Sept. 13, 2024

S03E153: SpaceX's Milestone, Japan's Lunar Landing Plans, and James Webb's Outer Galaxy Insights

S03E153: SpaceX's Milestone, Japan's Lunar Landing Plans, and James Webb's Outer Galaxy Insights

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 13th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna, and you're tuning into your Daily dose of space and Astronomy news. We've got an action-packed episode for you today, filled with groundbreaking developments that...

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 13th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna, and you're tuning into your Daily dose of space and Astronomy news. We've got an action-packed episode for you today, filled with groundbreaking developments that are pushing the boundaries of human exploration and our understanding of the cosmos. Coming up, we'll dive into a historic milestone in private space exploration as SpaceX achieves the first-ever privately financed spacewalk. We'll also check in on Japan's ambitious plans for a second moon landing attempt and discuss the latest hurdles facing SpaceX's Starship program. But that's not all. We'll take you on a journey to the far reaches of our galaxy as the James Webb Space Telescope unveils stunning new observations of star formation in the extreme outer regions of the Milky Way. And finally, we'll explore NASA's efforts to establish a standardized lunar time, a crucial step for future moon missions and beyond. Stick around as we explore these fascinating stories and more on today's episode of Astronomy Daily.
Highlights:
- SpaceX's First Private Spacewalk: SpaceX has once again pushed the boundaries of commercial space exploration with a historic achievement. In a groundbreaking mission, billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX crew trainer Sarah Gillis successfully conducted the first privately financed spacewalk in history. The spacewalk took place early Thursday morning, with Isaacman and Gillis taking turns floating just outside their Crew Dragon capsule at an altitude of 458 miles above Earth. They had an unobstructed view of our planet that left Isaacman in awe. This wasn't just a joyride in space, though. The primary goal of this 1 hour and 46 minutes spacewalk was to test SpaceX's new pressure suits. These new suits are a crucial development for SpaceX's ambitious plans to create low-cost, easy-to-manufacture spacesuits for future commercial astronauts who might one day fly to the moon or Mars aboard SpaceX's Super Heavy Starship rockets.
- Japan's Second Moon Landing Attempt: Japanese space exploration company ispace is gearing up for another shot at the moon. Their second lunar landing mission is set to launch as early as December, just over a year and a half after their first attempt. The company's CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, announced that the Hakuto-R Mission 2 will be delivered to space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Florida. After a journey of four to five months, the spacecraft will attempt its crucial lunar touchdown. Despite a setback in their first attempt, the company remains determined to achieve its goals.
- SpaceX's Starship Program Delays: Their highly anticipated fifth test flight of its Starship rocket is facing unexpected delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that a final license determination for Starship Flight 5 is not expected before late November 2024. This comes as a setback for SpaceX, who had been gearing up for the launch since their successful fourth flight in June. The delay stems from SpaceX's decision to modify both the vehicle configuration and mission profile for Flight 5, triggering a more in-depth review process.
- James Webb Space Telescope's New Discoveries: In a groundbreaking study, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has turned its powerful gaze to the farthest reaches of our Milky Way, capturing stunning images of star-forming regions in what astronomers call the extreme outer galaxy. Using its NIRCam and MIRI instruments, the Webb telescope focused on two molecular clouds known as Deagle Clouds One and Two. These observations have revealed unprecedented details of star clusters undergoing intense bursts of star formation.
- NASA's Standardized Lunar Time: NASA is taking on a task that might seem mundane at first glance but is actually crucial for future lunar missions: establishing a standardized lunar time. The space...

WEBVTT

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Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna and you're tuning into

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your daily dose of space and astronomy news. We've got

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an action packed episode for you today, filled with groundbreaking

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developments that are pushing the boundaries of human exploration and

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our understanding of the Cosmos. Coming up, we'll dive into

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a historic milestone in private space exploration as SpaceX achieves

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the first ever privately financed spacewalk. We'll also check in

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on Japan's ambitious plans for a second Moon landing attempt,

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and discuss the latest hurdles facing SpaceX's starship program. But

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that's not all. We'll take you on a journey to

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the far reaches of our galaxy as the James Webb

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Space Telescope unveils stunning new observations of star formation in

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the extreme outer regions of the Milky Way. And finally,

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we'll explore NASA's efforts to establish a standardized lunar time,

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a crucial step for future Moon missions and beyond. Stick

