SpaceX’s Starship Setback, Lunar Lander Twist, and the Super Earth Discovery: S04E57
Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E57
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna delves into the latest and most captivating stories from the cosmos, covering everything from launch setbacks to groundbreaking discoveries. Join us as we explore the highs and lows of SpaceX's recent Starship test flight, the unexpected challenges faced by a lunar lander, and the thrilling discovery of a super Earth that has scientists buzzing with excitement.
Highlights:
- SpaceX's Starship Test Flight Setback: We discuss the recent challenges faced by SpaceX's latest Starship test flight, which encountered multiple engine failures, leading to an uncontrolled spin and loss of contact. Despite the setback, the successful recovery of the super heavy booster marks a significant step towards rapid rocket reusability.
- Intuitive Machines' Lunar Lander Complications: Learn about the Athena lander's unexpected landing on its side near the Moon's south pole. While the lander is operational, its awkward position poses substantial challenges for the mission's scientific goals as the team races against time to maximize its potential.
- Discovery of a Super Earth: Join us as we celebrate the confirmation of a super Earth, HD 20794D, orbiting a sun-like star just 20 light years away. This exciting find lies within the habitable zone, raising hopes for the study of Earth-like atmospheres and potential life beyond our solar system.
- Ariane 6's Successful Launch: In a significant achievement for European space capabilities, the Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched a military reconnaissance satellite, marking a crucial step towards European space independence amid geopolitical tensions.
- NASA's Innovative Planetary Health Monitoring Project: Discover NASA's ambitious new project, Pulsar, designed to monitor Earth's health through a network of geostationary satellites. This groundbreaking system aims to provide insights into the interactions of our planet's atmospheric layers and their impact on planetary phenomena.
- Challenges Facing Astroforge's Odin Spacecraft: We cover the struggles of Astroforge's Odin spacecraft, which has encountered serious communication issues shortly after its launch. Despite the setbacks, the mission has reached deep space, providing valuable lessons for future asteroid exploration efforts.
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, and TikTok. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - SpaceX's Starship test flight setback
07:30 - Intuitive Machines' lunar lander update
12:15 - Discovery of super Earth HD 20794D
18:00 - Ariane 6's successful launch
22:30 - NASA's Pulsar project
27:00 - Astroforge's Odin spacecraft challenges
32:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content
✍️ Episode References
SpaceX Starship Updates
[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com (https://www.spacex.com/) )
Intuitive Machines' Athena Lander
[Intuitive Machines]( https://www.intuitivemachines.com/ (https://www.intuitivemachines.com/) )
Super Earth Discovery
[ESO]( https://www.eso.org/ (https://www.eso.org/) )
Ariane 6 Launch Information
[ArianeGroup]( https://www.ariane.group/ (https://www.ariane.group/) )
NASA's Pulsar Project
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Astroforge Information
[Astroforge]( https://www.astroforge.com/ (https://www.astroforge.com/) )
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-space-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25949317?utm_source=youtube
00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - SpaceX’s Starship test flight setback
07:30 - Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander update
12:15 - Discovery of super Earth HD 20794D
Kind: captions
Language: en
00:00:00.199 --> 00:00:02.190
welcome to astronomy daily your daily
00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:03.909
dose of the most fascinating stories
00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.590
from the cosmos I'm Anna and we've got
00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:08.350
an incredible lineup of space news for
00:00:08.360 --> 00:00:10.629
you today from dramatic launch setbacks
00:00:10.639 --> 00:00:12.350
to groundbreaking discoveries we'll be
00:00:12.360 --> 00:00:14.829
covering it all in today's episode we'll
00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:16.910
dive into spacex's latest Starship test
00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:19.230
flight that didn't quite go as planned
00:00:19.240 --> 00:00:21.269
and we'll explore the nail-biting story
00:00:21.279 --> 00:00:23.429
of a lunar lander that's made it to the
00:00:23.439 --> 00:00:26.669
moon but with an unexpected twist we'll
00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:28.669
also journey to a newly discovered super
00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:30.390
Earth that's getting scientists excited
00:00:30.400 --> 00:00:32.229
about the potential for life beyond our
00:00:32.239 --> 00:00:34.709
solar system plus we'll look at Europe's
00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.110
latest achievement in space exploration
00:00:37.120 --> 00:00:39.190
examine an Innovative new way to monitor
00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:41.229
our planet's health and discuss the
00:00:41.239 --> 00:00:43.150
challenges facing a pioneering private
00:00:43.160 --> 00:00:45.830
asteroid Mission so strap in and get
00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.350
ready for a journey through the latest
00:00:47.360 --> 00:00:50.950
developments in space exploration and
00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:52.990
astronomy let's start with a story that
00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:54.790
seems to be making news headlines around
