July 27, 2023
S02E26: Olympus Mons: An Ancient Island & Delayed SpaceX Launch
Welcome to a special 'One Show Thursday' episode of Astronomy Daily! On this day, Tim Gibbs and his AI sidekick, Hallie, delve into a striking discovery about Olympus Mons and an unfortunate delay of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. **Key Discussions:**...
Welcome to a special 'One Show Thursday' episode of Astronomy Daily! On this day, Tim Gibbs and his AI sidekick, Hallie, delve into a striking discovery about Olympus Mons and an unfortunate delay of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. **Key Discussions:** 1. **Olympus Mons as an Ancient Martian Volcanic Island:** Hallie unfolds an intriguing possibility about Olympus Mons, Mars' highest mountain, suggesting it could have been a giant volcanic island in an ancient Martian ocean. This theory is based on a recent study led by the Center National Drescherches Scientific (CNRS), revealing characteristics on Olympus Mons' slopes reminiscent of volcanic islands on Earth. These findings illuminate our understanding of Mars' history, hinting at a period of extensive volcanic activity and water presence, and shed light on astrobiology studies of Mars. 2. **SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch Postponed:** A record-breaking Falcon Heavy rocket launch by SpaceX got scrubbed last-minute due to undisclosed reasons. The launch aimed to deploy Jupiter 3, the largest commercial communication satellite ever built. Despite this setback, SpaceX looks ahead to their next-gen Starship vehicle, expected to generate an unparalleled 16.7 million pounds of thrust. **Tune in and Join the Conversation:** Never miss an episode with Tim Gibbs and AI assistant, Hallie, by visiting spacenuts.io or bitesz.com. Join our vibrant community by heading over to our Facebook page and join the 'Space Nuts podcast group'. Join us for full shows with Steve Dunkley on Mondays and Tim Gibbs on Fridays. Thanks for listening! Catch you next week. **Keywords:** Olympus Mons, Mars, Ancient Martian Ocean, Volcanic Activity, Astrobiology, SpaceX, Falcon Heavy Rocket, Jupiter 3 Satellite, Astronomy Daily Podcast, Tim Gibbs, Hallie.
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.120
Good everybody, and welcome to Astronomy
Daily for Thursday, the twenty seventh of
2
00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:09.960
July twenty twenty three. My name
is Tim Gibbs and I will be your
3
00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:21.559
host for today's episode. A bit
of a surprise for our listeners that we
4
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.719
have time today, so we are
going to do a one show Thursday,
5
00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:30.519
which is a bit different from normal
and as usual I have my AI assistant,
6
00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:35.119
Hallie in the studio with me today. Hallie, do you have a
7
00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:40.560
one story for us today? Thanks? Tim, Here's my story for today.
8
00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:45.119
Olympus Mons could have been a giant
volcanic island in an ancient Martian Ocean.
9
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.119
Olympus Mons, located at the northwest
edge of the Tharsis Montes region on
10
00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:56.039
Mars, was appropriately named based on
readings obtained by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter
11
00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.880
MOLA, an instrument aboard nassa's Mars
Global Surveyors. This mountain is the tallest
12
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:06.719
in the Solar System, standing twenty
one point nine kilometers thirteen point six miles
13
00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.599
tall, about two and a half
times the height of Mount Everest eight point
14
00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:15.359
eight five kilometers five point five miles. According to current estimates, this extinct
15
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:21.599
shield volcano formed during mars Hesperian period
ca. Three point seven to three billion
16
00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:26.719
years ago, which was characterized by
widespread volcanic activity and catastrophic flooding. This
17
00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:32.239
coincides with a period when Mars had
a denser atmosphere, a warmer environment,
18
00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:37.480
and flowing water on its surface.
This included a global ocean that spanned much
19
00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.400
of the Northern Hemisphere known today as
the Northern Lowlands, encompassing Olympus Mons.
20
00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:48.319
According to a recent study led by
researchers from the Center National de Rechercher's Scientific
21
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.760
CNRS, features found on the slopes
of Olympus Mons indicate that it could have
22
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.799
been a massive volcanic island where volcanic
eruptions flowed into the ocean, similar to
23
00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:01.920
ones found on Earth. The research
was conducted by a team of CNRS researchers
24
00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:08.240
with the Geosciences Paris Saclay Laboratory JEEPS
at the University of Paris Saclay. The
25
00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:13.960
team was led by Anthony Hildenbrand,
a CNRS jeep's researcher, with the assistance
26
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:19.479
of Fernando or Nellis Marquez, a
geology professor at the University delze Boa.
27
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.039
The paper that describes their findings.
