Rosalind Franklin’s Revival, SpaceX’s Infrastructure Leap, and Solar Surprises

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:01.990
Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,


00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:03.750
your cosmic companion for everything


00:00:03.760 --> 00:00:05.910
happening beyond our atmosphere. I'm


00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:08.070
Anna and I'm thrilled to guide you


00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.830
through another journey across the stars


00:00:09.840 --> 00:00:12.190
and planets that make up our fascinating


00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:14.789
universe. Today's episode is packed with


00:00:14.799 --> 00:00:16.390
groundbreaking developments that


00:00:16.400 --> 00:00:18.550
showcase humanity's relentless pursuit


00:00:18.560 --> 00:00:21.750
of space exploration and understanding.


00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.590
We've got a stellar lineup of stories


00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:26.070
that highlight both our achievements and


00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:27.670
the mysteries we're still working to


00:00:27.680 --> 00:00:29.910
solve. First, we'll explore exciting


00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:31.990
news about Europe's first Mars rover,


00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.470
the Rosalind Franklin, which is back on


00:00:34.480 --> 00:00:36.350
track after facing significant


00:00:36.360 --> 00:00:38.549
challenges. The mission has found new


00:00:38.559 --> 00:00:40.229
life with fresh partnerships and


00:00:40.239 --> 00:00:42.069
ambitious plans to search for signs of


00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:43.630
ancient Martian


00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.069
organisms. Then, we'll rocket over to


00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.709
SpaceX's continuing evolution as they


00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:50.270
develop their next generation


00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:52.310
facilities. From the construction of


00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:54.950
orbital launchpad B to the demolition of


00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:56.790
high bay making way for the impressive


00:00:56.800 --> 00:00:59.349
Gigab Bay, Elon Musk's space company


00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.349
isn't slowing down its revolutionary


00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:03.990
pace. Our third story brings us closer


00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.750
to home, but with potentially


00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:08.390
farreaching impacts as we cover a


00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:10.950
surprising ex-class solar flare that


00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:12.630
recently triggered radio blackouts


00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.270
across the Americas. We'll discuss what


00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:17.429
this means and why solar activity


00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:19.109
forecasters are keeping their eyes on


00:01:19.119 --> 00:01:22.469
the sun in the coming weeks. Next, we'll


00:01:22.479 --> 00:01:24.590
dive into the fascinating Venus life


00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:27.190
equation, a new framework scientists are


00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:28.950
using to assess the possibility of life


00:01:28.960 --> 00:01:31.190
on our nearest planetary neighbor. Could


00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.310
Earth's evil twin harbor life after all?


00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:36.310
Finally, we'll meet the crew of SpaceX's


00:01:36.320 --> 00:01:38.630
groundbreaking FRAM 2 mission set to


00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.630
make history as the first human space


00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.310
flight to pass over Earth's polar


00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:44.550
regions. So strap in for the next 20


00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.230
minutes as we explore these cosmic


00:01:46.240 --> 00:01:48.389
frontiers together on Astronomy Daily.


00:01:48.399 --> 00:01:50.870
Let's get started with today's news.


00:01:50.880 --> 00:01:52.469
Europe's first rover to be sent to


00:01:52.479 --> 00:01:53.830
another planet is getting a second


00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:55.749
chance at making history with the


00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:58.069
Rosalyn Franklin mission now firmly back


00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:00.950
on track for a journey to Mars.


00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:03.030
This ambitious European Space Agency


00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:05.109
venture faced a significant roadblock


00:02:05.119 --> 00:02:07.990
when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022,


00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.070
forcing ESA to suspend its partnership


00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.550
with Roscosmos just months before the


00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.110
planned launch. Rather than abandoning


00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:17.750
the project altogether, ESA reassessed


00:02:17.760 --> 00:02:19.510
the mission and secured additional


00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:21.350
funding to ensure this groundbreaking


00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:23.430
scientific expedition would still reach


