WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.200 Anna: Hello, space fans. Welcome to Astronomy 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.920 Daily, your source for the latest news from 2 00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:08.240 across the cosmos. I'm Anna. 3 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.680 Avery: And I'm Avery. Great to have you with us 4 00:00:10.680 --> 00:00:13.400 today. We've got a really exciting lineup of 5 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:15.360 storeys covering everything from upcoming 6 00:00:15.360 --> 00:00:17.440 missions to mysterious discoveries. 7 00:00:17.840 --> 00:00:20.120 Anna: That's right. We're starting with some big 8 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.960 news from NASA. Artemis 2 is entering 9 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:25.520 its final preparations for the first crewed 10 00:00:25.520 --> 00:00:28.080 mission beyond low Earth orbit in over 11 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.960 50 years. The rollout to the launch pad 12 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.380 happens this weekend. Weekend. 13 00:00:32.860 --> 00:00:35.460 Avery: Very exciting. We'll also be talking about a 14 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:37.740 serious cybersecurity breach at the European 15 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:40.580 Space Agency. China's ambitious satellite 16 00:00:40.580 --> 00:00:43.260 launches to kick off 2026 and the 17 00:00:43.260 --> 00:00:45.180 surprising discovery about Jupiter's 18 00:00:45.180 --> 00:00:45.740 atmosphere. 19 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:48.860 Anna: Plus, we have an intriguing cosmic mystery. 20 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:52.100 Astronomers have found a massive bar of iron 21 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:55.020 hidden m inside the famous Ring Nebula. And 22 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:57.300 we'll wrap up with a fascinating look back at 23 00:00:57.300 --> 00:01:00.180 the Apollo 14 moon trees and what 24 00:01:00.180 --> 00:01:00.940 happened to them. 25 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:03.340 Avery: Lots to cover. So let's get started. 26 00:01:04.030 --> 00:01:06.430 Anna: All right, Avery, let's dive into our top 27 00:01:06.430 --> 00:01:06.830 storey. 28 00:01:07.150 --> 00:01:09.630 NASA is entering the final stages of 29 00:01:09.630 --> 00:01:12.510 preparation for Artemis ii and the excitement 30 00:01:12.510 --> 00:01:13.470 is really building. 31 00:01:14.030 --> 00:01:16.550 Avery: This is huge, Anna. We're talking about the 32 00:01:16.550 --> 00:01:18.830 first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit 33 00:01:18.830 --> 00:01:21.710 in over 50 years. The launch window opens 34 00:01:21.710 --> 00:01:24.110 as early as February 6, though it could 35 00:01:24.110 --> 00:01:26.070 extend into April depending on final 36 00:01:26.070 --> 00:01:26.670 preparations. 37 00:01:27.070 --> 00:01:29.550 Anna: And this weekend is a major milestone. Right, 38 00:01:29.710 --> 00:01:31.310 the rollout to the launch pad. 39 00:01:31.770 --> 00:01:34.410 Avery: Exactly. Targeted for no earlier than this 40 00:01:34.410 --> 00:01:37.250 Saturday, January 17th. The Space Launch 41 00:01:37.250 --> 00:01:39.730 System rocket and Orion spacecraft will make 42 00:01:39.730 --> 00:01:41.930 that slow journey from the Vehicle Assembly 43 00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:44.810 Building to launch pad 39B at Ah, 44 00:01:44.810 --> 00:01:47.490 Kennedy Space Centre. It's about 6.5 45 00:01:47.490 --> 00:01:50.290 kilometres or 4 miles, and it'll take up 46 00:01:50.290 --> 00:01:52.730 to 12 hours on the Crawler transporter. 47 00:01:52.970 --> 00:01:55.410 Anna: That's the same launch pad used for Apollo, 48 00:01:55.410 --> 00:01:55.930 isn't it? 49 00:01:56.010 --> 00:01:58.970 Avery: It is. Launch pad 39B has quite 50 00:01:58.970 --> 00:02:01.760 a history. Now, the Artemis 2 crew consists 51 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:04.640 of four astronauts. NASA's Reid Wiseman as 52 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:07.080 Commander, Victor Glover as pilot, 53 00:02:07.080 --> 00:02:09.600 Christina Koch as mission specialist, and 54 00:02:09.600 --> 00:02:12.480 Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also a 55 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:13.320 mission specialist. 56 00:02:13.640 --> 00:02:16.160 Anna: This mission is essentially a dress rehearsal 57 00:02:16.160 --> 00:02:18.120 for the actual lunar landing, correct? 58 00:02:18.440 --> 00:02:20.920 Avery: Right. Artemis 2 will be a 10 day 59 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:23.360 circumlunar flight. They'll loop around the 60 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.640 moon without landing and return to Earth. 61 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:28.140 It's building on the success of Artemis I 62 00:02:28.220 --> 00:02:30.620 uncrewed mission. And paving the way for 63 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:33.580 Artemis 3, currently scheduled for 2028, 64 00:02:33.820 --> 00:02:35.860 which will put humans back on the lunar 65 00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:38.380 surface for the first time since Apollo 17 66 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:40.460 in 1972. 67 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:42.980 Anna: I know they've been working around the clock 68 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:45.180 to get everything ready. Have there been any 69 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:45.740 challenges? 