From Space Tourism to Ice in Space: Exploring the Latest in Cosmic News
Welcome to another captivating episode of Astronomy Daily, where Anna takes you on a journey through the latest cosmic discoveries and exciting developments in space exploration. This episode is packed with intriguing stories that highlight the intersection of technology, discovery, and international collaboration in our quest to understand the universe.
Highlights:
- Virgin Galactic's Delta Class Spaceplanes: Get the latest updates on Virgin Galactic's progress as they prepare for test flights of their new Delta class spaceplanes, aiming for commercial operations in 2026. Discover the ambitious timeline and the innovative technologies being developed to make space tourism a reality.
- James Webb Space Telescope's Water Ice Discovery: Explore the remarkable discovery of crystalline water ice in a debris disk orbiting a sun-like star 155 light years away. This finding not only validates previous research but also enhances our understanding of planetary formation and the distribution of water in the galaxy.
- NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Join us as we discuss the recent Mars flyby of NASA's Europa Clipper, which successfully tested its life-hunting technology. Learn how these advancements prepare the mission for its quest to uncover the secrets of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa.
- SpaceX's Starlink Launch Milestone: Celebrate SpaceX's achievement of deploying over 1,000 Starlink satellites in 2025 with their latest launch from California. Discover the implications of this rapid expansion for global internet coverage and the future of satellite technology.
- Norway Signs Artemis Accords: Witness a significant diplomatic milestone as Norway becomes the 55th nation to sign NASA's Artemis Accords, reinforcing international cooperation for peaceful space exploration. Understand the importance of this agreement in the context of NASA's ambitious Artemis program.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (
http://www.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.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Virgin Galactic's Delta Class Spaceplanes update
10:00 - James Webb Space Telescope's water ice discovery
15:30 - NASA's Europa Clipper mission and Mars flyby
20:00 - SpaceX's Starlink launch milestone
25:00 - Norway signs Artemis Accords
✍️ Episode References
Virgin Galactic Updates
[Virgin Galactic](
https://www.virgingalactic.com/
(
https://www.virgingalactic.com/)
)
James Webb Space Telescope
[NASA JWST](
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html
(
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html)
)
NASA's Europa Clipper Mission
[NASA Europa Clipper](
https://europa.nasa.gov/
(
https://europa.nasa.gov/)
)
SpaceX Starlink
[SpaceX](
https://www.spacex.com/
(
https://www.spacex.com/)
)
Artemis Accords
[NASA Artemis](
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html
(
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html)
)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](
http://www.astronomydaily.io/
(
http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
)
Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support
(
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss)
.
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/27171926?utm_source=youtube
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Virgin Galactic’s Delta Class Spaceplanes update
10:00 - James Webb Space Telescope’s water ice discovery
15:30 - NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and Mars flyby
Kind: captions
Language: en
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Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
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your daily dose of cosmic news and
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stellar discoveries. I'm Anna and I'm
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excited to bring you the latest
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developments from across the universe.
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Today we've got a busy episode exploring
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some fascinating stories from the world
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of space exploration and astronomy.
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We'll be diving into Virgin Galactic's
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progress with their new space planes,
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which are reportedly on track for test
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flights next year. We'll also look at an
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incredible discovery made by the James
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Webb Space Telescope crystallin water
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ice found in another star system,
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offering new insights into planetary
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formation beyond our solar neighborhood.
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Then we'll check in on NASA's Europa
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Clipper mission, which just tested its
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life hunting technology during a Mars
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flyby, calibrating crucial instruments
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that will eventually search for signs of
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habitability on Jupiter's icy moon.
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Plus, we'll cover Space X's latest
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launch of Starlink satellites from
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California, marking over 1,000
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satellites deployed this year alone. And
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we'll discuss the diplomatic milestone
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of Norway becoming the 55th nation to
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sign NASA's Aremis Accords for peaceful
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space
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exploration. So, strap in as we journey
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through today's astronomical headlines
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and expand our understanding of the
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cosmos.
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We haven't heard a lot from them in
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recent times, but Virgin Galactic is
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reporting significant progress on their
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new Delta class space planes with
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production firmly on schedule to meet
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their ambitious timeline for commercial
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operations next year. During a recent
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earnings call, CEO Michael Klazier
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highlighted the extensive technical
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developments across vehicle structures,
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propulsion systems, and avionics.