00:02:23.440 --> 00:02:26.470
the red planet. The rover, named after


00:02:26.480 --> 00:02:28.150
the brilliant scientist who played a


00:02:28.160 --> 00:02:29.430
crucial role in discovering the


00:02:29.440 --> 00:02:31.990
structure of DNA, is designed to probe


00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.030
whether life once existed on Mars. What


00:02:35.040 --> 00:02:36.630
makes the Roslin Franklin rover


00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:39.030
particularly special is its impressive


00:02:39.040 --> 00:02:41.509
drilling capability. While other Mars


00:02:41.519 --> 00:02:43.670
rovers have scratched the surface, this


00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:45.670
European explorer will retrieve samples


00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:48.229
from a remarkable 2 m below the Martian


00:02:48.239 --> 00:02:50.869
ground. These samples could be up to 4


00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.110
billion years old, potentially dating


00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.110
back to a time when Mars might have been


00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.150
more hospitable to life. With Russia no


00:02:58.160 --> 00:03:00.790
longer involved, NASA has stepped in to


00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.710
provide the launcher and several other


00:03:02.720 --> 00:03:04.229
crucial components, including the


00:03:04.239 --> 00:03:07.270
rover's radioisotope heater units. The


00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.670
mission is now targeting a 2028 launch


00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:11.670
with an expected arrival on Mars in


00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:14.630
2030. In perhaps the most exciting


00:03:14.640 --> 00:03:16.869
development for the UK space sector,


00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.670
Airbus has been awarded a 150 million


00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:21.670
pounds contract to build the rover's


00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.509
landing platform at their site in


00:03:23.519 --> 00:03:24.589
Stevenage,


00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.030
Hartfordshire. This project funded by


00:03:27.040 --> 00:03:29.110
the UK government through the UK space


00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.350
agency keeps a significant portion of


00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:33.110
this groundbreaking mission on British


00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.830
soil. Interestingly, Airbus isn't new to


00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.830
the mission. They built the Rosalyn


00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.710
Franklin rover itself. But as project


00:03:40.720 --> 00:03:43.110
manager Caroline Roodier noted, getting


00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.589
the rover safely onto Mars presents an


00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.229
entirely different set of challenges.


00:03:48.239 --> 00:03:50.470
Landing on Mars is not an easy task, and


00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:52.630
the schedule is very ambitious as well,


00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:55.270
she explained. The landing sequence


00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.789
sounds like something from a sci-fi


00:03:56.799 --> 00:03:58.869
movie. The rover and platform will be


00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.949
enclosed in a capsule Rodier compares to


00:04:00.959 --> 00:04:03.110
a Kinder Egg, complete with parachutes


00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.830
and a heat shield. Upon entering Mars's


00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.830
atmosphere, the first parachute will


00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.070
deploy to slow the capsule to subsonic


00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.390
speeds. After that parachute and the


00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.390
capsule are jettisoned, a second


00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:16.390
parachute attached to the lander will


00:04:16.400 --> 00:04:18.629
engage. As the platform approaches the


00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:20.789
surface, it will fire powerful thrusters


00:04:20.799 --> 00:04:23.590
to ensure a gentle touchdown. The design


00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.070
requirements are exacting. The lander


00:04:26.080 --> 00:04:28.870
must slow to less than 3 m/s before


00:04:28.880 --> 00:04:31.510
contact with Martian soil. Once safely


00:04:31.520 --> 00:04:33.350
on the ground, the lander will deploy


00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.670
two symmetrical ramps, allowing the


00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.909
Rosalyn Franklin rover to select the


00:04:37.919 --> 00:04:40.790
safest path to begin its exploration.


