S03E132: ESA's Lunar/Earth Maneuver, Mars' Frequent Impacts, and Doritos in Space

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome listeners to another exciting episode of Astronomy Daily with

0:04 Speaker 1: your host Anna. In today's episode, we've got a stellar

0:07 Speaker 1: lineup of fascinating space news straight from the Cosmos. From

0:11 Speaker 1: a historic lunarflyby by the European Space Agency's Juice mission

0:15 Speaker 1: to unexpected discoveries about Mars courtesy of NASA's Insight Lander,

0:19 Speaker 1: We've got it all. We'll also dive into the groundbreaking

0:22 Speaker 1: Polaris Dawn mission, which promises to feature the first ever

0:26 Speaker 1: commercial space walk. And if that weren't enough, we'll wrap

0:29 Speaker 1: things up with a fun twist zero gravity snacks from

0:32 Speaker 1: Dorito's that are making their way into space. Buckle up,

0:36 Speaker 1: because this journey through the universe is going to be

0:38 Speaker 1: out of this world. Juice, the European Space Agency's Jupiter

0:44 Speaker 1: Icy Moons Explorer is today performing an unprecedented double gravity

0:48 Speaker 1: assist maneuver by swinging by both the Moon and Earth

0:52 Speaker 1: on Monday, August nineteenth. The probe came within just four

0:56 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty five miles of the lunar surface, utilizing

0:59 Speaker 1: this close encounter to capture some remarkable images, which were

1:03 Speaker 1: shared in real time with the public via a live

1:06 Speaker 1: webcast The moonflyby is the first leg of a journey

1:10 Speaker 1: designed to slingshot Juice toward its ultimate destination, Jupiter and

1:14 Speaker 1: its intriguing moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. These flybys are historic,

1:20 Speaker 1: as no mission has ever performed a double gravity assist

1:22 Speaker 1: like this. The Moon's gravity served as a break which

1:25 Speaker 1: enabled Juice to slow down in its trajectory relative to

1:28 Speaker 1: the Sun. This counterintuitive approach, leveraging lunar and Earth gravity,

1:33 Speaker 1: effectively saves the spacecraft about six months of travel time,

1:36 Speaker 1: allowing it to reach Jupiter by July twenty thirty one.

1:40 Speaker 1: Photographs from Monday's lunar encounter were taken using Juice's on

1:43 Speaker 1: board monitoring cameras. While these images may not be as

1:46 Speaker 1: sharp as those taken by other high resolution cameras, they

1:50 Speaker 1: serve essential functions like confirming the deployment of the probe's

1:54 Speaker 1: solar arrays and scientific instruments. The probe's mission is to

1:58 Speaker 1: explore three of Jupiter's moons, each believed to harbor oceans

2:01 Speaker 1: beneath their icy crusts. Europa in particular is of great

2:05 Speaker 1: interest because its ocean is likely in contact with a

2:07 Speaker 1: rocky seafloor, potentially fostering intriguing chemical reactions. The seas of

2:12 Speaker 1: Ganymede and Callisto might be sandwiched between layers of ice,

2:16 Speaker 1: presenting another different but equally compelling scenario for scientists. With

2:20 Speaker 1: its successful moonfly by, Juice is now set for an

2:23 Speaker 1: earth fly by today, which will bring the probe within

2:26 Speaker 1: four thousand, two hundred and fifty miles of our planet.

2:29 Speaker 1: This maneuver is designed to further refine its trajectory and

2:33 Speaker 1: set it on course for a final gravity assist from

2:35 Speaker 1: Venus in August twenty twenty five. It's fascinating to think

2:38 Speaker 1: that amateur astronomers in the Pacific region might catch a

2:42 Speaker 1: glimpse of Juice through their telescopes during this encounter, a

2:46 Speaker 1: fleeting yet magical moment connecting us to this immensely ambitious mission.

2:50 Speaker 1: This ingenuity in space travel exemplifies how collaborative efforts and

2:54 Speaker 1: groundbreaking engineering continue to push the boundaries of our understanding

2:57 Speaker 1: and exploration of the Cosmos. Let's dive into some groundbreaking

3:01 Speaker 1: discoveries on Mars courtesy of NASA's Mars Insight Lander. Though

3:05 Speaker 1: the lander is no longer active, its legacy continues to

3:08 Speaker 1: provide invaluable data that have surprised scientists. A new study

3:13 Speaker 1: has revealed that Mars gets bombarded by space rocks far

3:15 Speaker 1: more frequently than previously estimated. This insight comes from a

3:19 Speaker 1: combination of seismic data and orbital imagery, suggesting a pressing