A giant volcanic island in an early Martian
28
00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:30.520
ocean recently appeared in the Earth and
Planetary Science letters. Knowing when, where,
29
00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:35.120
and how long flowing water existed on
Mars is crucial to astrobiology studies on
30
00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.479
the red planet. No one really
knows how long early liquid water may have
31
00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:44.479
existed at the surface of Mars,
which potentially has important implications regarding the fate
32
00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.879
of early life on Mars and in
the Solar System, he said. According
33
00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:53.080
to the geological record, life began
on Earth roughly four billion years ago,
34
00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.840
when much of the surface was covered
in water and the atmosphere was largely the
35
00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:02.800
result of volcanic outgassing. The Astronomy
Day podcast thanks for that, Hallie.
36
00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:10.199
Now SpaceX has unfortunately had to scrub
a record breaking Falcon Heavy rocket launch.
37
00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.199
The team halted the countdown at sixty
five second. We will have to wait
38
00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:23.240
at least another day to see SpaceX
powerful Falcon Heavy rocket liftoff for the seventh
39
00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:28.960
time. The Falcon Heavy was scheduled
to launch on Wednesday night, July twenty
40
00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:36.479
six, at eleven o four local
time from Pad thirty nine A at NASA's
41
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.520
Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but
it wasn't to be. The launch team
42
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:46.080
called things off with sixty five seconds
left on the countdown clock for reasons that
43
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:53.000
weren't immediately clear. The next launch
opportunity will come Thursday night, July twenty
44
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:58.280
seventh, at the same time.
According to SpaceX, the launch, whenever
45
00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:02.759
it happens, will send the huge
Jupiter three communications satellite into orbit. Jupiter
46
00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:09.280
three is the largest commercial communication satellite
ever built. According to its operator,
47
00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:15.960
Huge Network Systems, the satellite weighs
ten point one tons that's nine point two
48
00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:21.040
metric tons, and when finally deployed, will have a wingspan wingspan similar to
49
00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:25.959
that of a commercial jet. The
Falcon Heavy has launched six times to date,
50
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.920
including three times since November twenty and
twenty two. The rocket debuted in
51
00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.480
February twenty and eighteen on a test
flight that sent Elon Musk's red Tesla roadster
52
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.240
aloft with a spacesuit clad mannequin named
Starman at the wheel. The Falcon Heavy
53
00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.480
is the second most powerful rocket flying
today, generating more than five million pounds
54
00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:55.600
of thrust at liftoff. The most
powerful vehicle Nassa's Space Launch System SLS produces
55
00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:00.000
about eight point eight million pounds of
thrust, but sl won't hold that title
56
00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:05.240
for long. If all goes according
to SpaceX's plan, the company's next generation
57
00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:11.759
starship vehicle, which is still in
development, will generate about sixteen point seven
58
00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:18.319
million pounds of thrust. The Astronomy
Daily Podcast Thanks everybody for listening to Astronomy
59
00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.079
Daily. You can find all of
our episodes, plus our parent podcasts,
60
00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:30.360
space Nuts, at space nuts dot
io or at bytes dot com, and
61
00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.360
don't forget that you can join in
the conversation yourself by going to our Facebook
62
00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:41.800
page Space Nuts Podcast group. You
can hear Steve Dunkley on Mondays and myself,
63
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.480
Tim Gives on Fridays for a full
show. Thanks for listening, see
64
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:53.920
you next week. Bye for now, Thanks Tim TTFN, The Astronomy Daily
65
00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.600
Podcast, Bye,
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.120
Good everybody, and welcome to Astronomy
Daily for Thursday, the twenty seventh of
2
00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:09.960
July twenty twenty three. My name
is Tim Gibbs and I will be your
3
00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:21.559
host for today's episode. A bit
of a surprise for our listeners that we
4
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.719
have time today, so we are
going to do a one show Thursday,
5
00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:30.519
which is a bit different from normal
and as usual I have my AI assistant,
6
00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:35.119
Hallie in the studio with me today. Hallie, do you have a
7
00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:40.560
one story for us today? Thanks? Tim, Here's my story for today.
8
00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:45.119
Olympus Mons could have been a giant
volcanic island in an ancient Martian Ocean.
9
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.119
Olympus Mons, located at the northwest
edge of the Tharsis Montes region on
10
00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:56.039
Mars, was appropriately named based on
readings obtained by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter
11
00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.880
MOLA, an instrument aboard nassa's Mars
Global Surveyors. This mountain is the tallest
12
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:06.719
in the Solar System, standing twenty
one point nine kilometers thirteen point six miles
13
00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.599
tall, about two and a half
times the height of Mount Everest eight point
14
00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:15.359
eight five kilometers five point five miles. According to current estimates, this extinct
15
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:21.599
shield volcano formed during mars Hesperian period
ca. Three point seven to three billion
16
00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:26.719
years ago, which was characterized by
widespread volcanic activity and catastrophic flooding. This
17
00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:32.239
coincides with a period when Mars had
a denser atmosphere, a warmer environment,
18
00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:37.480
and flowing water on its surface.