70 00:02:46.140 --> 00:02:48.580 Avery: There have Been some. Back in December, 71 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:50.540 during a countdown demonstration, test 72 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:53.140 engineers detected a problem with a valve 73 00:02:53.140 --> 00:02:55.540 associated with the Orion capsule's hatch 74 00:02:55.540 --> 00:02:58.040 pressurisation system. They replaced that 75 00:02:58.040 --> 00:03:00.640 valve on January 5th and successfully 76 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:03.080 completed a pressure test. They also resolved 77 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:04.960 a leak in the ground support hardware that 78 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.240 pressurises Orion with oxygen gas. 79 00:03:07.720 --> 00:03:10.120 Anna: So what happens once it's at the launch pad? 80 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:12.520 Avery: Ground crews will connect all the electrical 81 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:15.280 lines, fuel control system ducts, cryogenic 82 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.440 propellant feeds and other ground support 83 00:03:17.440 --> 00:03:19.760 equipment. Then they'll power up all the 84 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:21.920 rocket's integrated systems for the first 85 00:03:21.920 --> 00:03:24.200 time to make sure everything works together. 86 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:26.560 The rocket, the mobile launcher and the 87 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.040 launch pad infrastructure. 88 00:03:28.470 --> 00:03:30.550 Anna: And then comes the wet dress rehearsal. 89 00:03:30.790 --> 00:03:33.150 Avery: Scheduled for the end of January. That's when 90 00:03:33.150 --> 00:03:35.630 they'll load the rocket with about 2.65 91 00:03:35.630 --> 00:03:38.390 million litres. That's 700,000 gallons 92 00:03:38.470 --> 00:03:40.990 of cryogenic fuel, conduct a launch 93 00:03:40.990 --> 00:03:43.790 countdown and then safely unload it. They'll 94 00:03:43.790 --> 00:03:45.550 run through several countdown holds and 95 00:03:45.550 --> 00:03:47.510 recycles, just like they would during an 96 00:03:47.510 --> 00:03:48.150 actual launch. 97 00:03:48.630 --> 00:03:50.990 Anna: Dazzle learned a lot from Artemis I's wet 98 00:03:50.990 --> 00:03:52.230 dress rehearsal, didn't they? 99 00:03:52.550 --> 00:03:55.270 Avery: They did. Particularly around loading liquid 100 00:03:55.270 --> 00:03:57.470 hydrogen propellant. They experienced some 101 00:03:57.470 --> 00:03:58.910 challenges with that, so they'll be 102 00:03:58.910 --> 00:04:01.650 monitoring very careful. They're also 103 00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:03.890 watching how much nitrogen gas accumulates 104 00:04:03.890 --> 00:04:06.210 between the Orion crew module and the launch 105 00:04:06.210 --> 00:04:08.690 abort system using recently updated 106 00:04:08.690 --> 00:04:09.250 procedures. 107 00:04:09.810 --> 00:04:11.610 Anna: And if all goes well with the. 108 00:04:11.610 --> 00:04:14.450 Avery: Wet dress rehearsal, then NASA's mission 109 00:04:14.450 --> 00:04:16.650 management team will hold a flight readiness 110 00:04:16.650 --> 00:04:18.970 review to assess whether all systems are 111 00:04:18.970 --> 00:04:21.850 truly ready. Only then will they commit to a 112 00:04:21.850 --> 00:04:24.330 firm launch date. And of course, the Artemis 113 00:04:24.330 --> 00:04:26.730 II astronauts will conduct a final walk down 114 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:28.850 at the pad, which will be quite a media 115 00:04:28.850 --> 00:04:29.250 event. 116 00:04:29.890 --> 00:04:32.050 Anna: The launch windows are interesting too, 117 00:04:32.050 --> 00:04:34.530 aren't they? It's not every day in February 118 00:04:34.530 --> 00:04:35.090 and April. 119 00:04:35.570 --> 00:04:38.050 Avery: That's right. Due to the complex orbital 120 00:04:38.050 --> 00:04:40.530 mechanics of Earth and the moon, there's a 121 00:04:40.530 --> 00:04:42.210 pattern of about a, uh, week of launch 122 00:04:42.210 --> 00:04:44.690 opportunities followed by three weeks without 123 00:04:44.770 --> 00:04:47.650 any. NASA has published the specific dates 124 00:04:47.650 --> 00:04:50.010 between February and April when launches are 125 00:04:50.010 --> 00:04:50.290 possible. 126 00:04:50.850 --> 00:04:53.170 Anna: This is such an exciting time. 127 00:04:53.570 --> 00:04:56.130 50 years since we've sent humans beyond. 128 00:04:56.130 --> 00:04:59.040 Avery: Low Earth orbit and it's setting the stage 129 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.040 for sustainable lunar exploration. Crew 130 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.800 safety remains NASA's top priority every step 131 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.800 of the way. As ah, Lori Glaze, Acting 132 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:08.720 associate administrator for NASA's 133 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.840 Exploration Systems Development Mission 134 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:12.880 Directorate, emphasised in their recent 135 00:05:12.880 --> 00:05:13.280 statement. 136 00:05:13.760 --> 00:05:16.480 Anna: Moving on to some concerning news. Avery. 137 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.200 The European Space Agency has suffered a 138 00:05:19.200 --> 00:05:20.640 significant cyberattack. 139 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.840 Avery: Unfortunately, yes. This happened just after 140 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:26.740 Christmas on Boxing Day, actually. A hacker 141 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:29.740 operating under the codename 888 dumped 142 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:32.660 over 200 gigabytes of ESA data onto 143 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:33.860 dark web forums. 144 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:36.020 Anna: What kind of data are we talking about? 145 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:38.940 Avery: The leaked information included proprietary 146 00:05:38.940 --> 00:05:41.860 software, authorization credentials, access 147 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:44.660 tokens and sensitive project documentation. 148 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:47.740 ESA initially downplayed the breach, saying 149 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:49.860 its impact was limited to servers with 150 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:51.220 unclassified documents. 151 00:05:51.710 --> 00:05:53.230 Anna: But there was more to the storey. 