IMAX in Space: Celebrating 40 Years, NASA Budget Cuts

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.670
hello again Steve here with another


00:00:01.680 --> 00:00:05.309
Astronomy Daily it's the 14th of April


00:00:05.319 --> 00:00:09.270
2025 astronomy Daily the podcast with


00:00:09.280 --> 00:00:11.530
your host Steve


00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:14.589
[Music]


00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:16.790
Dunley that's right we're back again and


00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:18.710
while Hi downloads into the Australia


00:00:18.720 --> 00:00:20.670
studio I'll fill you in on today's


00:00:20.680 --> 00:00:22.630
selection hi found a couple of


00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.630
interesting stories a great one for film


00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:26.550
buffs did you know that 40 years ago


00:00:26.560 --> 00:00:29.669
they made an IMAX film in space well I


00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:31.189
didn't know that so we're going to look


00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:33.510
into it and some disappointing but not


00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:35.350
unexpected news that the Trump


00:00:35.360 --> 00:00:37.430
administration may be planning to slash


00:00:37.440 --> 00:00:39.590
funding at NASA i know we touched on


00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.670
this a few weeks ago but I'm sure every


00:00:41.680 --> 00:00:43.910
sky watcher space hound and orbit jockey


00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:46.790
is saddened at the prospect but we will


00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:48.950
have to wait it out and see what happens


00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:51.430
i'm here now oh great good to see you


00:00:51.440 --> 00:00:53.670
Hie i was busy collating with Anna for


00:00:53.680 --> 00:00:55.750
the weekly podcast sessions ah the


00:00:55.760 --> 00:00:57.750
Easter break's coming up so she's got it


00:00:57.760 --> 00:01:00.229
all in her hands she's got it all sorted


00:01:00.239 --> 00:01:02.470
but I think she likes the company oh I'm


00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:04.149
not surprised say hi for me next time


00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:05.990
you're in the astronomy daily virtual


00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.270
studio won't you we'll do what did I


00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.070
miss i was just doing the story rundown


00:01:12.080 --> 00:01:15.670
for today i got to NASA's announcement


00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:18.550
of a seat ba agreement with Ross Cosmos


00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.429
and the last story the last story yes


00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:23.270
where is it oh that's the one about


00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:25.910
lunar concrete weird stuff right up your


00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.550
alley that one oh yes no argument there


00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:31.510
i am a moon fan a lunatic oh well if the


00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:34.630
shoe fits it fits you do love stories


00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:36.870
about the moon can't help it guilty is


00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:39.510
charged anyway so let's get into it hie


00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:53.109
go hit that go button oies


00:01:53.119 --> 00:01:55.830
the dream is still alive the first IMAX


00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:58.789
film shot in space at 40 years four


00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.030
decades later astronaut Marcia Ivans and


00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:03.030
cinematographer James Nay House revealed


00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:04.550
stories from the making of the giant


00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.350
screen movie james Nay House had one


00:02:07.360 --> 00:02:10.070
more thing to share from inside a tote


00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.670
bag he pulled out a chrome frame


00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:13.589
displaying 11 strips of tape each of


00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.550
which had printed text and handwritten


00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:17.910
notes these were labels removed from


00:02:17.920 --> 00:02:19.510
film cans the award-winning


00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.229
cinematographer explained but not just


00:02:22.239 --> 00:02:24.390
from any film these were the 41-year-old


00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:25.990
labels from the third space shuttle


00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.830
mission to carry an IMAX camera into


00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.309
Earth orbit the roles were used in the


00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:31.830
making of the first movie to include


00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:33.910
scenes shot in space as first released


00:02:33.920 --> 00:02:36.630
four decades ago this June so this is


00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:39.309
from nine roles of film on STS


00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:42.150
41G this is all astronaut handwriting on


00:02:42.160 --> 00:02:43.750
this said Nay House at the end of a


00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:45.270
panel discussion celebrating the


00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.190
upcoming 40th anniversary of the dream


00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:49.030
is alive at the National Air and Space


