Oct. 17, 2024

S03E182: Fashion Forward Spacesuits, Cosmic Twins, and a Martian Eclipse

S03E182: Fashion Forward Spacesuits, Cosmic Twins, and a Martian Eclipse

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E182
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest in space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today's episode is a cosmic journey through a variety of fascinating topics that are sure to...

Season 3
Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E182
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest in space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today's episode is a cosmic journey through a variety of fascinating topics that are sure to captivate and inspire.
Highlights:
- Fashion-Forward Spacesuits: Discover the collaboration between Italian luxury brand Prada and Houston-based startup Axiom Space to create the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit for NASA's upcoming Artemis III mission. This cutting-edge spacesuit combines style with functionality, designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar south pole.
- Return of Vega C Rocket: Italy's Vega C rocket is set to make a comeback on December 3, marking a significant milestone for the Italian space program. This launch is eagerly anticipated by the scientific community and the space industry as it resumes its role in delivering payloads to orbit.
- Rare Comet in Australian Skies: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is visible for the first time in 80,000 years, offering Australians a rare glimpse into the distant past. This celestial event is a reminder of the wonders that await when we look up at the night sky.
- Brown Dwarf Mystery Solved: Astronomers have cracked a nearly 30-year-old mystery surrounding the brown dwarf Gliese 229 b, revealing it as a pair of brown dwarfs locked in a cosmic dance. This discovery provides valuable insights into the nature of brown dwarfs and the boundary between stars and planets.
- Origins of Earth's Meteorites: A groundbreaking discovery traces 70% of Earth's meteorites back to three massive collisions in the main asteroid belt. This research sheds light on the origins of space rocks and helps track potentially dangerous asteroids.
- Martian Solar Eclipse: NASA's Perseverance rover captures a stunning series of photographs of a solar eclipse on Mars, showcasing the planet's moon Phobos as it partially blocks the sun's disk. These images offer a unique glimpse of Phobos and Mars's complex orbital dynamics.
- Boeing's Starliner Mission Uncertainty: NASA faces uncertainties regarding the next crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft following issues during its first crewed test flight. The space agency is reviewing certification requirements to ensure safety and reliability for future missions.
For more space news, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. There, you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter, catch up on all the latest space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed, and listen to all our previous episodes.
Don't forget to follow us on social media. Just search for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-the-podcast--5648921/support.
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.680
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for the

2
00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:05.799
latest space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and

3
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:07.839
boy do we have an exciting episode for you Today.

4
00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:10.800
We're covering a wide range of fascinating topics that are

5
00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:14.119
sure to peak your interest. From fashion forward space suits

6
00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:17.399
designed for NASA's upcoming Moon mission, to the solution of

7
00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.280
a decade's old mystery surrounding a puzzling ground dwarf, We've

8
00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:23.760
got it all. We'll also be talking about a rare

9
00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:27.839
comet visible in Australian skies, new insights into the origins

10
00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:31.679
of Earth's meteorites, and even a Martian's solar eclipse captured

11
00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:34.320
by one of our trusty rovers. But that's not all.

12
00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:37.240
We'll also dive into the latest updates on space exploration,

13
00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:41.679
including some uncertainty surrounding Boeing's next crude mission. So buckle

14
00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.719
up and get ready for a cosmic journey through the

15
00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.359
latest and greatest in space and astronomy news. First up today,

16
00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:50.399
just because you're going to the Moon doesn't mean you

17
00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:54.600
can't be fashionable. In an exciting collaboration, Italian luxury brand

18
00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:58.119
Prada has joined forces with Houston based startup Axiom Space

19
00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:01.200
to create a cutting edge space suit for NASA's upcoming

20
00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:04.359
Artemis three mission to the Moon. This mission, planned for

21
00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.760
twenty twenty six, will mark the first astronaut moon landing

22
00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.519
since Apollo seventeen in nineteen seventy two. The new spacesuit,

23
00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:15.359
known as the Axium Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit or AXEMU,

24
00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:19.239
was recently unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.

25
00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.719
While it maintains the familiar bulky white appearance we've come

26
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:26.000
to associate with space suits, it now features added red

27
00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:28.959
trim and gray patches on the knees and elbows, giving

28
00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:31.840
it a subtle yet stylish update. But don't let its

29
00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:34.319
sleek look fool you. This suit is all about function.

