S03E205: Dark Energy's Life Link, China's Spaceplane Leap, and Mars's Mysterious Rocks

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Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm excited to bring you another fascinating day of Space News and

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discoveries that showcase just how remarkable our universe truly is. Today we're diving into some

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incredible stories that span the cosmic spectrum. We'll explore groundbreaking research that connects

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dark energy to the possibility of life across multiple universes and take a look at China's ambitious

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new space plane project. We'll also check in again with NASA astronaut Suni Williams aboard the International Space Station.

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And discover why some peculiar white rocks on Mars have scientists intrigued.

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Plus, we'll celebrate a special milestone as one of humanity's earliest satellites marks 50 years

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in orbit and learn about Sony's innovative plans to test laser communications in space.

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And since it's a special day on Mars, we'll explore what makes a Martian year unique.

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Stick around as we journey through these amazing stories from across the cosmos. So let's get started.

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In 1961, Radio Astronomer Frank Drake introduced a groundbreaking equation that attempted to

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estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy. This famous formula, known as the

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Drake equation, combines various factors like the number of stars with planets and the time

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needed for civilizations to develop space signaling technology. While it's always been more of a

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conversation starter than a definitive calculator, scientists have continued to build upon Drake's

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foundational work. Now, fascinating new research published in the monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical

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Society is taking this concept to an entirely new level, exploring not just our universe,

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but multiple universes. The study focuses on how dark energy that mysterious force pushing our

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universe to expand might influence the formation of life across different universes. Dr. Daniela

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Serini from Durham University and his team have developed a model that estimates the total number of

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stars that could form in different universes based on their dark energy content. What they found is

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absolutely fascinating. The sweet spot for star formation and therefore the potential for life

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appears to be in universes with about 27% dark energy content. Here's where it gets really

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interesting. Our universe contains approximately 23% dark energy. This suggests that contrary to what

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we might expect, we may not actually be living in the universe most conducive to life. The delicate

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balance between dark energy's expansive force and gravity's pull creates conditions where matter

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can clump together to form stars and planets, but it seems there could be even more favorable

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conditions in universes with slightly more dark energy. This research opens up exciting new

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possibilities for understanding our place not just in our own universe, but in a potentially vast

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multiverse. As Professor Lucas Lombraiser from the University de Ginev points out, this model could

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help us explore how life might emerge across different universes and potentially reshape our fundamental

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questions about existence itself. It's a remarkable example of how our quest to understand alien life

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continues to evolve, taking us from Drake's relatively straightforward equation about civilizations

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in our galaxy to contemplating the conditions for life across multiple universes. It shows just

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how far our scientific understanding has come, while reminding us that there are still so many

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mysteries left to explore. Next in today's news, in a significant development from China's aerospace

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sector, state-owned company AYC has unveiled their first commercial uncrewed space plane, named How

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Long One or Skydragon. The reveal took place at China's largest air show in Ju-Hai, where a model

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of this innovative craft was put on display. While still in development, this space plane represents

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an important step forward in China's space capabilities, particularly in their ability to supply their

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growing space station program. The concept behind the How Long One is particularly interesting because

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it combines the best of both worlds in space travel. Like the retired US space shuttle, it launches

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vertically on top of a rocket booster, but returns to Earth like an aircraft, landing horizontally

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on a conventional runway. This design approach could significantly reduce the costs of sending cargo

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into space, making regular resupply missions more economically viable. The China Man Space Agency has

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already shown their confidence in the project by awarding the space plane an engineering flight

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verification contract. According to experts like Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard Smithsonian

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Center for Astrophysics, this project might be serving a dual purpose, not only developing cargo

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capabilities, but also gaining valuable experience with space plane technology that could later be applied

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to crude vessels. It's worth noting that China isn't alone in pursuing space plane technology.

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They've already been operating a military space plane that can stay in orbit for months,

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though details about its activities remain largely classified. The United States has its own

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military space plane, the Boeing X-37B, which has conducted extended missions at altitudes up to 38,000

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kilometers. In the commercial sector, Sierra Space's Dream Chaser is also preparing to join NASA's

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fleet of cargo vehicles serving the International Space Station. This development comes as China

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continues to expand its presence in space, with their space station now regularly hosting crews

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since its first modules launched in 2021. The addition of the How Long One to their capabilities

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could mark another significant step forward in China's increasingly ambitious space program.

