaceX has pioneered. 29 00:01:12.370 --> 00:01:14.489 Being able to re fly these first stage 30 00:01:14.489 --> 00:01:17.370 boosters again and again has completely 31 00:01:17.370 --> 00:01:19.770 changed the economics and the cadence of 32 00:01:19.770 --> 00:01:20.450 spaceflight. 33 00:01:20.770 --> 00:01:23.450 Anna: Absolutely. And this milestone launch isn't 34 00:01:23.450 --> 00:01:26.010 just symbolic. The Falcon 9 is carrying 35 00:01:26.010 --> 00:01:28.770 another batch of 29 Starlink satellites, 36 00:01:28.850 --> 00:01:31.270 continuing to build massive Internet 37 00:01:31.270 --> 00:01:33.550 constellation. It's routine, yet 38 00:01:33.550 --> 00:01:34.950 revolutionary at the same. 39 00:01:34.950 --> 00:01:37.270 Avery: Time, A, uh, perfect example of the new 40 00:01:37.270 --> 00:01:39.990 normal in space access. It's an amazing 41 00:01:39.990 --> 00:01:41.710 milestone for the entire industry. 42 00:01:42.190 --> 00:01:44.950 Anna: Speaking of bustling space programs, let's 43 00:01:44.950 --> 00:01:47.150 turn our attention to China, where there's a 44 00:01:47.150 --> 00:01:49.510 flurry of activity and some unexpected 45 00:01:49.510 --> 00:01:52.030 developments. We've got four big updates. 46 00:01:52.110 --> 00:01:53.550 Avery: All right, let's break it down. 47 00:01:53.950 --> 00:01:56.390 Anna: First, of course, is the drama with their 48 00:01:56.390 --> 00:01:59.110 Senzhou spacecraft. An uncrewed 49 00:01:59.110 --> 00:02:01.630 Senzhou is launching in a few days, but it's 50 00:02:01.630 --> 00:02:03.850 a replacement for a previous one that was 51 00:02:03.850 --> 00:02:06.650 damaged. As we reported earlier this week, 52 00:02:06.730 --> 00:02:09.690 the crew of Shenzhou 20 who were on the 10 53 00:02:09.690 --> 00:02:12.450 Gong Space Station had to return to Earth in 54 00:02:12.450 --> 00:02:13.530 a different spacecraft. 55 00:02:13.770 --> 00:02:15.810 Avery: For listeners who missed the earlier stories, 56 00:02:15.810 --> 00:02:17.370 can you give us a quick recap? 57 00:02:17.770 --> 00:02:20.410 Anna: The report says there was a crack in a window 58 00:02:20.410 --> 00:02:23.330 of their original return module. That is a 59 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:25.970 serious issue, and it's a stark reminder of 60 00:02:25.970 --> 00:02:28.750 how unforgiving space can be. Thankfully, 61 00:02:28.750 --> 00:02:30.630 they had a backup ready to go with the 62 00:02:30.630 --> 00:02:33.430 arrival of the Shenzhou 21 crew and more 63 00:02:33.430 --> 00:02:35.670 importantly, spacecraft. Hence the need for 64 00:02:35.670 --> 00:02:38.590 the Shenzhou 22 to get their ASAP as 65 00:02:38.590 --> 00:02:39.630 an uncrewed mission. 66 00:02:39.870 --> 00:02:42.310 Avery: Wow, that's a Close call. Glad the crew is 67 00:02:42.310 --> 00:02:43.790 safe. What's the next update? 68 00:02:43.870 --> 00:02:46.230 Anna: On a more positive note for the Tengong 69 00:02:46.230 --> 00:02:48.270 station, it's set to host its first 70 00:02:48.270 --> 00:02:51.230 international astronaut in 2026. This 71 00:02:51.230 --> 00:02:53.510 is a major step for China's goal of making 72 00:02:53.510 --> 00:02:55.420 ten Gong a hub for for international 73 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:57.340 cooperation, much like the iss. 74 00:02:57.820 --> 00:02:59.740 Avery: That's a significant diplomatic and 75 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:00.860 scientific milestone. 76 00:03:00.940 --> 00:03:03.620 Anna: It is. However, the third piece of news 77 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:06.420 shows it's not all smooth sailing. Many of 78 00:03:06.420 --> 00:03:08.300 China's commercial launch companies, which 79 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:11.139 are trying to emulate SpaceX's success, are 80 00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:13.420 seeing significant delays with their maiden 81 00:03:13.420 --> 00:03:15.860 flights. It highlights just how difficult 82 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:18.380 developing reliable rockets really is. 83 00:03:18.540 --> 00:03:21.540 Avery: Right. It's not as simple as just copying a 84 00:03:21.540 --> 00:03:23.540 design. They are. Immense engineering 85 00:03:23.540 --> 00:03:24.140 challenges. 86 00:03:24.380 --> 00:03:25.100 Anna: Exactly. 87 00:03:25.420 --> 00:03:28.140 And finally, perhaps the most scientifically 88 00:03:28.140 --> 00:03:30.980 intriguing story from China. The analysis of 89 00:03:30.980 --> 00:03:33.420 the Chang' e 6 lunar samples brought back 90 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:35.700 from the far side of the moon has revealed 91 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:36.940 signs of rust. 92 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:40.500 Avery: Rust on the moon. But rust 93 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.380 requires oxygen and water. How is 94 00:03:43.380 --> 00:03:44.700 that possible in a vacuum? 