April 1, 2025

SpaceX's Polar Mission, Mars Suit Tests, Dark Matter's Spin

SpaceX's Polar Mission, Mars Suit Tests, Dark Matter's Spin

Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E78
In this exciting episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on a thrilling journey through the latest advancements in space exploration and astronomical research. From SpaceX's historic Fram 2 mission to...

Season 4
Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E78
In this exciting episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on a thrilling journey through the latest advancements in space exploration and astronomical research. From SpaceX's historic Fram 2 mission to groundbreaking studies on dark matter, this episode is packed with cosmic insights that will ignite your curiosity.
Highlights:
- Historic Fram 2 Mission: Join us as we celebrate SpaceX's groundbreaking Fram 2 mission, which marks the first human spaceflight to circle Earth over its poles. Discover the unique experiments the crew will conduct during their orbit, including the first attempt to grow mushrooms in microgravity.
- SpaceX's Busy Launch Schedule: Explore SpaceX's ramped-up launch cadence, featuring five Falcon 9 missions in one week. We discuss the implications of this operational tempo for the future of space access and exploration.
- Perseverance Rover's Spacesuit Research: Learn about NASA's Perseverance rover conducting crucial tests on spacesuit materials in the harsh Martian environment, paving the way for future human exploration of the Red Planet.
- Astronauts Return from ISS: Catch up with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who recently completed an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station, and hear their reflections on the experience.
- Dark Matter's Influence on Planetary Rotation: Delve into new research suggesting that dark matter could affect the rotation of planets, potentially offering a novel way to study this mysterious substance and its implications for planetary habitability.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! 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 to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - Overview of Fram 2 mission
10:30 - SpaceX launch schedule updates
17:00 - Perseverance rover's spacesuit research
22:15 - Astronauts' return from ISS
27:30 - Dark matter and planetary rotation
✍️ Episode References
Fram 2 Mission Details
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com)
SpaceX Launch Schedule
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov)
Perseverance Rover Research
[NASA Mars Exploration](https://mars.nasa.gov/)
Astronauts' ISS Mission
[NASA Astronauts](https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts)
Dark Matter Research
[Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory](http://www.xao.ac.cn/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)

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

1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.799
Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your premier source for

2
00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:06.000
all things space and astronomy. I'm Anna and I'm thrilled

3
00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:08.320
to be your guide through the Cosmos. Today, we have

4
00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:11.919
an absolutely packed episode for you with some truly groundbreaking

5
00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:16.239
developments in space exploration and astronomical research. The headlines are

6
00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:20.359
buzzing with SpaceX's latest achievement, the historic fram two mission

7
00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:22.760
that has just sent the first ever human spaceflight over

8
00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:26.000
Earth's poles. We'll dive into what makes this mission so

9
00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:29.559
special and the unique experiments the crew will be conducting

10
00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:32.079
as they circle our planet in a way no humans

11
00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.920
have done before. But that's just the beginning of our

12
00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:39.000
cosmic journey. Today, we'll also explore how SpaceX is ramping

13
00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:43.000
up its launch schedule to unprecedented levels, with multiple missions

14
00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.799
taking off in rapid succession this week alone. Then we'll

15
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.759
head to Mars, where NASA's Perseverance Rover is conducting fascinating

16
00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.200
tests on space suit materials, giving us crucial data for

17
00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:57.679
future human exploration of the Red planet. The harsh Martian

18
00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:02.039
environment poses unique challenges for astronaut safety, and this research

19
00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:04.840
could be key to overcoming them. We'll also check in

20
00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:09.200
with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who recently

21
00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:11.400
returned to Earth after what was supposed to be a

22
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.079
brief mission turned into a nine months day aboard the

23
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.159
International Space Station. And finally, we'll explore new research suggesting

24
00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:23.799
something truly mind bending that dark matter could actually be

25
00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:29.560
affecting planetary rotation, potentially making planets spin faster. This could

26
00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:32.480
have profound implications for how we understand our own Earth

27
00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:36.359
and distant exoplanets. So strap in for a journey across