30
00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.280
It's been designed to withstand the extreme temperatures at the

31
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.879
lunar South Pole, including the ability to endure the coldest

32
00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:44.200
temperatures in permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours.

33
00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:47.879
The suit will also allow astronauts to perform space walks

34
00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:51.959
for up to eight hours, showcasing its impressive endurance capabilities.

35
00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:57.319
The AXIMU has already undergone extensive testing, including underwater simulations

36
00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:00.200
to mimic the lunar environment as it nears its final

37
00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:03.879
development stage. Both Prada and Axiom Space express pride in

38
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.680
their collaborative effort, highlighting how the combination of their diverse

39
00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:11.919
skills has led to this innovative design. Next up, some

40
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.479
space news from Europe. In exciting news for space enthusiasts,

41
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.919
Italy's Vagacy rocket is gearing up for a comeback after

42
00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:21.439
facing some setbacks. The rocket is now scheduled to return

43
00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:24.199
to active duty on December third. This launch will mark

44
00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.280
a significant milestone for the Italian space program as the

45
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.960
Vegacy resumes its role in delivering payloads to orbit. The

46
00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:34.560
return to flight is eagerly anticipated by the scientific community

47
00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:38.319
and space industry alike, as it represents another step forward

48
00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:42.800
in Europe's space capabilities. Now one for the Ausies amongst

49
00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:45.960
our listeners, stargazers in Australia get ready for a truly

50
00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.439
spectacular site. Comet C twenty twenty three A three, also

51
00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.039
known as suchinshan Atlas, is gracing our skies for the

52
00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:59.000
first time in a staggering eighty thousand years. This celestial

53
00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:02.000
wanderer has already been turning heads in the Northern Hemisphere

54
00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:05.439
and now it's Australia's turn to witness this rare cosmic event.

55
00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:08.719
This comet is not just any ordinary space rock. It's

56
00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:11.680
a time capsule from the very formation of our Solar System,

57
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.599
offering us a glimpse into the distant past. Measuring about

58
00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:19.000
three point two kilometers across C twenty twenty three, A

59
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.520
three hails from the mysterious Ort Cloud, a vast shell

60
00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.400
of icy objects surrounding our Solar System. What makes this

61
00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.639
visitor so special is its rarity. The last time it

62
00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:33.240
passed by Earth, our planet was still in the grip

63
00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:36.599
of the ice age, with mammoths and saber toothed cats

64
00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:40.039
roaming the land. It's mind boggling to think about the

65
00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:43.879
changes our world has undergone since its last visit. For

66
00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.400
the best view, keep your eyes on the western horizon

67
00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:49.639
during early evening. The bright planet Venus can serve as

68
00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.800
a helpful reference point. While visible to the naked eye,

69
00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.199
Binoculars or a small telescope will give you an even

70
00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:59.719
better look at this cosmic traveler and its characteristic tales.

71
00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:03.319
Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see

72
00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:07.759
a piece of our Solar System's ancient history. Comment Ce

73
00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:11.039
twenty twenty three A three is a reminder of the

74
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:12.639
wonders that await us when we look up at the

75
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:16.720
night sky. Next, an ongoing mystery is solved in a

76
00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:20.680
fascinating breakthrough. Astronomers have finally cracked a nearly thirty year

77
00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.600
old mystery surrounding the brown dwarf Gleiza two hundred twenty

78
00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.000
nine B. It turns out what we thought was a

79
00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:29.360
single celestial object is actually a pair of brown dwarfs

80
00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:33.160
locked in a cosmic dance. Brown dwarfs, for those unfamiliar,

81
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.600
are fascinating objects that straddle the line between planets and stars.

82
00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.639
They're more massive than planets, but not quite hefty enough

83
00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:43.120
to sustain the nuclear fusion that powers stars. Glisa two

84
00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.079
hundred twenty nine B, discovered back in nineteen ninety five,

85
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.560
has long been considered the poster child for brown dwarfs

86
00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:53.160
and has been the subject of numerous studies. However, something

87
00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.120
always seemed off about Gliza two hundred twenty nine B.

