WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.040 Anna: Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily. 1 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.000 I'm Anna. 2 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.440 Avery: And I'm, um, Avery. You're listening to 3 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:09.280 season five, episode 115. And our 4 00:00:09.280 --> 00:00:11.320 team has lined up quite a Tuesday for us 5 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:11.600 today. 6 00:00:11.920 --> 00:00:14.520 Anna: They really have. We've got a historic 7 00:00:14.520 --> 00:00:17.360 crew announcement from NASA, a brand new 8 00:00:17.360 --> 00:00:20.200 launch date for the most powerful Wide Field 9 00:00:20.200 --> 00:00:23.160 telescope ever built, A solar storm 10 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:25.320 that put on a light show over much of the 11 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:27.760 Northern Hemisphere, a space station 12 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.480 emergency and and more. 13 00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:31.800 Avery: And we'll close out with the rocket comeback 14 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:34.640 story that's happening right now tonight as 15 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.200 we record this. So stay with us all the way 16 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:37.800 to the end. 17 00:00:38.120 --> 00:00:40.920 Anna: This is Astronomy Daily. Let's get into it. 18 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.960 Avery: Our lead story today is breaking news and 19 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.520 it's big. Earlier this morning at 20 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.400 11:00am, um, Eastern Time, NASA held a 21 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:51.880 live event at Johnson Space center in Houston 22 00:00:52.040 --> 00:00:54.800 and officially announced the four person crew 23 00:00:54.800 --> 00:00:55.960 for Artemis 3. 24 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:58.020 Anna: Now, some of our listeners might be 25 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:01.020 wondering, Artemis 3, isn't that the 26 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:03.940 moon landing? And the answer is it was 27 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:06.940 and then it wasn't. And now the crew is 28 00:01:06.940 --> 00:01:07.700 finally official. 29 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:10.860 Avery: Let me explain what Artemis 3 actually is 30 00:01:10.860 --> 00:01:13.660 now. Back in February this year, NASA 31 00:01:13.660 --> 00:01:16.060 Administrator Jared Isaacman made a big 32 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:18.740 announcement. Artemis 3 would no longer be 33 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:20.820 the mission to land humans on the moon. 34 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:23.900 Instead, it's been redesignated as a low 35 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:25.940 Earth orbit docking demonstration. 36 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.120 Anna: Think of it as NASA's version of Apollo 9. 37 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:32.320 In 1969, before Apollo 11 38 00:01:32.320 --> 00:01:35.280 landed on the moon, NASA sent Apollo 9 39 00:01:35.520 --> 00:01:38.080 to test the lunar module in Earth orbit, 40 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:40.680 practicing every rendezvous and docking 41 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:43.440 maneuver they'd need. Artemis 3 is doing 42 00:01:43.520 --> 00:01:46.360 exactly the same thing half a century 43 00:01:46.360 --> 00:01:46.720 later. 44 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.800 Avery: This is critical work. You cannot send 45 00:01:49.800 --> 00:01:51.960 astronauts to dock with the lander on the 46 00:01:51.960 --> 00:01:54.200 moon if you haven't proven those docking 47 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:56.880 systems were closer to home first. The 48 00:01:56.880 --> 00:01:59.240 Artemis program takes no shortcuts. 49 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.520 Anna: So who's going? That's the big news from 50 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:05.080 this morning. The crew names were officially 51 00:02:05.080 --> 00:02:07.200 unveiled during the Johnson Space center 52 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:09.920 broadcast just hours ago. As we record this 53 00:02:09.920 --> 00:02:12.600 episode, full details are on NASA's website 54 00:02:12.760 --> 00:02:14.920 and we'll link everything in the show notes. 