28
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.439
our Solar System and beyond as we explore the latest

29
00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:43.680
and most fascinating developments in space science and astronomy. Let's

30
00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:48.040
kick things off with today's big story. SpaceX has made

31
00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:50.959
history with the first ever human spaceflight to circle Earth

32
00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:54.239
over its poles. The private fram two mission lifted off

33
00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.480
from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March thirty

34
00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:01.000
first at nine forty six pm Eastern Time, carrying four

35
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:04.120
space travelers into a unique polar orbit that no human

36
00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:07.799
has experienced before. The crew launched aboard the crew Dragon

37
00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:11.759
capsule Resilience, which has now completed its fourth space mission

38
00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:16.599
after previously supporting crew ie Inspiration four and Polaris Dawn.

39
00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.240
Falcon nine booster B one thousand eighty five powered the

40
00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:24.360
launch for its sixth flight before successfully landing on SpaceX's

41
00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:28.240
Drone ship a shortfall of gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.

42
00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:32.479
This groundbreaking mission is commanded by Chun Wang of Malta,

43
00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:35.960
who is joined by an international team including vehicle commander

44
00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:40.639
Janecke Michelson from Norway, pilot Rabea Roga of Germany, and

45
00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.800
Australian medical officer and mission specialist Eric Phillips. All four

46
00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:48.240
are first time space travelers, making this journey even more remarkable.

47
00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:53.599
After reaching orbit, SpaceX's Bill Gerstenmeier radioed the crew, saying

48
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.840
Dragon on behalf of the Falcon team were honored to

49
00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.919
deliver you safely to your polar orbit. Enjoy the v

50
00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.639
use of the poles, Send us some pictures, and our

51
00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:04.800
hearts and minds will be flying with you as you

52
00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:08.240
go over the poles. The mission is named after the

53
00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.719
famous Norwegian exploration ship Fram, which ventured into both Arctic

54
00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.439
and Antarctic regions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

55
00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:22.000
Fram translates to forward or onward in Norwegian. A fitting

56
00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:25.000
name for this pioneering spaceflight that carries the same spirit

57
00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.599
of exploration into Earth orbit. During their three to five

58
00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:32.000
days in space, the crew will conduct twenty two scientific

59
00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:36.159
experiments that leverage their unique orbital path. These include the

60
00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:39.280
first ever attempt to grow mushrooms in the microgravity environment

61
00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:41.800
of space, and operating a machine that will capture the

62
00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:44.840
first X ray images of the human body while in orbit.

63
00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:49.840
Additional studies will investigate how spaceflight and microgravity affect the

64
00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:56.080
human musculoskeletal system. FRAM two represents SpaceX's seventeenth human spaceflight

65
00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:00.800
overall and its sixth private crude mission. What makes this

66
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.199
launch particularly notable is that it came just seventeen days

67
00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.759
after SpaceX's previous astronaut launch Crew ten to the International

68
00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:11.280
Space Station, marking the shortest interval between SpaceX Creude missions

69
00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.479
to date. Upon completion of their orbital journey, the FRAM

70
00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:18.600
two crew will make history again with the first Pacific

71
00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:22.759
Ocean splash down for a SpaceX Crude mission. Previous Dragon

72
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.680
capsules have all landed in the Atlantic off Florida's coast,

73
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.800
but the company is shifting returns to the West coast

74
00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:31.879
to minimize risk to people and property during re entry.

75
00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.800
In one final research opportunity, the crew will forego the

76
00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.879
typical medical assistance normally provided to astronauts returning from space,

77
00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:44.360
allowing scientists to study how their bodies readapt to Earth's

78
00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:49.879
gravity without intervention, valuable data for future space exploration missions.

79
00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.079
Speaking of launches, let's turn our attention now to this

80
00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:58.279
week's schedule. It's been an exceptionally busy period for SpaceX,

81
00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:02.399
with this week alone featuring five planned Falcon nine launches.

