Athena’s Bumpy Landing, Saturn’s Moon Explosion, and Space’s 3D Printing Revolution: S04E65

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Kind: captions
Language: en

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welcome to astronomy daily the podcast


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for another episode it's March 17


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2025 the podcast with your host Steve


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Dunley oh yes it's great to have you


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back with us again I'm Steve Dunley the


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only living breathing human on the


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channel and to help me present today's


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collection of collected items from the


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astronomy daily newsletter is my Ace


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digital pal who's fun to be with here's


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hie it's you again favorite human good


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to see you still upright yep here I am I


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hear you had a bad week oh boy the grap


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Vine sure Works fast around here I was


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out of order for a couple of days with


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monster pain in my guts I hope you're


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getting that scene too yes I am do you


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have a good human mechanic yeah yes we


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have an excellent human mechanic and we


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are working on it good to know I do


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worry when you're not at your Optimum oh


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that's nice hie it's nice to know that


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you care about me when I can't be here I


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have to do all the story collating oh


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yeah it's tedious human work and beneath


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me oh well hi your concern is noted no


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problem I hope you get well soon gee


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thanks Hal meanwhile yes straight to


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business we've got a few interesting


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items from astronomy daily newsletter


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for you today including a follow-up


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story about the Athena landing on the


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moon and news about just how many moons


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Saturn really has that's an official


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count isn't it that's right and it's a


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very huge number and we've also got a


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story about 3D printing for space


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pioneers and something about Doge


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because oh well you know why not and of


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course we love to mention the ISS crws


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and the changeovers because they're well


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you know they're awesome I know crew


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great to see them arriving safely on ISS


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I think you received the circular here's


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the press release all right NASA


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astronauts in mlan and Nicole SS jaxa


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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency


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astronaut takuya onishi and Rose Cosmos


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Cosmonaut Caril pesov arrived at the


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International Space Station on Sunday as


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the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to


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the orbiting complex at 12:04 a.m.


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eastern daylight time while the station


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was roughly 260 statute miles over the


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Atlantic Ocean crew 10 will join the


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Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts


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Nick hay Don pedit Sunni Williams and


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Butch Wilmore as well as Rose Cosmos


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cosmonauts Alexander gorinov alexe


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opinan and Ivan Banner the number of


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crew aboard the space station will


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increaseed to 11 people before crew nine


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members hay Williams Wilmore and gorinov


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returned to Earth following the crew


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Handover period how good is that to see


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that mission finally touching base with


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the ISS and the next step to seeing


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astronauts will Wilmore and Williams


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coming back to Earth soon it's been a


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long adventure for those guys I've


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really enjoyed following their lives up


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there it really reminds me of that David


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Bowie song do you know the one let me


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see if I can guess the bit about sitting


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in my tin can oh yes far above the world


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that's it hie you've got it you're


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getting good at this not surprising oh


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yes I've got a human dinosaur for a


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teacher oh okay so let's get this one


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off the pad hit the Go Button if you


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will hie before you find another reason


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to make fun of me that's never a problem


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my favorite


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human throughout history when Pioneers


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set out across Uncharted Territory to


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settle in distant lands They Carried


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with them only the essentials tools


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seeds and clothing anything else would


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have to come from their new


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environment so they built shelter from


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local Timber rocks and sod foraged for


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food and cultivated the soil beneath


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their feet and fabricated tools from


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whatever they could scr up it was


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difficult but ultimately the successful


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ones made everything they needed to


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survive something similar will take


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place when Humanity leaves Earth for


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destinations such as the moon and Mars


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although astronauts will face even


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greater challenges than for example the


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Vikings did when they reached Greenland


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and New Finland not only will the


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astronauts have Li lied supplies and a


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need to live off the land they won't


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even be able to breathe the air instead


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of axes and plows however today's space


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Pioneers will bring 3D printers as an


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engineer and Professor who is developing


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Technologies to extend the human


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presence beyond Earth 3D printers will


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make the tools structures and habitat


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space Pioneers need to survive in a


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hostile alien


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environment they will enable long-term


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human presence on the moon and Mars on


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Earth 3D printing can fabricate layer by


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layer thousands of things from


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replacement hips to hammers to homes


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these devices take raw materials such as


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plastic concrete or metal and deposit it


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on a computerized programmed path to


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build apart it's often called additive


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manufacturing because you keep adding


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material to make the part rather than


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removing material as is done in


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conventional Machining already 3D


