Blue Origin's Lunar Ambitions, Asteroid Mysteries, and the Cosmic Fossil Discovery

Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your regular dose

of the latest and greatest in space and

astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and I'm

thrilled you could join me today for an

episode packed with fascinating stories from

across the cosmos and beyond. We have a lot

to cover, starting with Blue Origin's

ambitious plans for Mars and the moon,

including an update on their new Glenn rocket

and the Blue Moon lander. Then we'll dive

into a perplexing discovery from the icy

asteroid Ryugu that has scientists scratching

their heads. We'll also journey billions of

light years away to explore a truly ancient

galaxy, a cosmic fossil that's been frozen

in time, offering us a rare glimpse into the

early universe. Closer to home,

we'll take a dazzling peek inside a blue

nebula where new planets are forming around

not one, but three suns. And of

course, we'll round up all the significant

space launches that are keeping our orbits

busy before looking at how NASA is bringing

the wonders of space even closer to your

living room. So buckle up, because it's going

to be an exciting ride.

Blue Origin is making steady progress towards

the second launch of its new Glenn rocket, a

significant step that could occur sometime

this fall. The company has already completed

the crucial second stage ignition test in

April, and the first stage is now in its

final preparation at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

While the initial target of August 15 is off

the table, sources suggest a, uh, mid to late

September launch is realistic, with others

leaning towards late October or November.

Blue Origin has remained quiet about the

payload for this flight, but multiple reports

indicate it will carry NASA's escapade

mission. This mission involves a pair of

small spacecraft heading to Mars to study the

Red Planet's magnetosphere. Escapade

was originally meant for New Glenn's first

flight last October, but was removed due to

launch date uncertainty and the spacecraft's

propellant shelf Life. Missing that

2024 Mars launch window means these

spacecraft, once launched this fall, won't

reach Mars until late 2027.

Looking ahead, Blue Origin has several

exciting missions planned for New Glenn. The

fourth flight in the first half of 2026

is slated to carry the Blue Moon MK1

lander. The fifth in

mid-2026, will deploy the first

batch of 49Amazon Project Kuiper satellites.

Blue Origin's strategy is to launch new

rockets as soon as they're ready to gather

performance data, practise first stage reuse,

and achieve a rapid launch cadence. They even

have an inspirational cube for the future

mission ready as a backup or rideshare if a

customer payload isn't Ready. Among

these, The Blue Moon MK1 lander is

generating significant buzz. It's a key part

of Blue Origin's plan for a large reusable

lander capable of taking humans to the moon.

Recent video showed the MK1's midsection

arriving at their assembly facilities. At 8

metres, or 26.4ft tall,

it's designed to be the tallest vehicle ever

to land on the moon. A um metre taller than

the Apollo lunar module, the MK1 is a

cargo version capable of carrying about 3

metric tonnes to the lunar surface, roughly

10 times the capacity of current commercial

landers and and a precursor to the human

rated MK2.

Interestingly, industry officials now believe

Blue Origin has a realistic chance to beat

SpaceX in landing a vehicle on the lunar

surface. SpaceX has faced development

struggles with its starship, with recent

upper stage losses. Blue Origin's

MK2 Lander, while ambitious, is considered

less technically challenging. Furthermore,

sources suggest Blue Origin founder Jeff

Bezos is is more committed to a lunar

programme than SpaceX's Elon Musk,

potentially giving him an edge in this lunar

race from the ambitious

future of lunar landings.

Let's now shift our focus to a tiny,

perplexing discovery from the icy depths of

asteroid Ryugu, a find that is truly

baffling scientists Researchers at

Hiroshima University have uncovered a mineral

called Jerfischerite within a pristine grain

from Ryugu, an asteroid belonging to the

carbon rich C type family. What makes this so

surprising is that Jerfischerite typically

forms in scorching, oxygen poor

environments, conditions completely contrary

to what we believed about Ryugu, which is

thought to be an icy water soaked time

capsule from the early solar system. This

unexpected discovery, detailed in the journal

Meteoritics and Planetary Science, is like

finding a tropical seed buried deep in Arctic

ice. Ryugu's samples, brought to

Earth by Japan's Hayabusa2 probe in December

2020, have been turning planetary science on

its head. The presence of

Jerfischerite suggests two main

either the asteroid endured unexpected heat

spikes, or it somehow captured exotic

material that travelled across the early

solar system. This m finding challenges

the long held idea that Ryugu is

compositionally uniform and instead points to

a far more chaotic mixing of planetary

building blocks during the solar system's

formation. Ryugu is believed to

have originated from a larger parent body

that formed in the outer regions of the solar

system, where water and carbon dioxide

existed as ice temperatures

within this parent body were estimated to

have remained below about 50 degrees Celsius.