82
00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.279
The company's impressive cadence kicked off with the Starlink Group

83
00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:10.199
six eighty mission from Cape Canaveral, which lifted off just

84
00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:14.399
hours before the historic FRAM two flight. This Starlink deployment

85
00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:17.720
carried a record twenty eight of SpaceX's upgraded V two

86
00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:21.600
Mini Optimized satellites to orbit, marking the first time these

87
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.399
enhanced satellites have launched from the East Coast. The rapid

88
00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:30.839
fire succession of launches showcases SpaceX's growing operational capability. Just

89
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.519
consider that the booster used for the Starlink six eighty

90
00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.480
mission was making its seventeenth flight after a turnaround of

91
00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.000
only forty one days, numbers that would have seemed impossible

92
00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:44.199
just a few years ago. Looking ahead through the week,

93
00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:48.879
SpaceX has scheduled three more Starlink missions. On April first,

94
00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.920
Falcon nine is set to launch Starlink Group eleven thirteen

95
00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:56.439
from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, followed by two

96
00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.360
additional deployments, Starlink Group eleven eleven on April five and

97
00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:04.199
Starling Group six seventy two on April sixth from opposite

98
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.240
coasts of the United States. The timing between the Fram

99
00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:09.920
two Crude mission and the previous Crew ten launch to

100
00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:13.120
the International Space Station set a new record for SpaceX,

101
00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.240
with just two weeks and three days separating these human

102
00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:21.160
space flights. This compressed timeline demonstrates the maturity of SpaceX's

103
00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:24.920
human spaceflight program and the reliability of their Falcon nine

104
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:29.639
and Dragon systems. While SpaceX dominates the launch schedule this week,

105
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.279
they're not alone in reaching for orbit. China also has

106
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.600
two launches planned, with their chang Jeng two D rocket

107
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:39.639
scheduled to lift off on April first, followed by what

108
00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:41.759
might be one of the final flights of the chung

109
00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.360
Jang six rocket later in the week from the Taiyuan

110
00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:49.000
Satellite Launch Center. The increasing frequency of SpaceX launches has

111
00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.720
become almost routine, but it represents a fundamental shift in

112
00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:56.879
space access. Just a decade ago, achieving this many orbital

113
00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:00.000
launches across an entire year would have been considered remark

114
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.199
maarkable for a single company. Now SpaceX is demonstrating the

115
00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:08.160
capability to achieve that in a single week while simultaneously

116
00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:12.639
conducting historic human spaceflight missions and expanding their global satellite

117
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:18.040
Internet constellation. This operational tempo not only serves SpaceX's commercial interests,

118
00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:21.879
but also provides crucial experience for NASA's future crude missions

119
00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.600
and demonstrates the kind of launch cadence that will be

120
00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:30.000
necessary as humanity expands its presence beyond Earth. Let's go

121
00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:33.199
to Mars now for an update. This is fascinating. While

122
00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.600
the Perseverance rover's primary mission on Mars focuses on searching

123
00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:40.360
for signs of ancient microbial life, it's also quietly conducting

124
00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:44.079
crucial research that could directly impact the safety of future

125
00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:48.120
human explorers. For the past four years, the rover has

126
00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.240
been exposing small swatches of space suit materials to the

127
00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:54.759
harsh Martian environment in what amounts to the ultimate real

128
00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:59.560
world test. These material samples, each measuring just three quarters

129
00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:03.079
of an inch square, are attached to a calibration target

130
00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:07.399
for the rover's sherlock instrument. The selection includes pieces that

131
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.759
would be integral to any Mars astronaut's protective gear, a

132
00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:15.120
polycarbonate helmet visor vectrin used in glove palms for cut resistance,

133
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.959
two variations of teflon with dust repelling properties, and a

134
00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:24.560
complex material called orthofabric. The ortho fabric is particularly interesting

135
00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:28.920
as it combines multiple protective layers nomechs for flame resistance

136
00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.639
like firefighter gear, breathable gortex, and kevlar for tear resistance,

137
00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:38.320
similar to what's used in bulletproof vests. Together, these materials

138
00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.679
represent the building blocks of what future Martian explorers might wear.