55 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.720 Avery: What we can say is that NASA has been looking 56 00:02:17.720 --> 00:02:20.400 for astronauts with exceptional spacewalk 57 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:23.280 experience, piloting skills, and hands on 58 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.660 time with Artemis hardware. The crew of 59 00:02:25.660 --> 00:02:27.660 Artemis II, which splashed down in the 60 00:02:27.660 --> 00:02:30.380 Pacific on April 10, demonstrated those 61 00:02:30.380 --> 00:02:33.060 qualities spectacularly. And today's 62 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:35.180 announcement sets the stage for what comes 63 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:35.540 next. 64 00:02:35.940 --> 00:02:38.940 Anna: And what comes Next after Artemis 3 is 65 00:02:38.940 --> 00:02:41.740 Artemis 4, which has now become the mission 66 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:44.540 carrying the first human boots back on lunar 67 00:02:44.540 --> 00:02:47.180 soil since Apollo 17 in 68 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:49.940 December 1972 that is 69 00:02:49.940 --> 00:02:52.260 currently targeted for early 2028. 70 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:55.880 Avery: So today is a Milestone day. A crew has 71 00:02:55.880 --> 00:02:58.440 a name. The next chapter of human space 72 00:02:58.440 --> 00:03:00.320 exploration has faces on it. 73 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:03.360 Anna: History in the making. We'll have full crew 74 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:05.760 coverage and follow up in tomorrow's episode 75 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:07.120 as the world reacts. 76 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:09.840 Avery: Our second story comes with a launch date. 77 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.240 And it's sooner than almost anyone expected. 78 00:03:12.880 --> 00:03:15.724 NASA has officially set August 30, 79 00:03:15.876 --> 00:03:18.840 2026 as the launch date for the Nancy Grace 80 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:20.320 Roman Space Telescope. 81 00:03:20.810 --> 00:03:23.090 Anna: That is eight months ahead of the agency's 82 00:03:23.090 --> 00:03:25.570 previous commitment to flying no later than 83 00:03:25.570 --> 00:03:28.290 May 2027. This is a genuine 84 00:03:28.290 --> 00:03:30.730 success story in a program that has had its 85 00:03:30.730 --> 00:03:33.650 share of delays and budget pressures over the 86 00:03:33.650 --> 00:03:33.930 years. 87 00:03:34.570 --> 00:03:37.170 Avery: So what is Roman and why are astronomers so 88 00:03:37.170 --> 00:03:40.090 excited? The Roman Space Telescope is a 89 00:03:40.090 --> 00:03:42.650 wide field infrared observatory, and its 90 00:03:42.650 --> 00:03:45.650 defining feature is sheer width. Its 91 00:03:45.650 --> 00:03:47.970 Wide field instrument has a field of view at 92 00:03:47.970 --> 00:03:50.770 least 100 times larger than the Hubble Space 93 00:03:50.770 --> 00:03:53.740 Telescope. 100 times. That 94 00:03:53.740 --> 00:03:56.620 is not a small difference. Where Hubble peers 95 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:59.380 deep into tiny slivers of sky, Roman 96 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:02.100 will sweep vast areas in a fraction of the 97 00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:04.220 time. It's been designed to image 98 00:04:04.220 --> 00:04:07.060 approximately 1 billion galaxies over its 99 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:09.620 primary five year mission, with a possible 100 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:11.380 five year extension after that. 101 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:14.700 Anna: Its primary scientific targets are dark 102 00:04:14.700 --> 00:04:17.460 energy, dark matter and exoplanets. 103 00:04:17.850 --> 00:04:20.410 On the exoplanet side, Roman will conduct a 104 00:04:20.410 --> 00:04:23.290 gravitational microlensing survey expected 105 00:04:23.290 --> 00:04:25.290 to discover more than a thousand new 106 00:04:25.290 --> 00:04:27.810 worldsplanets that would be completely 107 00:04:27.810 --> 00:04:30.410 invisible to any other current telescope. 