Sept. 19, 2024

S03E158: Black Hole Beams, Rocket Lab Abort, and NASA's Hidden Figures

S03E158: Black Hole Beams, Rocket Lab Abort, and NASA's Hidden Figures

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 19th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest and most exciting developments in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to bring you another episode packed with...

Season 3

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 19th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest and most exciting developments in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to bring you another episode packed with cosmic wonders and scientific breakthroughs. Today, we've got a stellar lineup of stories that will take us from the farthest reaches of the universe to our own cosmic backyard. We'll explore record-setting jets from a distant black hole, witness a dramatic rocket launch abort, celebrate the hidden figures of NASA's past, ponder the possibility of ancient Earth sporting Saturn-like rings, and even discuss the potential for space lasers in planetary defense. So buckle up and prepare for liftoff as we embark on this cosmic journey together.
Highlights:
- Record-Setting Black Hole Jets: In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have detected the largest known jets of energy shooting from a supermassive black hole. These colossal beams extend an astonishing 23 million light years from end to end, dwarfing our entire Milky Way galaxy. The black hole responsible for this cosmic spectacle is located in a galaxy about 7.5 billion light years from Earth. These jets, nicknamed Porphyrion, are made up of subatomic particles and magnetic fields, all moving at nearly the speed of light. This discovery provides valuable insights into how black holes influence their surroundings on a truly enormous scale.
- Rocket Lab Launch Abort: Rocket Lab experienced a last-second abort during their latest mission attempt. The company's Electron Rocket was poised to lift off from New Zealand carrying five Internet of Things satellites for the French company Kinéis. However, as the countdown reached zero and the first stage engines ignited, they immediately shut down, resulting in a launch abort. Rocket Lab's team is now assessing options for the next launch attempt within their 14-day launch window.
- Honoring NASA's Hidden Figures: In a moving ceremony at the US Capitol, four trailblazing women of NASA were honored with Congressional Gold Medals for their groundbreaking contributions to space exploration. Kathryn Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden, the hidden figures behind America's space race success, were finally given their well-deserved recognition. This ceremony not only celebrated these four women but also acknowledged the countless others who worked behind the scenes at NASA performing critical calculations before the advent of electronic computers.
- Ancient Earth with Rings: A new study suggests that our planet may have once sported a ring system similar to Saturn's about 466 million years ago. Researchers believe that Earth may have captured and destroyed a passing asteroid, creating a debris ring that lasted for tens of millions of years. This ring could have had a major impact on Earth's climate, potentially contributing to the Hernantean Ice Age, the coldest period Earth has experienced in the past 500 million years.
- Space Lasers for Planetary Defense: A recent study has explored the idea of deploying laser arrays in space for deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids. The concept, known as Directed Energy Systems for Targeting of Asteroids and Exploration (DE-STAR), involves creating a modular array of lasers powered by solar cells. These space-based lasers could heat the surface of incoming asteroids to about 3000 Kelvin, hot enough to alter their course. While no one is building a DE-STAR array just yet, it's crucial to start thinking about the implications and potential uses of such technology.
For more space news, be sure to visit our website at astronomydaily.io. There you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter and explore our constantly updating news feed. Don't...

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.919
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for the

2
00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:06.599
latest and most exciting developments in space and astronomy. I'm

3
00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:09.000
your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to bring you another

4
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.480
episode packed with cosmic wonders and scientific breakthroughs.

5
00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:14.519
Today, we've got a stellar.

6
00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:16.640
Lineup of stories that will take us from the farthest

7
00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:20.440
reaches of the universe to our own cosmic backyard. We'll

8
00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:23.920
explore record setting jets from a distant black hole, witness

9
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.440
a dramatic rocket launch abort, celebrate the hidden figures of

10
00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:32.000
NASA's past, ponder the possibility of ancient Earth sporting Saturn

11
00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.759
like rings, and even discuss the potential for space lasers

12
00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:37.000
in planetary defense.

13
00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.079
So buckle up and prepare.

14
00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.439
For liftoff as we embark on this cosmic journey together,

15
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:44.479
Let's dive into the fascinating world of space science and

16
00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:49.200
exploration on this episode of Astronomy Daily. In a groundbreaking discovery,

17
00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.479
astronomers have detected the largest known jets of energy shooting

18
00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.880
from a super massive black hole. These colossal beams extend

19
00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:59.000
an astonishing twenty three million light years from end to end,

20
00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:02.520
dwarfing our in higher Milky Way galaxy. The black hole

21
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:05.799
responsible for this cosmic spectacle is located in a galaxy

22
00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.920
about seven point five billion light years from Earth. To

23
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.519
put that in perspective, we're observing an event that occurred

24
00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.159
when the universe was less than.

25
00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:14.799
Half its current age.

26
00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:18.280
These jets, nicknamed Porphyrion after a giant from Greek mythology,

27
00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.680
are truly massive. They're about thirty percent longer than the

28
00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:25.480
previous record holder, making them the most extensive structures of

29
00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.439
their kind ever observed.