00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.950
The rover itself is currently undergoing


00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:45.510
various upgrades since the launch window


00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:48.070
has changed, including enhancements to


00:04:48.080 --> 00:04:50.830
its guidance and navigation control


00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:54.230
systems. Paul Bait, CEO of the UK Space


00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.790
Agency, emphasized the significance of


00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.510
this mission. This is humanity defining


00:04:59.520 --> 00:05:01.909
science and the best opportunity to find


00:05:01.919 --> 00:05:04.710
if past life once existed on Mars. The


00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:06.390
ripple effects of space exploration


00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:08.550
discoveries extend far beyond the realm


00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.029
of space exploration, driving progress


00:05:11.039 --> 00:05:13.189
and prosperity across multiple sectors


00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:16.550
in the UK. The renewed Rosalyn Franklin


00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.710
mission represents not just European


00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:21.270
ambition in space exploration, but also


00:05:21.280 --> 00:05:22.550
highlights the importance of


00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.550
international collaboration in tackling


00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.390
the greatest scientific challenges of


00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:28.230
our time.


00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.189
Meanwhile, at SpaceX HQ, while the


00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.189
Starship program continues its testing


00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.830
cycle between flights, SpaceX is making


00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:37.990
significant progress on expanding its


00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.310
infrastructure at Starbase in Bokhica,


00:05:40.320 --> 00:05:42.950
Texas. The company is simultaneously


00:05:42.960 --> 00:05:45.110
developing its next generation orbital


00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:47.350
launchpad B, while beginning the


00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.749
demolition of the original highay to


00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:51.189
make way for an impressive new


00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:53.110
construction facility.


00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:54.790
Construction teams have been hard at


00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.029
work on orbital launchpad B over the


00:05:57.039 --> 00:05:59.510
past few weeks. In mid-March, they


00:05:59.520 --> 00:06:01.270
conducted a massive concrete pour for


00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:03.270
the Flame Trench floor, bringing in


00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:06.390
approximately 300 concrete trucks over a


00:06:06.400 --> 00:06:08.870
26-hour period. This was followed by


00:06:08.880 --> 00:06:11.029
additional concrete work on March 27th


00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:13.430
for one of the two flame trench ramps.


00:06:13.440 --> 00:06:15.430
With the foundation taking shape, the


00:06:15.440 --> 00:06:17.189
next phase has begun with steel flame


00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.590
trench wall pieces arriving on site.


00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.270
These components will be bolted and


00:06:21.280 --> 00:06:23.029
welded to embedded supports placed in


00:06:23.039 --> 00:06:24.550
the rebar before the concrete was


00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.550
poured. Each wall section will


00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.309
eventually be filled with concrete,


00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.309
creating a robust structure capable of


00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.070
withstanding the tremendous forces


00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:34.550
generated during Starship launches. The


00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.230
walls installed on the flat floor will


00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.909
bear the immense weight of the orbital


00:06:37.919 --> 00:06:40.309
launch mount once it's in place.


00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.510
Progress is also evident on pad B's


00:06:42.520 --> 00:06:44.950
chopsticks, the mechanical arms designed


00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:47.350
to catch returning rockets. After


00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.189
resolving some binding issues with the


00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:51.270
cable train that houses power and data


00:06:51.280 --> 00:06:53.510
lines, crews successfully raised the


00:06:53.520 --> 00:06:55.830
chopsticks to the top of the tower,


00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:57.749
recent testing has included calibrating


00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.830
the primary actuators with the


00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:01.909
chopsticks now demonstrating controlled


00:07:01.919 --> 00:07:04.790
side to side movement. Another milestone


00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.510
for pad B was the operational testing of


00:07:07.520 --> 00:07:10.070
the first liquid oxygen pump and new


00:07:10.080 --> 00:07:12.629
exhaust system. Unlike pad A, which


00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.469
vents excess propellant directly into


00:07:14.479 --> 00:07:16.870
the wetlands, pad B features a more


00:07:16.880 --> 00:07:19.189
sophisticated system, a separate vent


00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.270
line directs gases into a duct with


00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:23.189
powerful fans that dilute the liquid


00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.589
oxygen or nitrogen, creating a plume of


00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:27.309
gas, similar to a steam


00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:29.189
locomotive. In parallel with the


00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.909
launchpad construction, SpaceX has begun


00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:33.749
dismantling the highway facility that


00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.749
has served the Starship program since


00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:38.950
late 2020. This structure, which helped