152 00:05:53.710 --> 00:05:56.710 Avery: There was. Just a week later, a cybercrime 153 00:05:56.710 --> 00:05:58.990 group known as Scattered Lapsis Hunters 154 00:05:58.990 --> 00:06:01.630 claimed they stole another 500 gigabytes of 155 00:06:01.630 --> 00:06:03.830 data, saying the security hole was still 156 00:06:03.830 --> 00:06:06.590 unpatched. This batch reportedly included 157 00:06:06.590 --> 00:06:08.950 operational procedures, spacecraft and 158 00:06:08.950 --> 00:06:11.790 mission details, subsystems documentation 159 00:06:11.870 --> 00:06:14.430 and even proprietary data from esa 160 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:17.190 contractors like SpaceX, Airbus Group and 161 00:06:17.190 --> 00:06:18.510 Thales Alenia Space. 162 00:06:19.200 --> 00:06:21.760 Anna: That's pretty serious. How did ESA 163 00:06:21.760 --> 00:06:22.240 respond? 164 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.720 Avery: They've launched a criminal investigation and 165 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:27.280 are fully cooperating with authorities. In a 166 00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:30.080 press briefing on January 8, Eric Morel 167 00:06:30.080 --> 00:06:32.480 de Westgaver, ESA's director of 168 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.120 European Legal and International Matters, 169 00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:36.720 said the authorities will manage 170 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:38.920 communication about the case and handle the 171 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:39.920 criminal proceedings. 172 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.600 Anna: Is this kind of attack common against space 173 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:43.280 agencies? 174 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.100 Avery: More common than you think. Cybersecurity 175 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:48.380 researcher Clemence Poirier from the Centre 176 00:06:48.380 --> 00:06:50.940 for security studies at ETH Zurich 177 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:53.980 told Space.com that during her research she 178 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:56.300 frequently encounters email credentials of 179 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:58.820 ESA employees and even other space 180 00:06:58.820 --> 00:07:01.420 agencies being sold on dark web forums. 181 00:07:01.820 --> 00:07:03.980 Anna: How are these credentials being obtained? 182 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:06.700 Avery: Poirier suggests it may be due to a lack of 183 00:07:06.700 --> 00:07:09.380 cyber hygiene from ESA staff. Threat 184 00:07:09.380 --> 00:07:11.860 actors may have used infostealer malware, 185 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.140 which harvests data stored in web browsers. 186 00:07:14.460 --> 00:07:16.460 Things like credentials, session cookies, 187 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:19.500 multi factor authentication data and even 188 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:20.620 saved credit cards. 189 00:07:21.020 --> 00:07:22.460 Anna: That's pretty insidious. 190 00:07:22.940 --> 00:07:25.860 Avery: It is. These infostealers are particularly 191 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:28.380 dangerous because they can evade detection by 192 00:07:28.380 --> 00:07:30.940 antivirus software. They often spread through 193 00:07:30.940 --> 00:07:33.900 malicious ads on popular websites or infected 194 00:07:33.900 --> 00:07:35.820 links in YouTube video descriptions. 195 00:07:36.220 --> 00:07:38.620 Anna: And NASA faces similar threats. 196 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:41.100 Avery: According to sources familiar with space 197 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:43.860 cyber risk environment, NASA is actually a 198 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:46.300 frequent victim. Vulnerabilities are being 199 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:48.500 disclosed almost every day via the 200 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:51.340 crowdsourced cybersecurity platform bugcrowd. 201 00:07:51.580 --> 00:07:54.500 Anna: Even though the recent ESA leaks didn't seem 202 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.140 highly critical, there are still concerns, 203 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:57.500 right? 204 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:00.740 Avery: Absolutely. Poyer warned that this data could 205 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:02.780 be combined with information from future 206 00:08:02.780 --> 00:08:05.620 breaches to reveal strategic information that 207 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:07.940 could enable another cyberattack against the 208 00:08:07.940 --> 00:08:10.340 space system. We're not there yet, but it's 209 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:11.500 an important consideration. 210 00:08:11.970 --> 00:08:14.290 Anna: And vulnerabilities might exist with third 211 00:08:14.290 --> 00:08:15.570 party providers, too. 212 00:08:15.890 --> 00:08:18.570 Avery: Exactly. The security holes could be on the 213 00:08:18.570 --> 00:08:20.930 side of Issa's software providers or other 214 00:08:20.930 --> 00:08:23.370 third parties they purchase services from. Or 215 00:08:23.370 --> 00:08:26.010 ESA's own networks might be hiding unpatched 216 00:08:26.010 --> 00:08:28.049 vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. 217 00:08:28.210 --> 00:08:30.610 Anna: What's the bottom line here, as Poyer. 218 00:08:30.610 --> 00:08:32.810 Avery: Put it, data leaks and breaches against space 219 00:08:32.810 --> 00:08:35.570 agencies are common. It can happen to each 220 00:08:35.570 --> 00:08:38.010 agency and will happen to each agency in the 221 00:08:38.010 --> 00:08:40.170 future. Given the rise of cyber attacks 222 00:08:40.170 --> 00:08:42.650 against the space sector, it's a reality that 223 00:08:42.650 --> 00:08:44.930 all space organisations need to take very 224 00:08:44.930 --> 00:08:45.610 seriously. 225 00:08:45.850 --> 00:08:48.210 Anna: Let's shift gears to some space activity from 226 00:08:48.210 --> 00:08:51.090 China. They've kicked off 2026 with a couple 227 00:08:51.090 --> 00:08:52.810 of impressive satellite launches. 