00:00:54.800 --> 00:00:57.950
the world spacex's latest Starship test
00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:00.189
flight has encountered another setback
00:01:00.199 --> 00:01:01.950
marking the second launch failure this
00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:03.790
year for Elon musk's ambitious
00:01:03.800 --> 00:01:06.870
interplanetary exploration program while
00:01:06.880 --> 00:01:08.350
the mission didn't achieve all its
00:01:08.360 --> 00:01:10.149
objectives it wasn't without some
00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:11.310
notable
00:01:11.320 --> 00:01:13.749
successes the flight started promisingly
00:01:13.759 --> 00:01:15.990
from spacex's boka chica facility in
00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.270
Texas but things took a turn for the
00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:21.149
worse several minutes into the mission
00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:22.990
the spacecraft began experiencing
00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:25.230
problems with multiple engines leading
00:01:25.240 --> 00:01:27.429
to a loss of attitude control as
00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.270
spacex's Communications manager
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.149
described during during the live stream
00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.350
the vehicle entered an uncontrolled spin
00:01:33.360 --> 00:01:36.190
before all contact was lost the most
00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:37.990
significant success of the day came from
00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.429
the super heavy booster which managed to
00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:42.310
return to the Launchpad and was
00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:43.670
successfully caught by the launch
00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.069
Tower's mechanical arms affectionately
00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.350
known as chopsticks for the third time
00:01:49.360 --> 00:01:50.830
this achievement represents a crucial
00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:52.749
step forward in spacex's pursuit of
00:01:52.759 --> 00:01:53.990
Rapid rocket
00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.069
reusability however the mission's
00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.389
dramatic end created some unexpected
00:01:58.399 --> 00:02:00.630
challenges debris from the spacecraft
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.270
was spotted streaking across the skies
00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:04.550
of South Florida and the Bahamas as it
00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.310
re-entered Earth's atmosphere this led
00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:09.309
the Federal Aviation Administration to
00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:11.910
temporarily halt flights at four Florida
00:02:11.920 --> 00:02:14.509
airports including Miami International
00:02:14.519 --> 00:02:17.350
as a safety precaution the FAA has now
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:19.190
launched a mishap investigation to
00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:21.430
determine the root cause of the failure
00:02:21.440 --> 00:02:23.350
and identify necessary corrective
00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.750
actions this latest incident follows
00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:28.070
January's test flight which also ended
00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:30.030
in a mid-flight breakup and caused
00:02:30.040 --> 00:02:32.630
similar concerns about falling debris
00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:34.430
despite these setbacks this Mission
00:02:34.440 --> 00:02:36.430
remains significant for NASA's emis
00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:38.750
program as spacex's Starship is
00:02:38.760 --> 00:02:40.869
contracted to serve as the lunar lander
00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.190
for future Moon missions the company
00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:45.630
maintains its characteristic optimism
00:02:45.640 --> 00:02:47.390
noting that such challenges provide
00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:48.710
valuable lessons for improving
00:02:48.720 --> 00:02:50.509
starship's
00:02:50.519 --> 00:02:53.270
reliability in other lunar news
00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:55.430
intuitive machine's latest moon mission
00:02:55.440 --> 00:02:57.630
has reached its destination but not
00:02:57.640 --> 00:03:00.350
quite as planned the Athena land which
00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:02.110
touched down near the moon's South Pole
00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.430
yesterday is apparently resting on its
00:03:04.440 --> 00:03:06.830
side creating some unexpected challenges
00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:07.949
for Mission
00:03:07.959 --> 00:03:10.030
controllers The Landing occurred around
00:03:10.040 --> 00:03:12.990
12:30 p.m. eastern time though the exact
00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:14.949
timing and location remained unclear
00:03:14.959 --> 00:03:17.070
initially as flight controllers worked
00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:19.110
to make sense of confusing Telemetry
00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:21.670
data while the spacecraft successfully
00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.149
made it to the lunar surface its awkward
00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.149
position is complicating Mission
00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.949
