WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.240 Avery: Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your 1 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:05.440 essential guide to the latest happenings in 2 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.280 space exploration and discovery. I'm 3 00:00:08.280 --> 00:00:08.880 Avery. 4 00:00:09.120 --> 00:00:11.360 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you 5 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.280 today. We're covering everything from mission 6 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:17.080 updates for NASA and Boeing to a rapid 7 00:00:17.080 --> 00:00:17.920 launch from China. 8 00:00:18.560 --> 00:00:20.760 Avery: That's right. We'll also be looking at the 9 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:23.160 busy schedule aboard the International Space 10 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:26.000 Station. And then we'll dive into a cosmic 11 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.460 mystery, a strange red sphere hurtling 12 00:00:28.460 --> 00:00:31.340 through our galaxy. Plus a great opportunity 13 00:00:31.340 --> 00:00:33.820 for students from the European Space Agency. 14 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:37.220 Anna: So let's get started. Avery. 15 00:00:37.220 --> 00:00:39.900 Our first story is a significant pivot for a 16 00:00:39.900 --> 00:00:41.580 major commercial crew partner. 17 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:43.860 Avery: Indeed. We're talking about Boeing's 18 00:00:43.860 --> 00:00:46.340 Starliner. NASA and Boeing have announced a 19 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:48.700 major change for the Starliner 1 mission. 20 00:00:48.940 --> 00:00:51.340 Instead of carrying a crew of four astronauts 21 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:53.660 as planned, it will now be a cargo only 22 00:00:53.660 --> 00:00:54.780 mission to the iss. 23 00:00:56.480 --> 00:00:58.920 Anna: And this mission has been pushed back, now 24 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:00.960 scheduled for no earlier than April 25 00:01:01.040 --> 00:01:03.920 2026. This follows a series of 26 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.040 setbacks, doesn't it? 27 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:07.800 Avery: Exactly. The decision comes after the 28 00:01:07.800 --> 00:01:09.880 challenging crew flight test earlier this 29 00:01:09.880 --> 00:01:12.200 year. During that mission with astronauts 30 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:14.520 Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the 31 00:01:14.520 --> 00:01:16.920 spacecraft experienced multiple problems with 32 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:17.840 its thrusters. 33 00:01:19.600 --> 00:01:21.920 Anna: Right. Safety is paramount, of course. 34 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.200 So NASA and Boeing are taking time to analyze 35 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.170 the data and implement fix. The shift to a 36 00:01:28.170 --> 00:01:30.410 cargo mission seems like a way to still 37 00:01:30.410 --> 00:01:32.930 utilize the spacecraft and fulfill 38 00:01:32.930 --> 00:01:35.290 contractual obligations while they work on 39 00:01:35.290 --> 00:01:36.810 getting it fully crew rated. 40 00:01:37.050 --> 00:01:39.530 Avery: It does. And speaking of contracts, there's 41 00:01:39.530 --> 00:01:41.810 another update there. The number of required 42 00:01:41.810 --> 00:01:44.330 flights for Boeing has been reduced from six 43 00:01:44.330 --> 00:01:47.130 down to four. This reflects the long delays 44 00:01:47.130 --> 00:01:49.650 and the success of SpaceX's Crew Dragon, 45 00:01:49.650 --> 00:01:51.890 which has been reliably flying astronauts 46 00:01:51.890 --> 00:01:52.890 since 2020. 47 00:01:54.530 --> 00:01:57.450 Anna: Mm mhm. So NASA has a dependable ride with 48 00:01:57.450 --> 00:02:00.090 SpaceX, which gives them the flexibility to 49 00:02:00.090 --> 00:02:02.050 be more cautious with Starliner. 