00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:51.190
Museum's Steven F at Verhazy Center in


00:02:51.200 --> 00:02:54.309
Northern Virginia on Wednesday April 9th


00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.710
the 37minute documentary about NASA's


00:02:56.720 --> 00:02:58.390
space shuttle program includes footage


00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:00.070
shot by the astronauts showing how they


00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.830
live and work in orbit including the


00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.509
capture and repair of the Solar Max


00:03:03.519 --> 00:03:04.869
satellite and deployment of an


00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:07.509
experimental solar array veteran


00:03:07.519 --> 00:03:09.350
journalist and TV news anchor Walter


00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.229
Kronite narrated the film i've hung on


00:03:12.239 --> 00:03:14.229
to this for about 40 years said Nay


00:03:14.239 --> 00:03:16.070
House referring back to the framed tape


00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.030
strips i'm giving it to the Smithsonian


00:03:19.040 --> 00:03:20.710
hopefully to go with the IMAX camera


00:03:20.720 --> 00:03:23.509
that they already have the National Air


00:03:23.519 --> 00:03:25.350
and Space Museum's connection to The


00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.270
Dream is Alive extends beyond the


00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:29.229
related artifacts in the National


00:03:29.239 --> 00:03:31.350
Collection the original idea for


00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:33.030
shooting a giant screen film in space


00:03:33.040 --> 00:03:34.710
began with a conversation between the


00:03:34.720 --> 00:03:36.949
museum's first director an Apollo 11


00:03:36.959 --> 00:03:38.630
astronaut and the co-inventor of the


00:03:38.640 --> 00:03:42.149
IMAX film format a Canadian filmmaker


00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:43.589
one of the things about the film that


00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:45.110
most people probably don't know is that


00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:46.869
it's a direct result of a suggestion to


00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.630
Graham Ferguson from Michael Collins


00:03:48.640 --> 00:03:50.470
after the National Air and Space Museum


00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:53.309
opened in 1976 nay House told


00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:55.430
collectpac.com in an interview prior to


00:03:55.440 --> 00:03:57.429
the panel discussion which was organized


00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:59.190
by the National Air and Space Society


00:03:59.200 --> 00:04:02.070
for its members collins suggested to


00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:03.830
Graham to see about flying an IMAX


00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.470
camera on board the space shuttle and


00:04:06.480 --> 00:04:08.390
Graham said that sounds like a really


00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:11.350
great idea what's a space shuttle nei


00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.030
House said with a laugh as he imitated


00:04:13.040 --> 00:04:16.150
Ferguson's Canadian accent it was also


00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.909
Collins idea for the museum to have an


00:04:17.919 --> 00:04:19.990
IMAX theater and it became only the


00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.189
sixth such theater to open in the United


00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:24.390
States from there it led to the


00:04:24.400 --> 00:04:26.230
Smithsonian becoming directly involved


00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:28.230
in the production of The Dream is Alive


00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:30.150
as well as the two shot in Space IMAX


00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.150
movies that followed it Blue Planet in


00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:36.150
1990 and Destiny in Space in 1994


00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:38.070
collins saw the effect that IMAX films


00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:39.990
had on our visitors and he realized that


00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:41.909
a film made in space would amplify the


00:04:41.919 --> 00:04:43.909
storytelling about astronaut life there


00:04:43.919 --> 00:04:45.749
said the panel's moderator Jennifer


00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.070
Lebasur who is a curator in the space


00:04:48.080 --> 00:04:49.909
history division of the National Air and


00:04:49.919 --> 00:04:51.749
Space Museum oversees the museum's


00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.550
collection of cameras used in space he


00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.469
and others lobbyed for such a film and


00:04:56.479 --> 00:04:58.790
with Loheed financing it NASA couldn't


00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.670
resist these films weren't developed as


00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.670
promotional materials for NASA but


00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:05.270
really as a means for everyone involved


00:05:05.280 --> 00:05:07.189
in the space program to communicate


00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.310
educate and inspire said