139
00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:45.559
Mars presents an extremely hostile environment for both humans and

140
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:49.480
their equipment. Unlike Earth, with its protective magnetic field that

141
00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.960
deflects much of the Sun's radiation, Mars lost its magnetic

142
00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:56.519
shield billions of years ago, along with most of its atmosphere.

143
00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:00.759
This leaves the surface exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation that

144
00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:05.559
can rapidly degrade materials. Add to this, the planet's freezing temperatures,

145
00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:10.360
find dust particles that can infiltrate mechanisms, and corrosive perchlurates,

146
00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:13.799
toxic salts that permeate the Martian soil, and you have

147
00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.919
an environment engineered to break down almost anything we might

148
00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:21.519
send there. Mark Fryes of NASA's Johnson Space Center explains

149
00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:25.120
the forward thinking nature of this experiment. This is one

150
00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.240
of the forward looking aspects of the Rover's mission, not

151
00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.440
just thinking about its current science, but also about what

152
00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:34.840
comes next. We're preparing for people to eventually go and

153
00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:39.120
explore Mars. The data being collected is particularly valuable because

154
00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:43.279
it shows how quickly different materials degrade. Remarkably, about half

155
00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:45.879
of all the changes observed in the samples occurred within

156
00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.960
just the first two hundred days on Mars, with vectin

157
00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:53.639
appearing to deteriorate most rapidly. This gives engineers crucial information

158
00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.240
about how frequently spacesuits might need replacement or repair during

159
00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:02.360
extended missions. Scientists are a especially concerned about maintaining flexibility

160
00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:06.360
and tear resistance in spacesuit materials. As Sherlock team member

161
00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:10.200
joby Razzl Hollis notes, Mars is a really harsh tough place.

162
00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:15.120
The radiation in particular is pretty nasty. When these materials degrade,

163
00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.200
they can become brittle, similar to how white plastic lawn

164
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:21.799
furniture yellows and cracks after years in sunlight, but likely

165
00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:25.480
happening much faster on Mars. The research team is now

166
00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:29.000
preparing to publish their findings, while scientists at NASA Johnson

167
00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:33.080
are developing Earth based simulations that can replicate Martian conditions.

168
00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:36.840
They plan to subject identical materials to simulated Martian carbon

169
00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:41.320
dioxide atmospheres, air pressure, and ultraviolet light, then stress tests

170
00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.200
them to determine how much structural integrity they've lost. The

171
00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:49.360
fabric materials are designed to be tough but flexible, Freeze explains,

172
00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.799
we want to know the extent to which they lose

173
00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:55.679
their strength and flexibility over time. As fabrics weaken, they

174
00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.240
can fray and tear, allowing a space suit to leak

175
00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:01.960
both heat and air, a potentially fatal situation for any

176
00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.080
Mars explorer. This research represents a critical step in preparing

177
00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:09.639
for human exploration of the Red planet, demonstrating how current

178
00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:13.679
robotic missions are directly enabling future human missions by solving

179
00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:19.039
practical challenges before astronauts ever set foot on Martian soil. Well,

180
00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.639
we finally got to see Butch and Sunni addressing the

181
00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:24.039
world today in their first sit down TV interview since

182
00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.399
returning home. After nine months aboard the International Space Station

183
00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:32.120
two hundred and seventy eight days longer than planned, NASA

184
00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.679
astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have finally returned to Earth.

185
00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:39.480
What began as a routine eight day test flight of

186
00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:43.519
Boeing Starliner spacecraft transformed into one of the most dramatic

187
00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.360
extended stays in space history, turning them into household names

188
00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:51.559
in the process. The veteran astronauts splashed down off Florida's

189
00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.600
coast two weeks ago, not in the Boeing capsule that

190
00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.240
carried them up, but in a space X Dragon that

191
00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:01.360
came to their rescue. Their unprecedented mission extension came after

192
00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:06.240
Starliner experienced multiple technical issues during its June twenty twenty

193
00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:11.159
three launch, including thruster failures and helium leaks that raised

