April 3, 2025
Webb's Asteroid Discovery, Project Kuiper Launch, and Martian Dust Storms
Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E80
In this thrilling episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna guides you through the latest groundbreaking developments in space exploration and astronomical research. From the James Webb Space Telescope's insights on...
Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E80
In this thrilling episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna guides you through the latest groundbreaking developments in space exploration and astronomical research. From the James Webb Space Telescope's insights on asteroids to Japan's innovative Mars landing technology, this episode is brimming with cosmic discoveries that will deepen your understanding of the universe.
Highlights:
- James Webb Space Telescope Observations: Dive into the fascinating findings from the JWST as it examines the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4. Discover how this mission not only provides critical data about the asteroid's size and thermal properties but also enhances our planetary defense strategies against potential threats.
- Amazon's Project Kuiper Launch: Get ready for the launch of Amazon's first operational satellites as part of Project Kuiper. We explore the implications of this ambitious initiative to create a global broadband Internet constellation and its competition with other satellite networks.
- Surprising Discoveries in Galactic Evolution: Uncover the shocking evidence that massive galaxies were already quiescent just 700 million years after the Big Bang. This revelation challenges existing cosmological models and reshapes our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
- Japan's Innovative Mars Landing Technology: Learn about JAXA's new approach to Mars landings using inflatable decelerators, which could revolutionize how we deliver rovers to the Martian surface. This innovative technology promises to lower costs and enhance mission efficiency.
- Understanding Martian Dust Storms: Explore new research revealing the triggers behind Mars's massive dust storms, which pose significant challenges for future exploration. This study aims to develop forecasting capabilities for Martian weather, crucial for the safety of 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, 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 - JWST asteroid observations
10:30 - Amazon's Project Kuiper launch
17:00 - Discoveries in galactic evolution
22:15 - Japan's Mars landing technology
27:30 - Martian dust storms research
✍️ Episode References
James Webb Space Telescope Updates
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov)
Project Kuiper Details
[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com)
Galactic Evolution Research
[University of Geneva](https://www.unige.ch)
JAXA Mars Exploration
[JAXA](https://www.jaxa.jp/)
Martian Dust Storms Study
[University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.colorado.edu)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast:
In this thrilling episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna guides you through the latest groundbreaking developments in space exploration and astronomical research. From the James Webb Space Telescope's insights on asteroids to Japan's innovative Mars landing technology, this episode is brimming with cosmic discoveries that will deepen your understanding of the universe.
Highlights:
- James Webb Space Telescope Observations: Dive into the fascinating findings from the JWST as it examines the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4. Discover how this mission not only provides critical data about the asteroid's size and thermal properties but also enhances our planetary defense strategies against potential threats.
- Amazon's Project Kuiper Launch: Get ready for the launch of Amazon's first operational satellites as part of Project Kuiper. We explore the implications of this ambitious initiative to create a global broadband Internet constellation and its competition with other satellite networks.
- Surprising Discoveries in Galactic Evolution: Uncover the shocking evidence that massive galaxies were already quiescent just 700 million years after the Big Bang. This revelation challenges existing cosmological models and reshapes our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
- Japan's Innovative Mars Landing Technology: Learn about JAXA's new approach to Mars landings using inflatable decelerators, which could revolutionize how we deliver rovers to the Martian surface. This innovative technology promises to lower costs and enhance mission efficiency.
- Understanding Martian Dust Storms: Explore new research revealing the triggers behind Mars's massive dust storms, which pose significant challenges for future exploration. This study aims to develop forecasting capabilities for Martian weather, crucial for the safety of 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, 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 - JWST asteroid observations
10:30 - Amazon's Project Kuiper launch
17:00 - Discoveries in galactic evolution
22:15 - Japan's Mars landing technology
27:30 - Martian dust storms research
✍️ Episode References
James Webb Space Telescope Updates
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov)
Project Kuiper Details
[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com)
Galactic Evolution Research
[University of Geneva](https://www.unige.ch)
JAXA Mars Exploration
[JAXA](https://www.jaxa.jp/)
Martian Dust Storms Study
[University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.colorado.edu)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast:
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.480
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm anna bringing you the latest
2
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:07.000
breakthroughs from the cosmos right to your ears. Today's episode
3
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:10.320
is packed with fascinating developments that are reshaping our understanding
4
00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:13.119
of the universe around us. We've got quite the stellar
5
00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:17.000
lineup of stories to explore. NASA's James Web Space Telescope
6
00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.079
has been examining a building sized asteroid, giving us new
7
00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.839
insights about these smaller space rocks and what they're made of.