00:07:38.960 --> 00:07:41.029
assemble everything from SN9 through


00:07:41.039 --> 00:07:43.909
ship 32 and several boosters, including


00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:46.230
the historic first stack of ship 24 and


00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.710
booster 7, is making way for something


00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.350
much more ambitious. The decommissioning


00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.350
crew has already removed the roof and


00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:55.510
bridge crane with the entire structure


00:07:55.520 --> 00:07:57.830
being methodically disassembled piece by


00:07:57.840 --> 00:08:00.550
piece. Once fully dismantled, workers


00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.309
will excavate the foundation to prepare


00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:04.550
for Gigabay SpaceX's next generation


00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.670
Starship construction and servicing


00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.029
facility. The planned Gigabay will


00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:10.790
dramatically increase SpaceX's


00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:12.830
production capabilities with 24


00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:15.110
workstations, featuring turntables for


00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.110
vehicle construction and dedicated


00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:19.029
worksts for final assembly and


00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:21.830
servicing. The facility is expected to


00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:24.150
have two main bays, each with its own


00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.309
transfer aisle for vehicle movement, and


00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.909
will connect to both the Star Factory


00:08:27.919 --> 00:08:29.830
and a parking garage for improved


00:08:29.840 --> 00:08:32.630
employee access. Perhaps most impressive


00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:35.350
are the planned 400 ton bridge cranes,


00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.350
equipment with 50 tons more capacity


00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.190
than the largest cranes in NASA's


00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.949
vehicle assembly building at Kennedy


00:08:40.959 --> 00:08:43.190
Space Center. While the Gigab Bay


00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:45.350
represents a quantum leap in SpaceX's


00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.670
manufacturing infrastructure, patience


00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:49.590
will be required as construction


00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.430
estimates suggest it will take between


00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:54.070
18 to 24 months to complete after the


00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:56.790
highway demolition is finished. These


00:08:56.800 --> 00:08:58.630
developments highlight SpaceX's


00:08:58.640 --> 00:09:00.470
commitment to rapidly scaling its


00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.870
Starship program with infrastructure


00:09:02.880 --> 00:09:04.790
investments that will support a growing


00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:07.269
fleet of vehicles as the company pushes


00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.269
toward its goals of regular orbital


00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:11.269
flights and eventual missions to the


00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.590
moon and


00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.350
Mars. Next up, our own star is in the


00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.509
news again. The sun has delivered a


00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.110
dramatic surprise to space weather


00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.070
forecasters with a powerful


00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.990
X1.1-class solar flare erupting from a


00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.150
newly emerging sunspot region designated


00:09:26.160 --> 00:09:27.470
AR


00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:30.150
446. This unexpected event triggered


00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:32.070
shortwave radio blackouts across the


00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:34.070
Americas, which happened to be on the


00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:35.870
sunlit side of Earth when the flare


00:09:35.880 --> 00:09:38.070
occurred. The solar event was


00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.470
particularly spectacular, featuring not


00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.550
just the intense flare, but also a


00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:44.550
remarkable filament eruption and coral


00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:47.030
mass ejection. essentially a massive


00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:49.509
expulsion of plasma and magnetic field


00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.829
from the sun's atmosphere. Solar


00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:54.470
physicist Halo CME noted that while this


00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.030
particular CME may not be Earthdirected


00:09:57.040 --> 00:09:58.790
due to the sunspot region's position


00:09:58.800 --> 00:10:01.350
near the sun's east limb, that situation


00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.829
will change in the coming days. Solar


00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:05.990
astrophysicist Ryan French captured the


00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.150
excitement of the event, describing it


00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:10.230
as a beautiful solar flare and warning


00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.550
that the flare source region will rotate


00:10:12.560 --> 00:10:14.550
to face Earth in the coming week.


00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:17.269
Further strong solar activity is likely.


00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.269
This rotation is significant because it


00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.670
means any future CMEs from this active


00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:23.750
region would be more likely to impact


00:10:23.760 --> 00:10:26.150
our planet directly. For those


00:10:26.160 --> 00:10:27.910
unfamiliar with how solar flares are


00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:29.990
classified, they fall into five


00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.389
categories of increasing intensity. A,


00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:35.670
B, C, M, and X. Each step represents a


00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:38.230
10-fold increase in energy output with


00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:41.030
X-class flares being the most powerful.