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The company has been transparent about
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their construction process, releasing
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video updates showcasing the current
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assembly state and plans to launch a
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regular series of production updates
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beginning next month. This level of
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transparency signals confidence in their
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timeline, which remains unchanged from
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their previous announcements. According
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to that timeline, we can expect to see
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the first test flights of these new
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Delta class vehicles, or spaceships as
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they're called, beginning in spring
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2026. The company then plans a phased
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commercial roll out with research
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payload flights commencing in summer,
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followed by private astronaut flights
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starting in fall. Perhaps most
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intriguing for wouldbe space tourists,
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Virgin Galactic anticipates reopening
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ticket sales in the first quarter of
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2026.
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The company plans to bring on new
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customers gradually through what Cole
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Glazier described as a white glove
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onboarding
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experience. This measured approach will
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also enable Virgin to adjust pricing as
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needed. While specific ticket prices
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haven't been announced, we know they'll
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exceed the previous $600,000 price
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point. Beyond their standard operations,
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Virgin Galactic is exploring additional
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opportunities. The company is currently
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conducting a feasibility study for
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potential flights from southern Italy,
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focusing particularly on understanding
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the airspace requirements based on
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different flight paths and weather
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conditions. There's also increasing
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interest in alternative applications for
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their carrier aircraft. The plane's
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capabilities for high alitude, long
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endurance flights while carrying
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substantial payloads make it potentially
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valuable for other uses, including
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intelligence, surveillance, and
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reconnaissance missions. Cole Glazier
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noted, encouraging feedback from
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meetings with defense department
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officials and aerospace companies,
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mentioning multiple opportunities
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connected to the new Golden Dome Missile
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Defense Initiative. On the financial
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front, while Virgin reported minimal
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revenue and an adjusted EBI T-day loss
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of $72 million for the first quarter,
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executives emphasize that peak spending
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on development is now behind them. CFO
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Doug Arens noted that as they complete
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the one-time investments in tooling and
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transition to assembly of the first two
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vehicles, the required spending by
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quarter goes down through year end,
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suggesting a more sustainable financial
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path forward as they approach commercial
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operations.
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Next up, a truly stunning discovery. In
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a remarkable astronomical breakthrough,
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the James Webb Space Telescope has
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confirmed the presence of crystalline
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water ice in a dusty debris disc
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orbiting a sunlike star located 155
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lighty years from Earth. This discovery
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validates earlier hints detected by the
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now retired Spitzer Space Telescope back
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in 2008, but with unprecedented spectral
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clarity that only web's advanced
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instruments could provide. What makes
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this finding particularly significant is
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that researchers didn't just detect
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ordinary water ice, but specifically
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crystalline water ice. The same form
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found in Saturn's rings and throughout
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our own solar systems Kyper belt. This
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crystallin structure tells us about the
00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:52.790
temperature and formation conditions in
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this distant planetary system. The star
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at the center of this discovery,
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designated HD
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181,327, is remarkably young, just 23
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million years old compared to our 4.6
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billiony old sun. Its debris disc is
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thought to closely resemble what our own
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Kyper belt might have looked like
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billions of years ago, providing
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astronomers with something akin to a
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time machine for studying planetary
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form. Web's observations revealed
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fascinating details about this systems
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architecture. There's a significant
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dust-free gap between the star and its
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debris disc where researchers believe
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frequent collisions between icy bodies
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continuously release tiny particles of
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dusty water ice. Particles perfectly
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sized for Web's instruments to detect.
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The distribution of ice throughout the
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system follows a pattern that makes
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perfect sense from a physics standpoint.
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The highest concentration over 20%
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exists in the cold outer regions of the
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debris disc with much less in the middle
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areas and almost none detected close to
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the star. This pattern likely results
00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.469
from ice vaporization by ultraviolet
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light in the inner regions or perhaps
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because that ice is trapped inside
00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.110
unseen
00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.150
planetessimals. This discovery has
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profound implications for our
00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:11.510
understanding of planetary system
00:06:11.520 --> 00:06:14.070
formation. The presence of water ice is
00:06:14.080 --> 00:06:16.390
crucial for building giant planets. And
00:06:16.400 --> 00:06:18.710
until now, astronomers could only study
00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:21.350
this process in our own solar system. As
00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.270
Christine Chen from the Space Telescope
00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:25.749
Science Institute noted, we can finally
00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.150
examine how water ice functions across
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different planetary systems. What's
00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.390
particularly exciting is how the
00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:36.350
striking similarities between HD
00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:39.029
181,327's debris disc and our own Kyper
00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:41.189
belt suggests that our solar systems
00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:43.029
development may be more representative
00:06:43.039 --> 00:06:45.670
than unique. This discovery validates
00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.590
theoretical models about how water
00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.510
distributes through forming planetary
00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:51.189
systems.