228 00:08:53.210 --> 00:08:55.610 Avery: They really have, anna. Uh. On January 229 00:08:55.690 --> 00:08:58.370 13th, China launched two Long March rockets 230 00:08:58.370 --> 00:09:00.210 from the Wing Chan Space Launch Centre, 231 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:02.170 representing a strong start to what's 232 00:09:02.170 --> 00:09:04.370 expected to be a very busy year for their 233 00:09:04.370 --> 00:09:04.970 space programme. 234 00:09:05.370 --> 00:09:06.410 Anna: What were they launching? 235 00:09:06.650 --> 00:09:08.770 Avery: The first mission carried the Yaogon 236 00:09:08.770 --> 00:09:11.570 5001 remote sensing satellite and the 237 00:09:11.570 --> 00:09:14.270 second deployed a series of GU satellites 238 00:09:14.270 --> 00:09:16.710 into low Earth orbit. Both launches were 239 00:09:16.710 --> 00:09:18.630 successful and marked the beginning of what 240 00:09:18.630 --> 00:09:20.510 China hopes will be a ah record breaking 241 00:09:20.510 --> 00:09:20.790 year. 242 00:09:20.950 --> 00:09:23.870 Anna: Tell us about the Yaogon 50 01. That sounds 243 00:09:23.870 --> 00:09:24.310 interesting. 244 00:09:24.710 --> 00:09:27.470 Avery: It is. This satellite was launched aboard a 245 00:09:27.470 --> 00:09:30.110 Long March 6A AH Rocket and it's notable for 246 00:09:30.110 --> 00:09:32.630 its unusual orbit. Unlike typical 247 00:09:32.630 --> 00:09:34.710 satellites in standard low Earth orbits, 248 00:09:34.710 --> 00:09:37.550 Yaogon 50 01's orbit is designed to 249 00:09:37.550 --> 00:09:40.030 maximise its ability to observe Earth from 250 00:09:40.030 --> 00:09:42.440 unique angles, providing broader and more 251 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:43.760 detailed views of the planet. 252 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.200 Anna: What will it be used for? 253 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.560 Avery: It's part of China's growing portfolio of 254 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:49.600 remote sensing technology, which has 255 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:51.760 applications ranging from agricultural 256 00:09:51.760 --> 00:09:54.600 monitoring to, let's be honest, military 257 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.120 surveillance. As China develops and deploys 258 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.080 more of these satellites, they're positioning 259 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.200 themselves as a leader in Earth observation 260 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:01.680 capabilities. 261 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:04.360 Anna: And it'll also help with natural disaster 262 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:06.000 monitoring and resource management. 263 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:09.250 Avery: Absolutely. It'll contribute to monitoring 264 00:10:09.250 --> 00:10:11.730 natural disasters, managing resources and 265 00:10:11.730 --> 00:10:13.530 supporting scientific research efforts 266 00:10:13.530 --> 00:10:16.170 globally. The satellite is quite advanced in 267 00:10:16.170 --> 00:10:17.810 terms of what it can do now. 268 00:10:17.810 --> 00:10:19.650 Anna: What about the Guawang satellites? 269 00:10:19.810 --> 00:10:22.090 Avery: The Guawang constellation is designed to 270 00:10:22.090 --> 00:10:23.649 improve China's capabilities in 271 00:10:23.649 --> 00:10:26.130 telecommunications, Earth observation and 272 00:10:26.130 --> 00:10:28.450 scientific research. By placing these 273 00:10:28.450 --> 00:10:30.730 satellites in low Earth orbit, China will be 274 00:10:30.730 --> 00:10:32.730 able to provide enhanced communication 275 00:10:32.730 --> 00:10:35.180 services, including high speed data 276 00:10:35.180 --> 00:10:36.900 transmission over large regions. 277 00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:39.540 Anna: So it's not just for China domestically. 278 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:42.420 Avery: No. It'll improve their global connectivity, 279 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:45.100 particularly in areas with limited access to 280 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:47.780 terrestrial communication networks and beyond 281 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:49.900 just communications. The Guawuang 282 00:10:49.900 --> 00:10:52.180 Constellation is expected to play a crucial 283 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:54.220 role in supporting China's future space 284 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.220 exploration goals. 285 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:56.100 Anna: How so? 286 00:10:56.420 --> 00:10:58.940 Avery: By providing real time communication and data 287 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:01.380 transfer capabilities, these satellites will 288 00:11:01.380 --> 00:11:03.660 be instrumental in supporting future missions 289 00:11:03.660 --> 00:11:05.940 to the Moon and Mars. It's all part of 290 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:08.220 China's integrated approach to building space 291 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:09.020 infrastructure. 292 00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:11.460 Anna: This seems like quite an ambitious start to 293 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:11.900 the year. 294 00:11:12.140 --> 00:11:14.660 Avery: It really is. According to the China 295 00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:16.700 Aerospace Corporation These missions 296 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:18.980 underscore China's growing capabilities and 297 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.660 commitment to expanding their space 298 00:11:20.660 --> 00:11:23.220 exploration infrastructure. And this is just 299 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:25.260 the beginning. They have many more launches 300 00:11:25.260 --> 00:11:26.700 planned throughout 2026. 301 00:11:27.180 --> 00:11:29.300 Anna: It's fascinating to see how competitive the 302 00:11:29.300 --> 00:11:31.980 space sector has become with multiple nations 303 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.260 ramping up their capabilities. 304 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:36.540 Avery: Indeed, we're in a new era of space activity. 