SpaceX’s Test Flight Trials, Blue Origin’s Next Steps, and SphereX Wakes Up

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welcome to astronomy daily your Cosmic


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connection to the stars and Beyond I'm


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Anna and today we're exploring a


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universe of fascinating developments in


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space exploration and astronomy coming


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up in the next few minutes we'll dive


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into the latest on spacex's Starship


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program as the FAA closes one


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investigation while keeping another open


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we'll also get the details on Blue


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Origins completed investigation into


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their new Glenn Rockets failed Landing


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attempt and what it means for their


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upcoming launch then we Marvel at the


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first images from NASA's groundbreaking


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spherex Mission a new Observatory that's


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set to map the entire Celestial Sky Plus


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we'll join the historic Fram 2 mission


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that just sent the first humans to orbit


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Earth's poles and catch up with the NASA


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astronauts who finally returned home


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after their Extended Stay in space due


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to Boeing Starliner issues so strap in


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for liftoff as we journey through


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today's biggest space headlines right


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here on astronomy daily let's kick


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things off with updates from a couple of


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FAA


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investigations the Federal Aviation


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Administration has recently closed its


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investigation into spacex's seventh


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Starship test flight which ended in an


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explosion back in January however the


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agency is keeping its probe open


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regarding the subsequent March test


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flight that also resulted in an


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explosion during a similar phase of


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flight this represents an interesting


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development in Elon musk's Flagship


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Space Program according to the faa's


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findings the January flight failure was


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likely caused by stronger than


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anticipated vibrations during flight


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which led to increased stress on the


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propulsion system hardware and its


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eventual failure despite this setback


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SpaceX implemented 11 corrective actions


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that satisfied the FAA enough to allow


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the company to proceed with its eighth


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test flight in March the situation


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illustrates the challenging nature of


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developing Next Generation space


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technology Starship standing at an


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impressive 400 ft tall is at the center


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of musk's ambitious goal to eventually


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colonize Mars these back-to-back


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explosions represent novel setbacks for


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SpaceX at a time when musk has been


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publicly pushing for faster progress


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what's particularly noteworthy is that


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the FAA allowed SpaceX to launch the


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eighth test flight while the


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investigation into the previous failure


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was still underway a sign of the


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agency's confidence in spacex's


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corrective measures however when that


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flight also ended in Failure at around


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the same phase it raised new questions


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about the underlying issues with the


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vehicle the FAA has made it clear that


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Starship cannot return to flight until


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the agency deems it safe enough for the


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public with the investigation into the


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March explosion still ongoing SpaceX


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faces uncertainty about when they'll be


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able to attempt a ninth test flight


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these developmental challenges are not


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uncommon in the space industry but they


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do highlight the complexity of creating


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a fully reusable super heavy lift launch


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system despite these setbacks SpaceX


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continues to make make incremental


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progress with each test flight Gathering


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valuable data even from failures for now


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the space Community watches with


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anticipation as SpaceX Works to identify


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and address the root causes of these


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failures with the hope that future tests


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will bring Starship closer to


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operational


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status meanwhile in another decision


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from the FAA this week blue origin has


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reached a significant milestone in its


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new Glenn program with the Federal


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Aviation Administration announcing on


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March 31st that it has accepted the


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findings of blue Origins investigation


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into the failed booster Landing during


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the Rockets inaugural flight on January


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16th while the First new Glenn Mission


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successfully delivered its upper stage


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to orbit as planned the first stage


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booster was unable to land on Blue


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Origins recovery ship in the Atlantic


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Ocean according to the FAA statement the


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mishap report identified the proximate


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cause as the booster's inability to


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restart its engines which prevented the


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critical re-entry burn from occurring


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resulting in the loss of the stage Dave


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limp blue Origins chief executive had


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previously hinted at the problem during


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the commercial space conference in


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February suggesting that issues with


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propellant management were behind the


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failed Landing attempt now the company


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has officially confirmed that the three


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be4 engines did not reignite properly


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leading to The Landing failure as part


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of the investigation blue origin has


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identified seven corrective actions that


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will need to be implemented before the


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next launch


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these measures primarily focus on


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propellant management and engine bleed


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control improvements the company has


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stated they're already addressing these


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issues in preparation for their next


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flight with the investigation complete


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and the faa's acceptance of the findings


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blue origin is now authorized to return


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to flight provided all other licensing


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requirements are met the company has set


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an ambitious timeline targeting late