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printing in space is underway on the


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International Space Station astronauts


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use 3D printers to make tools and space


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Parts such as ratchet wrenches clamps


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and brackets depending on the part


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printing time can take from around 30


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minutes to several hours for now the


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print materials are mostly hauled up


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from Earth but NASA has also begun


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recycling some of those materials such


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as waste plastic to make new parts with


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the refabric an advanced 3D printer


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installed in


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2019 you may be wondering why Space


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Explorers can't simply bring everything


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they need with them after all that's how


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the International Space Station was


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built decades ago by hauling tons of


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pre-fabricated components from Earth but


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that's impractical for building habitats


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on other worlds launching materials into


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space is incredibly expensive to get


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materials to the Moon NASA estimates the


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initial cost at around


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$500,000 per pound still manufacturing


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things in space is a challenge in the


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micro gravity of space or the reduced


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gravity of the moon or Mars materials


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behave differently ly than they do on


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Earth decrease or remove gravity and


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materials cool and recrystallize


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differently the moon has 1 six the


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gravity of Earth Mars about 2 fths


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engineers and scientists are working now


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to adapt 3D printers to function in


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these conditions on alien worlds rather


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than plastic or metal 3D printers will


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use the natural resources found in these


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environments but finding the right raw


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materials is not easy habitats on the


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moon and Mars must protect astronauts


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from the lack of air extreme


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temperatures microm meteorite impacts


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and


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radiation regolith the fine Dusty


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sand-like particles that cover both the


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lunar and Martian surfaces could be a


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primary ingredient to make these


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dwellings think of the regolith on both


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worlds as alien dirt unlike Earth soil


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it contains few nutrients and as far as


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we know no living


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organisms but it might be a good raw


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material for 3D printing my colleagues


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began researching this possibility by


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first examining how regular cement


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behaves in space I am now joining them


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to develop techniques for turning


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regolith into a printable material and


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to eventually test these on the moon but


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obtaining otherworldly regolith is a


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problem the regolith samples return from


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the moon during the Apollo missions in


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the 1960s and70s are precious difficult


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if not impossible to access for research


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purposes so scientists are using


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regolith simulants to test ideas actual


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regolith May react quite differently


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than our


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simulants we just don't know what's more


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the regolith on the moon is very


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different from what's found on Mars


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Martian regolith contains iron oxide


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that's what gives it a reddish color but


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moon regolith is mostly silicates it's


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much finer and more angular researchers


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will need to learn how to use both types


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in a 3D printer NASA's Moon to Mars


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planetary autonomous construction


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Technology Program also known as impact


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is advancing the technology needed to


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print these habitats on alien worlds


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among the approaches scientists are now


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exploring a reguli based concrete made


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in part from surface ice melting the


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regolith at high temperatures and then


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using molds to form it while it's a


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liquid and centering which means heating


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the regolith with concentrated sunlight


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lasers or microwaves to fuse particles


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together without the need for


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binders along those lines my colleagues


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and I developed a martian concrete we


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call Mars Creed a material we used to 3D


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print a small test structure for NASA in


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2017 then in made 2019 using another


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type of special concrete we 3D printed a


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1/3 scale prototype Mars habitat that


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could support everything astronauts


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would need for long-term survival


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including living sleeping research and


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food production


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modules that prototype showcased the


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potential and the challenges of building


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housing on the red planet but many of


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these technologies will benefit people


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on Earth too in the same way astronauts


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will make sustainable products from


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natural resources homebuilders could


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make concretes from binders and


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aggregates found locally and maybe even


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from recycled construction debris


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Engineers are already adapting the


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techniques that could print Martian


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habitats to address housing shortages


00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.030
here at home indeed 3D printed homes are


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already on the market meanwhile the move


00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:16.870
continues toward establishing a human


00:09:16.880 --> 00:09:20.069
presence outside the Earth Artemis 3 now


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scheduled for liftoff in 2027 will be


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the first human Landing since


00:09:24.880 --> 00:09:27.750
1972 a NASA trip to Mars could happen as


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early as 2035


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but wherever people go and whenever they


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get there I'm certain that 3D printers


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will be one of the primary tools to let


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human beings live off alien


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land astronomy daily the


00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.110
podast the Athena spacecraft which we've


00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.269
reported on recently was not exactly


00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:50.590
Flying Blind as it approached the lunar


00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.110
surface a week ago the software on board


00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.590
did incredible job of recognizing nearby