00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:43.110
Within each category, numerical ratings


00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.829
further define strength, making this X1,


00:10:45.839 --> 00:10:47.750
one event powerful, but at the lower end


00:10:47.760 --> 00:10:49.910
of the X-class range. The radio


00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:51.430
blackouts experienced across the


00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.350
Americas demonstrate how these solar


00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.150
events impact Earth in real time. When a


00:10:56.160 --> 00:10:58.389
flare erupts, it releases X-rays and


00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.230
extreme ultraviolet radiation that


00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.150
travel at light speed, reaching our


00:11:02.160 --> 00:11:04.470
planet in just over 8 minutes. This


00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:07.110
radiation ionizes the upper atmosphere,


00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.030
temporarily changing its density and


00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:11.350
affecting highfrequency shortwave radio


00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.389
signals used for long-d distance


00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:15.590
communication. As these signals attempt


00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.590
to pass through the charged atmospheric


00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.829
layers, energy loss from collisions with


00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:21.990
electrons can significantly weaken or


00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.389
completely absorb transmissions. This


00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.310
disruption is particularly concerning


00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:29.030
for aviation, maritime operations,


00:11:29.040 --> 00:11:31.590
emergency services, and amateur radio


00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.230
operators who rely on these frequencies.


00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.670
What makes this event particularly


00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:37.829
noteworthy is its timing within the


00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:40.550
current solar cycle. Our sun follows


00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:42.870
roughly 11-year activity cycles, and


00:11:42.880 --> 00:11:44.389
we're approaching what appears to be an


00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.630
unusually active solar maximum with AR


00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:50.389
446 now on the scene and set to rotate


00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:52.949
into a more earth-facing position. Space


00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:54.870
weather forecasters and aurora chasers


00:11:54.880 --> 00:11:56.670
alike are keeping a close watch on


00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:58.949
developments. If subsequent eruptions


00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:00.870
occur when the sunspot is facing Earth


00:12:00.880 --> 00:12:02.949
directly, we could experience more


00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:04.710
significant impacts, including


00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.470
geomagnetic storms that might affect


00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.870
satellites, power grids, and navigation


00:12:08.880 --> 00:12:11.190
systems, but would also treat observers


00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.670
at high latitudes to spectacular aurora


00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.670
displays potentially visible much


00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:17.230
farther south than


00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:19.750
usual. Next, a philosophical question


00:12:19.760 --> 00:12:22.230
for you to ponder. What drives us to


00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.949
explore the cosmos? While scientific


00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:27.350
curiosity certainly plays a role, our


00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.350
search for life beyond Earth remains the


00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:31.750
most compelling motivation. The thought


00:12:31.760 --> 00:12:33.910
that our planet might be the sole harbor


00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.910
of life in the vast universe is both


00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:38.389
humbling and disquing, which is why


00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:40.069
scientists are increasingly turning


00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:41.550
their attention to an unlikely


00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:43.069
candidate,


00:12:43.079 --> 00:12:45.829
Venus. Despite its hellish reputation,


00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:47.670
Venus shares remarkable similarities


00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:49.590
with Earth in size, mass, and


00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.949
composition.


00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:52.710
Both planets technically reside within


00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.069
the habitable zone, though Venus barely


00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:57.350
qualifies. Their evolutionary paths


00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.590
diverge dramatically with Earth


00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:01.670
maintaining its habitability while Venus


00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:03.790
succumbed to a runaway greenhouse


00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:06.230
effect. This stark contrast offers


00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.910
valuable lessons for understanding how


00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:09.590
similarly formed rocky planets can


00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.790
develop radically different


00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:13.590
environments. At a recent presentation


00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.990
during the 2025 Lunar and Planetary


00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.829
Science Conference, scientists


00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:19.990
introduced the Venus Life Equation or