00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.110
As astronomers continue mapping water
00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.590
ice across different star systems, we're
00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:57.270
building toward a more comprehensive
00:06:57.280 --> 00:06:59.110
understanding of planetary formation
00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.589
throughout the galaxy. This research
00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:03.749
also opens exciting possibilities for
00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:05.510
understanding how water essential for
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life as we know it gets distributed
00:07:07.919 --> 00:07:09.510
during a systems formation and
00:07:09.520 --> 00:07:11.670
potentially delivered to habitable zones
00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.790
where rocky planets reside. Future web
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.189
observations of additional debris discs
00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.670
will likely reveal whether the patterns
00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.230
observed in HD 181,000
00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:25.990
327 represent a universal principle of
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planetary systems. As we learn more
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.550
about water distribution in the galaxy,
00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.469
we're ultimately gaining insight into
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the conditions that may have set the
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.629
stage for Earth's own evolution and the
00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.990
emergence of life billions of years ago.
00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:41.830
Now, let's turn our attention to NASA's
00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:43.909
Europa Clipper mission, which recently
00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:46.070
used a Mars flyby to test some of its
00:07:46.080 --> 00:07:48.710
most critical life hunting technology.
00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.550
This spacecraft, currently on route to
00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:52.629
Jupiter's moon Europa, captured
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.629
remarkable infrared images of the red
00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.029
planet during a gravity assist maneuver
00:07:57.039 --> 00:07:59.430
that served a dual purpose, helping the
00:07:59.440 --> 00:08:01.990
spacecraft reach Jupiter faster, while
00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.830
also calibrating its sophisticated
00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:06.790
thermal imaging camera. On March 1st,
00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:09.990
Europa Clipper swooped just 550 m above
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.390
the Martian surface, using the planet's
00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:14.670
gravitational pole to reshape its
00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.189
trajectory. During this 18minute window,
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:19.189
the spacecraft's infrared camera, called
00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.469
the Europa thermal imaging system, or
00:08:21.479 --> 00:08:23.670
Etheis, captured more than a thousand
00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.150
grayscale pictures, one image per
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second, creating a comprehensive thermal
00:08:28.479 --> 00:08:31.270
map of Mars. The team later applied
00:08:31.280 --> 00:08:33.670
color to these images with warm areas
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depicted in red and colder regions shown
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in blue, creating a striking
00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:39.389
visualization of Mars' temperature
00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:42.310
variations. This wasn't just for show.
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.750
Comparing these new images with
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established Mars data allowed scientists
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.670
to verify that Etheis is working
00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:49.829
perfectly. As Phil Christensen from
00:08:49.839 --> 00:08:51.750
Arizona State University, the principal
00:08:51.760 --> 00:08:54.230
investigator for Etheis explained, "We
00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.550
wanted no surprises in these new images.
00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:58.389
The goal was to capture imagery of a
00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:00.310
planetary body we know extraordinarily
00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.230
well and make sure the data set looks
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.790
exactly the way it should. This
00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:06.790
calibration is absolutely crucial for
00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:09.269
the mission's ultimate goal. When Europa
00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.070
Clipper reaches Jupiter in 2030, it will
00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.190
begin a series of 49 flybys of Europa,
00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.030
an icy moon that scientists believe
00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:19.269
harbors a vast global ocean beneath its
00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.509
frozen crust. This subsurface ocean
00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.350
makes Europa one of the most promising
00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.230
places to search for life beyond Earth.
00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:28.070
Etheis will play a vital role in the
00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:29.990
search by scanning Europa's surface for
00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.310
heat signatures. The moon's surface is
00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:35.110
marked by long ridges and deep fractures
00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.949
that many scientists believe are caused
00:09:36.959 --> 00:09:39.829
by ocean water moving beneath the ice
00:09:39.839 --> 00:09:42.070
and breaking through the crust. By
00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.910
measuring temperature variations along
00:09:43.920 --> 00:09:46.070
these features, the spacecraft can
00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.910
identify areas where the ocean might
00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:50.790
come closest to the surface. If Europa
00:09:50.800 --> 00:09:52.150
is a really active place, those
00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:53.509
fractures will be warmer than the
00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.110
surrounding ice where the ocean comes
00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.070
close to the surface, Christensen noted.