In stark contrast, Jerfischurite is known to

form in much Hotter conditions, sometimes

exceeding 350 degrees Celsius, often

found in meteorites that formed closer to the

sun. Scientists are now considering whether

this mineral arrived from another source

during Ryugu's formation, or if Ryugu

itself experienced localised heating events

that allowed jerfischerite to form

intrinsically. Preliminary evidence

leans towards the intrinsic formation

hypothesis, but more research is needed.

The next steps involve conducting isotopic

studies of this and other Ryugu grains to

determine their true origins.

Ultimately, the goal is to reconstruct the

early mixing processes and thermal

histories that shaped small bodies like

Ryugu, thus improving our understanding

of how planets formed and how materials were

transported in the early solar system.

It's a tiny mineral, but a huge mystery for

planetary scientists. From

the small wonders of asteroids, we now

journey to the colossal structures of the

universe, where astronomers have made a truly

remarkable discoverya uh, galaxy that has

remained frozen in time for billions

of years. Imagine a cosmic

fossil, much like the dinosaur fossils we

find here on Earth. But instead of ancient

life, it's a galaxy that has preserved the

conditions of the early universe. This

incredible find is the Galaxy Kids

J08420059,

located a staggering 3 billion light years

away. What makes it a cosmic fossil is

its unique ability to have, um, remained

virtually unchanged by collisions and

interactions with other galaxies. Acting as a

pristine time capsule, recent research

utilising data from the Large Binocular

Telescope has confirmed that this galaxy has

been perfectly preserved for approximately 7

billion years. As Crescenzo

Tortora, a team co leader and researcher at

the National Institute of Astrophysics, put

it, discovering this galaxy is like

an archaeological find that helps us

understand how the first galaxies were born

and how the universe has evolved. These

fossil galaxies are truly like the dinosaurs

of the universe, offering clues about the

environmental conditions in which they formed

and how today's most massive galaxies came to

be. M Kids

J084-20059

was initially discovered in 2018 by the

Kilo Degree Survey, or KIDS.

Subsequent observations with instruments like

the Very Large Telescope and its X Shooter

instrument helped astronomers measure its

size and mass. It was found to have a stellar

mass about 100 billion times that of our Sun.

Yet it's more compact than other galaxies of

similar mass and has notably lacked star

formation for much of its life. All these

characteristics pointed towards it being a

fossil galaxy. To confirm its unique

nature, the team used the adaptive optics

system of the Large Binocular Telescope,

obtaining images with 10 times the detail

previously available. This confirmed its

compact structure, similar to other rare,

stunted galactic fossils like

NGC1277, which is much

closer to us. The existence of

galaxies like kids

J08420059

indicates that some galaxies can form

rapidly, stay compact, and remain dormant

for aeons by simply avoiding collisions.

Studying these cosmic fossils is crucial for

reconstructing the formation history of the

nuclei of today's massive galaxies, which,

unlike these relics, have undergone numerous

merger processes. Future research

with cutting edge technologies and telescopes

such as the Euclid Space Telescope promises

to further unlock the secrets these ancient

galaxies hold.

From the ancient past of galaxies, we now

turn our gaze to the vibrant present of star

and planet formation as the Hubble Space

Telescope has delivered another breathtaking

image. This time it's a dazzling

peak inside a blue nebula, revealing what

astronomers are calling a hidden planet

factory. The image showcases a stunning

cosmic cloud known as

GN043.2.8,

a type of reflection nebula. Unlike

nebulae that emit their own light, reflection

nebulae glow by scattering light from nearby

stars, often giving them that characteristic

soft, bluish hue, which is certainly the

case here. This glowing cloud is nestled

within the Torus Molecular Cloud, a

rich star forming region located

approximately 480 light years from Earth

in the constellation Taurus. It's one of the

closest and most ideal places for observing

newborn stars in action. The soft

Glow of GN04328 comes

from a trio of young stars at its heart.

These include the variable star V1025

Tauri at the very centre of the image, along

with HP Tau, HP Tau G2,

and HP Tau G3. HP

Tau itself belongs to a special class known

as T Tauri stars, which are energetic and

restless stars in the earliest stages of

their lives, perfectly at home in this

stellar nursery. Astronomers believe

these three stars form a gravitationally

bound triple system, making this region even

more compelling for study. But perhaps the

most exciting detail for planet hunters is a

small squashed orange spot just to the left

of the centre, below the main cloud,

crossed by a dark line. This is a newly

formed protostar veiled within a

protoplanetary disc that obstructs some of

its light. Because this disc is seen

edge on from our perspective, it presents an

ideal opportunity for astronomers to examine

it closely. They're using Hubble's keen

eye to seek out clues about the kinds of

exoplanets that might be formed within discs

just like this one.

Moving from the ancient past of galaxies to

the dynamic present here on Earth, this week

promises to be an incredibly busy one for

space launches. As July begins, the

global launch manifest is absolutely jam

packed with exciting missions Kicking things

off SpaceX is set for a double header with

two Falcon 9 launches from Florida. The first

is a Starlink mission scheduled for no

earlier than Tuesday, July 1st at

2:06am EDT from Space

Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. This

rocket will fly on a northeast trajectory

carrying a batch of 27 Starlink V2 mini

satellites for Internet connectivity. The

first stage booster will attempt a landing on

one of SpaceX's East coast drone ships in the

Atlantic. This mission marks a significant

milestone as it will be the 82nd flight of a

Falcon 9 in 2025 and the

staggering 500th mission for the rocket since

its debut back in June 2010.