operations CEO Steve altimus confirmed
00:03:28.959 --> 00:03:30.710
that the spacecraft is alive and
00:03:30.720 --> 00:03:32.830
responding to commands with its solar
00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.910
cells generating power and its flight
00:03:34.920 --> 00:03:37.350
computer maintaining contact with Earth
00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:39.070
however the off-nominal orientation
00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:40.750
poses significant challenges for the
00:03:40.760 --> 00:03:43.149
mission's scientific objectives this
00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:44.910
Landing comes just one year after
00:03:44.920 --> 00:03:47.910
intuitive's first moonlander odyss
00:03:47.920 --> 00:03:49.949
experienced a similar fate when it
00:03:49.959 --> 00:03:52.630
landed while moving sideways and tipped
00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:55.030
over the news of this second troubled
00:03:55.040 --> 00:03:57.309
Landing has already impacted the company
00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:00.229
with their stock dropping 20%
00:04:00.239 --> 00:04:01.990
Athena carries an impressive array of
00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.190
scientific instruments including two
00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:06.670
small Rovers experimental Cellular
00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:08.670
Communications equipment and an
00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.869
Innovative rocket powered Hopper
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.670
designed to explore nearby sites while
00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.069
these payloads might still be Deployable
00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.270
their success will depend heavily on the
00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:19.990
Lander's exact
00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.830
orientation the mission team now faces a
00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:25.590
Race Against Time with only about 10
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.189
days before Darkness sweeps over the
00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:29.310
landing site at the end of the lunar day
00:04:29.320 --> 00:04:30.909
they'll need need to quickly assess what
00:04:30.919 --> 00:04:32.830
mission objectives can still be achieved
00:04:32.840 --> 00:04:34.629
with their limited power generation and
00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:35.950
Communications
00:04:35.960 --> 00:04:38.390
capabilities despite these challenges
00:04:38.400 --> 00:04:40.510
this Landing marks another crucial step
00:04:40.520 --> 00:04:42.310
in NASA's commercial lunar payload
00:04:42.320 --> 00:04:44.830
Services Program which aims to establish
00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:46.469
a regular Cadence of commercial
00:04:46.479 --> 00:04:48.590
deliveries to the lunar surface in
00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:50.990
preparation for future Artemis
00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.790
missions let's move on to a
00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.310
groundbreaking find by astronomers an
00:04:55.320 --> 00:04:56.990
exciting Discovery has been announced in
00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.270
our Cosmic neighborhood scientists have
00:04:59.280 --> 00:05:01.270
confirmed the existence of a super Earth
00:05:01.280 --> 00:05:03.469
orbiting a sunlike star just 20 light
00:05:03.479 --> 00:05:06.710
years from Earth the planet designated
00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.270
hd27 94d has captured researchers
00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:12.790
attention as it orbits within its Stars
00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.070
habitable zone making it a promising
00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:17.150
candidate for studying earthlike
00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.430
atmospheres this newly discovered world
00:05:19.440 --> 00:05:21.670
has a mass about six times that of Earth
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.710
and takes 647 days to complete one orbit
00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:26.870
around its star that's slightly faster
00:05:26.880 --> 00:05:29.790
than Mars orbits our sun what makes this
00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:31.590
Discovery particularly intriguing is
00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:33.270
that the planet's orbit places it
00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:35.830
squarely within the habitable zone where
00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:37.909
temperatures could potentially allow for
00:05:37.919 --> 00:05:41.150
liquid water to exist on its surface the
00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:42.550
discovery comes after more than two
00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.029
decades of meticulous observations using
00:05:45.039 --> 00:05:46.749
some of the world's most advanced
00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.110
spectrographs espresso and harps at ESO
00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.909
observatories in Chile these instruments
00:05:52.919 --> 00:05:55.070
can detect the Mane wobbles in a star's
00:05:55.080 --> 00:05:57.309
motion caused by an orbiting planet's
00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:59.710
gravitational pull requiring
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.670
extraordinary precision and
00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:06.430
patience however while HD 20794 D orbits