8
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.920
Then we'll look at Amazon's Project Kuyper as it prepares
9
00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.839
for a major satellite launch that could transform global Internet connectivity.
10
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:35.000
The Web Telescope has also uncovered something quite remarkable galaxies
11
00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.240
that were already dying out just seven hundred million years
12
00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.200
after the Big Bang, challenging our previous models of galactic
13
00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:46.640
evolution and forcing astronomers to rethink the timeline of our universe.
14
00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:51.200
We'll also explore Japan's innovative approach to Mars landing, using
15
00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:55.280
inflatable technology that could revolutionize how we deliver rovers to
16
00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:58.840
the Red planet. And speaking of Mars, scientists have made
17
00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:03.119
progress in understanding what triggers those massive planet covering dust storms,
18
00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:07.560
a crucial step for future missions and potential human exploration.
19
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.799
These discoveries aren't just academic curiosities. They represent the cutting
20
00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:15.840
edge of human knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what we
21
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:20.319
know about our cosmic neighborhood and beyond. So let's launch
22
00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:25.560
into today's cosmic news and explore these frontiers together. Kicking
23
00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.840
things off, the James Web Space telescope recently set its
24
00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.439
sites on asteroid twenty twenty four yr four, a near
25
00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.319
Earth object that had previously raised some concern. While NASA
26
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.519
announced back in February that the risk of this asteroid
27
00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:43.120
hitting Earth in twenty thirty two had been downgraded to
28
00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:48.000
near zero, these observations provided valuable information about what asteroids
29
00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:51.239
of this size are actually like, particularly as this one
30
00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:54.599
appears to be growing. According to Andy Rivkin of Johns
31
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:59.280
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, who led the Web observation program,
32
00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.680
this is the smallest object WEB has targeted to date,
33
00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:05.799
and one of the smallest objects to have its size
34
00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:10.280
directly measured from space. What makes this particularly interesting is
35
00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.599
how Web approached the task. Most telescopes observe asteroids by
36
00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:18.680
measuring sunlight reflected from their surfaces, which doesn't always provide
37
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:23.599
precise size information. Web, however, used both its near infrared
38
00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:28.439
camera and mid infrared instrument in tandem. The mid infrared
39
00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:31.560
wavelengths allowed scientists to measure the heat given off by
40
00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:36.560
the asteroid itself, providing a direct measurement of its size.
41
00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.240
The observations revealed that twenty twenty four yr four is
42
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.879
approximately sixty meters across, about the height of a fifteen
43
00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.439
story building. But it's not just the size that proved interesting.
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.159
The asteroid's thermal properties are notably different from those of
45
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.000
larger asteroids. Rivkin's team believes this is likely due to
46
00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.120
a combination of the asteroid's very fast spin rate and
47
00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:02.400
a surface that lacks fine grained and instead the surface
48
00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.000
appears to be dominated by larger rocks, perhaps fist sized
49
00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.479
or bigger. While this particular asteroid no longer poses a
50
00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.960
threat to Earth or the Moon, these observations have significant
51
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:17.319
value for planetary defense. As more sensitive asteroid search programs
52
00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:19.840
come online in the coming years, we can expect to
53
00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:23.879
discover more potential impactors. Understanding how to best use our
54
00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.479
most powerful telescope to gather critical data quickly will be
55
00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:32.599
invaluable during a more urgent scenario. Involving a potentially hazardous asteroid.
56
00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:37.479
These observations also provided additional data about the asteroid's position,
57
00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:41.039
helping improve our knowledge of its orbit and future trajectory.
58
00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.400
When combined with ground based measurements of its spin rate
59
00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:48.520
and spectral properties, scientists now have a comprehensive understanding of
60
00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:51.800
what this building size space rock is like. Riv can
61
00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:55.560
emphasize that this gives scientists a window into understanding what
62
00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:59.280
other objects of similar size might be like, including the
63
00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.319
next one that might be heading our way. The observations
64
00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:06.960
demonstrate Web's versatility as not just a deep space observatory,
65
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.199
but also as a tool for planetary defense. Closer to home.