50 00:02:02.530 --> 00:02:04.930 Avery: Precisely. The big question now is about the 51 00:02:04.930 --> 00:02:06.930 human element. What does this mean for the 52 00:02:06.930 --> 00:02:08.570 astronauts who were assigned to future 53 00:02:08.570 --> 00:02:09.650 Starliner missions? 54 00:02:11.250 --> 00:02:13.410 Anna: That's m a key point. The future crew 55 00:02:13.410 --> 00:02:15.930 assignments are now uncertain. Several 56 00:02:15.930 --> 00:02:18.170 astronauts, including Scott Tingle and Mike 57 00:02:18.170 --> 00:02:20.920 Think, who were slated for Starliner 1, have 58 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:22.920 already been reassigned to other flights, 59 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.880 likely on Crew Dragon. It's a tough situation 60 00:02:25.880 --> 00:02:28.120 for the astronauts who have trained for years 61 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:29.560 on this specific vehicle. 62 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.800 Avery: Absolutely. It underscores the challenges of 63 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:35.360 developing new human rated spacecraft. We'll 64 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:37.160 be watching closely to see how Boeing 65 00:02:37.160 --> 00:02:39.320 addresses the thruster issues and what the 66 00:02:39.320 --> 00:02:41.520 future holds for Starliner's role in crewed 67 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:41.880 missions. 68 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.200 Anna: From one nation's space program to another. 69 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.240 Our next story takes us to China, which just 70 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:51.380 demonstrated a remarkable capability. 71 00:02:52.260 --> 00:02:54.660 Avery: Yes, this is Quite impressive. China 72 00:02:54.660 --> 00:02:56.940 successfully launched the uncrewed Shenzhou 73 00:02:56.940 --> 00:02:59.620 22 mission to its Tiangong Space Station. 74 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:01.860 But this wasn't a routine supply run. 75 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:07.019 Anna: Not at all. The launch was expedited to 76 00:03:07.019 --> 00:03:08.980 serve as a launch on need mission. 77 00:03:09.220 --> 00:03:12.180 Essentially, it's a lifeboat. The Shenzhou 20 78 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.660 spacecraft currently docked at Tiangong 79 00:03:14.980 --> 00:03:17.420 sustained some form of damage and mission 80 00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:19.860 controllers decided it was necessary to send 81 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:22.380 up a replacement to ensure a safe return 82 00:03:22.380 --> 00:03:23.520 vehicle. Vehicle for the crew. 83 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:26.520 Avery: A lifeboat. That's the perfect term. And this 84 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:28.640 is a first for China's human spaceflight 85 00:03:28.640 --> 00:03:30.960 program. Having a vehicle ready to go on 86 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.920 short notice for a rescue scenario is a level 87 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:36.440 of operational maturity that only a few space 88 00:03:36.440 --> 00:03:38.000 programs have ever achieved. 89 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:41.920 Anna: It really is. It mirrors the capability 90 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:44.240 that Russia has long maintained for the ISS 91 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:47.320 with its Soyuz spacecraft and that NASA 92 00:03:47.320 --> 00:03:50.150 now has with SpaceX. It means you can handle 93 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:51.900 unforeseen emergencies like a, uh, 94 00:03:51.910 --> 00:03:54.590 micrometeoroid strike without having to 95 00:03:54.590 --> 00:03:55.710 decrew the station. 96 00:03:56.670 --> 00:03:58.870 Avery: Details on the damage to Shenzhou 20 are 97 00:03:58.870 --> 00:04:01.310 still sparse, but the swift and successful 98 00:04:01.310 --> 00:04:03.870 launch of Shenzhou 22 shows a significant 99 00:04:04.190 --> 00:04:06.670 confidence and robustness in their systems. 