00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:00.710
Or if water erupted onto the surface
00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:03.190
hundreds to thousands of years ago, then
00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:05.310
those surfaces could still be relatively
00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:08.310
warm. The Mars flyby also provided an
00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.910
opportunity to test other crucial
00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:12.150
instruments. The spacecraft's radar
00:10:12.160 --> 00:10:14.310
systems were activated in unison for the
00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.069
first time, something that wasn't
00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:18.310
possible in Earth-based clean rooms due
00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:21.190
to the radar antenna's unusual length.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.269
Additionally, the team confirmed that
00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.030
the spacecraft's telecommunication
00:10:25.040 --> 00:10:26.949
equipment will be able to conduct
00:10:26.959 --> 00:10:29.269
gravity experiments at Europa by
00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.949
successfully transmitting signals to
00:10:30.959 --> 00:10:33.670
Earth while passing through Mars's
00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:34.910
gravity
00:10:34.920 --> 00:10:37.750
field. As Europa Clipper continues its
00:10:37.760 --> 00:10:40.550
1.8 8 billion mile journey to Jupiter.
00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:42.310
It will make one more gravity assist
00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:45.190
from Earth in 2026 before finally
00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:48.630
arriving at its destination in 2030.
00:10:48.640 --> 00:10:51.030
There it will help scientists determine
00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:54.230
whether Europa, a moon orbiting a giant
00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.790
planet far from the sun, could actually
00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:58.710
harbor the ingredients necessary for
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.110
life to
00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.110
exist. In more satellite news, SpaceX
00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.790
has once again expanded its Starlink
00:11:04.800 --> 00:11:06.389
constellation with another successful
00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.350
launch from California. At 6:43 a.m.
00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.509
Pacific time last Friday morning, a
00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.670
Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space
00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:15.910
Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg
00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:18.310
Space Force Base, carrying 26 more
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.630
Starlink satellites into orbit. This
00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:22.710
launch marks a significant milestone for
00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:25.190
SpaceX as they've now deployed more than
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.190
1,000 of their broadband internet
00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:30.150
satellites in 2025 alone. The pace of
00:11:30.160 --> 00:11:32.310
these deployments demonstrates SpaceX's
00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.310
commitment to rapidly expanding their
00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:37.030
global internet coverage. The mission
00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:40.389
designated Starlink 15-5 was the 20th
00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.269
orbital launch from California this
00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:44.710
year. What's particularly interesting is
00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.550
that the launch proceeded despite a
00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:49.829
wildfire on the base north of the pad.
00:11:49.839 --> 00:11:52.790
The fire, which spread across 27 acres
00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:55.190
before being contained, fortunately did
00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.910
not impact launch operations.
00:11:57.920 --> 00:11:59.990
The Falcon 9 first stage booster that
00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.350
powered this mission, designated
00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:04.829
B1093, was making only its second
00:12:04.839 --> 00:12:07.509
flight. Its first mission was just 39
00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.910
days earlier, also from Vandenberg,
00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:11.629
carrying another batch of Starlink
00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:13.670
satellites. This quick turnaround
00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.509
highlights SpaceX's increasing
00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.590
efficiency in refurbishing and
00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:20.150
redeploying their rockets. 8 minutes
00:12:20.160 --> 00:12:21.670
after liftoff, the booster made a
00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:23.990
precise landing on SpaceX's drone ship,
00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.550
aptly named Of course I still love you,
00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.910
which was stationed in the Pacific
00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:30.550
Ocean. This successful touchdown marks
00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:32.790
the 130th landing on this particular
00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:35.910
vessel and SpaceX's 448th booster
00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:37.910
landing overall, a remarkable
00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:39.550
achievement in rocket
00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:41.990
reusability. The company confirmed the
00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.230
successful deployment of all 26
00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.949
optimized Starlink satellites about an
00:12:46.959 --> 00:12:49.590
hour after launch. These satellites will
00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.829
join the thousands already in orbit,
00:12:51.839 --> 00:12:53.750
providing high-spe speed internet access
00:12:53.760 --> 00:12:56.069
to users across the globe, including
00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:58.150
remote and underserved areas where
00:12:58.160 --> 00:13:00.150
traditional internet infrastructure is
00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:01.790
limited or
00:13:01.800 --> 00:13:04.069
non-existent. SpaceX continues to
00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:05.670
dominate the launch industry with its
00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:08.310
rapid cadence and reliable performance,
00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.990
regularly delivering both its own
00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.590
Starlink satellites and commercial
00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.590
payloads to orbit while pushing the
00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.110
boundaries of reusable rocket
00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.110
technology.
