S03E67: Hubble's Gyro Shift & SpaceX's Starlink Surge: Navigating Telescope Troubles and Satellite Successes

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Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily
dose of space and astronomy news. I'm

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your host Anna. In today's episode, we'll cover the latest updates about the

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Hubble Space Telescope and how it's shifting
into one gyroscope mode. We'll also delve

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into SpaceX's recent milestones, including the
Starlink eight five satellite launch and the FAA's

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approval for Starship Flight four. Plus, we'll highlight several other noteworthy events happening

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in the ever evolving realm of space
exploration. Thank you for joining us.

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Thanks Autonomy Daly Podcast. The Hubble
Space Telescope has once again shown signs of

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aging, requiring a shift into what's
known as one gyroscope mode. This transition

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was necessitated by a malfunction in one
of the gyroscopes responsible for maintaining Hubble's precise

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orientation towards its celestial targets. NASA
officials have explained that the telescope, which

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originally housed six gyros, now has
only two operational ones, with an announcement

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today confirming the transition to utilizing just
one of them. The remaining functional gyro

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will be kept in reserve for future
use. Despite this adjustment. NASA has

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assured us that this does not mark
the end of Hubble's illustrious career. There

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is confidence that Hubble will continue its
groundbreaking work well into the next decade.

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Mark Lampin, director of NASA's Astrophysics
Division, underlined that this strategy is the

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best approach to extend Hubble's operational life. The shift to one gyro mode will

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have minimal impact on the majority of
its observations. Hubble's pointing control system typically

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utilizes three gyros, but it has
demonstrated effective operation in two gyro mode in

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the past, making one gyro mode
a viable long term option. This change

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does come with some operational limitations.
For example, transitioning from one science target

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to another will take slightly longer,
and there will be a reduction in scheduling

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efficiency approximately twelve percent, according to
Hubble project manager Patrick Krauss. Additionally,

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Hubble will have less flexibility in its
observational scope and will be unable to track

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moving targets closer than Mars, though
such targets have historically been rare. Looking

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ahead, the telescope is expected to
resume its work in mid June under the

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new operational configuration. NASA's updated reliability
assessments suggest a high probability of at least

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one gyro remaining functional through twenty thirty
five, which should ensure that Hubble continues

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to illuminate our understanding of the universe
for years to come. So, while

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Hubble may have lost a bit of
its precision, its ability to offer groundbreaking

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insights into the Cosmos remains largely intact. The Telescope's storied history of servicing missions

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and technological upgrades gives hope that it
will continue to contribute valuable scientific data,

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reinforcing its legacy as one of the
most important observatories in astronomical history. Stay

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tuned to Astronomy Daily for more updates
on Hubble and other exciting space missions.

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Now, let's turn our attention to
SpaceX and their latest achievement. SpaceX recently

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completed the Starlink eight five mission,
adding another success to their remarkable track record.

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This mission saw the Falcon nine rocket
lift off from Pad forty at Cape

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Canaveral Space Force Station, deploying twenty
Starlink V two mini satellites. Among these,

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thirteen satellites notably featured direct to cell
phone capabilities, a significant advancement for

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global communication. The Falcon nine's first
stage booster, known in the SpaceX fleet

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as B one thousand sixty seven,
reached its twentieth flight during this mission,

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a testament to SpaceX's pioneering advancements in
rocket reusability. This particular booster had a

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storied past, having supported two crew
Dragon astronaut missions, two cargo Dragon resupply

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missions to the International Space Station,
and ten prior Starlink delivery runs. After

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its latest feat, B one thousand
sixty seven successfully landed on the drone ship

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read the instructions stationed in the Atlantic
Ocean. This marked the eighty third landing

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for the specific drone ship and the
three hundred and sixteenth overall booster landing for

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SpaceX. SpaceX founder Elon Musk recently
highlighted the achievements of the Starlink network,

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revealing a new internal median latency record
of twenty eight milliseconds for their Internet service.