30
00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.159
But what exactly are these jets.

31
00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:33.439
They're made up of subatomic particles electrons and positrons, along

32
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.239
with magnetic fields, all moving at nearly the speed of light.

33
00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:39.519
These particles are ejected from the area around the black

34
00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.200
hole as it devours nearby matter like gas, dust, and

35
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:46.840
even entire stars. The energy output of these jets is

36
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.799
mind boggling. Scientists estimate its equivalent to the energy released

37
00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:53.599
by trillions of stars like our Sun, or the amount

38
00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:57.760
produced when entire galaxy clusters collide. This discovery isn't just

39
00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:01.079
about breaking records, though, it provides valuable insights into how

40
00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:04.480
black holes influence their surroundings on a truly enormous scale.

41
00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.240
These jets can heat up interstellar gas, potentially affecting star

42
00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:11.759
formation across vast regions of space. They might even play

43
00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.039
a role in distributing energy and magnetic fields throughout the

44
00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:18.840
cosmic web, the large scale structure of the universe. The

45
00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.879
observation was made possible by LOFAR, a network of radio

46
00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:25.840
antennas primarily based in the Netherlands. This cutting edge technology

47
00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:30.240
allows astronomers to peer deeper into the universe and uncover

48
00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:34.680
phenomena that push the boundaries of our understanding of cosmic processes.

49
00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.879
As we continue to explore the depths of space, discoveries

50
00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.039
like Porphyrion remind us of the immense power and influence

51
00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:47.439
of supermassive black holes in shaping our universe. In space

52
00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:50.479
launch news, rocket Lab experienced a last second abort during

53
00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.000
their latest mission attempt. The company's Electron rocket was poised

54
00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.759
to lift off from New Zealand carrying five Internet of

55
00:02:56.840 --> 00:03:00.800
Things satellites for the French company QNIE. However, as the

56
00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:04.280
countdown reached zero and the first stage engines ignited, they

57
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:07.879
immediately shut down, resulting in a launch abort. Rocket Lab

58
00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:11.280
has named this mission Keyness Killed the radiot Star a

59
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.919
playful nod to the payload and a classic song title.

60
00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:16.840
This would have been their second launch for Canais, following

61
00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:20.280
a successful five satellite deployment in June. The aboard occurred

62
00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.879
at the precise moment of the instantaneous launch window, leaving

63
00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:27.240
no opportunity for a same day retry. Rocket Lab's team

64
00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:29.879
is now assessing options for the next launch attempt within

65
00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:32.919
their fourteen day launch window. This mission is part of

66
00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.360
a larger contract between rocket Lab and Kineis, which aims

67
00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:39.319
to deploy a total of twenty five satellites using the Electron,

68
00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:43.360
a small but capable rocket standing at fifty nine feet tall.

69
00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:47.520
Despite this setback, rocket Lab maintains an impressive track record

70
00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:51.560
with fifty two orbital missions to date, including ten successful

71
00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:54.680
launches in twenty twenty four alone. Now a story about

72
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.960
recognition that many would consider long overdue. In a moving

73
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:01.919
ceremony at the US Capitol, four trailblazing women of NASA

74
00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.599
were honoured with Congressional Gold Medals for their groundbreaking contributions

75
00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:09.879
to space exploration. Catherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and

76
00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:14.159
Christine Darden. The hidden figures behind America's space race success

77
00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:18.639
were finally given their well deserved recognition. The event, held

78
00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:22.959
in Emancipation Hall, brought together lawmakers, NASA officials, and family

79
00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.199
members of these remarkable women. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted

80
00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.360
how their pioneering work laid the foundation for today's achievements

81
00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:34.279
in space. These African American mathematicians and engineers played crucial

82
00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:38.639
roles in NASA's early spaceflight programs, from calculating flight trajectories

83
00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:42.120
to becoming the agency's first black female supervisor and engineer.

84
00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:45.399
Their stories, largely unknown for decades, were brought to light

85
00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:48.800
by Margo Lee Shutterley's book Hidden Figures and the subsequent

86
00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:52.319
film adaptation. The ceremony not only celebrated these four women,

87
00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:55.160
but also acknowledged the countless others who worked behind the

88
00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.920
scenes at NASA performing critical calculations before the advent of

89
00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:03.000
electronic computers. This Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest

90
00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.279
civilian honors in the United States, serves as a testament

91
00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:09.040
to their enduring legacy and the impact they've had on

92
00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.920
generations of scientists and engineers. It's a powerful reminder of

93
00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:16.759
the importance of diversity in scientific advancement, and a long

94
00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.759
overdue recognition of these hidden figures who helped shape America's

95
00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:24.040
space program. Now, let's turn our attention to a fascinating

96
00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:26.959
piece of research that's shaking up our understanding of Earth's

97
00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.959
ancient past. A new study suggests that our planet may

98
00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.920
have once sported a ring system similar to Saturn's about

99
00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.720
four hundred and sixty six million years ago. This isn't

100
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.199
just idle speculation. It's based on some intriguing evidence from

101
00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:41.040
twenty one crater sites around the world.