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Now let's get an update to a story we brought you a couple of days ago. Recent tabloid headlines

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have raised concerns about NASA astronaut Suni Williams' health aboard the International Space Station,

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but these claims have been firmly refuted by both NASA and now Williams herself. In a video

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interview from the ISS, Williams addressed these speculations directly, confirming that she maintains

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the same weight as when she first arrived in orbit. The experienced astronaut explained that she's

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been maintaining a rigorous exercise routine, which is standard practice for all space station crew members.

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This includes regular sessions on the exercise bike, treadmill runs, and weightlifting,

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all crucial activities that help combat the effects of long-term microgravity exposure on the human body.

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Williams noted that while her physique has changed somewhat due to the weightlifting regimen,

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with slightly larger thighs and gluteal muscles, these changes represent healthy adaptation,

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rather than any concerning health issues. Williams has been aboard the ISS since June 6th,

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arriving on Boeing's first crewed Starliner mission. Though originally planned as a short-term stay,

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mission adjustments have extended her time in orbit. She currently serves as commander of Expedition

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72 and is scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025, alongside the crew nine astronauts.

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Throughout her extended mission, she continues to perform her duties effectively,

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leading a seven-person crew that includes both American and Russian space travelers.

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So I think we can put that one to rest now. Sony is making an exciting move into space technology

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with their latest venture into laser communications. The company has partnered with California-based

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Astro Digital to launch two small satellites that will test an innovative optical communication system.

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What makes this particularly interesting is that Sony is adapting the same technology.

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They originally developed for CD players to work in space. These satellites built on Astro

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Digital's Corvus platform are scheduled for launch in 2026. Each will carry a specialized laser

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com optical terminal developed by Sony Space Communications Corporation. The company believes their

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system offers significant advantages over traditional radio communication methods,

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with terminals that are more compact, lighter, and more energy efficient than current alternatives.

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This development comes at a crucial time as the growing number of satellites in low-earth orbit

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is putting increasing strain on available radio spectrum.

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Laser communication technology could provide a much needed solution, offering higher data transmission

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rates without the limitations of traditional radio frequencies. Sony isn't alone in pursuing

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this technology. They're joining companies like SpaceX in the race to develop these advanced

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communication systems, with significant interest coming from organizations like the US Space Development

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Agency. The terminals will be tested not only for communication between the satellites and ground

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stations, but also for satellite to satellite communication in orbit. This dual testing approach

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could pave the way for more efficient space-based communication networks in the future,

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potentially revolutionizing how we transfer data through space.

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Let's get a Mars update. The Perseverance Rover has made an intriguing discovery while exploring the

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rim of Mars Jezero crater. During its two-month climb up the crater's steep slopes, the rover encountered

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something quite unusual, a scattered field of bright white rocks that immediately caught the attention

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of NASA's science team. These ghostly white rocks are particularly fascinating because they're

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quite rare on Mars, while white rocks are common on Earth due to our planet's diverse geology

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and tectonic activity. Mars is different. The red planet's crust is primarily composed of dark

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minerals like olivine and peroxine, making these pale specimens stand out dramatically against the

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Martian landscape. The science team has been using every tool at their disposal to study these

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mysterious rocks. Perseverance's mast cam Z has captured multispectral images, while its supercam

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has used laser analysis to try to determine their composition. Unfortunately none of the rocks

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were large enough for the rover to safely examine with its robotic arm instruments, but scientists

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are keeping watch for larger specimens as they continue their exploration. One of the most puzzling

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aspects is how these rocks ended up in their current location. They appear to be scattered loosely

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over just a few square meters, suggesting they might be erosional remnants of a resistant vein or

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rock layer where softer surrounding material has worn away. Alternatively they could have tumbled

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down from a larger deposit higher up on the crater rim. This discovery joins other recent fascinating

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finds along the crater rim, including the colorful boulders at Mount Washburn and the striking zebra

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striped rock formation known as Freya Castle. Each of these discoveries is helping scientists

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piece together the complex geological history of this region of Mars. While we're talking about Mars

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here's some exciting news. November 12th, 2024 marked the beginning of a brand new year on the red planet.