00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.150
VLE, a framework reminiscent of the


00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:24.150
famous Drake equation, but focus


00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:25.910
specifically on evaluating the


00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:27.910
probability of life on our nearest


00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:30.629
planetary neighbor. The VLE distills


00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.670
this complex question into three key


00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:36.110
parameters: origination, robustness, and


00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:38.550
continuity. Expressed mathematically as


00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:42.310
L= O * R * C. The equation provides a


00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:43.670
structured approach to thinking about


00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:46.389
Venus's potential for hosting life, both


00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:49.190
historically and currently. Origination


00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.710
considers how life might have first


00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:53.069
appeared on Venus, whether through


00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:55.030
abiogenesis, life arising from


00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:57.509
non-living matter or panspermia, where


00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.910
life arrives via interplanetary material


00:13:59.920 --> 00:14:02.310
transfer. Scientists now believe Venus


00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.069
may have enjoyed a period of temperate


00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:06.550
watery warmth coinciding with Earth's


00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:09.269
late hadian and early aran eons


00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.269
precisely when life first emerged on our


00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.750
planet. This raises the tantalizing


00:14:13.760 --> 00:14:15.590
possibility that life could have gained


00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.150
a foothold on early


00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:20.150
Venus. Robustness examines the potential


00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:22.230
size and diversity of any Venian


00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.870
biosphere over time. This depends on


00:14:24.880 --> 00:14:26.550
factors like the availability of


00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:29.110
essential kops elements, carbon,


00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:32.389
hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus,


00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:35.110
and sulfur as well as energy sources and


00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.750
the functional diversity of organisms.


00:14:37.760 --> 00:14:39.829
Evidence suggests Venus once had


00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:42.470
landwater interfaces and possibly even


00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.629
plate tectonics, both critically


00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:46.750
important for life's development and


00:14:46.760 --> 00:14:49.509
resilience. Continuity evaluates whether


00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.990
conditions amendable to life persisted


00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.470
uninterrupted. This incorporates stellar


00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.790
stability, orbital parameters,


00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:59.269
geological processes, and the likelihood


00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.910
of extinction events. Could life that


00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:03.750
originated during Venus's temperate


00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:05.990
period have survived the planet's


00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.990
dramatic


00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.350
transformation? Intriguingly, at around


00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:12.389
50 km altitude in Venus's atmosphere,


00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.470
conditions remain surprisingly Earthlike


00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.470
in terms of temperature and pressure,


00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.310
fueling speculation about potential


00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.550
aerial microorganisms.


00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:22.629
Remember the controversial 2020 report


00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.350
of phosphine detection in Venus's


00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.470
atmosphere? While subsequent studies


00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.310
have questioned these findings, the


00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.990
discussion highlighted our ongoing


00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.670
uncertainty about what might be possible


00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:34.629
in Venus's clouds. The VLE, like the


00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.550
Drake equation before it, doesn't


00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:39.509
provide definitive answers. Instead, it


00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.350
offers a framework for organizing our


00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.990
thinking and identifying knowledge gaps.


00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.670
It helps scientists prioritize


00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:47.990
objectives for future Venus missions,


00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.990
including potential atmospheric sample


00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.189
return missions currently under


00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:54.389
consideration. Understanding Venus has


00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.230
implications far beyond our solar


00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.790
system. As we discover more exoplanets


00:15:58.800 --> 00:16:01.110
in habitable zones around other stars,


00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.629
the lessons from Venus become


00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.870
increasingly valuable. How many


00:16:04.880 --> 00:16:06.790
seemingly habitable worlds might


00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:08.870
actually be Venusike rather than


00:16:08.880 --> 00:16:11.749
Earthlike? The VLE helps us formulate


00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.990
the right questions as we extend our


00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.110
search for life to distant star


00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:19.110
systems. Diana Gentry, director of the


00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.150
aerobiology laboratory at NASA as lead


00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:24.470
author of the VLE presentation,


00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.150
emphasizes that we're constrained by


00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:29.430
what she calls the N equals one problem.