100 00:04:07.070 --> 00:04:09.950 Anna: MM A M major milestone. It 101 00:04:09.950 --> 00:04:12.590 signals that the Tiangong Space Station is 102 00:04:12.590 --> 00:04:15.190 intended to be a permanently occupied 103 00:04:15.190 --> 00:04:18.030 outpost with all the necessary safety 104 00:04:18.030 --> 00:04:20.929 and redundancy measures in place. A 105 00:04:20.929 --> 00:04:23.089 very clear statement of their long term 106 00:04:23.089 --> 00:04:24.089 ambitions in space. 107 00:04:24.649 --> 00:04:27.289 Avery: Speaking of permanently occupied outposts, 108 00:04:27.449 --> 00:04:29.369 let's shift our focus to the International 109 00:04:29.529 --> 00:04:31.889 Space Station, where it's been a busy week of 110 00:04:31.889 --> 00:04:33.049 logistics and preparation. 111 00:04:33.449 --> 00:04:36.368 Anna: That's right. The Baikonodrome Cosmodrome is 112 00:04:36.368 --> 00:04:39.329 buzzing. A Soyuz rocket has been rolled out 113 00:04:39.329 --> 00:04:41.529 to the launch pad for a Thanksgiving Day 114 00:04:41.529 --> 00:04:44.329 launch. It will be carrying three new crew 115 00:04:44.329 --> 00:04:45.449 members up to the station. 116 00:04:45.970 --> 00:04:47.850 Avery: And to get ready for that arrival, the 117 00:04:47.850 --> 00:04:50.050 station crew had to play a bit of musical 118 00:04:50.050 --> 00:04:51.970 chairs with the spacecraft docked there. 119 00:04:52.130 --> 00:04:55.090 Anna: They did. The Northrop Grumman's Cygnus 120 00:04:55.090 --> 00:04:57.690 XL cargo spacecraft had to be 121 00:04:57.690 --> 00:05:00.570 temporarily moved from its docking port. The 122 00:05:00.570 --> 00:05:03.490 station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, 123 00:05:03.570 --> 00:05:06.090 was used to unberth the Cygnus and 124 00:05:06.090 --> 00:05:08.850 maneuver it to a different location to free 125 00:05:08.850 --> 00:05:11.610 up the port needed for the incoming Soyuz. 126 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.840 Avery: It's like a complex orbital ballet, all 127 00:05:14.840 --> 00:05:17.360 while traveling at over 17,000 miles per 128 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:17.680 hour. 129 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:20.720 Anna: Exactly. And as if that wasn't enough, 130 00:05:20.880 --> 00:05:23.560 the crew is also in the middle of offloading 131 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:26.000 cargo from another recently arrived vehicle, 132 00:05:26.080 --> 00:05:28.520 the Japanese HTV X1 133 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:31.280 spacecraft. So it's all hands on deck, 134 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:32.080 right? 135 00:05:32.320 --> 00:05:34.720 Avery: Unpacking supplies, stowing them away, 136 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.760 and all the while continuing their primary 137 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:40.040 mission of conducting science experiments in 138 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.780 microgravity. It's a constant Juggling act. 139 00:05:42.940 --> 00:05:45.540 Anna: It certainly is. These logistical 140 00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:48.140 operations are crucial for the long term 141 00:05:48.140 --> 00:05:51.020 functioning of the station, ensuring the crew 142 00:05:51.020 --> 00:05:53.620 has everything they need to live and work in 143 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:56.060 orbit. A reminder that for every 144 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:58.900 glamorous spacewalk, there are countless 145 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:01.660 hours of meticulous planning and hard work. 146 00:06:02.140 --> 00:06:04.580 Avery: Well said. Now Anna, from the 147 00:06:04.580 --> 00:06:07.370 meticulous work in near Earth orbit, let's 148 00:06:07.370 --> 00:06:09.570 venture out into the deeper cosmos for a 149 00:06:09.570 --> 00:06:10.450 genuine mystery. 150 00:06:10.850 --> 00:06:13.690 Anna: This is a fascinating one. Astronomers 151 00:06:13.690 --> 00:06:16.450 using data from the WISE telescope, have 152 00:06:16.450 --> 00:06:18.450 discovered something truly 153 00:06:19.410 --> 00:06:22.290 a, uh, mysterious red Sphere cataloged as 154 00:06:22.530 --> 00:06:25.410 CY J1249 155 00:06:25.730 --> 00:06:28.610 that is tearing through the Milky Way at an 156 00:06:28.610 --> 00:06:29.810 incredible speed. 