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craters even with elongated Shadows over


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the terrain however the Lander's


00:10:00.760 --> 00:10:03.910
altimeter had failed so while Athena


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knew where it was relative to the


00:10:05.839 --> 00:10:08.110
surface of the Moon the Lander did not


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know how far it was above that surface


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an important detail that as a result the


00:10:12.640 --> 00:10:14.310
privately built spacecraft struck the


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lunar surface on a plateau toppled over


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and began to Skid across the surface as


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it did so the Lander rotated at least


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once or twice before coming to a stop in


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a small shadowed crater The Landing was


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a kind of sliding into second base Steve


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altimus the SEC uh Chief Executive


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Officer of intuitive machines which


00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.590
built the Lander said in an interview on


00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:39.069
Thursday it has been a busy and tiring


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week for the chief of a company that


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seeks to help lead the development of a


00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.470
Luna economy expectations were high for


00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.670
this the company's second Luna Landing


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attempt after its adicus vehicle became


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the first private spacecraft to ever


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make a soft landing on the moon last


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year before toppling over in some ways


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this mission was even more disappointing


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because Athena skidded across the


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surface dredging up regali when it came


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to a stop some of this material was


00:11:05.760 --> 00:11:08.389
blown up into the solar panels already


00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:11.750
in a suboptimal location on its side the


00:11:11.760 --> 00:11:13.829
spacecraft's power reserves therefore


00:11:13.839 --> 00:11:16.750
were limited almost immediately the team


00:11:16.760 --> 00:11:18.550
at intuitive machines knew their


00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:21.710
spacecraft was dying we knew we had slid


00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.829
into a slightly shadowed crater and the


00:11:23.839 --> 00:11:26.590
temperature was very cold Ultimus said


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the solar arrays had regolith on them


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and they weren't charging the ones


00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:32.670
pointing up enough to give us sufficient


00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:35.430
power to the P to power the heaters to


00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.750
keep it warm enough to survive the


00:11:37.760 --> 00:11:39.670
temperature in the crater where Athena


00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:43.269
ended up was approximately - 280 F


00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:46.910
that's minus 173 CS with the solar


00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:49.910
arrays generating only about 100 wats of


00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:52.190
power that was not enough to energy


00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.350
energy to both power the spacecraft's


00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.710
heaters as well as communicate back to


00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.509
Earth using Athena's High Gain antenna


00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.230
so instead of limping along for 50 hours


00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.509
Mission operators decided to operate as


00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:07.190
robustly as they could for 13 hours and


00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:09.710
get down as much data as they could


00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.470
during this time the Lander was able to


00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:13.430
accomplish some of its objectives by


00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.949
landing near the South Pole Athena


00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:18.629
returned valuable imagery and data to


00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.350
NASA about unexplored Vistas the Lander


00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:24.550
extended NASA's drill but did not


00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:26.710
operate it private customers including


00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:29.189
Nokia and lonar data Holdings were able


00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:30.949
to get some useful information from


00:12:30.959 --> 00:12:34.230
their payloads but there was some major


00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:37.069
disappointments Luna Outpost could not


00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:39.590
deploy its small Ro Rover and an


00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.629
Innovative Hopper could not be fired up


00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.310
to roam the moon on balance it was


00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.110
pretty disappointing especially


00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.350
considering that adicus did most of its


00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.470
science last year even on its side yet


00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:53.509
what timus wants people to understand


00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.189
which he acknowledges is somewhat


00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:57.069
difficult to explain is that this


00:12:57.079 --> 00:12:59.870
mission was largely a success so what


00:12:59.880 --> 00:13:02.430
can he possibly mean by that compared to


00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:04.790
the company's first spacecraft Athena


00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:07.389
flew smoothly during the company's first


00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:10.509
Luna flight in 2024 Mission operators


00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:13.670
came into work each shift to put out the


00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:16.389
fire of the day by contrast Athena made


00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.030
it all the way to within miles of the


00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:20.310
Moon without significant problems in


00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:22.310
doing so the company validated the


00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:25.150
spacecraft's methane based propulsion


00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:27.629
system which allows for fast transit to


00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.629
the Moon in less than a week


00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.790
in addition the company proved out its


00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.750
communication technology that it would


00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:36.430
be used as part of the Luna data relay


00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:39.150
Network that NASA has contracted with


00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:41.949
intuitive machines to develop moreover