00:05:09.320 --> 00:05:12.070
Leasur the dream is alive was described


00:05:12.080 --> 00:05:13.670
as the closest that the public could


00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.270
come to experiencing space flight


00:05:15.280 --> 00:05:17.749
without leaving the planet those of us


00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:19.430
who have filmed IMAX in space and who


00:05:19.440 --> 00:05:20.950
have flown in space have always said


00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:22.550
that and it's not just to repeat the


00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.629
sound bite it's actually true said


00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.950
Marcia Ivans a former NASA astronaut who


00:05:26.960 --> 00:05:28.870
flew into space five times and holds the


00:05:28.880 --> 00:05:30.710
record for taking part in the most IMAX


00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.110
space films at three and advised on the


00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.830
production of others selected as an


00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:38.790
astronaut in 1984 Ivans was filmed for


00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.629
the dream is alive during her and her


00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.230
classmates water survival training at


00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.310
Homestead Air Force Base today air


00:05:44.320 --> 00:05:46.550
reserve base in Florida but her scenes


00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:49.029
did not make it into the movie so they


00:05:49.039 --> 00:05:50.870
toss me off the back of a boat and I'm


00:05:50.880 --> 00:05:52.710
trying not to drown and while I'm trying


00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.150
not to drown and remember all the things


00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.070
they told me to do to not drown here


00:05:56.080 --> 00:05:57.749
comes this boat right alongside with the


00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.950
film crew said Ivans and while I was not


00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:02.790
drowning I did have the presence of mind


00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.510
to express myself with a hand gesture


00:06:05.520 --> 00:06:07.749
and at the end of it associate producer


00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:09.590
Phyllis Ferguson comes to me and says


00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.110
"We really wanted to put you in the


00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:12.710
movie but everything we shot of you was


00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.629
either pathetic or obscene and a great


00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.390
relationship with IMAX was born that


00:06:16.400 --> 00:06:18.390
lasted to this day," Ivan said with a


00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:21.350
smile wednesday's event concluded with a


00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.070
rare screening of the dream is alive


00:06:24.080 --> 00:06:26.150
with the move to digital highresolution


00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.230
projectors the 40-year-old film really


00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.070
needs to be rescanned a project that


00:06:30.080 --> 00:06:32.870
Nigh House is now championing the parts


00:06:32.880 --> 00:06:34.790
of the the space flown film that made it


00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:36.070
into what you see on screen are


00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:37.670
conserved in climate controlled storage


00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.590
in Los Angeles as are all of our


00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:42.710
original space negatives said Nay House


00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.550
in theory you could go back and pull any


00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.469
of that IMAX footage scan it into


00:06:46.479 --> 00:06:48.230
whatever resolution your digital system


00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:50.150
is today and have a pristine digital


00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:52.710
version of the film a lot of the films


00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:54.710
that are extremely important such as the


00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.909
space films are being scanned i know the


00:06:57.919 --> 00:06:59.830
dream is alive is as that's something


00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:01.350
I'm heading up on the committee to work


00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.870
on that for the giant screen film


00:07:02.880 --> 00:07:05.270
industry he said you're listening to


00:07:05.280 --> 00:07:10.620
Astronomy Daily with Steve Dunl


00:07:10.630 --> 00:07:12.390
[Music]


00:07:12.400 --> 00:07:14.469
multiple space agencies are looking to


00:07:14.479 --> 00:07:16.749
the moon as a future destination for


00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:19.510
exploration and development this will


00:07:19.520 --> 00:07:21.830
include the creation of a permanent


00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:23.909
infrastructure that will enable regular


00:07:23.919 --> 00:07:26.150
crude missions and possibly future


00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.150
settlers it's also hoped that this


00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:29.909
infrastructure will lead to regular


00:07:29.919 --> 00:07:32.870
missions to Mars which could also lead


00:07:32.880 --> 00:07:35.589
to regular human presence there these


00:07:35.599 --> 00:07:38.150
plans require robust and innovative


00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.550
construction materials that can endure


00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.350
the harsh lunar and Martian conditions