108 00:04:30.890 --> 00:04:33.250 Avery: Engineers are currently packing Roman at 109 00:04:33.250 --> 00:04:35.130 NASA's Goddard Space Flight center in 110 00:04:35.130 --> 00:04:37.570 Maryland, ready for shipment down to Kennedy 111 00:04:37.570 --> 00:04:40.250 Space center in Florida. Once there, it'll 112 00:04:40.250 --> 00:04:42.450 move into the Payload Hazardous Servicing 113 00:04:42.450 --> 00:04:44.920 Facility for a thorough inspection, power 114 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:47.560 testing, launch rehearsals, and the loading 115 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:49.960 of about 290 gallons of 116 00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:51.200 hydrazine propellant. 117 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:54.440 Anna: It will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from 118 00:04:54.440 --> 00:04:57.000 Kennedy. Given Falcon Heavy's track record 119 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.320 and the level of preparation the Roman team 120 00:04:59.320 --> 00:05:01.720 has put in, the space community is feeling 121 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:03.120 genuinely optimistic. 122 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.440 Avery: And this is an important distinction from 123 00:05:05.440 --> 00:05:08.440 Webb, which we talk about often. Webb looks 124 00:05:08.440 --> 00:05:11.160 deep but narrow. Roman will survey 125 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:13.880 wide and fast. The two telescopes are 126 00:05:13.880 --> 00:05:16.000 complementary. Roman will identify 127 00:05:16.080 --> 00:05:18.560 extraordinary targets that Webb can then 128 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:20.560 follow up on in painstaking detail. 129 00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:23.800 Anna: Think of it as Roman casting the net and 130 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:26.720 Webb examining what's in it. Together, they 131 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:28.760 are the most powerful pair of space 132 00:05:28.760 --> 00:05:31.360 observatories humanity has ever operated 133 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.400 simultaneously. 134 00:05:32.880 --> 00:05:35.760 Avery: August 30th is the date. Mark your calendars 135 00:05:36.400 --> 00:05:37.440 from the far future 136 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.360 Anna: to the very recent past. 137 00:05:39.850 --> 00:05:42.450 Our third story is about what the sun did to 138 00:05:42.450 --> 00:05:45.210 us this week. And the answer is it threw a 139 00:05:45.210 --> 00:05:46.330 cannibal at us. 140 00:05:46.810 --> 00:05:49.490 Avery: A cannibal. Coronal mass ejection to be 141 00:05:49.490 --> 00:05:51.730 precise. And yes, that is the actual 142 00:05:51.730 --> 00:05:53.930 scientific term. Let us explain. 143 00:05:54.490 --> 00:05:57.370 Anna: It started with an M M class solar flare from 144 00:05:57.370 --> 00:05:58.650 active sunspot region 145 00:05:58.730 --> 00:06:01.690 AR4461. On June 6, 146 00:06:02.010 --> 00:06:04.650 that flare launched a coronal mass ejection, 147 00:06:04.730 --> 00:06:07.690 a huge cloud of magnetized plasma toward 148 00:06:07.690 --> 00:06:10.660 Earth. So far that's not unusual. The 149 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:11.980 sun does this regularly. 150 00:06:12.460 --> 00:06:15.020 Avery: What made this one special was that a second 151 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:17.500 faster CME erupted not long after 152 00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:20.260 that second ejection caught up with and 153 00:06:20.260 --> 00:06:23.020 merged with the first, creating a combined 154 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:25.660 more powerful event. When a faster 155 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.140 CME overtakes a slower one and they 156 00:06:28.140 --> 00:06:30.900 combine, scientists call it a cannibal 157 00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:31.340 CME. 158 00:06:31.820 --> 00:06:34.780 Anna: The merged cloud arrived at Earth on June 8, 159 00:06:34.780 --> 00:06:37.420 and both NOAA and the UK Met Office 160 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:39.660 had already issued a G3. 161 00:06:40.280 --> 00:06:42.760 That's strong geomagnetic storm watch. 162 00:06:43.080 --> 00:06:45.600 To put that in context, the scale runs from 163 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.280 G1 up to G5. 