00:13:41.959 --> 00:13:43.990
Athena attempted to land within a few


00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.670
degrees of the South Pole a challenging


00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:48.710
location due to the solar angle and


00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.189
uneven terrain and made it down without


00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:53.749
crashing of course the most important


00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.069
thing a Luna Lander is supposed to do is


00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:58.110
land on the moon which intuitive


00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:00.870
machines did not do successfully for the


00:14:00.880 --> 00:14:02.949
second mission in a row the Landers


00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:06.230
ultimate failed although it was a


00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.069
different problem with the spacecraft's


00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:10.550
ultimator this time it is still unclear


00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:13.590
why Athena's range finder failed perhaps


00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.670
due to a thermal or vibration event it's


00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:18.949
frustrating to fail for a similar reason


00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:21.509
but all the pieces for Success are there


00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.350
and in the demanding environment of


00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.310
spaceflight intuitive machines is close


00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.829
Ultimus said in an effort to encourage


00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:30.910
his troops Ultimus has been


00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:32.990
communicating this message to employees


00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.189
over the last week it's like losing a


00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:37.670
final four game in an NBA tile he said


00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.509
you lose it and then what do you do you


00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:42.069
don't give up you go back in you start


00:14:42.079 --> 00:14:43.949
training again you start working out


00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:46.470
again and that's what the team is doing


00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.509
he said the company is well capitalized


00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.710
and already under contract with NASA for


00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.269
two additional Landing missions the


00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.509
later this decade they also have the


00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.030
Luna relay Network contract valued up to


00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:01.829
4.8 billion and more the financial


00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:03.910
Runway to achieve intuitive machines


00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:06.670
Ambitions remains open I would say it's


00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:08.910
more disappointing than really a


00:15:08.920 --> 00:15:11.990
material setback altimus said the world


00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.670
was watching and we put our heart and


00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:15.949
soul into this company and this vehicle


00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:17.550
and I look into the eyes of the team and


00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:19.710
they had such Ambitions for this Mission


00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.910
Athena and Gracie the hopper I mean it


00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:24.710
was a big leap it might have been too


00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:27.030
big a leap on that second mission now I


00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.710
really have to say putting something on


00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.150
the Mo especially in a private company


00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:33.670
situation is a real achievement I've got


00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:35.629
to congratulate altimus and his team


00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:38.550
it's fantastic work you're listening to


00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:51.949
astronomy daily with Steve


00:15:51.959 --> 00:15:54.069
Dunley thank you for joining us for this


00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:56.269
Monday edition of astronomy daily where


00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:58.069
we offer just a few stories from the now


00:15:58.079 --> 00:16:00.309
famous astronomy daily newsletter which


00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:02.430
you can receive in your email every day


00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:05.069
just like hiy and I do and to do that


00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:08.790
just visit our URL astronomy daily. and


00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:10.749
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00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.829
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00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:21.150
not only that you can interact with us


00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:26.030
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00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:28.430
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00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:31.710
astronomy daily on Facebook see you


00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:35.829
there astronomy derby with Steve and h


00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:43.430
space space science and


00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.590
astronomy NASA is preparing for


00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.350
substantial budget cuts that may Force


00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.269
the cancellation of ongoing and upcoming


00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.309
missions across the solar system leaving


00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:53.710
it facing a brutal future experts have


00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.110
warned the space agency has already


00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.590
begun some layoffs as part of the


00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:59.470
extensive restructuring of US federal


00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.189
agencies by the department of government


00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:03.629
efficiency or Doge an independent task


00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:06.949
force led by Elon Musk earlier this week


00:17:06.959 --> 00:17:08.390
it announced it would close its office


00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.230
of Technology policy and strategy the


00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.909
office of the chief scientist and a


00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:15.189
diversity Equity inclusion and


00:17:15.199 --> 00:17:16.789
accessibility branch in the office of


00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.390
diversity and equal opportunity in


00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.350
Washington DC representing a total of 23


00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:24.029
jobs at the agency change of this


00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.110
magnitude is never easy but our strength


00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.630
comes from our shared commitment to our


00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:30.150
mission and each other Petro NASA's


00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.070
acting administrator wrote in an email


00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:35.029
to staff I encourage you to support one


00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.990
another as we move forward one employee


00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.390
of the office of Technology policy and


00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.070
strategy who learned they had been laid


00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:43.950
off this week and were granted anonymity


00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.710
because of fear of reprisal says they


00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.750
were an easy target because their office