95 00:03:44.860 --> 00:03:47.460 Anna: That's the big question. Scientists think 96 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:50.020 that oxygen might be delivered from Earth's 97 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:52.920 upper atmosphere via the solar wind when the 98 00:03:52.920 --> 00:03:55.440 moon passes through Earth's magnetotail. And 99 00:03:55.440 --> 00:03:57.640 the water could come from micrometeorite 100 00:03:57.640 --> 00:04:00.160 impacts. It suggests the Moon's surface 101 00:04:00.160 --> 00:04:02.880 chemistry is far more complex and has 102 00:04:02.880 --> 00:04:05.560 unexpected oxidizing conditions. A ah, very 103 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:06.280 cool puzzle. 104 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:09.000 Avery: From one ambitious program to another, 105 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:12.040 let's talk about Blue Origin. Jeff 106 00:04:12.040 --> 00:04:14.520 Bezos company is making some major 107 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.080 upgrades to its heavy lift rocket, New 108 00:04:17.080 --> 00:04:17.560 Glenn. 109 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.800 Anna: New Glenn has been in development for a 110 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.440 while. What's new? 111 00:04:23.370 --> 00:04:26.010 Avery: They're focusing on enhancing three key 112 00:04:26.970 --> 00:04:29.290 propulsion structures and 113 00:04:29.370 --> 00:04:32.290 reusability. This involves tweaks 114 00:04:32.290 --> 00:04:35.050 to their powerful BE4 engines and 115 00:04:35.130 --> 00:04:37.290 improvements to the rocket's overall design 116 00:04:37.290 --> 00:04:40.170 to make it more robust for repeated flights. 117 00:04:40.330 --> 00:04:42.730 But the biggest news is what they're building 118 00:04:42.970 --> 00:04:45.970 next. Oh, uh, they are planning 119 00:04:45.970 --> 00:04:48.810 a super heavy version called New Glenn 120 00:04:48.890 --> 00:04:51.640 9x4. This big beast of a 121 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:54.240 rocket is designed to lift an incredible 70 122 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.720 metric tons to low Earth orbit. 123 00:04:57.280 --> 00:05:00.240 Anna: 70 metric tons? That's huge. 124 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.880 That puts it in direct competition with 125 00:05:02.880 --> 00:05:05.120 SpaceX's Starship and 126 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.200 NASA's Space Launch System. 127 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.200 Avery: Exactly. It uh, signals that Blue Origin 128 00:05:10.200 --> 00:05:12.560 isn't just aiming to compete in the current 129 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.480 market. They're aiming for the future of 130 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:18.040 large scale space infrastructure missions to 131 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:19.680 the Moon, Mars and beyond. 132 00:05:20.380 --> 00:05:23.260 Anna: It's a bold move from the colossal 133 00:05:23.260 --> 00:05:25.580 scale of super heavy rockets. 134 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:28.660 We now go to the microscopic. In 135 00:05:28.660 --> 00:05:31.460 the search for life on Mars, scientists 136 00:05:31.460 --> 00:05:34.060 have developed a new AI tool called 137 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:35.420 Life Tracer. 138 00:05:35.820 --> 00:05:38.300 Avery: I saw this. The approach is 139 00:05:38.380 --> 00:05:41.260 fascinating. For decades, our, uh, search for 140 00:05:41.260 --> 00:05:43.580 life has been about Looking for specific 141 00:05:43.580 --> 00:05:46.300 biomarkers, certain molecules that we 142 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:49.130 associate with life on Earth. But LifeTracer 143 00:05:49.130 --> 00:05:49.930 does something different. 144 00:05:50.730 --> 00:05:53.090 Anna: It does, instead of hunting for 145 00:05:53.090 --> 00:05:56.090 individual molecules, it analyzes the 146 00:05:56.090 --> 00:05:58.730 entire chemical inventory of a sample. 147 00:05:59.370 --> 00:06:02.210 It uses machine learning to look for patterns 148 00:06:02.210 --> 00:06:04.810 of complexity and diversity in the 149 00:06:04.810 --> 00:06:07.290 molecules present. The underlying 150 00:06:07.290 --> 00:06:10.090 idea is that life as a process 151 00:06:10.570 --> 00:06:13.250 creates much more varied and complex 152 00:06:13.250 --> 00:06:16.090 chemical signatures than non living geology. 153 00:06:16.970 --> 00:06:18.770 Avery: So it's not looking for a needle in a 154 00:06:18.770 --> 00:06:21.170 haystack, it's looking at the entire 155 00:06:21.170 --> 00:06:23.970 haystack and saying, does this haystack look 156 00:06:23.970 --> 00:06:25.930 like it was made by something alive? 