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spring for the next new Glenn launch


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this upcoming Mission will include


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another booster Landing attempt which


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they've playfully nicknamed so you're


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telling me there's a


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chance in a social media post limp


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expressed confidence in their approach


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stating we're confident that the


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propellant and bleed control work we're


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doing will increase our chances of


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Landing the booster on our next flight


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and like we've said all along we'll keep


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trying until we


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do while blue origin hasn't provided


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specific details about potential


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payloads for the next mission or a more


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precise launch date the completion of


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this investigation represents a critical


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step forward for the company's heavy


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lift rocket program the recovery of the


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first stage is a key part of blue origin


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strategy to make new Glenn partially


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reusable following a similar approach to


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that pioneered by SpaceX with its Falcon


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9


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Rockets next up NASA has reached an


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exciting Milestone with its newest space


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Observatory the spherex mission which


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stands for spectr photometer for the


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history of the universe epic of


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reionization and Isis Explorer has


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powered on its detectors for the first


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time since launching on March 11th


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capturing its inaugural images from


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space these initial images while still


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uncalibrated and not yet ready for


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scientific use confirm that all systems


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are functioning exactly as intended each


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spherix exposure consists of six images


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that together provide a remarkably wide


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view of the cosmos with each image


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containing more than 100,000 light


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sources including stars and galaxies the


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observatory's field of view covers a


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rectangular area approximately 20 times


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wider than the full moon what makes


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sphex unique is its approach to


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surveying the sky unlike telescopes such


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as Hubble or James web that focus on


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small detailed areas sphx takes a much


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broader perspective The Observatory


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detects infrared light which is


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invisible to the human eye and breaks it


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down into remarkable detail each of


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spher six detectors captures light in 17


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distinct wavelength bands allowing


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scientists to analyze a total of 102


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different infrared Hues in every


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exposure this spectroscopic capability


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is crucial for understanding the


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composition of celestial objects and


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determining their


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distances by collecting light from


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hundreds of millions of stars and


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galaxies across more wavelengths than


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any previous all Sky survey telescope


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sphex will help scientists invest


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vestigate fundamental questions ranging


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from the physics that govern the


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universe less than a second after the


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big bang to the origins of water in our


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galaxy The Observatory Works through an


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ingenious system when light enters SPH


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X's telescope it's directed down two


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separate paths that each lead to a row


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of three detectors these detectors


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function like eyes and sitting on top of


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them are specialized color filters


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unlike standard filters that block all


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wavelengths except one spher X's filters


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are more like rainbow tinted glasses


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with the blocked wavelengths changing


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gradually from the top of the filter to


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the bottom during its 2-year primary


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Mission sphex will map the entire


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Celestial Sky four times over once


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routine science operations begin in late


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April the observatory will take


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approximately 600 exposures every day


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for the spacecraft to properly detect


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infrared light its detectors and other


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Hardware have been cooling down to their


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final operating temperature of around is


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350° f as heat can overwhelm the


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telescope's infrared detection


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capabilities project scientists are


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clearly thrilled with the results so far


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as Olivier Dory sphex project scientist


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at Caltech and NASA's jet propulsion


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laboratory remarked our spacecraft has


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opened its eyes on the universe it's


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performing just as it was designed to


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this sentiment was echoed by Jamie Bach


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sphere X's principal investigator who


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noted that based on the images we are


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seeing we can now say that the


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instrument team nailed


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it next an update on the story we


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brought you yesterday in a historic


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first for human space flight SpaceX has


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successfully launched the Fram 2 mission


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sending four people into a polar orbit


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around Earth a trajectory never before


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flown by humans the crew Dragon


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spacecraft resilience lifted off on


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Monday at 9:46 p.m. eastern time


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carrying a crew of private astronauts


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who are now experiencing views of our


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planet that no human has ever witnessed


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firsthand the mission is commanded by


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chunwang of Malta who personally funded


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this groundbreaking Venture Wong is


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joined by an international team


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including Norwegian Jan Mickelson


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serving as vehicle Commander German


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pilot Raba Rogue and Australian Eric


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Phillips as Mission specialist and


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medical officer all four are spaceflight


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rookies making their achievement even


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more


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remarkable today we become the 681


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humans to Fly Above the Carmen line and


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the 626 to orbit the earth Wang


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announced shortly after reaching orbit


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the crew is now sending back


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breathtaking images of Earth's most


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remote regions including unprecedented


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views of the polar regions captured