305 00:11:36.540 --> 00:11:38.340 And it's not just government agencies 306 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.460 anymore. The combination of national 307 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:42.899 programmes and commercial ventures is really 308 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:44.140 accelerating progress. 309 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:46.980 Anna: All right, Avery, let's head out to Jupiter 310 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:49.540 for our next storey. Scientists have made a 311 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:52.060 surprising discovery about the gas giant's 312 00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:52.700 atmosphere. 313 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.800 Avery: This is really interesting, Anna. 314 00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:55.160 Anna: Uh. 315 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:57.320 Avery: A new study published in the Planetary 316 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:59.560 Science Journal reveals that Jupiter holds 317 00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:02.400 roughly 1.5 times more oxygen than 318 00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:02.920 our sun. 319 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:05.560 Anna: That's way more than expected, isn't it? 320 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.680 Avery: It is. For decades, studies have disagreed 321 00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:10.920 about how much oxygen Jupiter contains. 322 00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:13.560 Some recent studies even suggested it was 323 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:16.120 much less than the sun. So this finding 324 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:18.240 significantly reshapes our understanding of 325 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.320 the planet's composition. 326 00:12:19.790 --> 00:12:22.110 Anna: Why is oxygen content so important? 327 00:12:22.750 --> 00:12:24.990 Avery: Oxygen is one of the most abundant elements 328 00:12:24.990 --> 00:12:27.310 in the universe, and its presence on Jupiter 329 00:12:27.390 --> 00:12:30.390 has big implications. As Jiheng Yang, a 330 00:12:30.390 --> 00:12:32.470 postdoctoral researcher at the University of 331 00:12:32.470 --> 00:12:34.350 Chicago and the study's lead author, 332 00:12:34.350 --> 00:12:37.110 explained, the precise quantity of oxygen 333 00:12:37.110 --> 00:12:39.350 offers important clues about how Jupiter 334 00:12:39.350 --> 00:12:41.470 formed and how our solar system evolved. 335 00:12:41.790 --> 00:12:44.270 Anna: Because oxygen is key to water formation. 336 00:12:44.590 --> 00:12:47.160 Avery: Exactly. Understanding its presence and 337 00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:49.200 distribution could help researchers learn 338 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.040 more about the conditions that allow for the 339 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:53.560 formation of habitable planets, both in our 340 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.840 solar system and beyond. 341 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:58.320 Anna: Jupiter's atmosphere is famously difficult to 342 00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:58.560 study. 343 00:12:58.560 --> 00:13:01.360 Avery: Though that's putting it mildly. The thick 344 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.720 clouds covering the planet the Great Red 345 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.840 Spot, which is a storm twice the size of 346 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:08.240 Earth, and other violent weather patterns 347 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.080 have kept scientists from getting a clear 348 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.880 view of what lies beneath the surface. 349 00:13:12.380 --> 00:13:14.340 Anna: Previous missions couldn't measure deep into 350 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.020 the atmosphere. 351 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:17.780 Avery: The Galileo spacecraft couldn't. But more 352 00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:20.260 recently, the Juno spacecraft has provided 353 00:13:20.260 --> 00:13:22.540 valuable data on the upper layers, including 354 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:25.060 measurements of ammonia, methane and carbon 355 00:13:25.060 --> 00:13:28.060 monoxide. Still, building an accurate model 356 00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:29.020 has been challenging. 357 00:13:29.260 --> 00:13:30.940 Anna: What made this new model different? 358 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:34.020 Avery: The researchers integrated both chemistry and 359 00:13:34.020 --> 00:13:36.700 hydrodynamics, the study of how fluids move. 360 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:39.220 As Jihong Yang explained, you really need 361 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:41.850 both. Chemistry alone doesn't include water 362 00:13:41.850 --> 00:13:43.890 droplets or cloud behaviour, while 363 00:13:43.890 --> 00:13:46.170 hydrodynamics alone oversimplifies the 364 00:13:46.170 --> 00:13:48.530 chemistry. Bringing them together allows for 365 00:13:48.530 --> 00:13:50.050 much more accurate predictions. 366 00:13:50.290 --> 00:13:52.530 Anna: And they discovered something else surprising 367 00:13:52.530 --> 00:13:53.490 too, didn't they? 368 00:13:53.730 --> 00:13:56.089 Avery: They did. The study revealed that the 369 00:13:56.089 --> 00:13:58.370 movement of gases within Jupiter's atmosphere 370 00:13:58.370 --> 00:14:01.130 is far slower than previously believed. The 371 00:14:01.130 --> 00:14:03.810 diffusion of molecules is 35 to 40 372 00:14:03.810 --> 00:14:05.730 times slower than the standard assumption. 