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Musk further noted that the median latency
for Starlink Internet in the United States

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could soon dip below twenty milliseconds,
a promising development for users. This launch

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not only underscores SpaceX's capability to execute
frequent and precise missions, but also moves

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them closer to their goal of providing
widespread, high speed Internet access. With

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each successful mission, SpaceX continues to
redefine the parameters of spaceflight and satellite communications.

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In other SpaceX news, their ambitious
plans for interplanetary travel took another significant

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step forward as the FAA recently granted
approof for Starship Flight four, scheduled to

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lift off from the Starbase facility in
South Texas. This mission is crucial for

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testing the capabilities of both the Starship
and its super heavy booster. These tests

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are aimed at ultimately fulfilling SpaceX's longer
term goals of lunar and martian missions.

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The FAA's approval comes with a license
that includes certain test induced damage scenarios.

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This means that the agency has identified
specific conditions under which vehicle loss would not

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delay subsequent missions, expediting the test
and evaluation process. By outlining these scenarios

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ahead of time, SpaceX and the
FAA can focus on streamlining the steps necessary

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to safely and efficiently move forward with
future flights. Starship and its super heavy

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booster are pivotal components of SpaceX's vision
standing nearly four hundred feet tall, they

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represent the most powerful rocket ever built
to date. The company has tested Starship

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on three previous flights, all of
which have provided key data, bite not

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achieving complete mission success, each test
has been a learning opportunity, improving the

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design and operational procedures of the rocket
system. This fourth flight aims to achieve

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high orbital velocity, followed by intricate
re entry and splash down maneuvers. SpaceX's

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focus this time is not only on
reaching orbital speed, but also on demonstrating

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reusability features core to making future missions
to the Moon and Mars economically viable.

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The super heavy booster will attempt a
controlled splash down into the Gulf of Mexico,

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while the Starship vehicle will aim for
re entry over the Indian Ocean.

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As SpaceX progresses, the importance of
efficient regulatory processes and robust testing frameworks cannot

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be overstated. The collaborative approach between
SpaceX and the FAA in modifying the launch

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license to include pre approved damage scenarios
is a testament to this. It reflects

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a mutual commitment to advancing space exploration
while maintaining stringent safety protocols. The aerospace

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community and space enthusiasts alike will be
keenly watching Starship Flight four, anticipating its

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contributions to the future of human spaceflight
and the new frontier it aims to open.

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This mission is more than a test
flight. It is a significant milestone

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toward realizing the dream of making space
travel more accessible and sustainable. NASA,

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Boeing and United Launch Alliance are gearing
up for a third attempt to launch the

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Boeing Starliner on its inaugural crude flight. This follows previous setbacks due to a

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failed power distribution source and issues with
the launch vehicle. United Launch Alliance engineers

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have since rectified the electrical problem,
and mission management has given the green light

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for a launch attempt on June fifth. The crew for this mission, astronauts

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Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, are
set to embark on a journey to the

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International Space Station. Isss a significant
milestone in Boeing's efforts to provide NASA with

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reliable crew transportation capabilities under the Commercial
Crew Program. The launch window is precisely

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timed, with liftoff scheduled for ten
fifty two am EDT aiming to align the

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spacecraft's trajectory with the orbit of the
ISS. If successful, the Starliner will

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dock with the ISS approximately twenty four
hours after launch. This mission will not

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only transport the two astronauts, but
also a variety of scientific experiments and supplies.

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The teams stay on the ISS will
allow them to conduct essential research and

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collaborate with current crew members before their
planned return to Earth, landing in White

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Sands, New Mexico on June fourteenth. This endeavor follows a series of delays

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and adjustments, including a scrapped launch
attempt in early May due to technical issues.