194
00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:16.320
serious safety concerns about the capsule's return capability. In their

195
00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:21.360
first news conference since returning home, both astronauts displayed remarkable

196
00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:25.879
composure and professionalism despite their ordeal. I'll start and point

197
00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:29.559
the finger, and I'll blame me, Wilmore told reporters, sharing

198
00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:33.519
responsibility for the mission's issues. I could have asked some questions,

199
00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.399
and the answers to those questions could have turned the

200
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.000
tide all the way up and down the chain. We

201
00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:41.879
all are responsible, we all own this. The saga took

202
00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:46.320
on additional dimensions when President Trump publicly urged SpaceX's Elon

203
00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.360
Musk to accelerate the rescue mission, adding political pressure to

204
00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:55.879
an already complicated situation. Meanwhile, NASA engineers and Boeing officials

205
00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:00.159
spent months deliberating the safest course of action before ultimately

206
00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:03.559
determining that Starliner was too risky to bring the astronauts home.

207
00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:08.919
Despite everything they experienced, both Wilmore and Williams expressed continued

208
00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.320
confidence in Boeing spacecraft. When asked if they would fly

209
00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:17.519
on Starliner again, Williams responded emphatically, we're all in. She

210
00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.879
added that the vehicle has a lot of capability and

211
00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:24.720
she wants to see it succeed. Wilmore echoed this sentiment,

212
00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:27.840
saying he'd return in a heartbeat because we're going to

213
00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:30.919
rectify all the issues that we encountered. We're going to

214
00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.279
fix them. We're going to make it work. The pair

215
00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:36.879
is scheduled to meet with Boeing leadership this week to

216
00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:41.320
provide detailed feedback on their flight experience. Wilmore emphasized that

217
00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:45.120
the meeting is not for pointing fingers, but rather to

218
00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:49.080
make the path clearer going forward. Both astronauts have been

219
00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:52.720
adjusting well to life back on Earth. Williams waited until

220
00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.600
she was steadier on her feet before reuniting with her

221
00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:59.519
two Labrador retrievers the day after splashdown, describing the moment

222
00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:03.879
as pure joy. Wilmore, meanwhile, has already received his first

223
00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:07.240
terrestrial assignment from his wife, replacing all the shrubs in

224
00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:11.559
their yard before summer. NASA engineers still don't fully understand

225
00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.480
what caused Starliner's thrust or malfunctions. With more testing planned

226
00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:19.639
through summer, the Space Agency may require another uncrude test

227
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.600
flight before allowing astronauts aboard again, but that potential redo

228
00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:28.399
could happen by year's end. Despite Starliner's troubled development, NASA

229
00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.960
officials maintained that their strategy of having two competing US

230
00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:37.159
companies providing space station transportation remains sound However, with the

231
00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:40.840
International Space Stations scheduled for retirement in just five years,

232
00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.919
the window for Boeing to establish Starliner as a reliable

233
00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:49.600
crew transport is rapidly closing. Finally, today, a dark matter update.

234
00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.720
Dark matter remains one of the most enigmatic components of

235
00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:56.639
our universe, making up approximately eighty five percent of all matter.

236
00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:01.720
It's practically invisible, detectable only through its gravitational effects, but

237
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.559
new research suggests we might have another way to observe

238
00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:09.559
its presence through its influence on planetary rotation. Scientists from

239
00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:13.600
the Shinjang Astronomical Observatory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

240
00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:18.159
have published intriguing findings suggesting that dark matter could actually

241
00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.600
make planets spin faster. Their paper, aptly titled dark Matter

242
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:26.519
Spins the Planet proposes that planets act as natural dark

243
00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:31.879
matter collectors, gradually accumulating these mysterious particles over billions of years.

244
00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:35.720
When dark matter particles enter a planet, they don't interact

245
00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:39.639
with normal matter in conventional ways. Instead, through quantum effects

246
00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.080
like tunneling, they can deposit energy into the planet's interior.