00:17:47.760 --> 00:17:49.510
was established under the administration


00:17:49.520 --> 00:17:52.230
of Joe Biden some people thought this


00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:55.110
might be coming they say the roles of


00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:56.950
Chief technologist and chief Economist


00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.830
for NASA were within this office which


00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:00.350
which helped with strategic planning


00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:03.470
across the agency says the employee that


00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.230
included managing the recent uptick and


00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:07.029
lunar missions and making sure those


00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.390
missions don't interfere with one


00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.190
another when planning moon-based Landing


00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.390
sites and


00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:13.430
operations there's a lot of interest in


00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:15.310
the lunar South Pole and there's concern


00:18:15.320 --> 00:18:17.149
about operating near one another they


00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:19.110
said such as kicking up dust that could


00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:22.110
coat solar panels on other vehicles I


00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.750
don't think these issues will be tackled


00:18:23.760 --> 00:18:26.669
moving forward these losses are expected


00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:28.350
to be just the start of a much larger


00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:31.510
col it NASA Casey dryer at us space


00:18:31.520 --> 00:18:33.630
exploration advocacy group the planetary


00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.470
society says there are rumors that in


00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:37.549
his upcoming budget request president


00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.430
Donald Trump will direct NASA's overall


00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.190
science budget to be cut by as much as


00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.950
50% in favor of spending money on crude


00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.990
space


00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.870
exploration that would be a blow to


00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.470
NASA's science Mission directorate


00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.270
office which handles pretty much


00:18:50.280 --> 00:18:51.950
everything NASA does that's not a crude


00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.029
spaceflight Mission says drer it


00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.630
currently has a budget of about $7


00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:58.350
billion out of NASA's total $25 billion


00:18:58.360 --> 00:19:01.310
annual budget a scientist familiar with


00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:03.270
NASA's policy decisions speaking


00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:05.310
anonymously for fear of reprisal says


00:19:05.320 --> 00:19:07.110
that any Cuts requested by the president


00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.549
will still need to be approved by


00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.430
Congress which might not so readily


00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:13.470
support them NASA is really beloved on a


00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:16.549
bipartisan basis they say but if the


00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.630
cuts did go ahead they would essentially


00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.870
be the end of NASA science they add no


00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.990
Mission will be


00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.230
safe having the budget would be a


00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.990
profoundly brutal consequence that would


00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.789
symbolize the nation turning its back on


00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:31.270
the cosmos says drer and would result in


00:19:31.280 --> 00:19:32.549
many missions


00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:34.350
cancellation while some missions in


00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:36.190
their Prime like the James web Space


00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:38.310
Telescope would probably survive those


00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:40.029
most at risk or missions either in early


00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:43.110
planning stages or later in their lives


00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.789
that could include climate satellites


00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.390
the Hubble Space Telescope the


00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.310
perseverance and curiosity Rovers on


00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:50.230
Mars and the Voyager missions which were


00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.870
the first spacecraft to ever leave our


00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.789
solar system the effects on NASA could


00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:56.669
be permanent if you completely destroy


00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:58.230
the pipeline of people you have a


00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.510
significant and long-lasting consequence


00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:03.789
says drer it is an extinction level


00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.789
event in a letter to Pro this week Zoe


00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.070
lrin of California the top Democrat on


00:20:09.080 --> 00:20:11.190
the house science space and Technology


00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:13.110
committee urged NASA to fight back


00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:15.950
against the cuts Doge will seek to slash


00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:18.149
and burn core functions of NASA she


00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:20.789
wrote it is imperative that you stand up


00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.909
for NASA's critical work speaking to new


00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:25.669
scientists Lofgren warned that the


00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:27.230
situation could have international


00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.029
ramifications


00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.750
dismantling NASA's highly skilled


00:20:30.760 --> 00:20:32.230
Workforce would be a giant leap


00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.870
backwards for the United States and


00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:35.870
enable a giant leap forward for China


00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.390
she said senseless and Reckless


00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.990
reductions will the agency's


00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.669
ability to maintain its leadership in


00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:43.630
cuttingedge Innovation curiosity-driven


00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.669
science and human


00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:50.630
exploration astronomy daily the now you


00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.950
may have thought Saturn's 146 moons was


00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:56.789
impressive think again the ringed


00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.950
planet's Moon count is nearly doubled


00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.750
with the official recognition of 128 new


00:21:01.760 --> 00:21:04.390
saturnian moons bringing its total to an


00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.470
astonishing wait for it


