Feb. 21, 2025

Solar Orbiter's Historic Venus Flyby, Cosmic Explosion Unveiled, and Callisto's Hidden Ocean: S04E45

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E45
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on an exhilarating journey through the latest news and discoveries in the realm of space and astronomy. From ESA's Solar Orbiter's historic flyby of Venus to...

Show Notes
Transcript

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E45
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on an exhilarating journey through the latest news and discoveries in the realm of space and astronomy. From ESA's Solar Orbiter's historic flyby of Venus to new insights from NASA's DART mission, this episode is brimming with cosmic revelations that will captivate your imagination.
Highlights:
- ESA's Solar Orbiter's Close Encounter with Venus: Witness history as the Solar Orbiter spacecraft performs its closest flyby of Venus, swooping just 379 km above the planet's surface. Discover how this maneuver not only assists in altering the spacecraft's trajectory but also sets the stage for unprecedented observations of the Sun's polar regions, crucial for understanding solar activity and space weather.
- Uncovering a Cosmic Explosion: Delve into the intriguing discovery of a powerful cosmic explosion, designated XRT200515, found in archived data from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. This remarkable event, occurring in the Large Magellanic Cloud, presents a unique opportunity to explore the characteristics of rare astronomical phenomena through advanced machine learning techniques.
- NASA's DART Mission Findings: Explore the groundbreaking results from NASA's DART mission, which not only nudged the asteroid Dimorphos off course but also fundamentally altered its shape and orbital characteristics. Learn how this data enhances our understanding of planetary defense and the nature of these celestial bodies.
- Evidence of an Ocean on Callisto: Discover compelling new evidence suggesting that Jupiter's moon Callisto may harbor a subsurface ocean. Analyze how magnetic field data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft reveals the moon's potential as an ocean world, setting the stage for future exploration by upcoming missions.
- Health Risks of Space Travel: Examine recent research that highlights the various health challenges astronauts face during extended space missions, from radiation exposure to the effects of microgravity on the human body. Understand the importance of developing countermeasures to ensure the safety of future deep space explorers.
- Elon Musk's Controversial ISS Proposal: Engage in the brewing debate over SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's call to deorbit the International Space Station ahead of schedule. Explore the implications of this proposal in contrast to NASA's planned timeline and the ongoing significance of the ISS as a research platform for future missions.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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.
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - ESA's Solar Orbiter flyby of Venus
07:30 - Discovery of cosmic explosion XRT200515
12:15 - DART mission's impact on Dimorphos
18:00 - Evidence of subsurface ocean on Callisto
22:30 - Health risks associated with space travel
27:00 - Elon Musk's ISS deorbit proposal
32:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content
✍️ Episode References
ESA's Solar Orbiter Mission
[ESA Solar Orbiter](https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter)
NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory
[NASA Chandra](

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.919
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, where we bring you the latest

2
00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:06.240
space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today

3
00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.119
we have an absolutely fascinating lineup of stories from across

4
00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:12.880
the Cosmos. We'll be covering Issa's solar orbiter making its

5
00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:17.879
closest ever approach to Venus, and intriguing cosmic explosion discovered

6
00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:22.280
in archived data, and groundbreaking findings from NASA's Dart mission

7
00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:25.839
that changed both the orbit and shape of an asteroid.

8
00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:30.600
We'll also explore compelling new evidence suggesting Jupiter's moon Callisto

9
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.399
Harbor's a subsurface ocean, examine the latest research on how

10
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.880
space travel affects human health, and discuss the brewing controversy

11
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.079
over Elon Musk's call to deorbit the International Space Station

12
00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:44.880
ahead of schedule. These stories showcase just how dynamic and

13
00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:48.439
ever changing our understanding of space continues to be, and

14
00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:50.320
I can't wait to share all the details with you,

15
00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.520
So let's dive right into today's top space and astronomy headlines.