3:23 Speaker 1: need to update our current models of Martian geological activity

3:27 Speaker 1: and surface evolution. In this recent research, led by a

3:30 Speaker 1: team from Brown University, data from insights highly sensitive on

3:34 Speaker 1: board seismometer were analyzed to reveal eight new impact craters

3:37 Speaker 1: that had gone unnoticed from orbit. The finding is remarkable

3:41 Speaker 1: because it shows that the frequency of meteoroid impacts on

3:44 Speaker 1: Mars could be two to ten times higher than what

3:46 Speaker 1: we had previously thought. This has far reaching implications not

3:50 Speaker 1: just from Mars, but for our understanding of planetary surfaces

3:53 Speaker 1: across the Solar System. By comparing seismic signals with before

3:57 Speaker 1: and after orbital images, scientists could confirm the origins of

4:01 Speaker 1: these impacts. Notably, two of these craters are the largest

4:05 Speaker 1: ever detected by scientists on Mars, each roughly the size

4:08 Speaker 1: of a football field. What makes us even more astounding

4:11 Speaker 1: is that these massive impacts occurred just ninety seven days apart.

4:15 Speaker 1: Such a short interval between major impacts indicates that Mars

4:18 Speaker 1: might be pelted with significant space rocks much more frequently

4:22 Speaker 1: than anticipated. The implications of these findings extend beyond Mars,

4:26 Speaker 1: as researchers like Ingrid do Bar of Brown University suggest

4:30 Speaker 1: we may need to rethink how we estimate the age

4:33 Speaker 1: and evolution of planetary surfaces throughout our Solar system. If

4:37 Speaker 1: Mars is more geologically active due to these frequent impacts,

4:40 Speaker 1: it calls for a revision of existing cratering models, which

4:43 Speaker 1: could enrich our understanding of planetary histories and future exploration risks. Additionally,

4:49 Speaker 1: this research aids in preparation for future missions. Knowing the

4:53 Speaker 1: true frequency of impacts can better assess potential hazards and

4:56 Speaker 1: design better protective measures for both robotic and human explore

5:00 Speaker 1: Even though the Insight mission ended in twenty twenty two,

5:03 Speaker 1: its seismic data is a treasure trove that continues to

5:06 Speaker 1: unveil new secrets about the Red planet. Stay tuned, as

5:10 Speaker 1: more revelations from Mars's seismic activities are undoubtedly still to come.

5:15 Speaker 1: The Polarisdawn mission team has touched down in Florida, ready

5:18 Speaker 1: to embark on what promises to be a groundbreaking journey.

5:21 Speaker 1: Led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared isaac Man, the mission raises

5:25 Speaker 1: the stakes in commercial space exploration by aiming to perform

5:29 Speaker 1: the very first commercial spacewalk. The crew, also including retired

5:33 Speaker 1: US Air Force pilot Scott kid Poteit and SpaceX engineers

5:37 Speaker 1: Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, brings together an exceptional blend

5:41 Speaker 1: of expertise and ambition. Isaac Man, reflecting on the mission's preparation, noted,

5:46 Speaker 1: it's been two and a half years since we announced

5:47 Speaker 1: the Polaris program and Polaris Dawn. It's been a really

5:50 Speaker 1: exciting journey of development and training. The team's arrival in

5:54 Speaker 1: Florida is another significant milestone in this ambitious program. The

5:58 Speaker 1: mission itself is the first of three flights planned under

6:00 Speaker 1: the Polaris program, with each aiming to push the boundaries further.

6:05 Speaker 1: Not only will Polaris Dawn attempt to break Earth orbit

6:07 Speaker 1: altitude records by reaching a staggering one thousan four hundred kilometers,

6:12 Speaker 1: but it will also conduct the first commercial spacewalk using

6:15 Speaker 1: SpaceX designed Extra Vehicular Activity EVA suits During this spacewalk,

6:22 Speaker 1: both isaac Man and Gillis will venture outside the Dragon spacecraft,

6:26 Speaker 1: attached solely by a safety tether. The goals of Polaris

6:29 Speaker 1: Dawn span a range of scientific and technological advancements, all

6:33 Speaker 1: while contributing to SpaceX's broad vision of making life multiplanetary.

6:38 Speaker 1: Over the course of their five days in orbit, the

6:40 Speaker 1: crew will carry out approximately forty experiments from twenty different

6:44 Speaker 1: research institutions. Moreover, they will conduct a technology demonstration of

6:48 Speaker 1: Starlink Internet connectivity aboard the Dragon spacecraft, aiming to pioneer

6:52 Speaker 1: high speed Internet access even in the harsh conditions of space.

6:56 Speaker 1: Another fascinating aspect of this mission is how it mirrors

6:59 Speaker 1: the Apollo era experience by traversing regions like the Van

7:02 Speaker 1: Allen radiation belts. The mission promises to yield significant insights

7:06 Speaker 1: into human health and spacecraft performance in high radiation environments.