157 00:06:30.290 --> 00:06:32.810 Avery: And, um, when you say incredible, what are we 158 00:06:32.810 --> 00:06:33.410 talking about? 159 00:06:33.910 --> 00:06:36.310 Anna: Over 1 million miles per hour. 160 00:06:36.550 --> 00:06:39.270 It's one of the fastest objects of its kind 161 00:06:39.350 --> 00:06:42.150 ever detected. Its velocity is so 162 00:06:42.150 --> 00:06:44.550 high that it's on a path to eventually 163 00:06:44.630 --> 00:06:47.590 escape the gravitational pull of our galaxy 164 00:06:47.590 --> 00:06:48.310 entirely. 165 00:06:48.710 --> 00:06:51.190 Avery: Wow. A million miles per hour. 166 00:06:51.910 --> 00:06:54.270 So what is it? And, um, where did it get that 167 00:06:54.270 --> 00:06:54.950 kind of speed? 168 00:06:55.350 --> 00:06:58.310 Anna: That's the mystery. Its high speed and 169 00:06:58.390 --> 00:07:01.270 its unusual composition are challenging our 170 00:07:01.270 --> 00:07:04.150 existing theories of how cosmic objects 171 00:07:04.230 --> 00:07:07.050 form and behave. Scientists are currently 172 00:07:07.050 --> 00:07:09.650 weighing two main theories for its origin. 173 00:07:09.970 --> 00:07:12.890 Okay, let's hear them. The first theory is 174 00:07:12.890 --> 00:07:15.730 that CY's J1249 175 00:07:15.970 --> 00:07:18.850 could be a fragment of a white dwarf star. 176 00:07:19.250 --> 00:07:22.170 In this scenario, a white dwarf in a binary 177 00:07:22.170 --> 00:07:25.050 system with another star would have siphoned 178 00:07:25.050 --> 00:07:27.490 off too much material from its companion, 179 00:07:27.730 --> 00:07:30.690 triggering a specific type of supernova 180 00:07:30.690 --> 00:07:31.330 explosion. 181 00:07:32.050 --> 00:07:33.930 Avery: Right, A, uh, type one. A supernova. 182 00:07:33.930 --> 00:07:36.810 Anna: Exactly. But instead of completely 183 00:07:36.810 --> 00:07:39.210 obliterating the white dwarf, this 184 00:07:39.210 --> 00:07:41.490 explosion might have been incomplete, 185 00:07:41.810 --> 00:07:44.610 leaving behind a super dense fragment and 186 00:07:44.610 --> 00:07:47.170 flinging it across the galaxy at immense 187 00:07:47.170 --> 00:07:49.850 speed. The red color could be due to an 188 00:07:49.850 --> 00:07:52.530 unusual mix of elements left over from that 189 00:07:52.530 --> 00:07:53.570 partial explosion. 190 00:07:53.970 --> 00:07:56.610 Avery: That makes sense. Uh, a cosmic cannonball. 191 00:07:56.930 --> 00:07:58.050 What's the second theory? 192 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.660 Anna: The other possibility is that it's a failed 193 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:03.500 star, also known as a brown dwarf, 194 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:06.580 or perhaps a rogue planet. In 195 00:08:06.580 --> 00:08:09.100 this case, it would have been born in a star 196 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:11.900 system and then violently ejected through 197 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:14.700 gravitational interactions with other more 198 00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:15.660 massive objects. 199 00:08:16.140 --> 00:08:17.420 Avery: Like a slingshot effect. 200 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:20.220 Anna: Precisely. This could explain the speed, 201 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:23.220 but the composition is still a bit of a 202 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:25.880 puzzle for this theory. Further observations, 203 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.600 probably with the James Webb Space Telescope, 204 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.120 will be needed to analyze its light spectrum 205 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.840 and figure out what it's made of. Either way, 206 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:35.800 it's a fascinating detective story. 207 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:38.560 Avery: It really is a great reminder that the 208 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:40.799 universe is filled with strange and 209 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:42.120 unexpected objects. 