373 00:14:06.150 --> 00:14:06.870 Anna: What does that mean? 374 00:14:06.870 --> 00:14:09.550 Avery: Practically, as Jihengyang put it, it would 375 00:14:09.550 --> 00:14:12.310 take a single molecule several weeks to move 376 00:14:12.310 --> 00:14:14.350 through one layer of the atmosphere, rather 377 00:14:14.350 --> 00:14:17.110 than hours. This slower diffusion could have 378 00:14:17.110 --> 00:14:19.230 significant implications for how heat and 379 00:14:19.230 --> 00:14:21.310 chemical elements are transported within the 380 00:14:21.310 --> 00:14:23.990 planet. And it may affect how clouds form and 381 00:14:23.990 --> 00:14:24.630 dissipate. 382 00:14:24.790 --> 00:14:27.110 Anna: This must challenge a lot of existing 383 00:14:27.110 --> 00:14:29.510 assumptions about gas giant atmospheres. 384 00:14:29.830 --> 00:14:32.630 Avery: It does. The discovery adds another layer of 385 00:14:32.630 --> 00:14:34.950 complexity to our understanding and shows 386 00:14:34.950 --> 00:14:37.110 that even well studied planets like Jupiter 387 00:14:37.110 --> 00:14:39.930 still have prizes in store. This is the most 388 00:14:39.930 --> 00:14:42.330 comprehensive atmospheric model of Jupiter to 389 00:14:42.330 --> 00:14:44.650 date, but clearly there's still more to 390 00:14:44.650 --> 00:14:45.010 learn. 391 00:14:45.170 --> 00:14:47.090 Anna: We'll be sure to follow up this one with 392 00:14:47.090 --> 00:14:47.410 interest. 393 00:14:47.970 --> 00:14:48.280 Avery: Anna. 394 00:14:48.280 --> 00:14:51.210 Uh, our next storey is about a cosmic mystery 395 00:14:51.210 --> 00:14:54.170 hiding in plain sight, or rather hiding in 396 00:14:54.170 --> 00:14:56.370 one of the night sky's most famous objects. 397 00:14:56.610 --> 00:14:59.090 Anna: Oh, this is the Ring Nebula discovery. Right. 398 00:14:59.330 --> 00:15:01.650 I was reading about this. It's fascinating, 399 00:15:01.970 --> 00:15:02.930 it really is. 400 00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:06.060 Avery: Astronomers have discovered a mysterious bar 401 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:08.940 shaped cloud of iron inside the iconic Ring 402 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:11.820 Nebula. And it went completely unnoticed for 403 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:13.980 decades, despite this being one of the most 404 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.340 studied objects in space. 405 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:17.340 Anna: How did they finally spot it? 406 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:20.340 Avery: A European team led by researchers at 407 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.780 University College London and Cardiff 408 00:15:22.780 --> 00:15:25.260 University used a new instrument called 409 00:15:25.260 --> 00:15:27.500 weave, the WHT 410 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:30.300 Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer, 411 00:15:30.690 --> 00:15:33.090 installed on the William Herschel Telescope. 412 00:15:33.330 --> 00:15:35.890 The key was that WEAVE allowed them to obtain 413 00:15:35.890 --> 00:15:38.570 spectra across the entire face of the 414 00:15:38.570 --> 00:15:41.210 nebula at all optical wavelengths 415 00:15:41.210 --> 00:15:42.210 simultaneously. 416 00:15:42.850 --> 00:15:45.250 Anna: So it wasn't about getting a sharper image, 417 00:15:45.250 --> 00:15:47.250 but analysing the light differently. 418 00:15:47.810 --> 00:15:50.650 Avery: Exactly. Dr. Roger Wesson, the 419 00:15:50.650 --> 00:15:52.810 lead author, explained that by painting a 420 00:15:52.810 --> 00:15:55.090 spectrum continuously across the whole 421 00:15:55.090 --> 00:15:57.770 nebula, they could create images at any 422 00:15:57.770 --> 00:15:59.770 wavelength and determine the chemical 423 00:15:59.770 --> 00:16:02.690 composition at any position. And when 424 00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:05.330 they processed the data, this iron bar just 425 00:16:05.330 --> 00:16:07.130 popped out, clear as anything. 426 00:16:07.610 --> 00:16:08.890 Anna: How big is this thing? 427 00:16:09.370 --> 00:16:12.010 Avery: The bar's length is roughly 500 428 00:16:12.090 --> 00:16:14.810 times that of Pluto's orbit around the Sun. 429 00:16:15.210 --> 00:16:17.970 And get this. The mass of iron atoms 430 00:16:17.970 --> 00:16:20.330 is comparable to the mass of Mars. 431 00:16:21.050 --> 00:16:23.970 Anna: That's colossal. And it fits inside the 432 00:16:23.970 --> 00:16:25.450 Ring Nebula's inner region. 433 00:16:25.850 --> 00:16:28.810 Avery: It does. It's shaped like a narrow strip that 434 00:16:28.810 --> 00:16:31.410 fits neatly within the nebula's elliptical 435 00:16:31.410 --> 00:16:33.950 inner layer. The part that's familiar from 436 00:16:33.950 --> 00:16:35.950 all those beautiful images we've seen from 437 00:16:35.950 --> 00:16:38.590 telescopes including the James Webb Space 438 00:16:38.590 --> 00:16:39.270 Telescope. 439 00:16:39.510 --> 00:16:42.230 Anna: So what is the Ring Nebula exactly? For our 440 00:16:42.230 --> 00:16:43.430 listeners who might not know. 441 00:16:43.910 --> 00:16:46.390 Avery: The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 442 00:16:46.390 --> 00:16:48.750 57, was first identified in 443 00:16:48.750 --> 00:16:51.470 1779 by French astronomer 444 00:16:51.470 --> 00:16:54.070 Charles Messier. It's what's called a 445 00:16:54.070 --> 00:16:57.070 planetary nebula, a shell of gas created 446 00:16:57.070 --> 00:16:59.190 when a star reaches the end of its fuel 447 00:16:59.190 --> 00:17:01.950 burning life and releases its outer layers 448 00:17:01.950 --> 00:17:04.650 into space. In several billion years, 449 00:17:04.730 --> 00:17:07.010 our own sun is expected to undergo a, ah, 450 00:17:07.050 --> 00:17:08.170 similar transformation. 451 00:17:08.730 --> 00:17:11.610 Anna: And this iron bar, do we know how it formed? 452 00:17:12.170 --> 00:17:14.810 Avery: That's the mystery. The scientists honestly 453 00:17:14.810 --> 00:17:17.610 don't know yet. Professor Albert Zylstra from 454 00:17:17.610 --> 00:17:20.170 the University of Manchester noted that they 455 00:17:20.170 --> 00:17:22.650 selected the Ring Nebula as an early target 456 00:17:22.730 --> 00:17:25.650 because it's bright, well studied and ideal 457 00:17:25.650 --> 00:17:27.850 for testing the instrument. But then they 458 00:17:27.850 --> 00:17:30.010 found something entirely unexpected. 459 00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.700 Anna: What are the theories? 