66
00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:15.319
Next on today's story list, Amazon's project Kiper is poised
67
00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.160
to take a major leap forward with the launch of
68
00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.879
its first operational satellites. United Launch Alliance is scheduled to
69
00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:24.240
send twenty seven satellites into low Earth orbit on April ninth,
70
00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:27.480
using an Atlas five rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force
71
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:32.079
Station in Florida. This mission, dubbed KA zero one or
72
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.959
Kuyper Atlas one, represents the first step in Amazon's ambitious
73
00:04:35.959 --> 00:04:38.680
plan to create a constellation of more than three thousand,
74
00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:43.000
two hundred satellites for global broadband Internet coverage. These aren't
75
00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.279
just test satellites, according to Amazon, These operational units feature
76
00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:51.040
significant upgrades over the two prototypes launched last year. They
77
00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:55.399
come equipped with improved phased array antennas, more powerful processors,
78
00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:00.879
enhanced solar arrays, better propulsion systems, and optical inter satellite links.
79
00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:04.519
All this technology has been packed into satellites manufactured at
80
00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:08.720
the company's facility in Kirkland, Washington. The launch is happening
81
00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:12.519
about a year behind Amazon's original schedule, pushing potential beta
82
00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.959
services into later this year rather than late twenty twenty
83
00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:20.279
four as initially planned. This timeline is particularly important because
84
00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:24.399
Amazon faces strict deployment deadlines from the Federal Communications Commission.
85
00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:28.079
Half the constellation must be deployed by July twenty twenty six,
86
00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.920
with the remainder by July twenty twenty nine. Project Kuiper
87
00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.639
vice president Rajiv Badial acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that
88
00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:40.600
while extensive ground testing has been conducted, some things can
89
00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.240
only be learned in actual flight conditions. This will also
90
00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:48.199
be the first deployment of multiple satellites simultaneously for the project.
91
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:52.600
A crucial operational test. The upcoming launch is notable in
92
00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:55.639
several other ways. According to Amazon, it will be the
93
00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:59.360
heaviest payload ever flown on an Atlas five rocket, which
94
00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.120
will use its mother most powerful configuration for this mission,
95
00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.079
featuring five solid rocket boosters plus the main booster. The
96
00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.480
satellites will be deployed approximately four hundred and fifty kilometers
97
00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.920
above Earth. This is just the beginning of a massive
98
00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.680
launch campaign. Amazon has secured an impressive array of launch
99
00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.800
contracts to deploy its full constellation, including seven more Atlas
100
00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.680
five rockets and thirty eight launches on ULA's larger Vulcan
101
00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:28.800
Centaur rocket. The company has also contracted three SpaceX Falcon
102
00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.240
nine missions, eighteen Ariani six launches from Ariani Space, and
103
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.920
up to twenty seven new Glen rockets from Blue Origin.
104
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:39.519
Amazon has already lined up several partners to deliver Project
105
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:44.680
Kuiper services, including US telecommunications giants Verizon and Vodafone, as
106
00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.040
well as Japan's Sky Perfect, JSAT and Nipon Telegraph and
107
00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:52.120
Telephone Corporation, who plan to sell services to Japanese businesses
108
00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:56.600
and government organizations. With this launch, the race to establish
109
00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.319
the next generation of satellite Internet constellations intensified as Amazon
110
00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:05.560
joined SpaceX's Starlink and other competitors in the increasingly crowded
111
00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:09.800
low Earth orbit environment. Next up, we have another update
112
00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:14.360
from the JWST. One of the most remarkable discoveries from
113
00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:17.959
the James Web Space Telescope has completely upended our understanding
114
00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:22.759
of galactic evolution. Astronomers have found evidence that massive galaxies
115
00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.839
were already dying just seven hundred million years after the
116
00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.959
Big Bang, a finding that challenges fundamental assumptions about how
117
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.160
the earliest galaxies formed and evolved. According to the standard
118
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:39.000
cosmological model, the first stars and galaxies began forming around
119
00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.399
three hundred four hundred million years after the Big Bang.