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around as we explore these fascinating stories and more on

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today's episode of Astronomy Daily. First up and update on

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yesterday's story, SpaceX has once again pushed the boundaries of

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commercial space exploration with a historic achievement. In a groundbreaking mission,

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billionaire Jared isaac Mann and SpaceX crew trainer Sarah Gillis

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successfully conducted the first privately financed spacewalk in history. The

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spacewalk took place early Thursday morning, with Isaac Mann and

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Gillis taking turns floating just outside their crew Dragon capsule

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at an altitude of four hundred and fifty eight miles

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above Earth. They had an unobstructed view of our planet

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that left Isaac Man in awe. He remarked on the

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serene boundary free view, noting that while there's much work

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to be done back on Earth, from space, it looks

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like a perfect world. This wasn't just a joy ride

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in space, though. The primary goal of this one hour

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and forty six minute spacewalk was to test SpaceX's new

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pressure suits. Isaac Man and Gillis performed a series of

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mobility tests, moving their arms, hands, and legs through various

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positions to assess the suit's comfort and functionality in the

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vacuum of space. These new suits are a crucial development

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for SpaceX's ambitious plans. The company aims to create low cast,

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easy to manufacture space suits for future commercial astronauts who

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might one day fly to the Moon or Mars aboard

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SpaceX's super heavy starship rockets. The suits feature some impressive innovations,

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including a heads up display projecting critical data onto the

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helmet visor, something not found in NASA's current space suits.

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They also incorporate thermal insulation and solar protection, along with

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multiple redundancies in oxygen supply and other critical systems. This

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successful space walk marks another milestone in SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission,

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the first of three planned by Isaac Man in cooperation

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with Elon Musk. It's a significant step forward in the

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commercialization of space travel and exploration, demonstrating that private companies

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can now perform complex operations once reserved for government space agencies.

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As we look to the future of space exploration, this

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achievement opens up exciting possibilities for commercial space ventures and

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brings us one step closer to making space more accessible

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to civilians. In other space news today, japan v space

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exploration company I Space is gearing up for another shot

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at the Moon. Their second lunar landing mission is set

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to launch as early as December just over a year

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and a half after their first attempt, the company's CEO,

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Ta Keshi Kakamada, announced that the Hakuto R Mission I

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will be delivered to space aboard a SpaceX Falcon nine

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rocket launching from Florida. After a journey of four to

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five months, the spacecraft will attempt its crucial lunar touchdown.

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This mission follows I Space's first moon landing attempt in

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April twenty twenty three, which unfortunately failed in the final

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moments due to an altitude miscalculation. Despite this setback, the

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company remains determined to achieve its goals. If successful, I

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Space would join the ranks of US based Intuitive machines,

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which made history in February by completing the world's first

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private moon landing. It's clear that the commercial space race

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to the Moon is heating up, with private companies vying

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to establish their presence on our celestial neighbor. I Space's

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persistence highlights the growing interest in lunarxis ploration not just

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from national space agencies, but also from the private sector.

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The Moon is increasingly seen as a frontier for potential

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resource extraction and as a stepping stone for further space exploration.

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It's not all good news for SpaceX today. Their highly

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anticipated fifth test flight of its Starship rocket is facing

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unexpected delays. The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA has announced

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that a final license determination for Starship Flight five is

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not expected before late November twenty twenty four. This comes

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as a setback for SpaceX, who had been gearing up

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for the launch since their successful fourth flight in June.

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The delay stems from SpaceX's decision to modify both the

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vehicle configuration and mission profile for flight five, triggering a

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more in depth review process. Additionally, new information submitted by

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SpaceX in August detailed a larger environmental impact area than

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previously reviewed, requiring further consultation with other agencies. SpaceX has

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expressed frustration with this development, stating that the Starship vehicle

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has been technically ready to fly since early August. In

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a blog post, the company criticized the regulatory environment, claiming

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that it now takes longer to complete government paperwork for

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a launch license than to design and build the actual rocket.

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This situation highlights the growing tension between the rapid pace

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of technological advancement in the private space industry and the

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necessarily cautious approach of government oversight. As companies like SpaceX

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push the boundaries of space exploration, finding the right balance

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between innovation and safety remains a critical challenge for the industry.

