Aug. 31, 2024

S03E142: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Returns, NASA Crew Reshuffle, and Black Hole Imaging Breakthroughs

S03E142: SpaceX's Falcon 9 Returns, NASA Crew Reshuffle, and Black Hole Imaging Breakthroughs

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 31 August 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest in space exploration and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna. Today, we've got some fascinating stories lined up for you. From SpaceX receiving the green...

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 31 August 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest in space exploration and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna. Today, we've got some fascinating stories lined up for you. From SpaceX receiving the green light to fly their Falcon 9 rocket again after a recent mishap, to NASA's strategic crew adjustments on their SpaceX flights, there's a lot to cover. We're also diving into groundbreaking advancements with the Event Horizon Telescope that promise to reveal clearer images of black holes than ever before. And we'll take a closer look at how New Zealand's rapidly growing space sector is grappling with sustainability challenges. So let's dive right into the latest updates and breakthroughs.
Highlights:
- SpaceX Falcon 9 Cleared for Launch: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given SpaceX the green light to restart its Falcon 9 launches following an investigation into a recent mishap. Despite a first stage booster tipping over and exploding while attempting to land on a drone ship, the mission successfully delivered 21 Starlink Internet satellites into orbit. This incident marked an end to a streak lasting over three years of successful booster landings. The FAA has allowed the Falcon 9 to return to flight operations, demonstrating SpaceX's resilience and adaptability.
- NASA's Crew Dragon Flight Adjustments: NASA has announced changes to its upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon flight, reassigning astronauts to make room for the crew from Boeing's Starliner capsule. This decision ensures seamless coordination with Roscosmos and maintains collaborative efforts on the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew-9 flight, now set for September 24, will be captained by Nick Haig, with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbanov joining as the mission specialist.
- Event Horizon Telescope Advancements: The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) team has made significant strides in improving the resolution of black hole images. Collaborating with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and other facilities, the EHT team achieved an astonishing level of observational detail. These advancements promise to reveal more detailed properties around black holes, potentially uncovering both predicted and unexpected phenomena.
- New Zealand's Aerospace Sector and Sustainability: New Zealand's aerospace sector is experiencing rapid growth with ambitious goals for the global space industry. However, this growth brings pressing sustainability issues to light. Balancing economic expansion with sustainable practices is crucial as the global community becomes more aware of space debris and other environmental concerns. New Zealand's aerospace strategy includes a bilateral agreement with the United States and policies on space debris removal, but critics argue that more proactive measures are needed.

For more space news, be sure to visit our website at astronomydaily.io. There you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter, read insightful blog posts, and catch up on all the latest space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed.
Don't forget to listen to all our previous episodes as well. You can also follow us on social media. Just search for AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok to stay connected with our community and never miss an update.
Until next time, keep looking up.
Sponsor Links:
Nordpass
NordVPN
Malwarebytes

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.720
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna. Today we've

2
00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:06.480
got some fascinating stories from the world of space exploration

3
00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:07.280
and astronomy.

4
00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:09.359
From SpaceX receiving the.

5
00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:12.039
Green light to fly their Falcon nine rocket again after

6
00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:15.640
a recent mishap to NASA's strategic crew adjustments on their

7
00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:19.399
SpaceX flights, there's a lot to cover. We're also diving

8
00:00:19.399 --> 00:00:23.320
into groundbreaking advancements with the Event Horizon telescope that promised

9
00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:26.399
to reveal clearer images of black holes than ever before.

10
00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.120
And we'll take a closer look at how New Zealand's

11
00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:34.240
rapidly growing space sector is grappling with sustainability challenges. So

12
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.759
let's dive right into the latest updates and breakthroughs. Fortunately

13
00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:40.560
this didn't take long given the potential problems. As we

14
00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:46.079
highlighted yesterday, the Federal Aviation Administration FAA has given the

15
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.640
green light for SpaceX to restart its Falcon nine launches

16
00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:53.799
following an investigation into a rare mishap earlier this week,

17
00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:57.479
a first stage booster tipped over and exploded while attempting

18
00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.679
to land on a drone ship off the Florida coast.

19
00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.479
Despite this setback, the mission was deemed a success, as

20
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.319
it successfully delivered twenty one Starlink Internet satellites into orbit.