120
00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.600
During this period, enormous clouds of neutral hydrogen gas collapsed
121
00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.800
to trigger rapid star formation, a process that was thought
122
00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:53.879
to continue uninterrupted for about a billion years. The expectation
123
00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:59.000
was that all early galaxies would be vigorously forming stars, young, active,
124
00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:02.399
and growing. That's what makes the recent findings from an
125
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:06.240
international team led by astronomers from the University of Geneva
126
00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.399
so surprising. As part of the Revealing the Universe with
127
00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.600
the James Webb Space Telescope, program known as Rubies. They've
128
00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.480
identified what appears to be a quenched galaxy from this
129
00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:23.480
extremely early cosmic era. This particular galaxy, designated Rubies UDS
130
00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:27.720
qgz seven, had already accumulated more than ten billion solar
131
00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.920
masses of matter before rapidly becoming quiescent. In astronomical terms,
132
00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.519
quenching refers to how galaxies stop forming new stars and
133
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.639
become what scientists sometimes call red and dead galaxies. As
134
00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:44.399
the younger, brighter stars die off, these galaxies become dominated
135
00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:49.360
by older, redder stars. The discovery of Ruby's udsqgz seven
136
00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:53.480
implies that massive quiescent galaxies in the first billion years
137
00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.240
of the universe are more than one hundred times more
138
00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:00.799
abundant than predicted by any existing cosmological model. This creates
139
00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.879
significant tension between our theoretical understanding and the observational evidence
140
00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:08.480
from web. What's even more astonishing is the galaxy size.
141
00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.360
It measures just about six hundred and fifty light years
142
00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:14.639
in diameter, giving it a much higher stellar mass density
143
00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:18.000
than similar quiescent galaxies we observe in the local universe today.
144
00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:23.440
Scientists believe these incredibly dense galaxies may have evolved into
145
00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:26.360
the cores of the massive elliptical galaxies we see in
146
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.480
the modern cosmos. The prevailing theories about what causes galaxies
147
00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:35.200
to stop forming stars include stellar winds, outflows, and activity
148
00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.600
from supermassive black holes, but conventional models suggested this process
149
00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.759
would take much longer than what we're now observing. Finding
150
00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:45.879
a red and dead galaxy so early in cosmic history
151
00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.440
means that star formation and subsequent quenching must have happened
152
00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:53.919
far more rapidly than anyone anticipated. According to Andrea Wibel,
153
00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:58.200
the PhD student leading the study, this finding provides the
154
00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.919
first strong evidence that the centers of some nearby massive
155
00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:05.200
elliptical galaxies may have been in place since the first
156
00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.720
few hundred million years after the Big Bang, essentially preserving
157
00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:12.120
the fossil record of the earliest era of galaxy formation.
158
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.519
It's been a while since we had any good news
159
00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.360
from JACKSA, but today we have some. Japan is taking
160
00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.360
an ambitious new approach to Mars exploration that could revolutionize
161
00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:26.960
how we land spacecraft on the Red planet. According to
162
00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:30.919
Masaki Fujimoto, the newly appointed Director General of the Institute
163
00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:34.840
of Space and Astronautical Sciences within JACKSA, the Japanese Space
164
00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:40.159
Agency is developing a novel landing system using inflatable decelerators
165
00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:44.080
that could enable more efficient missions to Mars. The concept
166
00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:48.440
combines proven technologies from two of Japan's recent space achievements.
167
00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:53.159
It leverages capabilities from the upcoming Martian Moons Exploration mission,
168
00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:57.279
which aims to collect samples from Phobos, and incorporates lessons
169
00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.519
learned from the Smartlander for investigating Moon, space craft that
170
00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.879
achieved a remarkably precise lunar landing earlier this year, despite
171
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:08.480
experiencing a thrust or malfunction. At the heart of this
172
00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:12.559
innovative approach is an inflatable soft aeroshell that would handle
173
00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:16.639
the challenging entry, descent, and landing phases of a Mars mission.
174
00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:21.000
Instead of having a complicated operational supersonic parachute and a
175
00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.480
hard aeroshell, you can do all the job just with
176
00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.159
this single technology, Fujimoto explained during a presentation at the
177
00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:32.159
National Academy's Space Science Week. This approach offers significant advantages
178
00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:36.279
over traditional Mars landing systems. Current methods typically rely on
179
00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:41.559
complex combinations of heat shields, supersonic parachutes, and retrorockets, all
180
00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.759
of which must function perfectly in sequence for a successful landing.