157 00:06:26.810 --> 00:06:29.610 Anna: That's a great way to put it. And the results 158 00:06:29.770 --> 00:06:32.729 are promising. In tests on terrestrial 159 00:06:32.729 --> 00:06:35.050 samples, it has an accuracy of over 160 00:06:35.130 --> 00:06:37.850 87% in distinguishing 161 00:06:37.850 --> 00:06:40.250 between samples with a biological origin 162 00:06:40.570 --> 00:06:42.970 and those with a non biological origin. 163 00:06:43.530 --> 00:06:46.010 Avery: That's incredibly powerful. It could help us 164 00:06:46.010 --> 00:06:48.250 analyze data from the perseverance rover 165 00:06:48.250 --> 00:06:50.970 samples without the bias of only looking for 166 00:06:50.970 --> 00:06:53.530 Earth. Like life, it could detect life 167 00:06:53.610 --> 00:06:54.970 that's truly alien. 168 00:06:55.290 --> 00:06:57.970 Anna: And a very positive use of modern AI 169 00:06:57.970 --> 00:06:58.330 technology. 170 00:06:59.210 --> 00:07:02.210 Avery: For our final story, we journey billions 171 00:07:02.210 --> 00:07:05.010 of years into the past to uncover a new 172 00:07:05.010 --> 00:07:07.690 clue in the mystery of how our moon was 173 00:07:07.690 --> 00:07:08.170 formed. 174 00:07:08.820 --> 00:07:11.540 Anna: The giant impact hypothesis. The 175 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:14.180 theory that a, um, Mars sized object, 176 00:07:14.340 --> 00:07:17.340 which we call Theia, slammed into the 177 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:19.700 proto Earth. And the debris from that 178 00:07:19.700 --> 00:07:22.420 collision eventually formed the moon. 179 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:25.980 Avery: Exactly. But a key question has always 180 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:28.260 been, where did Theia, uh, come from? 181 00:07:28.820 --> 00:07:31.340 New research suggests it wasn't some rogue 182 00:07:31.340 --> 00:07:33.340 planet from the outer solar system that 183 00:07:33.340 --> 00:07:35.780 wandered in it. It may have been a close 184 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:37.780 neighbor of early Earth. 185 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:41.220 Anna: A neighbor? How could they possibly know 186 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:41.540 that? 187 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:45.140 Avery: It comes down to chemistry, specifically 188 00:07:45.140 --> 00:07:47.540 isotopes. You see, the chemical 189 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:50.300 composition of planets varies depending on 190 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:52.980 where in the solar system they formed. By 191 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:55.900 meticulously analyzing isotopes of elements 192 00:07:55.900 --> 00:07:58.780 like oxygen in rocks from both Earth and 193 00:07:58.780 --> 00:07:59.380 the Moon. 194 00:07:59.700 --> 00:08:02.690 Anna: Scientists can work backwards, right, 195 00:08:03.250 --> 00:08:05.930 because the moon is made of material from 196 00:08:05.930 --> 00:08:07.890 both the early Earth and theia. 197 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.210 Avery: Precisely. The isotopic signatures 198 00:08:11.210 --> 00:08:13.730 in lunar rocks Are remarkably similar to 199 00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:16.650 Earth's. This new analysis suggests 200 00:08:16.650 --> 00:08:19.330 this is because Theia itself formed in the 201 00:08:19.330 --> 00:08:22.290 inner solar system in a very similar orbit 202 00:08:22.290 --> 00:08:24.570 to Earth. It was, for all intents and 203 00:08:24.570 --> 00:08:27.370 purposes, Earth's planetary siblings. 204 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.880 Anna: So this colossal moon forming impact 205 00:08:31.440 --> 00:08:34.280 wasn't an attack from a stranger, but a 206 00:08:34.280 --> 00:08:37.160 collision between neighbors. It paints a 207 00:08:37.160 --> 00:08:39.960 picture of the early solar system as an 208 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.600 even more chaotic and crowded place than we 209 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:43.040 imagined. 210 00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:46.200 Avery: A, uh, cosmic fender bender that gave us our 211 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:47.120 beautiful moon. 212 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.840 Anna: And that's all the time we have for today. 213 00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:53.160 From a historic 100th launch and rust 214 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:55.810 on the moon to, to super heavy rockets and 215 00:08:55.810 --> 00:08:58.490 new insights into our own cosmic origins. 216 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:01.690 Avery: The universe is never short on stories. 217 00:09:01.770 --> 00:09:04.770 Thanks for joining us on Astronomy Daily. I'm 218 00:09:04.770 --> 00:09:05.290 Avery. 219 00:09:05.450 --> 00:09:08.370 Anna: And I'm Anna. Until next time, keep 220 00:09:08.370 --> 00:09:09.050 looking up. 221 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:20.980 Avery: The story.