21
00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:09.959
This incident marked the end of a streak lasting over

22
00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.680
three years with hundreds of successful booster landings. Landing the

23
00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.799
booster is usually a secondary objective for SpaceX, and no

24
00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:20.519
lives or public property were at risk. However, the mishap

25
00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:24.480
highlighted the crucial role of reusability in SpaceX's business model

26
00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:27.400
and the trust that both the US government and private

27
00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:31.480
industry place in the Falcon nine rocket. The FAA stated

28
00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:34.280
that the Falcon nine could return to flight operations even

29
00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:38.000
as the investigation remains open, given that all other license

30
00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:41.719
requirements are met. Typically, the rocket's first stage fires its

31
00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:45.959
thrusters to achieve a precise upright landing. This webcast, however,

32
00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.120
showed it tilting and blowing up on the Drone ship,

33
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.680
a rare occurrence for SpaceX, which prides itself on its

34
00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:55.599
reusable rocket technology. The Falcon nine was briefly grounded back

35
00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:59.040
in July due to a second stage engine anomaly that

36
00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:01.799
caused another batch of Starlink satellites to burn up upon

37
00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:02.280
re entry.

38
00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:04.519
Yet the quick resolution of these.

39
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.240
Issues demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of SpaceX's engineering teams.

40
00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:13.759
As the workhourse of SpaceX's fleet, the Falcon nine continues

41
00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:18.400
to be pivotal for missions involving satellite and astronaut deployments. Ultimately,

42
00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:23.039
this incident underscores the inherent risks and complexities of rocket science,

43
00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:27.479
but also showcases SpaceX's commitment to continuous improvement and innovation,

44
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.520
ensuring the future of reusable rocket technology remains bright. Next

45
00:02:32.599 --> 00:02:36.319
up today, NASA has recently announced changes to its upcoming

46
00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:42.280
SpaceX Crew dragonflight, marking a significant shift in astronaut assignments. Originally,

47
00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:44.879
the mission was set to include Crew nine commander Xena

48
00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:49.360
Cardman and veteran astronaut Stephanie Wilson. However, the agency has

49
00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:51.919
decided to reassign these two astronauts to make room for

50
00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.319
the crew from Boeing Starliner capsule. This decision is part

51
00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:58.599
of NASA's broader strategy to ensure a seamless coordination with

52
00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.199
ROSCOSMOS and n maintain the collaborative efforts on the International

53
00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:06.919
Space Station MISS So what led to this reshuffling. While

54
00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:09.319
the Boeing Starliner, which was launched back in June for

55
00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.560
an eight day test flight ran into some technical issues,

56
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:16.120
including helium leaks and thruster problems. To play it safe,

57
00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.560
NASA decided to keep Starliner's commander Barry Butch Wilmore and

58
00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.240
co pilot Sunita Williams on the ISS longer than initially planned.

59
00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.479
Their mission, now extending to two hundred and sixty two days,

60
00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:31.240
necessitated their return on board the Crew Dragon instead. As

61
00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:34.360
a result, now set for its launch on September twenty fourth,

62
00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.280
the Crew nine flight will be captained by Nick Haig,

63
00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:40.560
an experienced astronaut who has spent two hundred three days

64
00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:44.560
in space during a previous mission. Hague originally was Cardman's copilot,

65
00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.759
but has since stepped up to the role of mission commander.

66
00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.520
Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbanov will join Hague as the mission specialist,

67
00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:55.199
but as he is not trained to pilot the Crew Dragon,

68
00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:59.479
the responsibility falls solely on Hague. This mission is not

69
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:03.080
just about five astronauts, It's also about ensuring the constant

70
00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.719
presence of both NASA and Russian crew members.

71
00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:06.599
Aboard the ISS.