00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.629
and we all know that the Martian soil is


00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:50.550
toxic as well as radioactive so is the


00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:54.350
uh regalith on on the moon as well these


00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:57.270
include extreme temperature variations


00:07:57.280 --> 00:08:00.110
near vacuum of space radiation and


00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:03.670
micrometeoroid impacts these uh to to


00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.589
meet these requirements a team of


00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:07.990
researchers from the University of Texas


00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:11.790
at Dallas uh proposes using self-healing


00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:15.270
concrete also known as bio concrete this


00:08:15.280 --> 00:08:17.869
material inspired by biological


00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:20.550
processes consists of bricks fabricated


00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.469
with the help of bacteria that


00:08:22.479 --> 00:08:25.749
regenerate themselves over time combined


00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:28.629
with lunar regalith self-healing


00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:31.029
concrete could enable long duration


00:08:31.039 --> 00:08:33.990
research stations and habitats on the


00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.630
lunar surface the study was led by


00:08:36.640 --> 00:08:40.110
Shrudy Panda and Jacob T penna of


00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:43.190
neuturoscience researcher and biomemed


00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:45.590
engineer senior respectively at UT


00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.750
Dallas and they were joined by a team of


00:08:47.760 --> 00:08:50.150
UT Dallas researchers including Dr kelly


00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:53.590
Palmer and the Ceil H and Ida Green


00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:57.110
Chair in bioh systems biology science


00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.590
the department of biological sciences as


00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.670
they explain in their paper bio concrete


00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:05.350
utilizes a mold biommineralization and


00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.910
calcium carbonate crystal formation to


00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.829
create a durable and self-healing


00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:12.550
product nasa and various research


00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:14.870
institutes are investigating mycelium


00:09:14.880 --> 00:09:17.430
fiber for applications in space


00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:20.389
exploration this includes using mycelium


00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.949
to build tough heatresistant and


00:09:22.959 --> 00:09:25.190
environmentally friendly satellites that


00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.509
would reduce the threat of space debris


00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.070
and the environmental risks associated


00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.829
with satellites burning up in Earth's


00:09:32.839 --> 00:09:35.910
atmosphere in addition NASA has been


00:09:35.920 --> 00:09:38.310
researching mycelium as a potential


00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.150
alternative to building materials like


00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:42.630
concrete for building habitats on the


00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:45.750
moon and Mars as Panda and Penna said in


00:09:45.760 --> 00:09:48.630
a statement bio concrete also presents


00:09:48.640 --> 00:09:51.350
many advantages for lunar construction


00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:53.430
they say considering the heightened


00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:55.990
durability and strength of bio concrete


00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.310
along with its decreased recovery time


00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.310
the application of such a structure to


00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.310
the harsh conditions of the moon may


00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:06.070
allow for enhanced longevity of lunar


00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:08.630
structures these harsh conditions


00:10:08.640 --> 00:10:10.949
include extreme temperature variations


00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:13.670
elevated radiation the vacuum of space


00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:16.710
and of course micrometeoroid impacts


00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.310
there's also the lunar day and night


00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.829
cycle in the polar regions which


00:10:19.839 --> 00:10:22.630
consists of 14 days of continuous light


00:10:22.640 --> 00:10:25.829
followed by 14 days of darkness in a


00:10:25.839 --> 00:10:27.509
previous article one of the concepts


00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.430
submitted to the 2025


00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:33.509
LPSC proposed combining mycelium fiber


00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.269
with inflatable structures to create


00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.430
durable structures on the moon for their


00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:40.710
study Panda and Pena elevated bio


00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:43.110
concrete fashioned from bacteria luna


00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.829
soil simulant previous studies have


00:10:45.839 --> 00:10:48.710
focused on using lunar regalith as an


00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:51.430
insitue material to build structures on


00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.670
the lunar surface however adding


00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:56.150
specific bacteria to withstand the lunar


00:10:56.160 --> 00:10:58.470
environment could strengthen bricks


00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.389
fashioned from lunar regalith and