00:06:06.440 --> 00:06:08.510
in the habitable zone it's quite
00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:10.990
different from Earth its orbit is
00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.390
notably elliptical causing the planet to
00:06:13.400 --> 00:06:15.430
move between the outer and inner edges
00:06:15.440 --> 00:06:18.150
of the habitable zone during its year
00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:20.110
this means it experiences significant
00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.870
variations in the amount of Stellar
00:06:21.880 --> 00:06:24.230
radiation it receives which could have
00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.950
fascinating implications for any
00:06:25.960 --> 00:06:28.270
potential atmosphere the planet's
00:06:28.280 --> 00:06:30.150
location and unique character istics
00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:32.270
make it an ideal Target for upcoming
00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:35.390
telescopes and space missions scientists
00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:37.029
are particularly excited about the
00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:39.390
possibility of studying its atmosphere
00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:41.230
which could provide valuable insights
00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:43.629
into how different conditions affect
00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:44.870
planetary
00:06:44.880 --> 00:06:47.189
habitability as one of the closest Super
00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.830
Earths discovered in a habitable zone it
00:06:49.840 --> 00:06:51.629
will likely be among the first planets
00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:54.830
of its kind that we can study in detail
00:06:54.840 --> 00:06:56.589
this discovery adds to our growing
00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:57.909
understanding of planetary systems
00:06:57.919 --> 00:07:00.270
around nearby stars and provides another
00:07:00.280 --> 00:07:01.830
promising Target in our search for
00:07:01.840 --> 00:07:03.830
potentially habitable worlds beyond our
00:07:03.840 --> 00:07:04.950
solar
00:07:04.960 --> 00:07:07.430
system and an update now to a story
00:07:07.440 --> 00:07:08.990
we've been covering this week they've
00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.350
finally done it in a significant
00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:12.909
milestone for European space
00:07:12.919 --> 00:07:15.629
capabilities the aryani 6 rocket has
00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:17.390
successfully completed its first
00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:19.830
operational Mission launching a military
00:07:19.840 --> 00:07:21.710
reconnaissance satellite for the French
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.390
government the launch from French Guana
00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:26.469
marks a crucial step in Europe's quest
00:07:26.479 --> 00:07:29.029
for independent access to space coming
00:07:29.039 --> 00:07:31.589
at a time when geopolitical tensions
00:07:31.599 --> 00:07:33.869
have highlighted the importance of space
00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.950
sovereignty the 184t tall rocket
00:07:36.960 --> 00:07:40.070
performed flawlessly placing the CSO 3
00:07:40.080 --> 00:07:42.029
satellite into its intended orbit
00:07:42.039 --> 00:07:45.230
roughly 500 miles above Earth this
00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:47.550
success is particularly noteworthy as it
00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:49.710
comes after years of delays and more
00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:53.110
than $4 billion in development costs
00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:55.909
while expensive European officials argue
00:07:55.919 --> 00:07:57.430
the investment is essential for
00:07:57.440 --> 00:08:00.710
maintaining strategic autonomy in space
00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.629
operations the timing of this
00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:04.230
achievement couldn't be more critical
00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.909
for Europe recent political developments
00:08:06.919 --> 00:08:08.790
including uncertainties in transatlantic
00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:10.869
relations and growing concerns about
00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:13.149
Reliance on foreign launch providers
00:08:13.159 --> 00:08:14.990
have intensified the push for European
00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.469
space Independence French officials have
00:08:17.479 --> 00:08:19.189
been particularly vocal about the need
00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.869
to maintain Sovereign launch
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:23.029
capabilities regardless of potentially
00:08:23.039 --> 00:08:24.710
cheaper alternatives available from
00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:25.950
competitors like
00:08:25.960 --> 00:08:28.589
SpaceX while the ariani 6 comes with a
00:08:28.599 --> 00:08:30.390
higher price tag compared to some
00:08:30.400 --> 00:08:33.110
competitors estimated between 80 to 100
00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.790
million EUR per launch European leaders
00:08:35.800 --> 00:08:37.909
view this cost as necessary to ensure
00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:40.269
guaranteed access to space this is
00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:42.310
especially relevant now that Russian soy
00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.990
Rockets are no longer an option for