72
00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:11.199
This collaborative arrangement aims to mitigate any potential risks, such

73
00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.680
as if an emergency requires one of the ferry ships

74
00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:16.480
to make an unplanned return to Earth. The decision for

75
00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:20.160
this crew reshuffle ultimately came from NASA's chief astronaut, Joe Akaba,

76
00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.920
who acknowledged the difficulty and importance of the decision. Akaba

77
00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:27.160
expressed his confidence in the crew's ability to adapt to

78
00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:31.560
these last minute changes, stating, while we've changed crew before

79
00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:35.000
for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight

80
00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:38.199
was another tough decision to adjust to. Given that the

81
00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.680
crew has trained as a crew of four, I have

82
00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:44.120
the utmost confidence in all our crew. Interestingly, this shuffling

83
00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:47.240
is part of a larger complex orchestration of upcoming missions

84
00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.560
to the ISS. For instance, the Russians are planning to

85
00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:54.079
send two cosmonauts along with NASA astronaut Donald Pettitt to

86
00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.680
the ISS on September eleventh. Then a trio of cosmonauts

87
00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:59.920
and one NASA astronaut will return to Earth on sipt

88
00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:02.920
Chember twenty third, just one day before the Crew nine launch.

89
00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:06.959
This sequence ensures a consistent rotation and presence of crew

90
00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.560
members on the ISS, further cementing the international collaboration that

91
00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:16.199
space exploration necessitates. Now, let's turn our attention to outer space.

92
00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:19.639
The Event Horizon Telescope or EHT team has taken a

93
00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:22.759
giant leap forward in our understanding of black holes. They

94
00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:26.680
recently conducted successful tests aimed at improving the resolution of

95
00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:29.600
black hole images, a huge endeavor with the goal of

96
00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:33.160
seeing these enigmatic celestial giants more clearly than ever before.

97
00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:38.879
Collaborating with the Atacama Large Millimeter Submillimeter Array known as ALMA,

98
00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:43.199
and several other facilities, the EHT team achieved an astonishing

99
00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.959
level of observational detail. Imagine being able to see a

100
00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.759
bottle cap on the Moon from the Earth. That's the

101
00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:52.240
kind of precision we're talking about here. So how did

102
00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:54.519
they manage to do it? While the team worked at

103
00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:57.360
an incredibly high radio frequency of three hundred and fifty

104
00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:00.920
four gigahertz, which is way higher than what they typically used.

105
00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.439
This allowed them to capture details as fine as nineteen

106
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.079
micro arc seconds, the highest resolution ever achieved from the

107
00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:12.000
Earth's surface. Although there aren't any images from these tests yet,

108
00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.040
the initial observations showed strong light signals from the centers

109
00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:19.480
of distant galaxies, even using just a few antennas.

110
00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:21.319
With these new.

111
00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:24.240
Techniques, scientists believe they can sharpen the images of black

112
00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:28.720
holes by about fifty percent compared to previous observations. Remember

113
00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.519
those first groundbreaking images of m ET seven's black hole

114
00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:32.079
in our own.

115
00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:33.199
Galaxies Sagittarius A.

116
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:36.920
They looked pretty amazing, but there was always room for improvement.

117
00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:40.920
Alexander Raymond from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who co led

118
00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:45.000
the observation, mentioned that these new sharper images will reveal

119
00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:49.560
more detailed properties around black holes, some predicted and perhaps

120
00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:54.120
some entirely unexpected. Sheppard Dolman, the founding director of the EHT,

121
00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.560
made an interesting comparison. He said, it's like moving from

122
00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.920
black and white to color vision. By observing the surroundings

123
00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:04.519
of black holes at different wavelengths, scientists aim to unravel

124
00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:08.120
the mysteries of how these cosmic giants attract and consume matter,

125
00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:11.519
and how they manage to launch powerful jets of particles

126
00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:15.879
across vast galactic distances. The EHT operates like an Earth

127
00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:19.839
sized virtual radio telescope. Instead of building one colossal dish,

128
00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:23.120
it links multiple radio dishes around the globe, a technique

129
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.639
called very long baseline innerferometry. For this test, they expanded

130
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.160
the wavelength range and refine the instrumentation to capture these

131
00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:34.839
higher resolution images. The ultimate goal is even more ambitious.

132
00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:38.240
They want to create high fidelity movies of the event horizon,

133
00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:42.720
showing the behavior of materials swirling around these enormous gravitational wells.

134
00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:46.639
Imagine watching the incredibly dynamic environment around a black hole,

135
00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:49.879
almost in real time. There are plans to revisit the

136
00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:53.079
supermassive black holes in M eighty seven and the Milky Way.