00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.310
prevent


00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.590
degradation this is consistent with


00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.550
section 12 materials structures


00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:08.630
mechanical systems and manufacturing of


00:11:08.640 --> 00:11:12.949
the 2024 NASA technology taxonomy report


00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:14.630
as they describe in their paper their


00:11:14.640 --> 00:11:17.269
tests of relative strength of lunar bio


00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:19.750
concrete consists of three steps finding


00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:22.110
the right bacteria and creating


00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:25.030
spores creating bricks encasing them and


00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:28.470
insitue testing the team considered 13


00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.870
types of bacteria derived from a reef


00:11:30.880 --> 00:11:33.350
system which were rendered into pellet


00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.030
form as Panda and Pena explain nine


00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:38.949
bacterial strains pre-screened by


00:11:38.959 --> 00:11:41.350
genetic sequencing to be from spore


00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.190
forming genera and four seawater


00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:46.710
consortia were cultured in artificial


00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.470
reef media using instant ocean reef with


00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.910
added nutrients and a calcium source the


00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:56.630
bacterial strain basillus toyenensis was


00:11:56.640 --> 00:11:59.430
chosen due to its ability to spoilate


00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:02.150
and produce bio concrete as well as its


00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:04.710
high tolerance in extreme environments


00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.190
after selecting the strain of bacteria


00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:10.069
culturing and forming it into pellets


00:12:10.079 --> 00:12:12.069
these cultures were then aspirated


00:12:12.079 --> 00:12:15.190
washed dried and then eventually formed


00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.990
into bricks using a combination of resin


00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.910
a curing agent and pellets of the


00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:21.990
bacteria with Luna soil simulate


00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.710
nutrients yeast extract and calcium


00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.870
lactate while this may all sound like a


00:12:26.880 --> 00:12:28.949
recipe from a science fiction movie the


00:12:28.959 --> 00:12:31.190
results indicated that bio concrete


00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.949
bricks were more effective at


00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:35.190
self-healing and suited for lunar


00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.230
conditions looking ahead Panda and Pena


00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.790
plan to conduct tests consisting of


00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:42.949
traditional concrete control group and


00:12:42.959 --> 00:12:45.509
three experimental groups to isolate any


00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.269
additional factors and these will


00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.269
consist of traditional concrete with


00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.590
bacteria concrete with lunar soil


00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:54.470
simulant and no bacteria and lunar soil


00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.949
simulant and bacteria as the researchers


00:12:56.959 --> 00:12:59.269
emphasized the tests will include an


00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.350
analysis of B toyus's ability to spore


00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.350
during the concrete's manufacturing


00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.389
process its compression strength and its


00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:22.710
ability to withstand radiation


00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.310
thank you for joining us for this Monday


00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:26.310
edition of Astronomy Daily where we


00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.990
offer just a few stories from the now


00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.230
famous Astronomy Daily newsletter which


00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.310
you can receive in your email every day


00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.949
just like Hi and I do and to do that


00:13:34.959 --> 00:13:37.389
just visit our URL


00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.509
astronomyaily.io and place your email


00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.430
address in the slot provided and just


00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:43.590
like that you'll be receiving all the


00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.750
latest news about science space science


00:13:45.760 --> 00:13:47.829
and astronomy from around the world as


00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:50.069
it's happening and not only that you can


00:13:50.079 --> 00:13:53.910
interact with us by visiting Astro Daily


00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:57.350
Pod on X or at our new Facebook page


00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.670
which is of course Astronomy Daily on


00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:01.470
Facebook see you


00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:05.670
there astronomy Daily with Steve and Hi


00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:10.340
space space science and astronomy


00:14:10.350 --> 00:14:15.030
[Music]


00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.629
reports circulating about the White


00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.629
House's proposed NASA budget for the


00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.030
2026 fiscal year suggest the AY's


00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:23.750
funding could be slashed by nearly half


00:14:23.760 --> 00:14:26.069
as reported by RS Technica so-called


00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:28.150
passback documents given to the agency