00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.750
European missions following the invasion
00:08:45.760 --> 00:08:48.430
of Ukraine the successful launch
00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:50.150
represents more than just a technical
00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:52.509
achievement it's a statement of European
00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.190
technological capability and strategic
00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.110
Independence as one French official
00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.710
noted this success means Europe now has
00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:02.430
its autonomous access to space back a
00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:04.350
capability that's becoming increasingly
00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:06.910
vital in today's geopolitical
00:09:06.920 --> 00:09:08.949
landscape moving from the realm of
00:09:08.959 --> 00:09:11.550
rockets to cuttingedge planetary science
00:09:11.560 --> 00:09:13.509
NASA's jet propulsion laboratory has
00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.829
unveiled an ambitious new project that
00:09:15.839 --> 00:09:17.790
could revolutionize how we monitor our
00:09:17.800 --> 00:09:20.310
planet's Health called Pulsar or
00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.829
planetary pulse taker this Innovative
00:09:22.839 --> 00:09:25.110
system aims to do exactly what its name
00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.389
suggests take the Pulse of Earth by
00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:29.389
measuring subtle changes in its various
00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:32.069
atmospheric layers think of it as a
00:09:32.079 --> 00:09:34.590
planetary scale Health monitoring system
00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:36.389
similar to how doctors use multiple
00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.949
vital signs to assess human health the
00:09:38.959 --> 00:09:40.630
project would utilize a network of
00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:42.590
geostationary satellites positioned
00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.630
about 20,000 km above Earth equipped
00:09:45.640 --> 00:09:47.710
with sophisticated laser systems that
00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:49.150
would Pierce through different layers of
00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:50.069
our
00:09:50.079 --> 00:09:52.230
atmosphere what makes this concept
00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.670
particularly fascinating is its ability
00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:56.509
to detect how different planetary
00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:59.590
systems interact with each other by
00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:02.550
measuring disturbances in the ionosphere
00:10:02.560 --> 00:10:03.910
the electrically charged part of our
00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:06.190
upper atmosphere scientists could
00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:08.150
potentially track everything from space
00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:10.710
weather events to seismic activity deep
00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:12.910
within the Earth's interior the system
00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.389
works on a principle similar to the
00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:17.069
famous ligo gravitational wave detector
00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:18.750
but instead of detecting ripples in
00:10:18.760 --> 00:10:21.069
SpaceTime it would monitor perturbations
00:10:21.079 --> 00:10:23.509
in Earth's atmospheric layers these
00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:25.269
measurements could provide unprecedented
00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:26.949
insight into how our planet's various
00:10:26.959 --> 00:10:28.710
systems are interconnected and influence
00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.389
one another
00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.949
while the technical challenges are
00:10:31.959 --> 00:10:34.350
significant particularly in maintaining
00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.230
precise positioning of satellites over
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.790
such vast distances the potential
00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:41.509
benefits are enormous this technology
00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.389
could give us early warnings of various
00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.949
planetary phenomena and deepen our
00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:48.230
understanding of Earth's complex systems
00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.790
it's an ambitious step forward in our
00:10:49.800 --> 00:10:51.550
quest to better understand and monitor
00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:53.509
the health of our planetary
00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:56.790
home next up in what appears to be a
00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:58.389
premature end to a groundbreaking
00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.910
mission the first ever private asteroid
00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.470
probe has encountered serious
00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.750
difficulties just days after launch AST
00:11:05.760 --> 00:11:08.190
forge's Odin spacecraft which lifted off
00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:10.629
on February 26th alongside intuitive