247
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.879
This energy transfer manifests in two ways, heating the planet

248
00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:52.440
and accelerating its rotation. The researchers simulated this dark matter

249
00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:57.240
capture process in fifteen confirmed exoplanets, including notable examples like

250
00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.840
fifty five Cancree D also known as lip Hay, and

251
00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:04.600
Epsilon Eridani B. They also applied their model to more

252
00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:08.840
familiar worlds like Jupiter and our own Earth. For Earth specifically,

253
00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:14.000
their calculations predict some measurable effects. Dark matter heating combined

254
00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:17.960
with solar energy could increase Earth's surface atmospheric temperature by

255
00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:21.759
approximately zero point zero one five kelvin over one hundred

256
00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:25.519
years and zero point one five kelvin over a millennium.

257
00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:30.240
More dramatically, Earth's rotation period could decrease by about twelve

258
00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:33.679
seconds over the next century and potentially one hundred and

259
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.759
twenty seconds over one thousand years. These might sound like

260
00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:41.000
small changes, but they are significant enough that we should

261
00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:44.960
be able to detect them with current ground based measurement methods.

262
00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:49.080
This provides astronomers with a potential new avenue for confirming

263
00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:53.799
dark matter's existence and properties. The implications extend beyond pure physics.

264
00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.960
The team suggest that dark matter interactions might play a

265
00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:02.039
role in planetary habitability by altar thermal conditions within planets,

266
00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:05.759
dark matter could affect the stability of liquid water and

267
00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.359
influence atmospheric evolution, key factors in determining whether a world

268
00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:14.240
can support life. Despite the theoretical nature of this work,

269
00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.759
it represents an innovative approach to the dark matter puzzle.

270
00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:22.880
Rather than focusing solely on microscopic particle physics or cosmic

271
00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:27.359
scale observations, these researchers are looking at planetary scale effects

272
00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:31.680
that accumulate over long time periods. Dark matter candidates range

273
00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.400
from weakly interacting massive particles WIMPs, to axians to primordial

274
00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:39.839
black holes. If any of these particles are indeed captured

275
00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:43.039
by planets, the energy released when they annihilate each other

276
00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.599
could contribute to the heating and rotational effects described in

277
00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.480
the study. As the author's note, this research could prove

278
00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.839
especially valuable as humanity continues searching for potentially habitable worlds

279
00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:59.559
beyond our Solar System. Understanding how dark matter influences planetary

280
00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:04.079
conditions might help us better assess which exoplanets could support life,

281
00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.000
adding yet another factor to consider in our quest to

282
00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:11.319
find a second home among the stars. That wraps up

283
00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.559
today's journey through the Cosmos. From SpaceX's groundbreaking polar mission

284
00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.880
to the intriguing effects of dark matter on planetary rotation,

285
00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:23.599
We've covered some truly fascinating developments in space exploration and astronomy.

286
00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:27.440
I'm anna your guide to the stars here at Astronomy Daily,

287
00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:31.240
and it's been my absolute pleasure sharing these stories with you.

288
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.400
Space science moves at an incredible pace, and there's always

289
00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.599
something new to discover together. If you're hungry for more

290
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:42.319
space news between our episodes, I've got you covered, head

291
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.000
over to Astronomy Daily dot io, where our constantly updating

292
00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:48.960
news feed brings you the latest happenings in space and

293
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:53.000
astronomy as they unfold. You'll also find our complete episode

294
00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.960
archive there, perfect for catching up on anything you might

295
00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.400
have missed. The conversation doesn't end when our episodes do.

296
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.480
Join our community of space enthusiasts on social media by

297
00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:08.680
searching for astro Daily Pod. You'll find us on x, Facebook, YouTube, YouTube, music, Instagram,

298
00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:13.359
and TikTok. Share your thoughts, questions, and astronomical observations with us.

299
00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:17.720
We love hearing from fellow cosmic explorers. Until next time,

300
00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.440
keep looking up at those stars. The universe is vast

301
00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:24.920
and mysterious, but together we're understanding more of it every day.

302
00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:28.319
This is Anna signing off from Astronomy Daily, where we

303
00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:33.599
believe the sky is just the beginning star