S03E117: A Starliner Update

0:02 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for all

0:05 Speaker 1: the latest in space and astronomy news. I'm your host Anna.

0:09 Speaker 1: In today's episode, we have some fascinating stories lined up

0:12 Speaker 1: for you. We'll start with the latest updates from NASA

0:15 Speaker 1: and Boeing as they meticulously analyze data from the crew

0:19 Speaker 1: flight test of the Starliner spacecraft. Then we'll delve into

0:23 Speaker 1: an exciting development by Space Perspective as they unveil the

0:27 Speaker 1: world's first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising to revolutionize spaceflight experiences.

0:33 Speaker 1: And finally, we'll explore a groundbreaking discovery made in lunar

0:36 Speaker 1: soil from China's Chiang A five mission, the identification of

0:40 Speaker 1: naturally formed few layer graphene, which could have significant implications

0:44 Speaker 1: for materials science here on Earth. Stay tuned for these

0:47 Speaker 1: incredible updates. NASA and Boeing teams are diligently working on

0:53 Speaker 1: analyzing data from their recent ground in spacecraft tests. This

0:57 Speaker 1: painstaking process is absolutely crucial as they evaluate the Starliner

1:01 Speaker 1: spacecraft's propulsion system during NASA's Boeing crew flight test mission.

1:06 Speaker 1: The focus here is twofold ensuring astronauts safety and guaranteeing

1:10 Speaker 1: system reliability. One of the significant aspects of their analysis

1:14 Speaker 1: includes a detailed inspection of results from the recent docked

1:18 Speaker 1: hot fire testing. This is where the spacecraft's propulsion system

1:21 Speaker 1: was put through its paces while attached to the International

1:24 Speaker 1: Space Station. The teams are using these results to finalize

1:28 Speaker 1: the rationale for the spacecraft's integrated propulsion system. In simpler terms,

1:33 Speaker 1: they're making absolutely sure that every component functions perfectly before

1:38 Speaker 1: Starliner makes its journey back to Earth. There's also a

1:41 Speaker 1: considerable amount of planning underway for the spacecraft's undocking procedures.

1:45 Speaker 1: This includes operational strategies that could be employed in flight

1:48 Speaker 1: if necessary, to boost the system's reliability even further. These

1:52 Speaker 1: steps are essential in building confidence that the Starliner will

1:56 Speaker 1: perform flawlessly when it detaches from the space station. Heads

2:00 Speaker 1: for Earth Ground and mission support teams aren't just analyzing data.

2:05 Speaker 1: They're actively preparing for the undocking event itself. They're participating

2:09 Speaker 1: in integrated simulations with space station operations teams, ensuring that

2:14 Speaker 1: every scenario is considered and rehearsed. These simulations are a

2:18 Speaker 1: key component in making sure that all systems are go

2:21 Speaker 1: when the actual undocking takes place. Next up in the

2:24 Speaker 1: agenda for the NASA and Boeing teams is the completion

2:27 Speaker 1: of Starliner's return planning. This process is expected to continue

2:31 Speaker 1: into the next week. Once they nail down all the details,

2:34 Speaker 1: they'll share more information about their readiness review and will

2:38 Speaker 1: likely hold a media briefing to update the public and

2:41 Speaker 1: the press. As always, the prime directive here is the

2:44 Speaker 1: safety of the astronauts. Nothing takes precedence over making sure

2:47 Speaker 1: they're brought back to Earth securely. On board the ISS

2:51 Speaker 1: NASA astronauts which Wilmore and Sunny Williams, are not sidelined

2:55 Speaker 1: in this process. They're keeping a close eye on ground developments,

2:59 Speaker 1: keeping themselves in the loop with what's happening back on

3:01 Speaker 1: Terra Firma. At the same time, they are fully engaged

3:05 Speaker 1: in their daily workload aboard the station, coordinating their activities

3:09 Speaker 1: with the expedition's seventy one crew. Recently, Wilmore spent his

3:13 Speaker 1: time meticulously inspecting advanced plumbing hardware and packing life support

3:18 Speaker 1: components that need to be returned to Earth. Williams, on

3:20 Speaker 1: the other hand, has been setting up high definition video

3:23 Speaker 1: equipment in the Columbus Laboratory module and inspecting barcode readers

3:28 Speaker 1: and radio frequency hardware. Both astronauts have also taken on

3:32 Speaker 1: organizing cargo in the Tranquility module, showcasing the kind of

3:36 Speaker 1: teamwork and adaptability that space missions demand. Their day to

3:40 Speaker 1: day tasks may seem routine, but in space, every little

3:44 Speaker 1: job contributes to the overall mission. Toward the end of

3:47 Speaker 1: their day, Wilmore and Williams joined a conference call with

3:50 Speaker 1: Boeing mission controllers, further solidifying the close collaboration between the

3:55 Speaker 1: astronauts and the ground support teams. As it stands, there's

3:58 Speaker 1: no official return dates for the Starliner astronauts aboard the ISS.