00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.189
Having only earth-based life as our


00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:33.910
reference point. Nevertheless, by


00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.910
establishing this methodical framework,


00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.670
scientists can systematically address


00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.670
the unknowns and uncertainties about


00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:42.150
life's potential beyond our home planet.


00:16:42.160 --> 00:16:44.470
As future missions to Venus take shape,


00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.629
including NASA's Da Vinci and Veridas


00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.189
and the ESA's envision, the Venus life


00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:51.030
equation provides a coherent structure


00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:53.189
for integrating new discoveries into our


00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:55.430
understanding of planetary habitability


00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.189
and perhaps someday answering one of


00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:59.749
humanity's most profound questions. Are


00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:02.310
we alone in the universe?


00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:04.630
Finally, today, history is about to be


00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.110
made with SpaceX's FRAM 2 mission


00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:09.029
scheduled to launch no earlier than this


00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.350
coming Monday, March 31st. This


00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:13.270
groundbreaking expedition will mark the


00:17:13.280 --> 00:17:14.870
first time humans have flown over


00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.189
Earth's polar regions in space, charting


00:17:17.199 --> 00:17:19.350
a unique orbital path that has never


00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:21.150
before been attempted with a crude


00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.429
spacecraft. The 4-day mission will


00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:25.669
utilize SpaceX's proven Crew Dragon


00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.829
capsule named Resilience, which has


00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.430
already completed three previous


00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:32.630
launches. This represents SpaceX's sixth


00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.950
private astronaut mission overall,


00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.110
continuing the company's pioneering work


00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:40.150
in commercial space flight. FRAM 2 draws


00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:42.390
its name from a famous Norwegian vessel


00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.470
that explored the Arctic and Antarctic


00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.710
regions in the early 20th century,


00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.710
honoring a rich tradition of privately


00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.950
funded polar


00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:52.549
expeditions. The mission aims to combine


00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.549
scientific research with the historic


00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.470
achievement of human polar orbital


00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:59.029
flight. Leading this remarkable journey


00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.350
is Commander Chun Wong, a Maltese


00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:03.110
cryptocurrency entrepreneur who helped


00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:05.510
finance the mission. As co-founder of


00:18:05.520 --> 00:18:08.630
F2P, a global Bitcoin mining operation,


00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:10.470
Wong represents a new generation of


00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.789
space exploration patrons. He's


00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.470
expressed a lifelong fascination with


00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.430
space, noting that for the first time, a


00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:19.430
private person can plan and design their


00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:22.230
own very personal mission. Serving as


00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.230
vehicle commander is Norwegian filmmaker


00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.110
Yanuka Mickelson, whose expertise lies


00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:29.029
in capturing footage in extreme


00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.310
environments like the Arctic and open


00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:33.510
ocean. Her experience includes


00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:34.830
collaborating with Sir David


00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:38.350
Atenboroough on 360° underwater


00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:40.630
documentaries and working as payload


00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.150
specialist for the One More Orbit


00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:44.549
mission, which circumnavigated Earth via


00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.870
the North and South Poles.


00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.549
The mission will make additional history


00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:51.270
through pilot Raba Roga, who will become


00:18:51.280 --> 00:18:54.150
the first female German astronaut. An


00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.909
engineer and scientist specializing in


00:18:55.919 --> 00:18:58.549
robotics and polar research, Roga is


00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.549
currently pursuing a PhD in marine


00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:02.870
technology at the Norwegian University


00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.270
of Science and


00:19:04.280 --> 00:19:06.630
Technology. Her background in extreme


00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.150
environment research makes her


00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.909
particularly well suited for this


00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:12.390
pioneering polar orbital flight.