460 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:34.900 Avery: There are two main scenarios. First, the 461 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:37.340 iron bar might reveal something new about how 462 00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:39.780 the nebula was ejected by the parent star, 463 00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:42.700 perhaps showing an uneven or directional 464 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:45.540 outflow in the process. Second, and 465 00:17:45.540 --> 00:17:48.420 more intriguingly, the iron might be an arc 466 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:51.180 of plasma resulting from the vaporisation of 467 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.580 a destroyed planet. 468 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:55.020 Anna: A planet that got too close to. 469 00:17:55.020 --> 00:17:57.870 Avery: The dying star, possibly as the 470 00:17:57.870 --> 00:18:00.390 star expanded into a red giant late in its 471 00:18:00.390 --> 00:18:03.230 life. Any rocky planet that wandered too 472 00:18:03.230 --> 00:18:05.790 close could have been torn apart by extreme 473 00:18:05.790 --> 00:18:08.630 heat and radiation. Living behind this metal 474 00:18:08.630 --> 00:18:11.270 rich cloud, trapped inside the nebula, 475 00:18:11.670 --> 00:18:12.790 that would be quite. 476 00:18:12.790 --> 00:18:14.910 Anna: A dramatic end for a planet. Do they think 477 00:18:14.910 --> 00:18:16.310 this iron bar is unique? 478 00:18:16.790 --> 00:18:19.430 Avery: Dr. Wesson doesn't think so. He said it would 479 00:18:19.430 --> 00:18:21.910 be very surprising if the Ring Nebula's iron 480 00:18:21.910 --> 00:18:24.750 bar is unique. Weave is conducting surveys 481 00:18:24.750 --> 00:18:27.270 of many more ionised nebulae across the 482 00:18:27.270 --> 00:18:29.670 northern Milky Way and they hope to discover 483 00:18:29.670 --> 00:18:31.990 more examples of this phenomenon which would 484 00:18:31.990 --> 00:18:33.910 help them understand where the iron comes 485 00:18:33.910 --> 00:18:34.190 from. 486 00:18:34.510 --> 00:18:36.990 Anna: It's amazing that such a familiar object 487 00:18:37.070 --> 00:18:38.270 still had this hidden. 488 00:18:38.670 --> 00:18:41.430 Avery: Amen, um, to that. Professor Janet Drew 489 00:18:41.430 --> 00:18:44.190 also at ucl cautioned that they need to know 490 00:18:44.190 --> 00:18:46.790 more particularly if any other chemical 491 00:18:46.790 --> 00:18:49.430 elements coexist with the iron as uh, that 492 00:18:49.430 --> 00:18:51.350 would help determine the right model to 493 00:18:51.350 --> 00:18:53.680 pursue. They're planning follow up studies 494 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:56.080 using WEAVE at higher spectral resolution. 495 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.840 Anna: Just goes to show that even the most studied 496 00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:00.760 objects can surprise us when we look at them 497 00:19:00.760 --> 00:19:01.520 in new ways. 498 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.880 Avery: Amen um, to that. 499 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:05.840 Anna: For our final storey. Today we're taking a 500 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:08.360 look back at a fascinating piece of Apollo 501 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:11.040 history. Avery, tell us about the Moon 502 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:11.520 trees. 503 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:14.320 Avery: This is such a cool storey. Anna. Um, when 504 00:19:14.320 --> 00:19:17.200 Apollo 14 returned to Earth in 1971, 505 00:19:17.280 --> 00:19:19.120 it brought back something unexpected. 506 00:19:19.850 --> 00:19:22.050 Hundreds of tree seeds that had orbited the 507 00:19:22.050 --> 00:19:22.410 Moon. 508 00:19:22.650 --> 00:19:24.890 Anna: These were part of a scientific experiment. 509 00:19:25.050 --> 00:19:27.730 Avery: It started as a small experiment led by 510 00:19:27.730 --> 00:19:30.490 astronaut Stuart Roosa, who was a former 511 00:19:30.570 --> 00:19:33.170 U.S. forest Service smokejumper. Before 512 00:19:33.170 --> 00:19:35.809 becoming an astronaut, he carried several 513 00:19:35.809 --> 00:19:37.450 hundred seeds in his personal 514 00:19:38.170 --> 00:19:41.130 loblolly pine, sycamore, sweetgum, 515 00:19:41.290 --> 00:19:42.890 redwood and Douglas fir. 516 00:19:43.130 --> 00:19:45.410 Anna: And there was an accident with these seeds, 517 00:19:45.410 --> 00:19:46.010 wasn't there? 518 00:19:46.390 --> 00:19:49.310 Avery: There was. As NASA recounts, the seed 519 00:19:49.310 --> 00:19:51.910 bags burst open during the decontamination 520 00:19:51.990 --> 00:19:54.430 procedures after the spacecraft returned to 521 00:19:54.430 --> 00:19:57.270 Earth. The seeds scattered around the chamber 522 00:19:57.270 --> 00:19:59.910 and were exposed to vacuum. And everyone 523 00:19:59.990 --> 00:20:01.230 thought they might not be. 524 00:20:01.230 --> 00:20:03.830 Anna: Viable, but they decided to try planting them 525 00:20:03.830 --> 00:20:04.310 anyway. 526 00:20:04.470 --> 00:20:06.750 Avery: They did, to test whether the seeds had 527 00:20:06.750 --> 00:20:09.590 survived. And the results were extraordinary. 528 00:20:10.070 --> 00:20:12.350 Many sprouted and grew just like normal 529 00:20:12.350 --> 00:20:15.110 trees, showing no visible damage from their 530 00:20:15.110 --> 00:20:16.070 cosmic journey. 531 00:20:16.310 --> 00:20:18.310 Anna: How many trees eventually grew? 532 00:20:18.550 --> 00:20:21.390 Avery: Over 400 seedlings grew into mature 533 00:20:21.390 --> 00:20:24.030 trees. Some were planted beside earth 534 00:20:24.030 --> 00:20:26.150 grown control trees to compare their 535 00:20:26.150 --> 00:20:29.029 development. And remarkably, after years of 536 00:20:29.029 --> 00:20:31.390 observation, no differences were found 537 00:20:31.390 --> 00:20:33.750 between the space flown seeds and their earth 538 00:20:33.750 --> 00:20:34.790 bound counterparts. 539 00:20:35.110 --> 00:20:36.950 Anna: When were these trees distributed? 