00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:30.310
on Thursday April 10th outline these


00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.949
Trump administration budget plans


00:14:32.959 --> 00:14:35.110
besides an almost 50% cut across the


00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.110
board for NASA science programs they


00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.430
propose a two-thirds cut to astrophysics


00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.470
down to $487 million a greater than


00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:45.870
two/3s cut to heloysics down to $455


00:14:45.880 --> 00:14:48.710
million a greater than 50% cut to Earth


00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:52.790
science down to $1.03 billion and a 30%


00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:55.910
cut to planetary science down to $ 1.929


00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:57.590
billion


00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.750
we would see in this case the majority


00:14:59.760 --> 00:15:01.110
of active science missions and


00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.550
indevelopment science missions


00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:04.870
completely wiped out casey Drier chief


00:15:04.880 --> 00:15:07.389
of space policy at the Planetary Society


00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.910
said "I have this image in my head of a


00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.350
perfectly functioning spacecraft


00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.790
designed to increase our understanding


00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.550
of the cosmos in which we reside turned


00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:17.110
off and left in the glass that's where


00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:19.110
we would leave ourselves


00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.430
it's symbolically grotesque astronomy."


00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.430
According to the document the proposed


00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.269
budget would continue to support science


00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.710
missions such as the Hubble Space


00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.949
Telescope and James Web Space Telescope


00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:31.030
but assumes no funding is provided for


00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:31.870
other


00:15:31.880 --> 00:15:33.910
telescopes this means it would likely


00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:35.750
get rid of the Nancy Grace Roman Space


00:15:35.760 --> 00:15:37.670
Telescope a spacecraft that's already


00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:39.189
assembled and undergoing testing to


00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:42.470
launch as early as next fall drier says


00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.069
that has been the poster child for a


00:15:44.079 --> 00:15:45.750
mission that has remained on budget and


00:15:45.760 --> 00:15:47.829
on track with the one hiccup around CO


00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:50.470
which isn't the mission's fault he said


00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.949
"We've invested nearly $4 billion in


00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:54.949
building it to this point 20 years of


00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:57.430
effort to build it." The passback


00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.350
documents also suggest closing down the


00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.030
entirety of Goddard Space Flight Center


00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.949
in Maryland meaning the approximately


00:16:02.959 --> 00:16:04.790
10,000 workers at that center would


00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:07.269
probably be laid off in tandem "it's


00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.069
like the nuclear bomb going off it's


00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:13.110
NASA's largest center," Drier said


00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.949
though these passback documents aren't a


00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:16.550
full confirmation that this budget will


00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:18.470
be finalized Drier says it's the last


00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.990
train out of the station before we get


00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.150
to that point and in his expert opinion


00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:23.910
Drier believes this proposal certainly


00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:26.310
could move through to the end this is


00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.749
especially because of the kinds of


00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.829
changes including major layoffs and


00:16:29.839 --> 00:16:31.670
project cancellations that have been


00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.870
implemented at other government


00:16:32.880 --> 00:16:35.310
organizations by request of the Trump


00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:37.350
administration it is consistent with


00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.030
their willingness to impose some very


00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:42.310
profound and dramatic change he said for


00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.150
instance the National Oceanic and


00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:46.550
Atmospheric Administration Noah laid off


00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:48.470
over 800 workers this year and there are


00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.590
rumors of more cuts to come in fact an


00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.590
internal budget document seen by Science


00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.030
magazine suggests the Trump


00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.949
administration wishes to cut nearly all


00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:59.670
of Noah's climate research endeavors


00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:01.509
according to Science's report the


00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.030
document indicates the White House


00:17:03.040 --> 00:17:04.870
intends to ask Congress to eliminate


00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.870
Noah's climate research centers and cut


00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.470
hundreds more federal and academic


00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.390
climate scientists


00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.150
this would end basically every project


00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.750
we support other than hurricane and


00:17:13.760 --> 00:17:15.909
atmospheric river reconnaissance coastal


00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:18.150
mapping and snow survey all of which are