164 00:06:48.520 --> 00:06:51.360 Extreme G3 means Aurora 165 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:54.240 displays are possible as far south as mid 166 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.240 northern latitudes. Think Oregon, Illinois 167 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:58.360 or Northern England. 168 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.040 Avery: For our uh, listeners in Australia and New 169 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.000 Zealand, you'd want to be watching from the 170 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.680 southern island of New Zealand or Tasmania to 171 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:07.880 catch the aurora australis during an event 172 00:07:07.880 --> 00:07:10.570 like this. And even then it's a close call. 173 00:07:10.810 --> 00:07:13.010 But the Northern hemisphere had quite the 174 00:07:13.010 --> 00:07:13.930 show on the 8th. 175 00:07:14.330 --> 00:07:17.250 Anna: The geomagnetic activity was still elevated 176 00:07:17.250 --> 00:07:19.970 into today June 9th, with a G2 177 00:07:19.970 --> 00:07:22.370 watch remaining in place. And there's a 178 00:07:22.370 --> 00:07:25.330 delicious coincidence here. June 9th is also 179 00:07:25.330 --> 00:07:27.850 the night of the Venus Jupiter conjunction. 180 00:07:27.930 --> 00:07:30.490 The two brightest planets appearing less than 181 00:07:30.490 --> 00:07:33.010 2 degrees apart in the western sky after 182 00:07:33.010 --> 00:07:35.610 sunset. So people who went outside to watch 183 00:07:35.610 --> 00:07:37.890 the conjunction may also have caught a 184 00:07:37.890 --> 00:07:39.050 glimpse of the aurora. 185 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.820 Avery: The sun is currently very active. There are 186 00:07:41.820 --> 00:07:44.460 multiple sunspot regions on the Earth facing 187 00:07:44.460 --> 00:07:47.100 side right now and a large coronal hole 188 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:49.180 rotating into an Earth directed position, 189 00:07:49.660 --> 00:07:52.100 meaning further geomagnetic activity in the 190 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:54.700 days ahead is possible. Keep your eyes on the 191 00:07:54.700 --> 00:07:57.060 sky folks. Space weather is being generous 192 00:07:57.060 --> 00:07:57.580 this week. 193 00:07:58.140 --> 00:08:00.500 Anna: Moving on to the International Space Station 194 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:03.180 and a story that caused hearts to race last 195 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:06.140 Friday at uh, just 1:00pm UTC. 196 00:08:06.140 --> 00:08:08.810 On June 5th, NASA ordered the crew aboard uh, 197 00:08:09.130 --> 00:08:11.490 the ISS to don spacesuits, 198 00:08:11.730 --> 00:08:14.530 shelter inside the docked SpaceX Dragon 199 00:08:14.530 --> 00:08:16.650 spacecraft and prepare for potential 200 00:08:16.650 --> 00:08:17.330 evacuation. 201 00:08:17.730 --> 00:08:20.250 Avery: To be clear from the outset, the crew was 202 00:08:20.250 --> 00:08:22.810 safe and within about two hours they received 203 00:08:22.810 --> 00:08:25.410 the all clear to return to normal operations. 204 00:08:25.970 --> 00:08:27.810 But the reason this happened is something the 205 00:08:27.810 --> 00:08:30.290 ISS program has been managing for years 206 00:08:30.610 --> 00:08:32.530 and it is getting harder to manage. 207 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:35.420 Anna: The issue is the Zvezda service 208 00:08:35.420 --> 00:08:38.300 module, specifically a transfer tunnel 209 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:41.220 section called the prk. It's part of The 210 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:43.540 Russian segment of the station, and it has 211 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:46.220 been developing cracks and small atmospheric 212 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:47.580 leaks since 2019. 213 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:50.740 Roscosmosthat's the Russian space 214 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:53.340 agency has been applying sealants and 215 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:56.100 mitigation measures continuously. But the 216 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:57.660 cracks keep developing. 