181
00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:50.120
The Japanese concept streamlines this process considerably, with the inflatable
182
00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.320
aeroshell delivering the spacecraft through the Martian atmosphere and thrusters
183
00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:59.120
handling only the final touchdown phase. JAXA envisions using this
184
00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:03.440
technology to deliver relatively small rovers weighing between one hundred
185
00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:07.240
to two hundred kilograms to the Martian surface. While modest
186
00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:11.200
in scale compared to NASA's car sized Perseverance Rover, these
187
00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:15.080
smaller vehicles could still conduct valuable scientific research at a
188
00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.559
fraction of the cost and complexity. The project is receiving
189
00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.559
financial support from the Space Strategic Fund, a Japanese government
190
00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.480
initiative providing six point seven billion dollars over a decade
191
00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.039
to advance critical space technologies. JACKSA is collaborating with an
192
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:36.399
unnamed commercial company to develop the inflatable aeroshell technology. While
193
00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:39.399
no specific timeline has been announced for when this technology
194
00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.360
might be ready for an actual Mars mission, the fact
195
00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:46.559
that it's beginning to materialize now suggests that Japan is
196
00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.480
serious about joining the small group of nations capable of
197
00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:54.360
successfully landing spacecraft on Mars. If successful, this approach could
198
00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.600
significantly lower the barriers to Martian exploration and potentially pave
199
00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.080
the way for more frequent mission to study the Red
200
00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.840
planet's surface. Speaking of Mars, if you've ever wondered what
201
00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:08.200
the weather is like on Mars, it turns out it
202
00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.960
can be quite dramatic. New research from planetary scientists at
203
00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:16.159
the University of Colorado, Boulder has revealed fascinating insights into
204
00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:20.080
the massive dust storms that occasionally engulf the entire Red planet,
205
00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.159
making cloudy with a chance of catastrophic dust a legitimate
206
00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.240
Martian forecast. These planet wide dust storms are truly awe
207
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.919
inspiring phenomena. They typically begin as smaller storms swirling around
208
00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.240
mars polar ice caps during the latter half of the
209
00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:39.519
Martian year, but under certain conditions they can rapidly expand
210
00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:42.879
toward the equator, covering millions of square miles and lasting
211
00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:46.679
for days. Unlike the dramatic scene in The Martian where
212
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.120
Matt Damon gets tossed around by powerful winds, the reality
213
00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.799
is less physically forceful, but equally problematic for equipment and
214
00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:58.000
future astronauts. Lead researcher Hashani Pieris and her team have
215
00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.200
made a significant breakthrough in unders standing what triggers these
216
00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:05.039
massive events. By analyzing eight Mars year's worth of data
217
00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.759
from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance orbiter, they discovered that approximately sixty
218
00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:13.320
eight percent of major dust storms were preceded by unusual
219
00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:17.679
warm spells on the planet's surface. The pattern is remarkably consistent.
220
00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.679
The planet experiences a period of increased warmth as more
221
00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:25.720
sunlight filters through Mars's thin atmosphere, and then weeks later,
222
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.840
massive dust storms develop. As Pieris explains, when you heat
223
00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.720
up the surface, the layer of atmosphere right above it
224
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.240
becomes buoyant and it can rise, taking dust with it.
225
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:41.279
This process mirrors similar weather patterns we experience on Earth,
226
00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:44.000
where warm air rising from the ground can lead to
227
00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.039
towering storm clouds. While these dust storms might not generate
228
00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:51.480
enough force to knock over equipment due to Mars's thin atmosphere,
229
00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:55.559
they pose serious threats to exploration efforts. In twenty eighteen,
230
00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.840
NASA's Opportunity Rover met its end when a global dust
231
00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.240
storm covered its solar panels, cutting off its power supply.