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through resilience's Cupa window the


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mission derives its name from a famous


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Norwegian exploration vessel that


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conducted pioneering Arctic and


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Antarctic Expeditions in the early 20th


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century living up to its namesake Fram 2


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aims to push boundaries with nearly two


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dozen scientific experiments during


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their orbital Journey the all inspiring


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images being shared by the crew showcase


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Earth's poles blanketed in white


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offering a perspective that brings home


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the fragility and beauty of our planet


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in a way never before documented by


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human eyes these unique orbital


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observations May provide valuable


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scientific insights while also capturing


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the imagination of people


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worldwide it seems the world's media


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have suddenly discovered space flight


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and so they can't get enough of Butch


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and Sunni and yes even we have another


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update today after 9 months in space


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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni


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Williams are finally readjusting to life


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on Earth following their unexpectedly


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Extended Stay aboard the International


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Space Station what was originally


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planned as an 8-day test mission aboard


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Boeing Starliner spacecraft turned into


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a 9-month orbital marathon after


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propulsion system issues forced NASA to


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bring the capsule back empty it's great


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getting back I went for a run although


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very slow Williams shared in a recent


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interview from Houston just felt good to


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feel air even though it was humid air


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like blowing past you and seeing other


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people on the track it's really nice


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it's home both astronauts who returned


00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.190
to Earth aboard a SpaceX crew Dragon


00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.350
capsule in March underwent routine


00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.069
medical checks before reuniting with


00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:44.829
their


00:11:44.839 --> 00:11:47.350
families despite the extended Mission


00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.269
they seem to be embracing simple Earth


00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.350
Pleasures like walking dogs and spending


00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.550
time with loved ones but their work with


00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:55.949
Boeing is far from Over the veteran


00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:58.110
astronauts both former US Navy test


00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:00.389
pilots are scheduled to meet with Boeing


00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.150
Leadership this week to discuss


00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:05.230
Starliner future as the only humans to


00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.790
have actually flown in the spacecraft


00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:09.790
their insights are


00:12:09.800 --> 00:12:11.870
invaluable we had a very unique


00:12:11.880 --> 00:12:14.110
perspective of being in the spacecraft


00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.990
nobody else had that perspective


00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.110
Williams explained she added that


00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:20.550
they'll be discussing where we stand and


00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:22.189
where we think we need to go with


00:12:22.199 --> 00:12:25.030
Starliner development NASA and Boeing


00:12:25.040 --> 00:12:26.629
now plan to conduct ground tests of


00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:28.430
Starliner troubled propulsion system


00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:30.350
this summer with the next flight test


00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.350
not expected until early


00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:35.189
2026 that mission could well be uncrewed


00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:37.750
a possibility Williams seems to support


00:12:37.760 --> 00:12:39.230
I think that is already the plan because


00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.829
there will be new components added to


00:12:40.839 --> 00:12:42.470
the spacecraft or replaced on the


00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.670
spacecraft so we'd really like to test


00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:47.509
that out see how that works she said I


00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:50.230
think that's probably a smartwise idea


00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.829
the Starliner program has faced


00:12:51.839 --> 00:12:54.030
significant challenges with development


00:12:54.040 --> 00:12:56.430
costs ballooning to more than $2 billion


00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.750
since 2016 for NASA these setbacks have


00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:02.110
left spacex's crew dragon as the


00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:04.629
agency's only us option for transporting


00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:07.389
astronauts to and from the ISS a


00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:09.990
concerning situation given NASA's desire


00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.069
for redundant access systems despite


00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:14.670
these challenges Wilmore and Williams


00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:16.230
maintain their professionalism and


00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.949
commitment to helping Boeing overcome


00:13:17.959 --> 00:13:20.150
starliners technical issues


00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:21.710
demonstrating the resilience that


00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.150
defines the astronaut core the


00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:25.870
commercial space flight landscape is


00:13:25.880 --> 00:13:27.350
experiencing both remarkable


00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.590
breakthroughs and significant Growing


00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.710
Pains as evidenced by recent


00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:34.189
developments across the industry we're


00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:36.069
witnessing a fascinating contrast


00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:38.150
between spacex's rapid iteration


00:13:38.160 --> 00:13:40.430
philosophy and Boeing's more traditional


00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:42.590
approach to spacecraft development


00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.550
SpaceX continues to push boundaries with


00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:47.069
its Starship program despite consecutive


00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:50.150
explosive test failures these setbacks