217 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:00.660 Avery: On June 5, new leaks were found in the 218 00:09:00.660 --> 00:09:02.540 tunnel during what was meant to be a more 219 00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:05.380 extensive repair operation. Russian crew 220 00:09:05.380 --> 00:09:07.660 members paused the repair work to assess the 221 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:10.140 new measurements. And NASA, out of an 222 00:09:10.140 --> 00:09:12.900 abundance of caution, ordered the four non 223 00:09:12.900 --> 00:09:14.940 Russian crew members to shelter in the 224 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:15.460 Dragon. 225 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:18.060 Anna: The repair assessment eventually allowed them 226 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:21.060 to stand down. NASA says they are continuing 227 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:23.380 to monitor the situation very closely, 228 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:26.500 working with Roscosmos on a solution. But 229 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:28.980 this is an aging station. It's been 230 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:31.700 continuously inhabited for over 25 231 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:34.398 years now, built beginning in November 232 00:09:34.542 --> 00:09:37.270 1998, and the structural pressures are 233 00:09:37.270 --> 00:09:37.590 real. 234 00:09:38.070 --> 00:09:40.310 Avery: The current plan is to operate the ISS 235 00:09:40.550 --> 00:09:43.030 through the end of 2030 with a controlled 236 00:09:43.030 --> 00:09:45.830 deorbit and destructive re entry in early 237 00:09:45.830 --> 00:09:48.629 2031. Whether the PRK 238 00:09:48.629 --> 00:09:50.670 tunnel can be kept sealed and safe for 239 00:09:50.670 --> 00:09:53.190 another four plus years is one of the more 240 00:09:53.190 --> 00:09:55.150 pressing questions facing the program right 241 00:09:55.150 --> 00:09:55.430 now. 242 00:09:55.670 --> 00:09:58.630 Anna: For now, the crew is safe and working, but 243 00:09:58.630 --> 00:10:00.310 this story will be one to watch. 244 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:03.020 Avery: Story five brings us up to speed on the 245 00:10:03.020 --> 00:10:05.180 fallout from Blue Origin's catastrophic 246 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:07.060 rocket explosion, and it is having 247 00:10:07.140 --> 00:10:09.860 significant ripple effects on NASA's entire 248 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:10.660 lunar program. 249 00:10:11.060 --> 00:10:13.180 Anna: Here's the background for listeners who may 250 00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:15.780 have missed it. On May 28, Blue 251 00:10:15.780 --> 00:10:18.700 Origin's new Glenn rocket exploded during a 252 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:21.100 static fire test AT Launch Complex 253 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:24.020 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 254 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:26.620 A, uh, static fire test is when you ignite 255 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.420 the engines while the rocket is still on the 256 00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:32.080 pad, bolted down to check their performance 257 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.440 ahead of a real launch. 258 00:10:33.920 --> 00:10:36.840 Avery: The explosion was enormous, visible from 259 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:39.600 more than a hundred miles away. The rocket 260 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.320 was destroyed. The transporter and erector 261 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.800 holding it in place was wrecked. A lightning 262 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:47.320 tower was demolished. The main gantry 263 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:50.280 suffered structural damage. Satellite images 264 00:10:50.280 --> 00:10:52.760 captured the full scorched extent of the 265 00:10:52.760 --> 00:10:53.280 destruction. 266 00:10:53.520 --> 00:10:56.120 Anna: No one was injured, which, given the scale of 267 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:59.040 the explosion, is remarkable. Blue Origin 268 00:10:59.040 --> 00:11:01.480 CEO Dave Limp has said the pad can be 269 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.400 repaired faster than initially feared. Key 270 00:11:04.400 --> 00:11:06.480 infrastructure, including the propellant 271 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.040 tanks, water tower and storage systems, 272 00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:11.800 survived intact. He's committed to having 273 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:14.440 another new Glenn ready for launch before the 274 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:15.760 end of 2026. 