232
00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:07.440
For future missions, especially those involving human explorers, these light,
233
00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.519
but clingy dust particles will present significant challenges as they
234
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:16.440
stick to equipment and potentially damage sensitive components. The research
235
00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.840
team is continuing to gather more recent observations to further
236
00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.120
explore these explosive weather patterns. Their ultimate goal is to
237
00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:29.039
develop forecasting capabilities for Martian weather, similar to how meteorologists
238
00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:32.879
predict conditions on Earth. Being able to anticipate these massive
239
00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:35.879
storms could be crucial for the safety and success of
240
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:40.399
future Mars missions, both robotic and human. As study co
241
00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.519
author Paul Hayin noted, we need to understand what causes
242
00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.200
some of the smaller or regional storms to grow into
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.480
2
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:07.000
3
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:10.320
4
00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:13.119
5
00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:17.000
6
00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.079
7
00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.839
8
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.920
9
00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.839
10
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:35.000
11
00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.240
12
00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.200
13
00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:46.640
14
00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:51.200
15
00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:55.280
16
00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:58.840
17
00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:03.119
18
00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:07.560
19
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.799
20
00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:15.840
21
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:20.319
22
00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:25.560
23
00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.840
24
00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.439
25
00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.319
26
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.519
27
00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:43.120
28
00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:48.000
29
00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:51.239
30
00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:54.599
31
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:59.280
32
00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.680
33
00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:05.799
34
00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:10.280
35
00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.599
36
00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:18.680
37
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:23.599
38
00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:28.439
39
00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:31.560
40
00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:36.560
41
00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.240
42
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.879
43
00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.439
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.159
45
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.000
46
00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.120
47
00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:02.400
48
00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.000
49
00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.479
50
00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.960
51
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:17.319
52
00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:19.840
53
00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:23.879
54
00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.479
55
00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:32.599
56
00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:37.479
57
00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:41.039
58
00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:44.400
59
00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:48.520
60
00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:51.800
61
00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:55.560
62
00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:59.280
63
00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.319
64
00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:06.960
65
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.199
66
00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:15.319
67
00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.160
68
00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.879
69
00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:24.240
70
00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:27.480
71
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:32.079
72
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.959
73
00:04:35.959 --> 00:04:38.680
74
00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:43.000
75
00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.279
76
00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:51.040
77
00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:55.399
78
00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:00.879
79
00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:04.519
80
00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:08.720
81
00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:12.519
82
00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.959
83
00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:20.279
84
00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:24.399
85
00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:28.079
86
00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.920
87
00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.639
88
00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:40.600
89
00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.240
90
00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:48.199
91
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:52.600
92
00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:55.639
93
00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:59.360
94
00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.120
95
00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.079
96
00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.480
97
00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.920
98
00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.680
99
00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.800
100
00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.680
101
00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:28.800
102
00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.240
103
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.920
104
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:39.519
105
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:44.680
106
00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.040
107
00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:52.120
108
00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:56.600
109
00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.319
110
00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:05.560
111
00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:09.800
112
00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:14.360
113
00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:17.959
114
00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:22.759
115
00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.839
116
00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.959
117
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.160
118
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:39.000
119
00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:42.399
120
00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.600
121
00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.800
122
00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:53.879
123
00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:59.000
124
00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:02.399
125
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:06.240
126
00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.399
127
00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.600
128
00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.480
129
00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:23.480
130
00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:27.720
131
00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.920
132
00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.519
133
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.639
134
00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:44.399
135
00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:49.360
136
00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:53.480
137
00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.240
138
00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:00.799
139
00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.879
140
00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:08.480
141
00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.360
142
00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:14.639
143
00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:18.000
144
00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:23.440
145
00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:26.360
146
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.480
147
00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:35.200
148
00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.600
149
00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.759
150
00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:45.879
151
00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.440
152
00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:53.919
153
00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:58.200
154
00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.919
155
00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:05.200
156
00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.720
157
00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:12.120
158
00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.519
159
00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.360
160
00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.360
161
00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:26.960
162
00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:30.919
163
00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:34.840
164
00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:40.159
165
00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:44.080
166
00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:48.440
167
00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:53.159
168
00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:57.279
169
00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.519
170
00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.879
171
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:08.480
172
00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:12.559
173
00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:16.639
174
00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:21.000
175
00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.480
176
00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.159
177
00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:32.159
178
00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:36.279
179
00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:41.559
180
00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.759
181
00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:50.120
182
00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.320
183
00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:59.120
184
00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:03.440
185
00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:07.240
186
00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:11.200
187
00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:15.080
188
00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.559
189
00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.559
190
00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.480
191
00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.039
192
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:36.399
193
00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:39.399
194
00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.360
195
00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:46.559
196
00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.480
197
00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:54.360
198
00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.600
199
00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.080
200
00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.840
201
00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:08.200
202
00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.960
203
00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:16.159
204
00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:20.080
205
00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.159
206
00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.240
207
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.919
208
00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.240
209
00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:39.519
210
00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:42.879
211
00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:46.679
212
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.120
213
00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.799
214
00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:58.000
215
00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.200
216
00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:05.039
217
00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.759
218
00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:13.320
219
00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:17.679
220
00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.679
221
00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:25.720
222
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.840
223
00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.720
224
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.240
225
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:41.279
226
00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:44.000
227
00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.039
228
00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:51.480
229
00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:55.559
230
00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.840
231
00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.240
232
00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:07.440
233
00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.519
234
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:16.440
235
00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.840
236
00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.120
237
00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:29.039
238
00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:32.879
239
00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:35.879
240
00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:40.399
241
00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.519
242
00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.200