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The Martian New Year officially kicked off at precisely 1032 Central European time as Mars began

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another journey around the Sun. This marks the planet's 38th year in the modern Martian calendar,

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which began counting from 1955 when a massive dust storm swept across the planet.

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The Martian calendar is quite different from what we're used to here on Earth. For starters

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a day on Mars called a "sall" is slightly longer than Earth's lasting 24 hours and 39 minutes.

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But the really big difference is in the year length. A full Martian New Year take 687

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Earth days to complete or about 668 "salls". That's nearly double the length of an Earth year.

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Here's a fun fact. If you want to calculate your age on Mars just divide your Earth age by 1.88

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and you'll instantly shed quite a few years. Like Earth, Mars experiences four distinct seasons

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but they're not quite as evenly spaced as ours. The planet's more elliptical orbit means these

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seasons vary in length. The red planet's axial tilt creates some interesting effects too,

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with the northern hemisphere getting more sunlight during its summer and the southern hemisphere

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receiving more during northern winter. Whether on Mars is extreme, to say the least. During a summer day

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temperatures might reach a balmy zero degrees Celsius at noon, only to plummet to minus 60 degrees by

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nightfall. Winter nights are even more brutal, dropping to a bone-chilling minus 110 degrees.

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The second half of the Martian year is particularly dramatic, often marked by fierce dust storms

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that can sometimes engulf the entire planet. These storms are triggered when Mars moves closer

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to the Sun, heating up the atmosphere and lifting fine dust particles that create a self-reinforcing

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cycle of warming and more dust. Finally today, a little celebration is in order. In milestone

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news, Oscar 7, an extraordinary satellite that has defied all expectations, is celebrating its 50th

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year in orbit this week. Launched on November 15th, 1974, this remarkable micro satellite holds

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the distinction of being the oldest operational satellite still circling our planet, even predating

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NASA's famous Voyager missions by three years. What makes Oscar 7's story even more fascinating is

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its humble origins. Built by volunteers from the radio amateur satellite corporation, or AMSAT,

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this satellite was largely constructed on basement workbenches. Despite its modest beginnings,

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it had to meet the same rigorous space readiness standards as professional satellites to hitch a ride

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alongside the NOAA 4 weather satellite. Engineers initially predicted a lifespan of just one to

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three years for Oscar 7, primarily due to its use of standard electronic components rather than

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radiation-hardened ones. But this plucky little satellite had other plans. Not only did it surpass its

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expected lifetime, but it also played a crucial role in developing modern emergency beacon technology,

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contributing to a system that has since saved over 57,000 lives. Perhaps the most remarkable

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chapter in Oscar 7's story came in 2002. After going silent in 1981 due to battery failure,

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the satellite unexpectedly sprang back to life 21 years later, earning it the nickname "sleeping

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beauty" among the amateur radio community. Today, despite some erratic behavior, it continues to

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operate using solar power, serving as a testament to the ingenuity of its volunteer builders

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and the surprising durability of early space technology. And that wraps up another fascinating day

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of space exploration and discovery. From the mysteries of dark energy and its role in creating

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habitable universes to China's ambitious new space plane and the heartwarming story of Oscar 7's

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golden anniversary, we've covered quite a journey through the cosmos today. I'm Anna and I've been

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thrilled to share these stories with you. If you're hungry for more space news, head over to astronomy

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daily.io where you can sign up for our free daily newsletter and stay up to date with our constantly

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updating newsfeed. While you're there, don't forget to check out our complete archive of past episodes.

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Want to join our community of space enthusiasts? You can find us across all major social platforms.

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Just search for AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube, Tumblr, and TikTok. Thanks for tuning in

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and remember to keep looking up. There's always something amazing happening in the cosmos.

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[Music]

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