275 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.840 Avery: That is an ambitious timeline, though, and 276 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:21.480 the consequences for NASA's lunar program are 277 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.080 serious. Blue Origin was supposed to launch 278 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.840 its Blue Moon Mark one cargo lander, an 279 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:29.080 uncrewed demonstrator intended to deliver a 280 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.780 NASA Paylo to the moon this autumn. Um, as 281 00:11:31.780 --> 00:11:33.780 the inaugural mission of the Moon based 282 00:11:33.780 --> 00:11:34.140 program. 283 00:11:34.540 --> 00:11:37.140 Anna: With New Glenn out of action and LC 284 00:11:37.140 --> 00:11:40.060 36 in ruins, NASA Administrator 285 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:42.580 Jared Isaacman is now describing what he 286 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:45.420 calls a whole of government response. The 287 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:47.820 agency is actively seeking an alternative 288 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:50.060 launch vehicle for the Blue Moon lander, 289 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.900 decoupling it from New Glenn entirely for 290 00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:53.180 now. 291 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:55.100 Avery: And um, there's a direct connection to 292 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:57.620 Artemis 3, the crew we just told you about in 293 00:11:57.620 --> 00:12:00.510 story one. Artemis 3 is meant to dock with 294 00:12:00.510 --> 00:12:03.350 both the SpaceX Lander variant and Blue 295 00:12:03.350 --> 00:12:06.310 Moon Mark 2 in Low Earth orbit. If Blue 296 00:12:06.310 --> 00:12:08.630 Origin's hardware isn't flight proven before 297 00:12:08.630 --> 00:12:10.710 then, that mission profile becomes 298 00:12:10.710 --> 00:12:12.510 significantly more complicated. 299 00:12:12.910 --> 00:12:15.310 Anna: Administrator Isaacman has said he remains 300 00:12:15.310 --> 00:12:17.790 optimistic about a crewed lunar landing in 301 00:12:17.790 --> 00:12:20.630 2028 using whatever landing craft 302 00:12:20.630 --> 00:12:23.310 is available. But the road to the moon just 303 00:12:23.310 --> 00:12:24.510 got a bit bumpier. 304 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:27.680 And for our final story, something that is 305 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:30.640 actually happening right now tonight as 306 00:12:30.640 --> 00:12:33.320 we broadcast this episode. The Japan 307 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.320 Aerospace Exploration Agency 308 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:39.080 is attempting to launch its H3 rocket 309 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.160 from Tanegashima Space Center. 310 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:44.240 Avery: This is a comeback story and JAXA really 311 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.240 needs it to work. The H3's last flight was 312 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.920 a painful one. Back in December last year, 313 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:52.000 the rocket attempted to launch carrying a 314 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.630 quasi Zenith satellite navigation 315 00:12:54.630 --> 00:12:57.390 satellite, part of Japan's own regional GPS 316 00:12:57.470 --> 00:13:00.190 style positioning network. The mission ended 317 00:13:00.190 --> 00:13:02.950 in failure when the QZS5 satellite 318 00:13:02.950 --> 00:13:05.270 separated from the rocket prematurely during 319 00:13:05.270 --> 00:13:07.630 stage separation and fell into the ocean. 320 00:13:08.030 --> 00:13:10.590 Anna: The cause was eventually traced to adhesive 321 00:13:10.590 --> 00:13:12.790 strips in the payload support structure 322 00:13:12.790 --> 00:13:15.110 peeling off. DAXA has made 323 00:13:15.110 --> 00:13:17.230 modifications to the satellite payload 324 00:13:17.230 --> 00:13:20.030 section to address exactly that failure 325 00:13:20.030 --> 00:13:22.600 mode and sensors have been installed to 326 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:24.320 monitor the fix during flight. 