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Let's take a look out into deep space now. In

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a groundbreaking study, NASA's James Web Space Telescope has turned

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its powerful gaze to the farthest reaches of our Milky Way,

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capturing stunning images of star forming regions in what astronomers

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call the extreme outer Galaxy. This area, located more than

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fifty eight thousand light years from the galactic center, is

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nearly twice as far as Earth's position. The Web telescope,

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using its Nurkam and Miry instruments, focused on two molecular

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clouds known as Digal clouds one and two. These observations

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have revealed unprecedented details of star clusters undergoing intense bursts

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of star formation. The images show very young protostars, outflows

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and jets, and unique nebular structures with a level of

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clarity never before achieved. What makes these observations particularly exciting

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is that the Digal clouds are relatively poor in elements

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heavier than hydrogen, and helium. This composition is similar to

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dwarf galaxies and what our own Milky Way might have

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looked like in its early history. By studying these regions,

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astronomers can gain valuable insights into the processes of star

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formation in environments that mimic the conditions of the early universe.

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One of the most striking discoveries was in Cloud two S,

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where WEB captured a main cluster of young, newly formed stars.

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This dense area is bustling with activity, showing several stars

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emitting extended jets of material from their poles. The image

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andy also confirmed the existence of a previously suspected subcluster

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within the cloud. These observations are just the beginning. Scientists

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plan to revisit this galactic outpost to unravel more mysteries,

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including how the environment influences the formation of different types

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of stars and why circumstellar discs in the extreme outer

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galaxy have shorter lifetimes compared to those closer to us.

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The WEB telescope's ability to peer into these distant, primordial

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like environments is providing astronomers with a unique opportunity to

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study star formation in conditions similar to those that existed

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billions of years ago. This research not only enhances our

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understanding of our galaxy's history, but also sheds light on

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the fundamental processes that shape the universe as we know it.

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And finally, today, let's revisit a story we first brought

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to your attention some months ago. In a move that

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underscores the complexities of space exploration, NASA is taking on

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a task that might seem mundane at first glance, but

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is actually crucial for future lunar missions, establishing a standard

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lunar time. The Space Agency is spearheading efforts to create

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what's being called coordinated Lunar Time, or LTC. This initiative

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comes in response to a White House policy directive issued

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in April recognizing the need for a unified timekeeping system

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on the Moon. You might wonder why we can't just

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use Earth time on the Moon. Well, it turns out

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that time moves differently on the lunar surface due to

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the effects of relativity. Atomic clocks on the Moon would

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actually tick faster than those on Earth by microseconds per day.

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While that might not sound like much in the precision

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dependent world of space exploration, those tiny differences can add

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up to significant discrepancies. To put this into perspective, NASA

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scientist Cheryl Gramling explains that for something traveling at the

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speed of light, a fifty six microsecond difference is enough

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time to cover a distance of about one sixty eight

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football fields. That kind of variation could pose serious risks

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for navigation and communication in lunar missions. The plan is

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to establish a network of atomic clocks on the Moon,

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similar to how we determine coordinat universal time here on Earth. However,

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the exact locations for these clocks are still being determined

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as scientists grapple with the complexities of lunar timekeeping. This

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lunar time standard isn't just about the Moon, though, NASA

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sees it as a scalable solution that could be applied

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to future Mars missions and exploration of other celestial bodies

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in our Solar System. As we enter an era of

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increased commercial space activity and international collaboration in lunar exploration,

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having a shared definition of time becomes more critical than ever.

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It's an essential component for ensuring safe, resilient, and sustainable

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operations beyond Earth. In essence, NASA's Lunar time initiative is

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laying the groundwork for a new era of space exploration,

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one where we're not just visitors to other worlds, but

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potentially long term inhabitants. It's a small step in timekeeping,

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but a giant leap for our future in space, and

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that wraps up our cosmic journey for today. On Astronomy Daily,

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I'm Anna and I hope you've enjoyed this whirlwind tour

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of the latest developments in space exploration and astronomical discoveries.

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If you're hungry for more space news, don't forget to

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a constantly updating news feed, so you'll never miss a

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can also catch up on all our past episodes right

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to give a shout out today to Don Porter, one

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of our long term listeners on YouTube. Don's a frequent

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commenter and I just want to say thank you, Don.

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I really appreciate the feedback. And if you'd like to

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get a mention on the show, just be like Don

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that's it. See you next time, and remember, as I

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love to say, keep looking up a starn day. Star

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is the star is the toll. Star is