16
00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.439
The European Space Agency is making history today as their

17
00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.479
Solar Orbiter spacecraft forms its closest ever flyby of Venus,

18
00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.840
swooping just three hundred and seventy nine kilometers above the

19
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:09.959
planet's surface. To put that into perspective, that's even closer

20
00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:13.640
than the International Space Station orbits above Earth. This incredibly

21
00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:18.040
precise maneuver serves a fascinating dual purpose. While Venus itself

22
00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:20.719
isn't the primary target, the planet's gravity will act like

23
00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:25.359
a cosmic slingshot, gradually altering solar Orbiter's trajectory to achieve

24
00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.239
something remarkable, a unique vantage point of the Sun's elusive

25
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:33.959
polar regions. The mission team at ESA's European Space Operations

26
00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:38.280
Center has meticulously calculated every aspect of this gravity assist,

27
00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:41.680
which will occur at precisely twenty one forty eight Central

28
00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:46.680
European time. The flyby presents some interesting technical challenges, particularly

29
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:51.120
when it comes to thermal management. As the spacecraft passes Venus,

30
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:54.840
it will be bathed in intense infrared radiation from the planet,

31
00:01:55.319 --> 00:01:59.680
causing a significant temperature spike. While solar orbiters cameras won't

32
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.319
be able to capture images of Venus during the encounter,

33
00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:06.840
since the spacecraft needs to maintain its sunfacing orientation, its

34
00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.639
suite of instruments will still be hard at work. The

35
00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:13.759
spacecraft's magnetometer and plasma wave sensors will gather valuable data

36
00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.360
about Venus's unique magnetic environment and its interaction with the

37
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.960
solar wind. This flyby is actually part of a larger

38
00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:25.280
celestial choreography. By using Venus gravity in this way, the

39
00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:28.520
mission team can gradually tilt solar orbiter's orbit out of

40
00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.759
the flat plane where planets orbit the Sun. This will

41
00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:36.000
ultimately give us unprecedented views of the Sun's poles, regions

42
00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.719
that are crucial for understanding solar activity and space weather,

43
00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:43.680
but have never been directly observed before. The insights gained

44
00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.479
from these future polar observations will be invaluable for predicting

45
00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:50.960
solar storms that can impact our technology on Earth, from

46
00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:55.520
power grids to satellites and communications systems. This makes today's

47
00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:59.199
precise dance with Venus an essential step toward better understanding

48
00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:05.039
our star and protecting our increasingly technology dependent civilization. Next

49
00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:08.080
up on today's agenda, in what astronomers are calling a

50
00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:12.439
remarkable needle in the Haystack discovery, researchers have uncovered evidence

51
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.400
of a powerful cosmic explosion that had been hiding in

52
00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.360
plain sight for years. This mysterious burst of energy now

53
00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:23.199
designated XRT two zero zero five one five was found

54
00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:28.080
buried within two decades of archived observations from NASA's Chandra

55
00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:32.879
X ray observatory. Using innovative machine learning techniques, scientists at

56
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.759
Stanford University and Harvard spotted this extremely bright and fast

57
00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:40.560
X ray flash that appeared and vanished within mere seconds

58
00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:44.879
on May fifteenth, twenty twenty. What makes this discovery particularly

59
00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:47.680
intriguing is that it occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud,

60
00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.560
one of our nearest galactic neighbors. The burst exhibited some

61
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.360
unusual characteristics that set it apart from previously observed events.

62
00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:59.400
It produced an incredibly energetic initial burst lasting only about

63
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.000
ten seconds, followed by a longer, but less intense afterglow

64
00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.599
that continued for several minutes. What's even more mysterious is

65
00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:09.560
that neither Chandra nor any other telescope has ever recorded

66
00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.960
activity from this source before or since this explosive event.

67
00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:18.720
Scientists are considering several fascinating possibilities to explain this cosmic flash.

68
00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:21.800
One leading theory suggests it could be the first X

69
00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:26.000
ray burster ever discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud. These

70
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:29.720
rare systems consist of two stars locked in a cosmic dance,

71
00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:34.279
a super dense neutron star pulling material off a companion

72
00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:40.040
star until it triggers a massive thermonuclear explosion. Another possibility

73
00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:42.680
is that we might have witnessed a rare giant flare

74
00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:46.319
from a magnetar, a type of neutron star with an

75
00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.839
incredibly powerful magnetic field. If this turns out to be

76
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.319
the case, it would mark the first time such an

77
00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:55.720
event has been observed at these specific X ray energy levels.