327 00:13:24.640 --> 00:13:26.720 Avery: Tonight's launch is a test flight rather than 328 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:29.000 an operational mission. The rocket is 329 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:31.160 carrying a dummy main payload called the 330 00:13:31.160 --> 00:13:33.760 vehicle evaluation payload 5 or 331 00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:36.719 VEP 5, along with a small collection of 332 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:38.680 real satellites from universities and 333 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:39.840 research organizations. 334 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.400 Anna: What makes this version of the H3 335 00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:44.880 particularly interesting is its engine 336 00:13:44.880 --> 00:13:46.730 configuration. This is the 337 00:13:46.730 --> 00:13:49.410 H3.3 variant. It uses 338 00:13:49.410 --> 00:13:52.210 three liquid fuel LE9 engines in the 339 00:13:52.210 --> 00:13:55.090 first stage and no solid rocket boosters at 340 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:57.930 all. That makes it Japan's first large 341 00:13:57.930 --> 00:14:00.330 rocket powered entirely by liquid 342 00:14:00.330 --> 00:14:02.930 propulsion. It's a significant milestone for 343 00:14:02.930 --> 00:14:05.370 the country's launch capability and its 344 00:14:05.370 --> 00:14:07.850 ambitions to compete in the global commercial 345 00:14:07.850 --> 00:14:08.490 launch market. 346 00:14:08.890 --> 00:14:11.730 Avery: The launch Tonight opens at 9:53am M 347 00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:14.610 Japan Standard Time on June 10, which is 348 00:14:14.610 --> 00:14:17.330 8:53pm Eastern Time on June 349 00:14:17.330 --> 00:14:19.750 Nint. So for our uh, listeners in Australia 350 00:14:19.830 --> 00:14:22.030 and the Pacific, you may actually be able to 351 00:14:22.030 --> 00:14:23.670 watch the livestream this morning. 352 00:14:24.230 --> 00:14:27.190 Anna: DAXA has had an impressive H3 track record. 353 00:14:27.190 --> 00:14:30.030 Overall, the vehicle has successfully flown 354 00:14:30.030 --> 00:14:32.910 multiple times. Tonight is about proving the 355 00:14:32.910 --> 00:14:35.750 fix works, restoring confidence and getting 356 00:14:35.750 --> 00:14:38.230 back to the serious business of building 357 00:14:38.230 --> 00:14:40.630 Japan's independent access to space. 358 00:14:41.190 --> 00:14:43.590 Avery: We're rooting for them. Go H3. 359 00:14:44.170 --> 00:14:46.570 Anna: And that is your Astronomy Daily for Tuesday, 360 00:14:46.810 --> 00:14:49.610 June 9, 2026. What a 361 00:14:49.610 --> 00:14:50.650 day it has been. 362 00:14:50.970 --> 00:14:53.810 Avery: A new Artemis crew, a telescope ready to 363 00:14:53.810 --> 00:14:56.530 show us a billion galaxies, a solar 364 00:14:56.530 --> 00:14:59.050 storm painting the sky green, a space 365 00:14:59.050 --> 00:15:02.010 station holding its breath, a moon program 366 00:15:02.170 --> 00:15:04.810 rebuilding after disaster, and the 367 00:15:04.810 --> 00:15:07.210 rocket about to attempt its redemption. 368 00:15:07.770 --> 00:15:10.330 Anna: Bass never sleeps, and neither do we. 369 00:15:10.850 --> 00:15:13.530 Well, almost never. Tomorrow's episode will 370 00:15:13.530 --> 00:15:16.130 have full reaction and detail on the Artemis 371 00:15:16.130 --> 00:15:18.490 3 crew announcement. You won't want to miss 372 00:15:18.490 --> 00:15:18.850 it. 373 00:15:19.010 --> 00:15:20.730 Avery: If you enjoyed today's show, please 374 00:15:20.730 --> 00:15:22.810 subscribe, leave us a review and share 375 00:15:22.810 --> 00:15:24.890 Astronomy Daily with someone who loves the 376 00:15:24.890 --> 00:15:27.490 cosmos as much as we do. You'll find those at 377 00:15:27.490 --> 00:15:30.330 astronomydaily, IO and everywhere. You get 378 00:15:30.330 --> 00:15:32.810 your podcasts from Anna and M from 379 00:15:32.810 --> 00:15:34.450 Avery. Keep looking up. 380 00:15:34.850 --> 00:15:37.600 Anna: This has been Astronomy Daily the 381 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.440 stormy 382 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:41.320 Avery: day the stories be 383 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:41.640 told, 384 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:49.880 The stories the song.