00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:51.710
highlight the inherent challenges of


00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.990
developing revolutionary rocket systems


00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.910
yet the company maintains its aggressive


00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:58.790
testing schedule this approach building


00:13:58.800 --> 00:14:01.230
f testing often and accepting some


00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.910
failures has become spacex's signature


00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:05.870
methodology though it occasionally puts


00:14:05.880 --> 00:14:07.710
them at odds with regulatory bodies like


00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.949
the FAA meanwhile Boeing's struggles


00:14:10.959 --> 00:14:12.550
with Starliner represent a different


00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.790
challenge in commercial space flight the


00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.670
company's more conservative development


00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:18.710
process hasn't shielded it from


00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:21.030
significant technical issues cost


00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:23.949
overruns and schedule delays the


00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:26.110
contrast between Starliner difficulties


00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.990
and spacex's successful crew Dragon


00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.749
program under scores how different


00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.749
engineering cultures can yield vastly


00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.509
different outcomes blue origin's partial


00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.509
success with new Glenn adds another


00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.870
dimension to this competitive landscape


00:14:38.880 --> 00:14:40.670
their ability to reach Orbit on the


00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:42.990
first attempt was impressive even if the


00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.550
booster Landing failed this positions


00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:47.629
them as a potentially serious competitor


00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.749
in the heavy lift Market though they


00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.310
remain years behind SpaceX and


00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:52.470
operational


00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.829
capability what's particularly striking


00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:56.710
is how these commercial developments are


00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:59.749
reshaping human space exploration


00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.949
NASA has effectively outsourced low


00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:04.470
earth orbit Transportation transforming


00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.670
from operator to customer this


00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:08.829
transition frees the agency to focus


00:15:08.839 --> 00:15:11.389
resources on deep space exploration


00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:13.870
while leveraging commercial Innovation


00:15:13.880 --> 00:15:15.749
the emergence of purely private missions


00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:18.470
like Fram 2 signals another evolution in


00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.670
commercial space flight moving beyond


00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.910
government contracts to entirely new


00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:25.110
markets these missions demonstrate


00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:27.470
growing commercial capabilities while


00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.230
expanding our understanding of what


00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:31.949
possible in Earth orbit despite the


00:15:31.959 --> 00:15:34.150
challenges we're seeing competition


00:15:34.160 --> 00:15:36.949
between multiple providers is ultimately


00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:39.670
strengthening the industry each failure


00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:42.430
provides valuable data and each success


00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:44.790
expands capabilities the current


00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:46.470
difficulties facing these companies


00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.829
aren't signs of failure but rather the


00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:50.590
expected turbulence of an industry


00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.509
pushing into New Frontiers while


00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.990
striving to make space flight more


00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.470
routine reliable and


00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:59.790
accessible what an rible journey through


00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:02.110
space news we've taken today from the


00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.829
ongoing development challenges with


00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:06.309
spacex's Starship to Blue origins new


00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:08.910
Glen progress NASA's exciting new


00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:11.110
spherex telescope capturing its first


00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.550
images and the groundbreaking Fram 2


00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:15.590
polar orbit Mission we've also checked


00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.470
in with astronauts Wilmore and Williams


00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:19.110
as they readjust to Earth after their


00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.470
Extended Stay in space these stories


00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.949
collectively showcase both the


00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:24.910
challenges and triumphs that Define our


00:16:24.920 --> 00:16:27.350
current ERA of space exploration whether


00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.189
it's the regulatory hurdles fac in


00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:31.069
private companies or the cuttingedge


00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:33.150
science being conducted in orbit we're


00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.829
witnessing a remarkable period of


00:16:34.839 --> 00:16:37.350
innovation and Discovery this has been


00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:40.150
Anna your host for astronomy daily if


00:16:40.160 --> 00:16:41.670
you've enjoyed today's episode and want


00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:43.509
to stay updated on all the latest space


00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.550
and astronomy news please visit our


00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:47.350
website at astronomy


00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.670
daily. there you can catch up on all our


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previous episodes read the latest space


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news and sign up for our free daily


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Astro daily pod on X Facebook YouTube


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00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.150
thank you for listening and remember to


00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.990
keep looking up at the stars the


00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.189
universe is full of Wonders and we'll be


00:17:10.199 --> 00:17:12.069
here to share them with you until next


00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:18.040
time


00:17:18.050 --> 00:17:31.430
[Music]


00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.440
St