7:11 Speaker 1: Bill Gerstenmeier, SpaceX's vice president of Build and Flight Reliability,

7:15 Speaker 1: emphasized the high altitude will give us exposure to this

7:19 Speaker 1: high radiation environment, which will test a lot of avionic

7:22 Speaker 1: systems and their ability to recover. Behind all the science

7:25 Speaker 1: and excitement, there's a deeply philanthropic core to Polaris Dawn.

7:29 Speaker 1: The crew is also using this mission as a platform

7:31 Speaker 1: to support Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, leveraging public excitement

7:35 Speaker 1: about space exploration to raise awareness and funds for childhood

7:39 Speaker 1: cancer research. Details on how you can contribute coming up

7:42 Speaker 1: in our next story. So as Jared isaac Man and

7:44 Speaker 1: his team gear up for their August twenty sixth launch,

7:47 Speaker 1: the world watches not just for the high altitude records

7:50 Speaker 1: they might break or the innovative science they will conduct,

7:54 Speaker 1: but for the significant steps forward in humanity's quest to

7:58 Speaker 1: become a multiplanetary species, and the collaborative spirit of adventures

8:02 Speaker 1: that look to stir public good along the way. In

8:05 Speaker 1: speaking of Polaris Dawn, Dorito's is launching a new limited

8:08 Speaker 1: edition flavor called cool Ranch zero Gravity, designed specifically for

8:12 Speaker 1: space travel. The iconic chips enjoyed on Earth for nearly

8:15 Speaker 1: sixty years, have traditionally been banned from outer space because

8:19 Speaker 1: their dust and crumbs pose risks to spacecraft systems. Now,

8:24 Speaker 1: thanks to food scientists at Friedolay, these concerns have been addressed.

8:28 Speaker 1: The new formulation features an oil based coating that keeps

8:31 Speaker 1: the flavor intact while preventing crumbs from floating around in

8:34 Speaker 1: microgravity environments. Additionally, the chips have been miniaturized into bite

8:38 Speaker 1: sized pieces to further reduce any risks. These specially designed

8:42 Speaker 1: Doritos are set to make history as they blast off

8:45 Speaker 1: with the Polaris Dawn mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

8:49 Speaker 1: The mission will see its crew become the first people

8:51 Speaker 1: to eat Doritos in space, while also setting new records

8:54 Speaker 1: in human spaceflight and conducting the first ever commercial spacewalk.

8:58 Speaker 1: But there's more to this mission than just satisfying a

9:01 Speaker 1: snack craving. Dorito's has partnered with the Polaris Dawn crew

9:04 Speaker 1: to help raise awareness and funds for Saint Jude Children's

9:07 Speaker 1: Research Hospital. Fans on Earth can donate to receive their

9:10 Speaker 1: own cool Ranch zero gravity chips in special glow in

9:13 Speaker 1: the Dark canisters. Dorito's is also contributing a hefty five

9:16 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars donation to support Saint Jude's efforts in

9:19 Speaker 1: combating childhood cancer. In a move to engage the public further,

9:23 Speaker 1: Fans can also win mission themed memorabilia, including patches, pins, apparel,

9:28 Speaker 1: and even space flown Dorito's tens. The initiative aims to

9:31 Speaker 1: raise eighty five thousand dollars from these pledges, bringing together

9:35 Speaker 1: space enthusiasts and snack lovers for a good cause. Tina Mahal,

9:39 Speaker 1: Senior vice president of Marketing at PepsiCo Foods North America, said,

9:43 Speaker 1: with every new Dorito's innovation, we hope to encourage snackers

9:46 Speaker 1: to pave new paths. The cool Ranch zero gravity chips

9:50 Speaker 1: embrace what it means to live life boldly by pioneering

9:53 Speaker 1: a creative way to raise awareness for such an important cause.

9:56 Speaker 1: This intriguing blend of space exploration and consumme engagement not

10:01 Speaker 1: only adds a fun twist to the Polaris Dawn mission,

10:04 Speaker 1: but also underscores the potential for space travel to inspire

10:08 Speaker 1: and unite people for important humanitarian causes. Who knew that

10:12 Speaker 1: a simple snack could contribute so much to scientific advancement

10:15 Speaker 1: and charitable efforts. And that's it for today. Thank you

10:23 Speaker 1: for tuning into this episode of Astronomy Daily with Minna.

10:26 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed our dive into the latest cosmic

10:29 Speaker 1: events and discoveries. Don't forget to visit our website at

10:32 Speaker 1: Astronomy Daily dot io for the freshest updates on space news,

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