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Despite these challenges, the teams at
NASA, Boeing and ULA have worked

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tirelessly to resolve the problems to ensure
the mission's success. As we approach the

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launch time, weather forecasts indicate a
ninety percent chance of favorable conditions, with

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only some cumulus clouds posing a potential
concern. In addition, solar activity,

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which has been elevated recently, will
be monitored closely to ensure safe flight conditions.

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The upcoming mission represents a crucial step
towards certifying the Starliner for regular crew

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rotation missions to the ISS, potentially
beginning as soon as spring twenty twenty five.

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This achievement will mark a significant advancement
in NASA's goal of having multiple domestic

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providers for transporting astronauts to space,
enhancing the robustness and capabilities of human spaceflight

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operations. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has
etched his name into the annals of space

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history by becoming the first person to
reach an astounding one thousand cumulative days in

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space. This extraordinary milestone was reached
during his fifth mission aboard the International Space

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Station ISS, where he is currently
serving as commander. Kononenko, who launched

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on the Soyuz MS twenty four spacecraft
last September, has not only demonstrated the

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incredible human capability to an endure long
term space missions, but also provided scientists

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with a unique opportunity to study the
effects of prolonged exposure to the space environment.

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Renowned aerospace medicine expert Immanual Urkieta underscores
the significance of Cononenko's achievement. According

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to Urkieta, this milestone allows researchers
to gather invaluable data on the physiological and

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psychological impacts of long duration space flights. Key areas of study include radiation exposure,

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bone density loss, muscle atrophy,
and mental well being in isolated and

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confined environments. Such research is crucial
for planning future missions to the Moon,

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Mars, and beyond. As humanity
prepares for longer and more distant space expeditions,

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the data collected from Cononenko's time and
space will be instrumental. It helps

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establish a clearer understanding of what astronauts
will face on missions that could span several

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years. Moreover, this knowledge could
lead to advancements in medical treatments and health

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monitoring technologies that benefit not only future
space travelers, but also those on Earth,

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especially in remote or medically underserved areas. So as we celebrate Conenenko's remarkable

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journey, we also look forward to
the scientific advancements his experience will bring,

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paving the way for humanity's next giant
leap. Stay tuned for more updates as

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we continue to explore the frontiers of
space. A recent solar storm gifted us

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with an awe inspiring display of auroras
lighting up the skies with vibrant curtains of

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pink and green. This dazzling spectacle
marks the beginning of what promises to be

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a particularly active period for our sun
as it nears the peak of its eleven

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year solar cycle. Solar experts from
NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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NOAH have observed that the Sun is
already more turbulent than initially predicted. This

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heightened activity could bring more frequent and
intense solar storms in the coming years,

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potentially affecting more regions around the globe. The beauty of these auroral displays,

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while captivating, comes with a caveat. As charged particles from the Sun collide

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with Earth's magnetic field, they can
disrupt satellite communications, GPS systems, and

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even power grids. For instance,
during the recent storm, farmers had to

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halt GPS dependent operations and aviation routes
were altered to avoid communication blackouts. To

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mitigate these disruptions, experts emphasize the
importance of preparedness. Government agencies like NASA

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and NOAH are actively monitoring solar activity
and collaborating with industries affected by space weather.

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Technological advancements and better forecasting methods are
also being developed to safeguard critical infrastructure

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against the erratic behavior of our star. As we brace for heightened solar activity

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through twenty twenty six. It's essential
to stay informed and prepared. Whether you're

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a scientist, a farmer, or
simply a stargazer. Understanding the impact of

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the solar phenomena can help navigate the
electrifying yet challenging journey ahead. And that's

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it for today. Thank you for
tuning in to Astronomy Daily. We hope

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you enjoyed today's episode and found our
discussion on the latest updates from the world

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of space and astronomy and lightning.
Remember you can always visit our website at

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Astronomy Daily dot io for even more
updates and news on space missions, celestial

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events, and the latest in astrophysics. This podcast is brought to you daily

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I'm your host, Anna, wishing
you clear skies and a universe full of

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discoveries. Until next time, keep
looking up, sayday Stars Star