102
00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:42.160
Here's the story.

103
00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:45.920
Researchers believe that Earth may have captured and destroyed a

104
00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:49.560
passing asteroid, creating a debris ring that lasted for tens

105
00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:52.879
of millions of years. This event potentially occurred during the

106
00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:57.199
Ordovician period, a time when our planet experienced a significant

107
00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.920
increase in asteroid impacts. The team, led by Andy Tompkins

108
00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:04.399
from Monash University used computer models to map out where

109
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.639
these craters were when they first formed. Interestingly, all the

110
00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:10.639
craters were found within thirty degrees of the equator. This

111
00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.360
pattern is consistent with what we'd expect from a debris

112
00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.600
ring orbiting Earth, as such rings typically form above a

113
00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:19.959
planet's equator. Now, you might be wondering about the implications

114
00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:22.920
of such a ring system, while the researchers suggest it

115
00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.000
could have had a major impact on Earth's climate. Because

116
00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.160
Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbit around the Sun,

117
00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:32.079
this ring would have cast a shadow over parts of

118
00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.759
our planet's surface. This could have contributed to global cooling,

119
00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.319
potentially playing a role in the Hernantean Ice Age, the

120
00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:42.480
coldest period Earth has experienced in the past five hundred

121
00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:46.079
million years. Of course, as with all groundbreaking research, more

122
00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:49.360
evidence is needed to confirm this hypothesis, but it's an

123
00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.399
exciting possibility that gives us a new perspective on Earth's

124
00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:55.839
dynamic history. Who knows what other surprises our planet might

125
00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:59.040
be hiding in its geological record. Now, let's talk about

126
00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.639
an intriguing concept that might sound like it's straight out

127
00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:06.319
of science fiction, using powerful lasers in space for planetary defense.

128
00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.720
A recent study has explored the idea of deploying laser

129
00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:15.240
arrays in space, primarily for deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids. The concept,

130
00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.319
known as DSTAR, which stands for Directed Energy Systems for

131
00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.800
Targeting of Asteroids and Exploration, involves creating a modular array

132
00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:26.560
of lasers powered by solar cells. These space based lasers

133
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.560
could heat the surface of incoming asteroids to about three

134
00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:33.560
thousand kelvin, hot enough to melt or vaporize their constituents

135
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:37.480
and alter their course. Additionally, such a system could potentially

136
00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.720
be used to propel spacecraft. However, with great power comes

137
00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:45.040
great responsibility. The destructive potential of these laser arrays raises

138
00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:48.439
concerns about their possible use as weapons. To address this,

139
00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:51.920
researchers suggest deploying them at safe distances from Earth, where

140
00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.519
they pose no threat to our planet. The size and

141
00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.439
power of the laser array would determine its safe minimum

142
00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:01.160
distance from Earth. Smaller arrays could pretend be positioned at

143
00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:05.040
lagrange points between the Earth and Sun, while larger, more

144
00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:08.279
powerful arrays would need to be placed much further out

145
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.160
in the Solar System, possibly beyond the asteroid belt or

146
00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.959
even Jupiter's orbit. One challenge is balancing the laser's power

147
00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.879
with available solar energy, which decreases the further the array

148
00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.759
is from the Sun. Engineers would need to consider this

149
00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.680
trade off when designing and positioning these systems.

150
00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:27.240
While no one is building a.

151
00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.360
D star array just yet, it's crucial to start thinking

152
00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:34.399
about the implications and potential uses of such technology. As

153
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.240
we continue to explore space and seek ways to protect

154
00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:41.399
our planet, concepts like space based lasers may become increasingly

155
00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:44.960
relevant in our discussions about planetary defense and space exploration.

156
00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.000
And that wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily. We've

157
00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.679
covered some truly fascinating developments in space science and exploration,

158
00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.320
from the record setting jets blasting out of a distant

159
00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.279
black hole to the potential for space lasers to protect

160
00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:03.320
our planet. The universe continues to amaze and challenge us.

161
00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.519
We also celebrated the long overdue recognition of the hidden

162
00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.799
figures who played such a crucial role in NASA's early achievements,

163
00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:13.360
and explored the intriguing possibility that Earth once had its

164
00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.399
own ring system. I'm Anna, and I've been your host

165
00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.399
for this cosmic journey. If you're hungry for more space

166
00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:20.840
news and want to stay up to date with the

167
00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:24.679
latest discoveries, be sure to visit our website at Astronomydaily

168
00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.320
dot io. There you can sign up for our free

169
00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:31.240
daily newsletter and explore our constantly updating news feed. Don't

170
00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:33.279
forget to check out all our previous episodes on the

171
00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.960
website as well, and if you want even more Astronomy

172
00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:38.919
Daily content, find us on social media. Just search for

173
00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.679
astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x YouTube, and TikTok.

174
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:45.320
Thanks for listening and remember to keep looking up.

175
00:09:45.679 --> 00:10:05.519
Saiday Star Star story is ConTroll