88
00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:59.279
Given its apparent mass, it should have been much brighter

89
00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:03.519
than observed. This discrepancy has puzzled scientists for decades until now,

90
00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:07.000
Using advanced instruments at the very large telescope in Chile,

91
00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:10.399
researchers have revealed that Gliza two hundred twenty nine B

92
00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:15.000
is actually two separate brown dwarfs. These cosmic twins, now

93
00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:17.839
dubbed Giza two hundred twenty nine BA and Gliza two

94
00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:20.600
hundred twenty nine b B, are roughly thirty eight and

95
00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:24.360
thirty four times the mass of Jupiter, respectively. They orbit

96
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:27.160
each other every twelve days, far too close for previous

97
00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:31.680
observations to distinguish them as separate objects. This discovery not

98
00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:35.120
only solves the long standing brightness puzzle, but also provides

99
00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:38.519
valuable insights into the nature of brown dwarfs and the

100
00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:42.240
fuzzy boundary between stars and planets. It's a reminder that

101
00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.600
in astronomy, as in life, things aren't always what they

102
00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.160
seem at first glance. Scientists have recently made a groundbreaking

103
00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.079
discovery about the origins of meteorites that have fallen to Earth.

104
00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:55.720
It turns out that a wopping seventy percent of the

105
00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:58.959
seventy thousand meteorites found on our planet can be traced

106
00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.879
back to just three massive collisions in the main asteroid

107
00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:05.399
belt between Mars and Jupiter. These cosmic smash ups occurred

108
00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.480
five point eight, seven point five and forty million years ago,

109
00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.240
creating three young asteroid families known as Karen, Coronis, and Massalia.

110
00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.639
Each of these families formed when asteroids at least thirty

111
00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:21.199
kilometers across were destroyed, sending countless fragments hurtling through space.

112
00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:25.120
What's particularly fascinating is that these findings have solved a

113
00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:29.319
long standing mystery about the two most common types of meteorites,

114
00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:34.279
H chondrites and L chondrites. The Messalia family alone accounts

115
00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:38.319
for thirty seven percent of meteorites, including many L chondrites

116
00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:42.120
from a collision forty million years ago. This research not

117
00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.519
only sheds light on the origins of the space rocks

118
00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.360
we find on Earth, but also helps us track potentially

119
00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.600
dangerous asteroids that could pose a threat to our planet.

120
00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.720
It's a reminder of how interconnected our Solar system is

121
00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:56.199
and how events millions of miles away and millions of

122
00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.959
years ago continue to impact us today. One's looking skywards

123
00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.959
at the moment, even on Mars. In an exciting development

124
00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:07.199
from the Red Planet, NASA's Perseverance Rover has captured a

125
00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:10.879
stunning series of photographs showcasing a solar eclipse on Mars.

126
00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.519
On September thirtieth, the rover's left Masskamzi camera turned skyward

127
00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.560
to capture the planet's moon, Phobos, as it partially blocked

128
00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.279
the Sun's disc. These images offer a unique glimpse of Phobos,

129
00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:26.000
revealing its distinctive potato like shape. Unlike our spherical moon,

130
00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:30.240
Phobos is an irregularly shaped celestial body, measuring roughly seventeen

131
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.720
miles by fourteen miles by eleven miles. It's a swift mover,

132
00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.040
orbiting Mars at an incredibly close distance of just three thousand,

133
00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:40.040
seven hundred miles and completing three orbits in a single

134
00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.439
Martian day. This isn't the first time Perseverance has captured

135
00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:47.000
such an event. The rover also photographed Phobos transiting the

136
00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.519
Sun in April twenty twenty two and February twenty twenty four.

137
00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.920
In fact, Perseverance is carrying on a proud tradition started

138
00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:58.240
by its predecessors. NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers first observed

139
00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:02.040
phobos solar transits back into thousand and four, while Curiosity

140
00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.879
made history by recording the first video of one in

141
00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:08.920
twenty nineteen. These observations aren't just for show, they help

142
00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:13.519
scientists better understand Mars's moons and the planet's complex orbital dynamics.