SpaceX is ambitiously aiming for up to

170 Falcon launches before the year is out.

Just Hours later, the second SpaceX launch

could happen. Liftoff of the

MTGS1 mission is scheduled for no earlier

than Tuesday, July 1 at

5:03pm EDT, this

time from the historic Launch Complex

39A at Kennedy Space Centre. The

payload for this M mission is the Meteosat

third generation Sounder 1 or

MTG S1, a crucial weather

satellite to be operated by the European

Space agency and Umet Sat. Weighing in

at 3,800 kilogrammes, MTG

S1 is equipped with an infrared sounder,

Europe's first in geostationary orbit, and a

UVN spectrometer. These instruments will

provide improved weather forecasting data for

Europe and Northern Africa and importantly

monitor air quality by detecting trace gas

concentrations and aerosols, supplying hourly

air pollution information. This will be the

83rd Falcon 9 launch of the year.

Beyond SpaceX we have a truly momentous

occasion for Australia the debut flight of

its first homegrown launch vehicle, Gilmore

Space's Air Ros rocket. This highly

anticipated maiden flight is set to take

place no earlier than Thursday, July 3 at

7:30am Australian UM Eastern Standard

Time from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport at

Abbott Point. After years of development,

the three stage ERIS rocket, which uses a

fascinating hybrid propellant system for its

first two stages, will attempt to reach low

Earth orbit. A successful launch would mark

the first for an Australian built rocket and

the first for a hybrid fueled rocket. Fun

fact. While not carrying an operational

payload, Gilmour Space has humorously placed

a container of vegemite flavour spread inside

the payload fairing. Also on Thursday, July

3, China's only scheduled launch of the week

will see a uh Chang Geng 4B or CZ4B

Rocket take flight at 9:35am UTC

from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.

This three stage launcher has a long and

successful history, having flown 53 times

with 52 successes over its 26 year tenure,

primarily launching remote sensing

satellites. Rounding out the week's launches,

the Russian space agency Roscosmos is

looking to resupply the International Space

Station with a Progress cargo mission.

Liftoff from site 31.6 at the Baikonur

Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for

Thursday, July 3 at 3:32pm

Eastern Daylight Time. The Progress M

S31 spacecraft will deliver approximately

2,500 kilogrammes of food, water

and equipment for the crew aboard the

station, with docking expected on Saturday,

July 5. This will mark the

184th flight of a Progress cargo spacecraft

and the sixth launch of a Soyuz rocket in

2025. What a week for space

enthusiasts.

Finally, in exciting news for space

enthusiasts everywhere new NASA has announced

its latest venture to bring space closer to

home by teaming up with a major streaming

service. Starting this northern summer,

NASA live programming will be available on

Netflix. This partnership means that

audiences will have another fantastic option

to stream live rocket launches, awe

inspiring astronaut spacewalks,

comprehensive mission coverage, and

breathtaking live views of Earth directly

from the International Space Station.

Rebecca Sermons, General Manager of NASA,

highlighted the agency's commitment, stating

that the National Aeronautics and Space act

of 1958 calls on them to share their story

of space exploration with the broadest

possible audience. This collaboration

aims for a golden age of innovation and

exploration, inspiring new generations right

from the comfort of their couch or the palm

of their hand. Through this strategic

partnership, NASA's groundbreaking work in

science and exploration will become even more

accessible, allowing the agency to

significantly increase engagement and inspire

a global audience within the modern media

landscape. With Netflix reaching over

700 million people worldwide, this move

aligns perfectly with NASA's broader efforts

to connect with as many people as possible

through various platforms, including video,

audio, social media and live events.

The ultimate goal is simple to bring the

excitement of the agency's discoveries,

inventions and space exploration to people

wherever they are. It's also worth noting

that NASA itself will continue to be

available for free with no ads through the

official NASA app and on the agency's

website. More programming details and

schedules are expected to be announced closer

to the launch date. And

that brings us to the end of another

fascinating episode of Astronomy Daily. Thank

you so much for joining me today. I hope you

enjoyed exploring the latest in space and

astronomy news from Mars missions and

puzzling asteroid discoveries to ancient

galaxies and the cutting edge of launch

technology.

Before we sign off. Remember, you can always

catch up on all the latest space and

astronomy news with our constantly updating

news feed, and listen to all our back

episodes by visiting our

[email protected]. that's

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Daily on Apple podcasts, Spotify and YouTube,

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never miss an episode. It's been a pleasure

being your host, Anna, and I look forward to

sharing more cosmic wonders with you

tomorrow. Until then, keep looking up.

In this episode