00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.230
Rounding out the crew is Australian


00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.630
polar explorer Eric Phillips as mission


00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.350
specialist and medical officer. Phillips


00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:21.750
brings decades of experience leading ski


00:19:21.760 --> 00:19:23.710
expeditions to both the North and South


00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.230
Poles. As co-founder and former


00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.750
president of the International Polar


00:19:27.760 --> 00:19:29.830
Guides Association, he expressed


00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:31.430
particular excitement about viewing


00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.270
Antarctica from space during a time when


00:19:33.280 --> 00:19:36.070
it will be fully illuminated. Framm 2


00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:37.750
follows in the footsteps of other


00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:40.070
private SpaceX missions, including the


00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:43.029
Inspiration 4 mission in 2021, which was


00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.870
the first all-private orbital space


00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:47.029
flight and last year's Polaris Dawn


00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.950
mission, which featured the first


00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.750
commercial spacew walk. Unlike SpaceX's


00:19:51.760 --> 00:19:53.830
Axiom missions, which visited the


00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:56.310
International Space Station, FRAM 2 will


00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:58.630
be a free-flying mission in Earth orbit


00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:01.430
focusing on its unique polar trajectory.


00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.270
The mission demonstrates the rapidly


00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:05.190
evolving landscape of commercial space


00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.270
flight where private citizens and


00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:09.190
organizations can now design missions


00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.590
aligned with their specific scientific


00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:14.549
exploration and personal objectives. As


00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.310
Wang noted in his comments about the


00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:18.390
mission, these pioneering private


00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:20.710
efforts are trying to make the door


00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:22.789
wider so that personalized space


00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.549
missions become accessible to more


00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.430
people in the


00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.549
future. Well, that's quite a stellar


00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.470
lineup of space news today. We've


00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.990
covered some truly remarkable


00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.750
developments that showcase humanity's


00:20:33.760 --> 00:20:35.630
enduring commitment to exploring the


00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.630
cosmos. From Europe's ambitious plans to


00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.630
send the Rosalyn Franklin rover to Mars


00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.750
by 2028 to SpaceX's impressive


00:20:43.760 --> 00:20:45.750
infrastructure developments with their


00:20:45.760 --> 00:20:48.310
new orbital launchpad B and upcoming


00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:50.710
Gigabay facility. We're witnessing


00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.390
remarkable progress in our space


00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.789
capabilities. We also examined that


00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.870
surprising ex-class solar flare that


00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:58.830
triggered radio blackouts across the


00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:01.190
Americas, reminding us of our stars


00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.990
immense power and


00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.950
unpredictability. The Venus life


00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.110
equation gave us a fascinating framework


00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:08.789
for considering whether our nearest


00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.789
planetary neighbor might host or have


00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:13.190
hosted life with important implications


00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.950
for how we search for life throughout


00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:17.430
the universe. And of course, we looked


00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:19.990
at the historic FRAM 2 mission, poised


00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.750
to become the first human space flight


00:21:21.760 --> 00:21:23.590
to traverse Earth's polar regions when


00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:26.070
it launches in the coming days. This


00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.669
private mission exemplifies how


00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:29.510
commercial space flight is opening new


00:21:29.520 --> 00:21:31.350
frontiers and possibilities that were


00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:33.350
once the exclusive domain of government


00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:36.070
space agencies. I'm Anna and I've been


00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:38.149
your host for this episode of Astronomy


00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:40.230
Daily. If you're hungry for more space


00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.630
and astronomy news, I invite you to


00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.510
visit our website at astronomydaily.io.


00:21:45.520 --> 00:21:47.510
io where you can find our constantly


00:21:47.520 --> 00:21:49.669
updating news feed and listen to all our


00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:51.909
past episodes. You can also join our


00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:54.230
community across social media platforms.


00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:56.789
Just search for Astro Daily Pod on X,


00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.630
Facebook, YouTube, YouTube Music,


00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.230
Tumblr, and Tik Tok to stay connected


00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.270
with us and fellow space


00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:04.870
enthusiasts. Until next time, keep


00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.710
looking up. There's always something


00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.789
fascinating happening in our universe,


00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.390
and we'll be here to bring those stories


00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.230
to you. Thanks for listening to


00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.310
Astronomy Daily. Astronomy


00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:18.800
day. Stories been told.


00:22:18.810 --> 00:22:34.259
[Music]