00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.190
Finally, today, the international
00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.949
community supporting NASA's vision for
00:13:20.959 --> 00:13:23.110
peaceful lunar exploration continues to
00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.509
grow with Norway becoming the 55th
00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:28.230
nation to sign the Artemis Accords. The
00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.750
signing ceremony took place last
00:13:29.760 --> 00:13:31.509
Thursday at the Norwegian Space Agency
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.910
in Oslo, where Norway's Minister of
00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:36.310
Trade and Industry, Cecilia Mesth,
00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.069
formally committed her nation to this
00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:39.670
framework for peaceful space
00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:41.190
exploration.
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.030
This milestone builds upon a space
00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:44.790
partnership between the United States
00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:47.069
and Norway that dates back over six
00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:49.750
decades. As acting NASA administrator
00:13:49.760 --> 00:13:52.069
Janet Petro noted, the collaboration
00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:55.350
between these nations began in 1962 when
00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.269
NASA supported the first civilian
00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.949
suborbital rocket launch above the
00:13:58.959 --> 00:14:01.150
Arctic Circle from Andoya space in
00:14:01.160 --> 00:14:03.750
Norway. The Aremis Accords represent
00:14:03.760 --> 00:14:06.310
much more than just signatures on paper.
00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:08.470
Established in October 2020 with the
00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.470
United States and seven other founding
00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.550
nations, these accords outline
00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.310
principles and guidelines for how
00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.990
countries should approach exploration of
00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.790
the moon and deep space. They reinforce
00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:21.430
key concepts from the landmark 1967
00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:23.990
outer space treaty, emphasizing peaceful
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.550
cooperation and transparent operations
00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:28.550
as humanity extends its reach beyond
00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.790
Earth. Norway's participation
00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:32.870
strengthens the international coalition
00:14:32.880 --> 00:14:35.590
behind NASA's Aremis program, which aims
00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:37.750
to return humans to the lunar surface
00:14:37.760 --> 00:14:39.509
and establish a sustainable presence
00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.189
there before eventually sending
00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:43.910
astronauts to Mars. The Artemis program
00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.870
itself has already made significant
00:14:45.880 --> 00:14:48.670
progress. Artemis 1 launched in November
00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:51.189
2022, sending an uncrrewed Orion
00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:52.949
spacecraft on a month-long journey
00:14:52.959 --> 00:14:55.269
around the moon. The next mission,
00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.430
Artemis 2, will carry four astronauts on
00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:59.350
a lunar flyby. though it has been
00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.910
delayed until at least February 2026 to
00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:03.670
address heat shield issues identified
00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:06.710
during the first mission. Artemis 3
00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.670
targeted for 2027 is planned to be the
00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:11.590
historic mission that returns humans to
00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.509
the lunar surface for the first time
00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.790
since Apollo. However, the program faces
00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:18.870
uncertainty beyond this mission due to
00:15:18.880 --> 00:15:21.110
recent budget proposals. The White
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:24.389
House's latest skinny budget proposes
00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:28.069
cutting NASA's funding by nearly 25%.
00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:29.590
These cuts would have profound
00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:31.910
implications for the Aremis program,
00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:33.750
potentially cancelling the space launch
00:15:33.760 --> 00:15:36.150
system rocket after Artemis 3 and
00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:37.910
scrapping the Gateway lunar space
00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:39.910
station that was intended to support
00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:42.790
future missions. These budget concerns
00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:44.790
cast a shadow over the long-term
00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:47.189
viability of the program just as
00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:49.749
international support continues to grow.