4:03 Speaker 1: NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stitch mentioned in a

4:06 Speaker 1: recent press conference that while substantial progress has been made,

4:10 Speaker 1: there hasn't been a major announcement concerning a return date yet.

4:13 Speaker 1: The emphasis remains on thoroughness and precision, key factors for

4:17 Speaker 1: a successful and safe mission completion. Through every step of

4:21 Speaker 1: the way, NASA and Boeing exemplify meticulous planning and unwavering

4:25 Speaker 1: dedication to astronauts safety, showcasing why they remain leaders in

4:30 Speaker 1: space exploration and innovation. Space Perspective has unveiled the world's

4:36 Speaker 1: first marine spaceport MS Voyager, promising a truly unique and

4:40 Speaker 1: carbon neutral spaceflight experience. MS Voyager, an impressive two hundred

4:46 Speaker 1: and ninety four foot vessel, is set to revolutionize how

4:49 Speaker 1: we think about space travel. In collaboration with Geese Offshore,

4:53 Speaker 1: the ship is specially outfitted for launch and retrieval operations,

4:56 Speaker 1: positioning Space Perspective as a groundbreaking player in the Mareene

5:00 Speaker 1: based global launch experience sector. The innovative launch system on

5:04 Speaker 1: board MS Voyager features a series of rollers that work

5:08 Speaker 1: in sync to maneuver and stand the balloon's upright on

5:10 Speaker 1: the vessel's extensive two hundred foot deck. This design not

5:14 Speaker 1: only reduces the environmental footprint compared to traditional balloon launches,

5:18 Speaker 1: but also negates the need for an aircraft carrier, making

5:22 Speaker 1: the operation more efficient and eco friendly. Taber McCallum, the

5:26 Speaker 1: co founder and co CEO of Space Perspective, emphasize the

5:30 Speaker 1: significance of this advancement. According to McCallum, the capability to

5:34 Speaker 1: launch and retrieve the Neptune capsule at sea offers unparalleled

5:38 Speaker 1: global scalability and enhances the safety of routine operations. With

5:43 Speaker 1: MS Voyager now stationed at Port Canaveral in Florida. Space

5:46 Speaker 1: Perspective is well poised to bring this revolutionary space flight

5:50 Speaker 1: capability to the space coast and beyond. Named in honor

5:53 Speaker 1: of the iconic Voyager one space probe, mission, MS Voyager

5:57 Speaker 1: is an engineering marble equipped with dynamic position four engines

6:01 Speaker 1: and four generators. The vessel is designed to be highly maneuverable.

6:05 Speaker 1: Mission control is conveniently located on the bridge, along with

6:08 Speaker 1: extensive capsule support equipment that covers both pre flight and

6:12 Speaker 1: postflight operations. Designed specifically for launching and retrieving Space Ship Neptune,

6:18 Speaker 1: the vessel plays a crucial role in the success and

6:21 Speaker 1: safety of Space Perspectives missions. Space Ship Neptune's pressurized capsule

6:25 Speaker 1: is designed to land gently in the water, a method

6:28 Speaker 1: of recovery that has been used successfully since the Apollo

6:31 Speaker 1: missions and continues with SpaceX today. After landing, fast boats

6:36 Speaker 1: will stabilize the capsule and a custom built fifty two

6:39 Speaker 1: foot a frame will lift it back onto MS Voyager.