137
00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:57.639
With the enhanced imaging capabilities, these observations will offer a

138
00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:01.079
more precise measurement of the black hole's size, shapes, and

139
00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:06.160
even their spins. The EHT consortium, comprising over four hundred members,

140
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.040
is geared up to push the boundaries, giving us the

141
00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:12.639
most detailed radio images of the mysterious entities that sit

142
00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:15.959
at the heart of most galaxies. It's a thrilling time

143
00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.959
for black hole research, and thanks to these advancements, we're

144
00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.480
closer than ever to peeling back the layers of these

145
00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:26.519
cosmic mysteries. Stay tuned for more revelations from the EHT team.

146
00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:28.720
And finally, today, let's shift our focus to a land

147
00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:32.080
down under No, not that one, the other smaller one.

148
00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:36.559
New Zealand's aerospace sector is experiencing rapid growth, with an

149
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.679
ambitious goal of significantly impacting the global space industry. Like

150
00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.960
the rest of the world, New Zealand is striving to

151
00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:46.120
be part of the thriving space economy, which aims to

152
00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:49.039
reach a value of one point eight trillion US dollars

153
00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.120
by twenty thirty five. However, this growth brings to light

154
00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.919
several pressing sustainability issues. One of the main challenges for

155
00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.000
the New Zealand Space Agency is balancing the drive for

156
00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:03.759
economic expansion with the urgent need for sustainable practices as

157
00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:06.519
the global community becomes more aware of space debris and

158
00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:10.879
other environmental concerns. Striking this balance has never been more crucial.

159
00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:14.919
New Zealand's aerospace activities took off following Rocket lab uss

160
00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.559
decision to launch rockets from the Mahia Peninsula. This move

161
00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.840
led to the creation of the New Zealand Space Agency,

162
00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.120
a unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment,

163
00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:28.200
which now regulates launch payloads and helps commercial ventures access funding.

164
00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.879
A key component of the country's aerospace strategy is its

165
00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:36.960
bilateral agreement with the United States, allowing the launch of

166
00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:41.559
American payloads on rocket Labs electron vehicle. This cooperation is

167
00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:44.840
pivotal in reaching the target of generating ten billion New

168
00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:48.480
Zealand dollars in annual revenue by twenty thirty. However, this

169
00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.679
dual role as both regulator and promoter creates a conflict

170
00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:55.679
of interest, especially when it comes to sustainable development. Current

171
00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:59.799
budget constraints further complicate the situation, making it difficult for

172
00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:03.600
them Space Agency to fulfill both its economic and environmental

173
00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:08.120
responsibilities simultaneously. There is a clear need for transparency and

174
00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:11.600
defined roles to ensure sustainability doesn't fall by the wayside.

175
00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:14.639
Industries and companies are looking to the government for incentives

176
00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:19.159
to prioritize sustainability, such as monitoring emissions from launches. The

177
00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:22.840
Space Agency has made strides with policies on space debris removal,

178
00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:26.360
but critics argue these measures are not proactive enough given

179
00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:30.480
the growing number of market entrants. Minister for Space Judith Collins,

180
00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.759
has stated that her office works with various environmental authorities

181
00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:38.519
and industry representatives to monitor and mitigate potential harms. However,

182
00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:42.360
these commitments lack quantifiable details, leaving a gap and accountability.

183
00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:46.000
To address these challenges, New Zealand needs clear guidelines and

184
00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:49.480
a balanced approach that involves both public and private sectors.

185
00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:53.720
Looking at other industries with strong sustainability initiatives could offer

186
00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:58.279
valuable insights into creating a more responsible aerospace sector. In summary,

187
00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.440
while New Zealand's aerospace sector is poised for significant growth,

188
00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.480
it must navigate the complex terrain of sustainability. Achieving this

189
00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:10.039
balance will require robust leadership, clear policies, and a collaborative

190
00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:13.120
approach to ensure that economic development does not come at

191
00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:18.799
the expense of our planet. That's it for today's episode

192
00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.720
of Astronomy Daily. Thank you for tuning in. Don't forget

193
00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:24.840
to visit our website at Astronomy Daily dot io for

194
00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:27.919
the latest space in astronomy news, and sign up for

195
00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.080
our free daily newsletter. You can also catch up on

196
00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:33.879
all our back episodes and find us on social media

197
00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:38.120
by searching for astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x YouTube,

198
00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:38.840
and TikTok.

199
00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:41.360
This is Anna signing off. Keep looking up.

200
00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:52.759
Sunday Stars Star.

201
00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.559
The story is control O