78
00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:00.000
The discovery also highlights the value of using artificial intelligence

79
00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:05.800
to comb through astronomical archives. As lead researcher Stephen Dillman noted,

80
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:09.319
there might be countless other discoveries waiting to be found

81
00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:13.240
in observations we've already made. The research team is now

82
00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:16.079
fine tuning their methods to search for even more hidden

83
00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:20.199
cosmic phenomena, including potential signs of planets beyond our Milky Way.

84
00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:23.839
One topic that seems to be getting a lot of

85
00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.600
coverage in the media at the moment just how do

86
00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.839
we deal with any asteroids that might be about to

87
00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:32.399
collide with us? Well, maybe there are some answers in

88
00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.839
this new report. NASA's Dart mission continues to reveal fascinating

89
00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:40.040
new details about its impact on the asteroid de MorphOS.

90
00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.600
A recent JPL lead study has shown that the spacecraft's

91
00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:47.279
collision with the five hundred and sixty foot wide space

92
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.439
rock did far more than just nudge it off course.

93
00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.680
It fundamentally altered both its shape and orbital characteristics. Before

94
00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:59.720
Dart's impact, de MorphOS was roughly symmetrical, resembling a squashed

95
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.600
ball that was wider than it was tall. It maintained

96
00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:06.879
a well defined circular orbit around its larger companion, asteroid Ditamos,

97
00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:09.639
taking just under twelve hours to complete each loop at

98
00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:12.800
a distance of about three thousand, nine hundred feet. But

99
00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:17.160
the collision changed everything. The impact transformed Amorphous from its

100
00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:22.319
relatively symmetrical form into what scientists call a triaxial ellipsoid picture,

101
00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:27.079
something more like an oblong watermelon. More significantly, its orbital

102
00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.959
period has been reduced by thirty three minutes and fifteen seconds,

103
00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:34.079
with remarkable precision measured down to just one and a

104
00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.920
half seconds. The asteroid's orbit has also become slightly elongated

105
00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:43.519
rather than perfectly circular, and researchers have observed that Dimorphos

106
00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.439
now rocks back and forth as it travels around Ditamos.

107
00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:49.839
The impact pushed it about one hundred and twenty feet

108
00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:53.759
closer to its companion, with its average orbital distance now

109
00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:57.160
measuring around three thousand, seven hundred and eighty feet. These

110
00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:00.839
findings come from an incredibly precise analysis, finding three key

111
00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:06.120
data sources, dart's final images before impact, radar observations from

112
00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:10.519
the Deep Space Network's Goldstone facility, and extensive measurements from

113
00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:14.560
ground based telescopes worldwide that track changes in the asteroid's

114
00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.560
brightness over time. The results align with other recent studies

115
00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.920
suggesting that Dimorphos is what scientists call a rubble pile

116
00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:26.079
object similar to asteroid Benu, rather than a solid rock.

117
00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:30.920
The European Space Agency's upcoming hair Emission, set to launch

118
00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.439
in October twenty twenty four, will conduct a detailed survey

119
00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.839
of the asteroid pair to confirm exactly how DART reshaped,

120
00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:44.040
amorphose and further advance our understanding of planetary defense techniques. Next,

121
00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:47.040
exciting new research has strengthened the case for a hidden

122
00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:51.759
ocean beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Callisto. Scientists analyzing

123
00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:55.920
magnetic field data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft have found compelling

124
00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:59.439
evidence that this often overlooked moon may be harboring a

125
00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:03.480
substantial body of liquid water beneath its icy exterior. Unlike

126
00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.399
its more famous sibling, Europa, Callisto presents a dark, heavily

127
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.439
cratered surface that might not immediately suggest the presence of

128
00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:13.920
an ocean. However, the key evidence lies not in what

129
00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:18.040
we can see, but in the moon's magnetic properties. Callisto

130
00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.399
generates an induced magnetic field through its interaction with Jupiter's

131
00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.879
powerful magnetosphere, and this field holds clues about what lies

132
00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:29.399
beneath the surface. The latest analysis, published in AGU Advances,

133
00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:34.279
use sophisticated modeling techniques to examine data from multiple Galileo flybys.