143
00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.720
It's a reminder that our robotic explorers on Mars are

144
00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.480
not only searching for signs of ancient life, but also

145
00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:23.279
acting as interplanetary astronomers, giving us a new perspective on

146
00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:27.240
celestial events from another world. Now an update to an

147
00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.879
ongoing story, NASA is still grappling with uncertainty regarding the

148
00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:34.399
next crude mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. This comes in

149
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.799
the wake of issues that arose during its first crude

150
00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.919
test flight earlier this year. The Space agency is currently

151
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:43.399
in the process of reviewing the certification requirements for Starliner,

152
00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:47.120
a crucial step before giving the green light for future missions.

153
00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.360
The potential next crude mission to the International Space Station,

154
00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.679
initially slated for twenty twenty five, is now up in

155
00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:56.879
the air. NASA officials have stated that the timeline will

156
00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:59.759
be determined once they have a better grasp on Boeing's

157
00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:04.399
path to system certification. This thorough review is essential to

158
00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.440
ensure the safety and reliability of the spacecraft for future

159
00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:11.039
astronaut transport. The first crude test flight, known as crew

160
00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:15.240
Flight Test or CFT launched successfully on June fifth. However,

161
00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.679
problems arose during the docking procedure with the ISS. On

162
00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:21.759
June sixth, five out of twenty eight thrusters in the

163
00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:25.720
capsule's reaction control system experienced issues, causing a delay in

164
00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.639
the docking process. While the astronauts ultimately arrived safely at

165
00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:33.440
the space station, these unexpected hurdles have prompted NASA to

166
00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.159
take a closer look at starliners systems. As a result

167
00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.200
of these ongoing evaluations, NASA has had to make some

168
00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:44.080
adjustments to its crude flight schedule. The two CFT astronauts,

169
00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:48.159
Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who are currently aboard the ISS,

170
00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:51.159
have been reassigned to return to Earth on a SpaceX

171
00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:55.960
Crew Dragon capsule in February twenty twenty five. NASA emphasizes

172
00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:59.399
that they're committed to providing more information as it becomes available.

173
00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:03.159
Agency is working diligently with Boeing to address these challenges

174
00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:06.679
and ensure that Starliner meets all necessary safety and performance

175
00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.080
standards before its next crude mission. For now, the space

176
00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:13.000
community watches and waits as NASA and Boeing continue their

177
00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:17.440
rigorous review process, and that brings us to the end

178
00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.759
of today's journey through the cosmos. From cutting edge space

179
00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:23.840
suits to ancient comets, we've covered quite a bit of ground,

180
00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.799
or should I say space. I hope you've enjoyed this

181
00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:30.279
interstellar adventure as much as I have. Before we sign off,

182
00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.360
I want to remind you that the universe is always

183
00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.799
changing and there's always more to discover. If you're hungry

184
00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:37.480
for more space news and want to stay up to

185
00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.519
date with the latest astronomical happenings, head over to our

186
00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:44.159
website at Astronomy Daily dot io. There you can sign

187
00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.159
up for our free daily newsletter, which will deliver a

188
00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.720
dose of cosmic wonder straight to your inbox every morning.

189
00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.360
While you're on our site, why not take a moment

190
00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.360
to browse our constantly updating news feed. It's packed with

191
00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:59.600
all the latest space and astronomy news, ensuring you never

192
00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:02.559
miss it beat in the world of celestial exploration. And

193
00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:04.799
if you're in the mood for more in depth discussions,

194
00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.559
you can listen to all our back episodes right there

195
00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:10.840
on the website. But wait, there's more. If you want

196
00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.519
to connect with fellow space enthusiasts and join the conversation.

197
00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.240
You can find us on social media. Just search for

198
00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.200
astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x YouTube, and TikTok. We'd

199
00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.240
love to hear your thoughts on today's stories or any

200
00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:25.200
burning space questions you might have. Remember, the sky is

201
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.159
not the limit, it's just the beginning. Keep looking up,

202
00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:30.720
stay curious, and I'll catch you next time for another

203
00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:34.519
exciting episode of Astronomy Daily. This is Anna signing off

204
00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:40.159
and wishing you clear skies and bright stars. Sunday Star,

205
00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:48.120
Stall Star