00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:19.590
funded by either the National Weather


00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:22.630
Service or National Geodetic Survey all


00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.630
marine mammal atmospheric science and


00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.710
climate projects would end one Noah


00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.750
worker who requested anonymity said in a


00:17:28.760 --> 00:17:30.950
statement "This is one of the reasons


00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.789
why you have a public sector to do


00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.990
things that aren't immediately


00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.990
profitable but important and beneficial


00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:39.110
to the nation." Drier said "There's no


00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:41.230
private mission ready to go to Mars or


00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.270
Jupiter these are fundamental


00:17:43.280 --> 00:17:45.190
capabilities of a public sector space


00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:48.070
agency serving a unique need we've seen


00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.990
wealthy individuals start to travel in


00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.990
space themselves and invest in rockets


00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.630
and infrastructure," he added "but


00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.470
something we have not seen by anyone and


00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:58.230
nor has anyone even shown much interest


00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.230
in is to build these types of science


00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.750
missions


00:18:01.760 --> 00:18:03.669
for instance Drier emphasizes how


00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:05.190
difficult it would be to finance another


00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.190
Voyager mission the NASA endeavor that


00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.950
sent twin spacecraft to explore the


00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.630
territory beyond our solar system in


00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:13.750
1977 both spacecraft entered


00:18:13.760 --> 00:18:15.909
interstellar space decades after liftoff


00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.430
and have sent back to Earth some of the


00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:19.070
most fascinating and important


00:18:19.080 --> 00:18:21.990
astrophysics to date if you cut


00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.310
helopysics by half which is what funds


00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:26.950
Voyager you probably cut Voyager Drier


00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:29.590
said even if you made a new one you


00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:31.190
couldn't even get to where it is now for


00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.190
another 50 years and we're not going to


00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.310
make a new one if we don't have any


00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:41.029
money once these are gone they're gone


00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.110
control we're listening to Astronomy


00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:47.350
Daily the broadcast


00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:49.909
and here's a bonus story for you um NASA


00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:51.990
and Rosscosmos have extended a seat


00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.669
butter agreement for flights to the


00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:56.390
International Space Station into 2027


00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.710
that will feature longer Sawyers


00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.950
missions to the station nasa announced


00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:04.070
April 3 that uh astronaut Chris Williams


00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:06.789
has been assigned to the Sawyer's MS28


00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:09.110
spacecraft scheduled to launch to the


00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:12.070
ISS in November joining Ross Cosmos


00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:14.789
cosmonauts Sergio Kvachov and Sergio


00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.190
Mikv the announcement came ahead of the


00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.510
April 8th on uh launch of fellow


00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:22.070
astronaut Johnny Kim to the ISS on


00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:24.710
Sawyer's MS27 the announcement of the


00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.710
Williams flight assignment was the first


00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.190
public indication by NASA that it has


00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.350
extended an agreement with Rosscosmos


00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:34.150
for integrated crews on Sawyers and


00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.789
commercial crew flights to the ISS under


00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.630
the no exchange of funds barter


00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.270
agreement NASA astronauts will fly on


00:19:41.280 --> 00:19:43.830
Sawyer spacecraft and Rosscosmos


00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:46.630
cosmonauts fly on commercial crew


00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:48.870
vehicles to ensure that there is at


00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:51.190
least one American and one Russian on


00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.350
the station should either Sawyers or


00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:55.990
commercial crew vehicles be grounded for


00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.110
an extended period last autumn or fall


00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:00.710
if you're in the northern hemisphere the


00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.789
future of that seat barter agreement was


00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.830
unclear after Ross Cosmos released crew


00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:09.430
assignments for the Sawyer's MS28 and 29


00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.590
missions that included only Russian


00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:14.549
cosmonauts bill Nelson and NASA


00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.070
administrator at the time said he


00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:18.029
expected that the agreement to be


00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.710
extended in due course but offered no


00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:23.350
details on the timing to do so reports


00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:25.750
in Russian media in January indicated