134
00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:38.639
The researchers created detailed four layer models of callisto structure,

135
00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:42.120
considering various possibilities for the thickness of its ice shell,

136
00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:47.519
ocean depth, and electrical conductivity. Their findings suggest that Callisto's

137
00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:52.039
magnetic signature can't be explained by its ionosphere alone. It

138
00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.559
requires the presence of a conductive ocean tens of kilometers thick.

139
00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:59.720
This ocean appears to be buried beneath a substantial ice shell,

140
00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.519
which explains Callisto's heavily cratered appearance. The combination of a

141
00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:07.399
thick ice layer and a deep ocean fits perfectly with

142
00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.200
both the magnetic data and what we observe on the

143
00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:13.840
Moon's surface. While these findings are exciting, we'll soon have

144
00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:17.440
even more detailed data to work with. Both NASA's Europa

145
00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:20.600
Clipper and the European Space Agency's Juice mission are headed

146
00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:24.039
to the Jovian System with plans to conduct multiple close

147
00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:28.120
flybys of Callisto. The Europa Clipper will make nine passes,

148
00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:30.799
some as close as two hundred and fifty kilometers to

149
00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:35.399
the surface, while Juice will perform twenty one flybys. These missions,

150
00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:39.519
arriving in the early twenty thirties, will carry advanced instruments

151
00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:43.480
that should help us definitively determine whether Callisto truly belongs

152
00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:47.879
in the growing family of ocean worlds in our Solar System.

153
00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.759
As we venture further into space, understanding how the cosmic

154
00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:56.600
environment affects human health becomes increasingly crucial. Recent studies have

155
00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.759
shed new light on the various challenges astronauts faced during

156
00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:03.120
a extended periods in space, and the findings are both

157
00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:07.000
fascinating and concerning. One of the primary threats comes from

158
00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:11.360
space radiation. Unlike here on Earth, where our atmosphere and

159
00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:15.639
magnetic fields shield us from cosmic radiation, astronauts are exposed

160
00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:19.600
to high energy particles that can damage DNA, increase cancer risk,

161
00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:24.399
and affect cardiovascular health. This becomes particularly concerning for missions

162
00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:28.639
beyond low Earth orbit, where natural protection is minimal. The

163
00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:33.279
absence of gravity presents another significant challenge. When astronauts spend

164
00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:38.039
time in microgravity, their bodies undergo dramatic changes. Bodily, fluids

165
00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:41.440
shift upward, causing facial swelling and increased pressure in the

166
00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.960
skull that can affect vision. Without the constant pull of gravity,

167
00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.559
bones lose density, and muscles begin to atrophy even with

168
00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:55.000
regular exercise. The cardiovascular system also experiences major adaptations. The

169
00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.200
heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood

170
00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:01.559
against gravity, leading to changes in blood pressure regulation. When

171
00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.559
astronauts return to Earth, many experience difficulties with balance and

172
00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:10.399
coordination as their bodies readjust to normal gravity. The psychological

173
00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:13.919
impact of space travel can't be overlooked either, living in

174
00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.879
confined spaces with limited social interaction and no natural day

175
00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:22.000
night cycles can lead to sleep disturbances, mood changes, and

176
00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:26.559
cognitive challenges. These effects become more pronounced during longer missions,

177
00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:32.000
raising important considerations for future deep space exploration. Perhaps most

178
00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.600
intriguing are the recent discoveries about how space travel affects

179
00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:40.000
human cells. At the molecular level. Scientists have observed changes

180
00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:43.600
in the function of mitochondria, our cell's power plants, and

181
00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:47.720
alterations in gene expression that can persist even after returning

182
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:51.519
to Earth. Some astronauts experience lasting vision problems due to

183
00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:56.039
what's now known as spaceflight associated neuroocular syndrome or SANDS.