6:42 Speaker 1: This a frame specifically built for space capsule retrieval, is

6:46 Speaker 1: the largest of its kind and represents the advanced technological

6:49 Speaker 1: capabilities of Space Perspective. What truly sets MS Voyager apart

6:54 Speaker 1: is its adaptability and mobility as a marine spaceport. This

6:58 Speaker 1: flexibility not only allows for more frequent and varied launch schedules,

7:02 Speaker 1: but also opens up the possibility of exploring different global

7:05 Speaker 1: locations for launches. As the vessel can relocate, prospective space

7:09 Speaker 1: travelers or space perspective explorers can witness spectacular Earth views

7:14 Speaker 1: from space in diverse and breathtaking settings. The global mobility

7:18 Speaker 1: of MS Voyager ensures that more people can engage in

7:21 Speaker 1: life changing spaceflight experiences and cultivate a deeper appreciation for

7:26 Speaker 1: Earth's beauty and fragility. By minimizing the impact of wind

7:30 Speaker 1: and other environmental factors, the design of this mobile marine

7:33 Speaker 1: spaceport guarantees safe and efficient operations, opening up space travel

7:38 Speaker 1: to a broader audience. In recent space news, there's been

7:44 Speaker 1: an electrifying discovery involving lunar soil from China's Changi five mission.

7:49 Speaker 1: Simply put, researchers have identified naturally formed few layer graphene

7:53 Speaker 1: in a sample collected during the mission back in twenty twenty.

7:57 Speaker 1: This is huge news because graphene, with its union sek optical, electrical,

8:01 Speaker 1: and mechanical properties, is highly sought after in materials science.

8:06 Speaker 1: The tail of this discovery begins with a two point

8:08 Speaker 1: nine by one point six millimeter all of shaped sample

8:12 Speaker 1: of lunar soil. A team led by professors Meng Zu

8:16 Speaker 1: and Waijong from Gelen University, as well as huge one

8:19 Speaker 1: Lee and when Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

8:23 Speaker 1: used a specialized spectrometer to examine the sample. Within a

8:27 Speaker 1: carbon rich section of the soil, they detected an iron

8:30 Speaker 1: compound essential for graphene formation. Further analysis with advanced microscopy

8:35 Speaker 1: and mapping techniques confirmed it. Carbon flakes consisting of two

8:39 Speaker 1: to seven layers of graphene were present. So how did

8:43 Speaker 1: this graphene come to be? The researchers believe it may

8:46 Speaker 1: have originated from volcanic activity in the Moon's early history.

8:50 Speaker 1: Solar winds might have played a role as well, by

8:52 Speaker 1: stirring the lunar soil and iron rich minerals enough to

8:55 Speaker 1: transform carbon atoms into graphene. Additionally, the high temperature and

9:00 Speaker 1: high pressure conditions triggered by meteorite impacts on the Moon

9:03 Speaker 1: could have contributed to the formation of this fascinating material.

9:07 Speaker 1: On Earth, graphene is a game changer, known for its

9:11 Speaker 1: exceptional strength, minimal weight, and superior conductivity. It's used in

9:15 Speaker 1: various applications ranging from electronics to advanced composites. The discovery

9:20 Speaker 1: of natural fue layer graphene on the Moon opens up

9:23 Speaker 1: new possibilities. The researchers suggest it might lead to the

9:27 Speaker 1: development of cost effective production methods for high quality graphene,

9:31 Speaker 1: potentially making this valuable material more accessible for widespread use.

9:37 Speaker 1: The implications are vast. This could revolutionize how we produce

9:40 Speaker 1: graphene here on Earth, potentially lowering costs and expanding its applications.

9:46 Speaker 1: In their published report, the research team emphasized that mineral

9:49 Speaker 1: catalyzed formation of natural graphene on the Moon offers insights

9:54 Speaker 1: that could spur breakthroughs in scalable synthesis techniques for graphene.

9:59 Speaker 1: They even hinted that this discovery might prompt a new

10:02 Speaker 1: wave of lunar exploration programs aimed at understanding and leveraging

10:06 Speaker 1: these natural processes. Imagine the potential of future missions collecting

10:11 Speaker 1: lunar soil samples, specifically to harvest or study naturally formed graphene.

10:16 Speaker 1: It aligns perfectly with our continuous quest to harness space

10:20 Speaker 1: resources for the benefit of life on Earth. What's clear

10:25 Speaker 1: is that this exciting finding is not just a milestone

10:28 Speaker 1: in space exploration, but also a beacon for future technological advancements.

10:38 Speaker 1: That's all for today's episode of Astronomy Daily. I'm your

10:41 Speaker 1: host Anna. To keep up with all things space, visit

10:44 Speaker 1: us at Astronomydaily dot io for more episodes, our free

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10:58 Speaker 1: until next time, keep looking up. Day. Star is the Toll.

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