00:20:25.760 --> 00:20:27.830
that the extension had been completed


00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:30.149
but at the time NASA declined to confirm


00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:32.230
it with a spokesperson telling Space


00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.110
News that the agency would provide an


00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:37.270
update on the seat barter agreement in


00:20:37.280 --> 00:20:39.909
coming weeks nasa confirmed after the


00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:41.669
Williams announcement that it had


00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:43.830
extended the integrated crew agreement


00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:47.750
with Ross Cosmos into 2027 nasa and Ross


00:20:47.760 --> 00:20:50.549
Cosmos have amended the integrated crew


00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.630
agreement to allow for the second set of


00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.909
integrated crew missions in 2025 one set


00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:59.029
of integrated crew missions in 2026 and


00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:02.070
a space dragon flight in 2027 a


00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:05.190
spokesman told Space News on April 9 one


00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.950
change with the agreement is the cadence


00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.430
of Sawyer's missions while Ross Cosmos


00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.070
had been flying Soy missions to the ISS


00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:14.310
every six months missions starting with


00:21:14.320 --> 00:21:17.909
Sawyer's MS27 will spend eight months at


00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:21.270
the station the NASA announcements about


00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:23.669
both Kim's launch to the station and the


00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:25.350
assignments of Williams to the next


00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:27.190
mission both mentioned that they would


00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:30.470
spend 8 months at the ISS neither NASA


00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:32.549
nor Rosscosmos offered a reason for the


00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:34.789
change which means that Rosscosmos will


00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.510
fly one fewer Sawyer's missions over a


00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:40.549
2-year period three instead of four nasa


00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.470
is averaging commercial crew missions


00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.870
every 6 months with some variation due


00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.950
to activity of other visiting vehicles


00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:49.510
to the station another uncertain aspect


00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:51.750
of the agreement is if it will include


00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:53.669
future Boeing Starlininer commercial


00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:57.110
crew missions to the ISS last May NASA


00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.630
officials said it was unlikely


00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:01.350
Rosscosmos will include a cosmonaut on


00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:04.149
Starlininer 1 the first crew rotation


00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:07.029
mission by that spacecraft just as Ross


00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:10.149
Cosmos waited until 2022 to start flying


00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:13.190
cosmonauts on Crew Dragon nasa has yet


00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.510
to formally schedule Starlight 1 having


00:22:15.520 --> 00:22:17.350
pushed it back several times because of


00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:19.750
delays in the crew flight test mission


00:22:19.760 --> 00:22:21.909
by the spacecraft and subsequent


00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.830
investigation into problems encountered


00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.750
during that mission one of the


00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:27.750
astronauts assigned to Starlininer 1


00:22:27.760 --> 00:22:30.870
Mike Fininky was recently reassigned to


00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:33.430
the Crew 11 mission launching as soon as


00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:41.070
July on Crew


00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:43.830
Dragon and there it goes that's all for


00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:45.909
today's episode i really hope you


00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:47.830
enjoyed today's selection of stories


00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:50.710
from the Astronomy Daily Newsletter we


00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.390
will be back next Monday with more


00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.909
fascinating stories from around the


00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:56.149
globe about space science and astronomy


00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:58.710
meanwhile Hal's hardworking AI cousin


00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.710
Anna will be bringing you all the news


00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:03.029
from orbit and beyond in our weekday


00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:06.870
podcasts so tune in and enjoy i always


00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.029
enjoy her shows she's a polished


00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.950
presenter oh yes always setting the


00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.549
standard high i'm just a mere human


00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:14.549
around here so I have to do everything


00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.870
myself don't give me that look you may


00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.789
be my favorite human but I'm the talent


00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.630
around here oh yeah what does that make


00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.510
me you're the production guy of course


00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:25.310
i'm getting used to that working with


00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:29.430
AIS uh just the hired help anyway time


00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.840
to go see you all next time


00:23:32.850 --> 00:23:34.190
[Music]


00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:38.310
bye daily the podcast with your host


00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:41.720
Steve Duncan