This included a global ocean that spanned much
19
00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.400
of the Northern Hemisphere known today as
the Northern Lowlands, encompassing Olympus Mons.
20
00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:48.319
According to a recent study led by
researchers from the Center National de Rechercher's Scientific
21
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.760
CNRS, features found on the slopes
of Olympus Mons indicate that it could have
22
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.799
been a massive volcanic island where volcanic
eruptions flowed into the ocean, similar to
23
00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:01.920
ones found on Earth. The research
was conducted by a team of CNRS researchers
24
00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:08.240
with the Geosciences Paris Saclay Laboratory JEEPS
at the University of Paris Saclay. The
25
00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:13.960
team was led by Anthony Hildenbrand,
a CNRS jeep's researcher, with the assistance
26
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:19.479
of Fernando or Nellis Marquez, a
geology professor at the University delze Boa.
27
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.039
The paper that describes their findings.
A giant volcanic island in an early Martian
28
00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:30.520
ocean recently appeared in the Earth and
Planetary Science letters. Knowing when, where,
29
00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:35.120
and how long flowing water existed on
Mars is crucial to astrobiology studies on
30
00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.479
the red planet. No one really
knows how long early liquid water may have
31
00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:44.479
existed at the surface of Mars,
which potentially has important implications regarding the fate
32
00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.879
of early life on Mars and in
the Solar System, he said. According
33
00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:53.080
to the geological record, life began
on Earth roughly four billion years ago,
34
00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.840
when much of the surface was covered
in water and the atmosphere was largely the
35
00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:02.800
result of volcanic outgassing. The Astronomy
Day podcast thanks for that, Hallie.
36
00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:10.199
Now SpaceX has unfortunately had to scrub
a record breaking Falcon Heavy rocket launch.
37
00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.199
The team halted the countdown at sixty
five second. We will have to wait
38
00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:23.240
at least another day to see SpaceX
powerful Falcon Heavy rocket liftoff for the seventh
39
00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:28.960
time. The Falcon Heavy was scheduled
to launch on Wednesday night, July twenty
40
00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:36.479
six, at eleven o four local
time from Pad thirty nine A at NASA's
41
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.520
Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but
it wasn't to be. The launch team
42
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:46.080
called things off with sixty five seconds
left on the countdown clock for reasons that
43
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:53.000
weren't immediately clear. The next launch
opportunity will come Thursday night, July twenty
44
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:58.280
seventh, at the same time.
According to SpaceX, the launch, whenever
45
00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:02.759
it happens, will send the huge
Jupiter three communications satellite into orbit. Jupiter
46
00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:09.280
three is the largest commercial communication satellite
ever built. According to its operator,
47
00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:15.960
Huge Network Systems, the satellite weighs
ten point one tons that's nine point two
48
00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:21.040
metric tons, and when finally deployed, will have a wingspan wingspan similar to
49
00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:25.959
that of a commercial jet. The
Falcon Heavy has launched six times to date,
50
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.920
including three times since November twenty and
twenty two. The rocket debuted in
51
00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.480
February twenty and eighteen on a test
flight that sent Elon Musk's red Tesla roadster
52
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:44.240
aloft with a spacesuit clad mannequin named
Starman at the wheel. The Falcon Heavy
53
00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.480
is the second most powerful rocket flying
today, generating more than five million pounds
54
00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:55.600
of thrust at liftoff. The most
powerful vehicle Nassa's Space Launch System SLS produces
55
00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:00.000
about eight point eight million pounds of
thrust, but sl won't hold that title
56
00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:05.240
for long. If all goes according
to SpaceX's plan, the company's next generation
57
00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:11.759
starship vehicle, which is still in
development, will generate about sixteen point seven
58
00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:18.319
million pounds of thrust. The Astronomy
Daily Podcast Thanks everybody for listening to Astronomy
59
00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.079
Daily. You can find all of
our episodes, plus our parent podcasts,
60
00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:30.360
space Nuts, at space nuts dot
io or at bytes dot com, and
61
00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.360
don't forget that you can join in
the conversation yourself by going to our Facebook
62
00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:41.800
page Space Nuts Podcast group. You
can hear Steve Dunkley on Mondays and myself,
63
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.480
Tim Gives on Fridays for a full
show. Thanks for listening, see
64
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:53.920
you next week. Bye for now, Thanks Tim TTFN, The Astronomy Daily
65
00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.600
Podcast, Bye,