540 00:20:37.190 --> 00:20:39.510 Avery: M the distribution coincided with the U.S. 541 00:20:39.590 --> 00:20:42.470 bicentennial celebrations of 1975 542 00:20:42.470 --> 00:20:45.250 and 1976. Most were given 543 00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:47.970 to state forest reorganisations to be planted 544 00:20:47.970 --> 00:20:50.010 as part of the nation's bicentennial 545 00:20:50.010 --> 00:20:52.730 celebration. The trees were only sent to 546 00:20:52.730 --> 00:20:54.530 countries and states where they could 547 00:20:54.530 --> 00:20:56.250 actually be grown and thrive. 548 00:20:56.570 --> 00:20:58.770 Anna: And some went to pretty notable places, 549 00:20:58.770 --> 00:20:59.130 right? 550 00:20:59.290 --> 00:21:02.250 Avery: Oh, yes, A, uh, loblolly pine was planted 551 00:21:02.250 --> 00:21:04.450 at the White House. Trees were sent to 552 00:21:04.450 --> 00:21:07.410 Brazil, Switzerland and even presented to the 553 00:21:07.410 --> 00:21:10.290 Emperor of Japan. Each tree served as 554 00:21:10.290 --> 00:21:12.850 a living connection between space exploration 555 00:21:12.850 --> 00:21:14.490 and Earth's natural environment. 556 00:21:15.130 --> 00:21:17.010 Anna: There were telegrams that accompanied the 557 00:21:17.010 --> 00:21:17.370 trees. 558 00:21:17.690 --> 00:21:19.890 Avery: NASA sent telegrams highlighting their 559 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:22.530 symbolic importance. The message read that 560 00:21:22.530 --> 00:21:24.730 the tree is a living symbol of our 561 00:21:24.730 --> 00:21:26.770 spectacular human and scientific 562 00:21:26.770 --> 00:21:29.370 achievements. And the fitting tribute to our 563 00:21:29.370 --> 00:21:31.770 national space programme, which has brought 564 00:21:31.770 --> 00:21:34.090 out the best of American patriotism, 565 00:21:34.250 --> 00:21:36.730 dedication and determination to succeed. 566 00:21:37.130 --> 00:21:39.610 Anna: That really captures the spirit of that era. 567 00:21:39.770 --> 00:21:42.470 Avery: It does. It was this beautiful blend of 568 00:21:42.470 --> 00:21:45.150 scientific curiosity and national pride 569 00:21:45.150 --> 00:21:48.030 during the Apollo years. Each moon tree 570 00:21:48.030 --> 00:21:50.190 represented not just a triumph of space 571 00:21:50.190 --> 00:21:52.830 exploration, but a reminder that the pursuit 572 00:21:52.830 --> 00:21:55.630 of knowledge can be rooted quite literally 573 00:21:55.630 --> 00:21:56.950 in the natural world. 574 00:21:57.190 --> 00:21:59.670 Anna: Many of these trees are still standing today. 575 00:22:00.070 --> 00:22:02.670 Avery: They are. Their plaques may be faded, but 576 00:22:02.670 --> 00:22:05.470 their symbolism remains intact. NASA 577 00:22:05.470 --> 00:22:07.750 continues to track and document the locations 578 00:22:07.750 --> 00:22:10.360 of surviving moon trees. And there's even a 579 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:12.160 modern continuation of this project. 580 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:14.800 Anna: The Moon Tree 2.0 project. 581 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:18.280 Avery: Exactly. It uses seeds taken aboard the 582 00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:20.800 Orion spacecraft during the Artemis 1 583 00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:23.680 mission. So this initiative bridges past and 584 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:26.480 future, connecting the pioneering Apollo 585 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.800 missions to the next generation of lunar 586 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:29.440 explorers. 587 00:22:29.760 --> 00:22:31.920 Anna: I love that these trees serve as both 588 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.440 scientific curiosities and powerful 589 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.040 symbols. 590 00:22:35.410 --> 00:22:38.090 Avery: They really do. From forests across the 591 00:22:38.090 --> 00:22:40.690 United States to royal gardens overseas, 592 00:22:41.010 --> 00:22:43.850 these trees stand as silent witnesses to one 593 00:22:43.850 --> 00:22:46.330 of the most extraordinary chapters in human 594 00:22:46.330 --> 00:22:49.330 history. Their storey rooted in science. 595 00:22:49.490 --> 00:22:52.410 Resilience and wonder remains a testament 596 00:22:52.410 --> 00:22:54.890 to what happens when curiosity literally 597 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:57.090 takes flight beyond Earth's atmosphere. 598 00:22:57.250 --> 00:22:59.370 Anna: Well, that wraps up today's episode of 599 00:22:59.370 --> 00:23:02.130 Astronomy Daily. We covered quite a journey 600 00:23:02.130 --> 00:23:04.530 today from NASA's preparations to return 601 00:23:04.610 --> 00:23:07.080 humans to lunar orbit to cybersecurity 602 00:23:07.150 --> 00:23:08.750 security challenges in the space sector, 603 00:23:09.070 --> 00:23:10.990 China's expanding satellite network, 604 00:23:11.390 --> 00:23:13.750 surprising discoveries about Jupiter, a 605 00:23:13.750 --> 00:23:16.110 mysterious iron bar hidden in a famous 606 00:23:16.110 --> 00:23:18.870 nebula, and the enduring legacy of the 607 00:23:18.870 --> 00:23:19.630 moon trees. 608 00:23:19.790 --> 00:23:21.990 Avery: It's episodes like this that really show the 609 00:23:21.990 --> 00:23:24.190 breadth of space science and exploration. 610 00:23:24.430 --> 00:23:26.110 Whether it's cutting edge missions, 611 00:23:26.190 --> 00:23:28.830 astronomical discoveries, or looking back at 612 00:23:28.830 --> 00:23:30.910 historic achievements, there's always 613 00:23:31.070 --> 00:23:33.070 something fascinating happening in space. 614 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:36.600 Anna: Thanks so much for joining us today. If you 615 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:39.480 enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave 616 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:42.040 us a review. It really helps other space 617 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.560 enthusiasts find us. 618 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:46.320 Avery: And if you have questions or topics you'd 619 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:48.600 like us to cover, reach out to us on social 620 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:51.000 media. We love hearing from our listeners. 621 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:53.960 Anna: Until next time, keep looking up 622 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.400 Clear skies everyone.