184
00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:59.840
As we plan for longer missions to destinations like Mars,

185
00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:04.679
understanding and mitigating these health risks becomes paramount. Researchers are

186
00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:09.440
actively developing countermeasures, from radiation shielding technologies to new exercise

187
00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.559
protocols and psychological support strategies. The human body may not

188
00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:17.279
have evolved for space travel, but human ingenuity continues to

189
00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:21.879
find ways to adapt to the final frontier. Finally, today,

190
00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.840
a story straight out of the news headlines a new

191
00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.639
controversy is brewing in the space community after SpaceX CEO

192
00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.519
Elon Musk called for the International Space Station to be

193
00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:35.840
de orbited as soon as possible, suggesting a timeline just

194
00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:39.600
two years from now. This proposal stands in stark contrast

195
00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:43.159
to NASA's carefully planned decommissioning schedules set for twenty thirty.

196
00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.559
Musk argues that the ISS has served its purpose and

197
00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.799
offers very little incremental utility, advocating instead for a stronger

198
00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:56.399
focus on Mars exploration. However, this oversimplifies the station's ongoing

199
00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.840
importance as a unique research platform and testing ground for

200
00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:03.960
LS long duration spaceflight. The ISS, which has been continuously

201
00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:07.799
occupied since November two thousand, remains a crucial facility for

202
00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.000
conducting scientific research and developing technologies essential for future deep

203
00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.799
space missions. While the station has indeed shown signs of aging,

204
00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.279
NASA and its international partners have determined that it can

205
00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:23.879
safely operate through the end of this decade. SpaceX itself

206
00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:27.519
is actually involved in the station's eventual retirement, having been

207
00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:30.720
selected by NASA to build the deorbit vehicle that will

208
00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:35.759
safely guide the massive structure through Earth's atmosphere. This controlled

209
00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.159
deorbit is a complex operation that requires careful planning and

210
00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:44.000
coordination among all international partners. It's worth noting that most

211
00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.440
ISS partners have agreed to the twenty thirty timeline, though

212
00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.240
Russia has indicated it may wish to end its participation

213
00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.159
by twenty twenty eight. Given the station's size and complexity,

214
00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:59.000
rushing its decommissioning could pose unnecessary risks and potentially disrupt

215
00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.519
the transition to commercial space stations currently under development. The

216
00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.559
debate highlights a broader discussion about the future of human

217
00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.679
spaceflight and whether we should maintain a presence in low

218
00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:14.919
Earth orbit while simultaneously pursuing deeper space exploration. For now,

219
00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.399
NASA maintains that the ISS continues to serve as an

220
00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:23.960
invaluable platform for research and international cooperation, essential stepping stones

221
00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:28.240
for our journey to both the Moon and Mars, and

222
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.679
that brings us to the end of today's episode of

223
00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.960
Astronomy Daily. Thank you for joining me for this fascinating

224
00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:37.840
journey through the latest developments in space and astronomy, From

225
00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:42.000
groundbreaking discoveries to ongoing debates about the future of space exploration.

226
00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.720
There's never a dull moment in our cosmic neighborhood. If

227
00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.240
you'd like to stay up to date with all the

228
00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:50.679
latest space and astronomy news, head over to Astronomy Daily

229
00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.679
dot io, where you can sign up for our free

230
00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:56.840
daily newsletter and access our constantly updating news feed. While

231
00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.879
you're there, you can also catch up on all our

232
00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:02.240
previous episodes. Don't forget to follow us on social media.

233
00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:05.360
You can find us as Astro Daily Pod on Facebook,

234
00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:10.960
x YouTube, YouTube music, and TikTok. This is Anna reminding

235
00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.480
you to keep looking up and wondering about our amazing universe.

236
00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.240
I'll see you tomorrow with more fascinating stories from Spaceday,

237
00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:36.240
Star starz Star