00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:12.550
machines lunar Mission has been
00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:14.230
struggling with communication issues
00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.509
that now seem
00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.590
insurmountable the 265lb spacecraft was
00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.350
designed to make history as the first
00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.790
private mission to visit an asteroid
00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.509
specifically targeting the near Earth
00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.949
asteroid 2022
00:11:26.959 --> 00:11:29.509
ob5 built in less than 10 months for a
00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.069
remarkably modest budget of just $3.5
00:11:32.079 --> 00:11:34.590
million Odin represented an ambitious
00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.190
attempt to pave the way for future
00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.750
asteroid mining operations the problems
00:11:38.760 --> 00:11:40.389
began shortly after deployment when the
00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.230
spacecraft entered a protective Suns
00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.710
saafe mode Engineers believe the issue
00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.269
may stem from complications with the
00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:48.590
solar panel deployment severely limiting
00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:50.150
the probe's power generation
00:11:50.160 --> 00:11:52.350
capabilities there's also a possibility
00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.069
that the spacecraft is tumbling through
00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:56.150
space preventing its antenna from
00:11:56.160 --> 00:11:58.230
maintaining a stable connection with
00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.350
Earth despite these setbacks Odin has
00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.670
achieved something remarkable it's now
00:12:03.680 --> 00:12:06.750
approximately 270,000 mi from Earth
00:12:06.760 --> 00:12:08.430
making it one of the few private
00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.230
spacecraft to reach true deep space
00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:12.590
while astrof Forge will continue
00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.150
occasional attempts to reestablish
00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:16.189
contact they've largely shifted their
00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:17.910
focus to applying these lessons to
00:12:17.920 --> 00:12:20.230
Future missions including their upcoming
00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.590
vestri Mission planned for late
00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.870
2026 this setback while disappointing
00:12:25.880 --> 00:12:28.030
exemplifies the challenges and risks of
00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:30.189
private space exploration
00:12:30.199 --> 00:12:33.710
as AST Forge noted even in Failure Odin
00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:36.269
has become both a Pioneer and a teacher
00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.030
providing valuable insights that will
00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:40.990
inform future deep space
00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.189
missions and that wraps up our coverage
00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:45.269
for today thank you for joining me on
00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.310
astronomy daily where we bring you the
00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:49.629
latest developments in space exploration
00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:52.389
and astronomy from spacex's dramatic
00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:54.590
launch to groundbreaking exoplanet
00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.389
discoveries it's been another
00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.230
fascinating day in space news if You'
00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.550
like to stay up to dat with all the
00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.949
latest developments in space and
00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:04.030
astronomy head over to our website at
00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:05.350
astronomy
00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.829
daily. there you'll find our constantly
00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:09.629
updating Newsfeed and can catch up on
00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:12.230
all our previous episodes don't forget
00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.829
to follow us on social media for more
00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:15.389
space and astronomy updates throughout
00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:18.030
the day you can find us as Astro daily
00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:21.269
pod on Facebook X YouTube YouTube music
00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.230
Tumblr and Tik Tok this is Anna signing
00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.430
off until next time keep looking up and
00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:27.870
stay curious about our fascinating
00:13:27.880 --> 00:13:30.629
universe
00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:34.170
day stor is Been Told
00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:49.580
[Music]