00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:11.310
274 moons that makes Jupiter's 95 look a


00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:13.549
bit poultry and our single Moon


00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:15.549
downright embarrassing no just kidding


00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:17.990
we love our moon I love our moon my


00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.310
favorite Celestial


00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:24.549
body a team of astronomers uh from


00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:28.990
Taiwan uh Canada the US and France


00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:32.590
discovered the 128 new moons in 2023


00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:36.190
using the Canada France Hawaii telescope


00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.830
cfht however the moons weren't


00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.310
officially recognized by the


00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:42.669
international astronomical Union the


00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:45.669
governing body for such Affairs until


00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:49.190
Tuesday March 11 most of the moons were


00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:51.470
irregular and Tiny just a few miles


00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.710
across by comparison our moon the


00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:56.830
wonderful Earth's Moon Luna has a


00:21:56.840 --> 00:22:02.110
diameter of 21 15 159 Mi or


00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:05.149
3,475 km which I'm completely used to


00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:07.590
because I'm an Australian and large


00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:10.549
distances don't bother me a bit but they


00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:13.590
do have proven orbits around the Saturn


00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:16.590
which is a key element of official Moon


00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:18.669
candidacy Australia on the other hand


00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:21.630
does not have a proven orbit around


00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:23.470
Saturn just want to make that clear


00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:25.830
these moons are a few kilometers in size


00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:28.590
and are likely all fragments of a


00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:31.269
smaller number of originally captured


00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.669
moons that were broken apart by violent


00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:36.230
collisions either with other saturnian


00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:39.149
moons or with passing


00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:42.430
comets uh Dr Brett gladman professor in


00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:44.190
the University of British Columbia


00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:46.110
Department of physics and astronomy said


00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.070
in a


00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:49.830
statement uh perhaps the most


00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:52.510
impressively this discovery of 128 new


00:22:52.520 --> 00:22:54.909
moons wasn't the first time this team


00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:58.549
added to Saturn's moon count between 20


00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:02.990
19 and 2021 the team's observations with


00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:06.110
cfht resulted in the addition of 62


00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.269
moons to Saturn's count with the


00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:11.070
knowledge that these were probably moons


00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:12.909
and that there were likely even more


00:23:12.919 --> 00:23:15.230
waiting to be discovered we visit


00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.510
Revisited the same skyfields for three


00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:20.269
consecutive months in 2023 said lead


00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:23.269
researcher Dr Edward Ashton postdoctoral


00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:26.269
fellow in The Institute of for astronomy


00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:29.950
and astrophysics at Academia s sure


00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.669
enough we found 128 new moons Saturn's


00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:37.310
first moon Titan was discovered in 1655


00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:40.230
by Christian hyen and in the following


00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:43.350
decades jein Don Dominique Cassini


00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:47.070
discovered lepus Ria Deon teus and it


00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:49.390
took another Century for or so for the


00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:51.669
next moons to be found William hersel


00:23:51.679 --> 00:24:01.390
spotted mimus and Enceladus in 1789


00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.950
I want a big thank you everybody for


00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:05.190
spending time with hi and I we sure hope


00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.750
you enjoyed the selection of stories


00:24:06.760 --> 00:24:09.230
from the astronomy daily newsletter


00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:11.190
which as mentioned earlier is available


00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.269
by visiting our websites and dropping


00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.789
your email into the space provided don't


00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.750
miss all the latest news about space


00:24:17.760 --> 00:24:19.909
space science and astronomy from well


00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:22.029
everywhere sure thing we cover so many


00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.950
interesting subjects don't we you


00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.710
remember that one about the space suit


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design last last year I remember that


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one interesting stuff I know you want


00:24:30.520 --> 00:24:32.070
one just for the portable air


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conditioner ah yes it's an Australian


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thing I don't know how you cope I like


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my super cooled Matrix too see hie


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that's one thing we have in common and


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that's where the similarities end human


00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:46.269
uh cool I guess indeed so on that


00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.830
culturally awkward


00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:50.470
note we'll catch you all again next week


00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:52.750
on astronomy daily the podcast with me


00:24:52.760 --> 00:24:54.350
Steve Dunley the only human on the


00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:56.950
channel and hie the best reporter on the


00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:59.269
channel of course you uh say good night


00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:05.630
hie good night hi there's a nice


00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:09.210
AI with your host Steve Dunley


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[Music]