210 00:08:42.760 --> 00:08:44.360 Finally today we have an important 211 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:46.600 announcement for any students listening who 212 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.440 dream of a career in space. 213 00:08:49.560 --> 00:08:52.280 Anna: Yes, this is a fantastic Opportunity. 214 00:08:52.520 --> 00:08:54.920 The European Space Agency, or 215 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:57.780 esa, has issued issued a final call for 216 00:08:57.780 --> 00:09:00.260 applications for its 2026 217 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:01.940 student internship program. 218 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:05.540 Avery: And that deadline is coming up very soon. 219 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:08.820 Applications must be in by November 30th. 220 00:09:09.140 --> 00:09:11.660 This program is an amazing gateway into the 221 00:09:11.660 --> 00:09:11.940 industry. 222 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:15.780 Anna: It is. It offers students in a wide variety 223 00:09:15.780 --> 00:09:18.340 of fields, not just science and engineering, 224 00:09:18.660 --> 00:09:21.340 the chance to get hands on experience working 225 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:24.030 alongside Europe's top space experts. 226 00:09:25.230 --> 00:09:27.870 Avery: Interns get to contribute to real missions, 227 00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:30.470 whether that's developing technology for 228 00:09:30.470 --> 00:09:33.270 future space probes, analyzing satellite 229 00:09:33.270 --> 00:09:36.030 data, or working on the administrative side 230 00:09:36.030 --> 00:09:38.510 of one of the world's leading space agencies. 231 00:09:39.550 --> 00:09:41.950 Anna: So if you are a student and you're passionate 232 00:09:41.950 --> 00:09:44.350 about space, this is a call to action. 233 00:09:44.750 --> 00:09:47.590 Check out the ESA website for details on how 234 00:09:47.590 --> 00:09:50.590 to apply and qualifications needed. It 235 00:09:50.590 --> 00:09:52.910 could be the first step in an incredible 236 00:09:52.910 --> 00:09:55.560 career journey. The deadline again is 237 00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:57.960 November 30th and we'll put a link in the 238 00:09:57.960 --> 00:09:58.880 show notes for you. 239 00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:01.400 Avery: An excellent opportunity indeed. 240 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:03.640 And on that note, that brings us to the end 241 00:10:03.640 --> 00:10:05.520 of our news roundup for this episode. 242 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.760 Anna: It's been quite a journey. We covered the 243 00:10:08.760 --> 00:10:11.280 strategic shift for Boeing's Starliner to a 244 00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:13.520 cargo mission as they work through technical 245 00:10:13.520 --> 00:10:14.080 hurdles. 246 00:10:15.040 --> 00:10:17.320 Avery: We saw China's growing capabilities with 247 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.040 their first ever launch on need rescue 248 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:22.000 mission to the Tiangong Space Station. 249 00:10:23.050 --> 00:10:25.210 Anna: We checked in on the busy traffic at the ISS 250 00:10:25.690 --> 00:10:28.570 with Soyuz on its way and cargo being 251 00:10:28.570 --> 00:10:30.650 shuffled around and. 252 00:10:30.650 --> 00:10:33.290 Avery: A, uh, strange something speeding through our 253 00:10:33.290 --> 00:10:36.050 galaxy. And of course, a chance to join 254 00:10:36.050 --> 00:10:37.290 ESA as an intern. 255 00:10:38.250 --> 00:10:40.730 Anna: Thank you for joining us on Astronomy Daily. 256 00:10:40.810 --> 00:10:42.890 We hope you'll tune in tomorrow for another 257 00:10:42.890 --> 00:10:45.810 look at the wonders of the cosmos. Until 258 00:10:45.810 --> 00:10:47.210 then, I'm Anna. 259 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:50.740 Avery: And I'm Avery. Clear skies and keep looking 260 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:51.060 up.