March 7, 2025

SpaceX’s Starship Setback, Lunar Lander Twist, and the Super Earth Discovery: S04E57

SpaceX’s Starship Setback, Lunar Lander Twist, and the Super Earth Discovery: S04E57
The player is loading ...
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

WEBVTT
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]