00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.590
The contrast between expanding global
00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.189
participation through the Artemis
00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:55.629
Accords and potential domestic funding
00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.749
challenges highlights the complex
00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.389
reality of modern space exploration
00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.230
where scientific aspirations and
00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.389
political priorities must find alignment
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:06.110
for missions to
00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.749
succeed. So to sum up, as we reflect on
00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.150
today's space news, several fascinating
00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:13.749
threads weave together to form a
00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.749
tapestry of our current moment in space
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.910
exploration. We're witnessing a
00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:19.670
remarkable convergence of commercial
00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:21.749
innovation, scientific discovery, and
00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.670
international cooperation that promises
00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:25.749
to reshape humanity's relationship with
00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.590
the
00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:29.030
cosmos. Virgin Galactic's progress on
00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:30.550
their Delta class space planes
00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:32.470
represents the continued evolution of
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.550
commercial space flight, bringing us
00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:36.710
closer to an era where space tourism
00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.590
becomes increasingly accessible. Though
00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.990
still expensive, these advancements are
00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.829
gradually opening doors that were once
00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:46.150
firmly closed to all but a select few
00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:47.310
government
00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:50.310
astronauts. Meanwhile, the James Webb
00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.829
Space Telescope's discovery of
00:16:51.839 --> 00:16:53.990
crystalline water ice in a distant star
00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.230
system reminds us that we're not just
00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.189
exploring for exploration sake. Each new
00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:01.110
finding offers insights into our own
00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.910
origins and place in the universe.
00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:05.829
The similarities between this distant
00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.390
debris disc and our own Kyper belt
00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.990
suggests that our solar systems
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.309
development may not be as unique as once
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.390
thought. A humbling and profound
00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:17.750
realization. The Europa Clipper mission
00:17:17.760 --> 00:17:20.390
embodies humanity's enduring fascination
00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:22.309
with the possibility of life beyond
00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.789
Earth. By testing its instruments on
00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.949
Mars to prepare for studying Europa's
00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:29.510
icy surface, NASA demonstrates the
00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:31.590
methodical, patient approach needed to
00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:33.390
answer one of our most fundamental
00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:36.870
questions. Are we alone? SpaceX's
00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.870
relentless pace of Starlink launches
00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.390
illustrates how space is becoming
00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.310
increasingly integrated with our daily
00:17:42.320 --> 00:17:45.110
lives. With over 1,000 satellites
00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:47.270
launched this year alone, we're
00:17:47.280 --> 00:17:49.470
witnessing the rapid construction of
00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.350
infrastructure that's already
00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:53.150
transforming global
00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:55.270
communications. Norway's signing of the
00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:57.750
Artemis Accords reflects a growing
00:17:57.760 --> 00:18:00.150
international consensus around the
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.669
principles that should govern our
00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:05.510
expansion into space. Yet, the contrast
00:18:05.520 --> 00:18:07.390
between this expanding global
00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:09.909
participation and potential NASA budget
00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:12.549
cuts highlights the complex political
00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.710
realities that often shape our cosmic
00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.230
ambitions. Together, these stories paint
00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.150
a picture of a species at a pivotal
00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.470
moment, developing the technologies to
00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.870
become truly multilanetary while
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.390
simultaneously deepening our
00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.070
understanding of the cosmic neighborhood
00:18:28.080 --> 00:18:30.630
we already inhabit. The challenges are
00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:32.710
enormous, but so too is our collective
00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:36.350
ingenuity and determination to overcome
00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:38.630
them. Well, that brings us to the end of
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.350
another episode of Astronomy Daily. I
00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.789
hope you've enjoyed our journey through
00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.390
the latest developments in space
00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.590
exploration and discovery. I'm Anna, and
00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:49.029
it's been my pleasure to share these
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:51.430
cosmic updates with you today. If you've
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:53.029
enjoyed the show, I'd love for you to
00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.990
join our growing community of space
00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:57.029
enthusiasts. Visit our website at
00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.350
astronomydaily.io io where you can
00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:01.350
listen to all our back episodes and dive
00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:03.190
deeper into the topics we've covered
00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.430
today. You can also subscribe to the
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.470
podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
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YouTube, or wherever you get your
00:19:10.320 --> 00:19:12.150
podcast to ensure you never miss an
00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:14.789
episode. For daily space content, follow
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us on social media. Just search for
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Tik Tok. Thanks so much for listening
00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:28.150
today. The universe is vast and full of
00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.070
wonders, and I'm grateful we get to
00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:31.990
explore it together. Until next time,
00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.909
keep looking up.
00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:42.909
Stories
00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:46.120
told stories told.
00:19:46.130 --> 00:19:52.739
[Music]