S03E144: BepiColombo's Mercury Flyby, China's Sea-Based Launch, and Artemis 4G Revolution

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for all

0:03 Speaker 1: the latest news in the world of space and astronomy.

0:05 Speaker 2: Him Anna your host for today.

0:07 Speaker 1: We've got some exciting stories lined up for you, from

0:10 Speaker 1: NASA's Artemis three mission, to the latest updates on the

0:13 Speaker 1: BEPY Columbo spacecraft and more. First, we'll dive into the

0:16 Speaker 1: latest maneuver by the BEPI Columbo mission as it prepares

0:19 Speaker 1: for its fourth flyby of Mercury. We'll also explore China's

0:22 Speaker 1: impressive twelfth successful sea based satellite launch, a significant milestone

0:27 Speaker 1: in space exploration. Later, we'll talk about how the Artemis

0:30 Speaker 1: three mission will leverage cutting edge four G technology designed

0:33 Speaker 1: by Nokia to revolutionize lunar communication. Finally, we'll unravel the

0:38 Speaker 1: mystery behind the enigmatic lunar swirls, shedding light on new

0:41 Speaker 1: scientific findings about these fascinating features on the Moon's surface.

0:45 Speaker 2: So stay tuned for some incredible space news and insights.

0:49 Speaker 1: First up today, the BEPI Columbo mission, a joint effort

0:52 Speaker 1: by the European Space Agency ESA and the japan Aerospace

0:56 Speaker 1: Exploration Agency JACKSA, is gearing up for its fourth Mercury flyby.

1:01 Speaker 1: This is not just another flyby, but a pivotal moment

1:04 Speaker 1: in the mission's journey. Scheduled for twenty three forty eight

1:07 Speaker 1: CESST twenty one forty eight UTC on September fourth, BEPI

1:11 Speaker 1: Colombo will pass just one hundred and sixty five kilometers

1:14 Speaker 1: above Mercury surface, getting closer than ever before. Why is

1:18 Speaker 1: this fly by so crucial, Well, it serves a dual purpose. First,

1:21 Speaker 1: it will help adjust the spacecraft's speed and trajectory, essential

1:25 Speaker 1: for eventually settling into orbit around Mercury. Second, it offers

1:29 Speaker 1: a valuable opportunity for scientists to gather preliminary data and

1:33 Speaker 1: fine tune the operations of the onboard instruments before the

1:37 Speaker 1: main mission begins. Initially launched in October twenty eighteen, BEPI

1:42 Speaker 1: Columbo utilizes a series of nine planetary flybys to aid

1:45 Speaker 1: its journey, one around Earth, two around Venus, and six

1:49 Speaker 1: around Mercury. The mission's complexity stems from Mercury's close proximity

1:53 Speaker 1: to the Sun, which demands intricate maneuvers to counter the

1:57 Speaker 1: Sun's powerful gravitational pull and the spacecraft's own high velocity. Interestingly,

2:02 Speaker 1: the upcoming flyby wasn't solely routine. Engineers had to overcome

2:05 Speaker 1: a challenge that emerged back in April twenty twenty four

2:08 Speaker 1: when BEPI Colombo's Mercury Transfer Module MTM encountered an issue

2:13 Speaker 1: with its electric thrusters. These thrusters, essential for the spacecraft's journey,

2:18 Speaker 1: have been operating below the required thrust due to unexpected

2:21 Speaker 1: electric currents affecting the power distribution from the solar arrays.

2:26 Speaker 1: After months of grueling investigations, a workaround was devised. ESA's

2:30 Speaker 1: flight dynamics team created a new trajectory, ensuring the spacecraft

2:33 Speaker 1: stays on mission despite reduced thrust. This shows the resilience

2:37 Speaker 1: and ingenuity of the mission team, emphasizing that space exploration

2:42 Speaker 1: is as much about overcoming unexpected roadblocks as it is

2:45 Speaker 1: about discovery. The fourth flyby, set to occur soon, is

2:49 Speaker 1: expected to bring the spacecraft within just one hundred and

2:52 Speaker 1: sixty five kilometers of Mercury's surface, about thirty five kilometers

2:56 Speaker 1: closer than originally planned. This closer approach will further reduce

3:00 Speaker 1: the propulsion needed for the next two Mercury flybys in

3:02 Speaker 1: December twenty twenty four and January twenty twenty five, which

3:06 Speaker 1: are crucial for aligning bepy Colombo's orbit with Mercury. What's

3:10 Speaker 1: exciting is that although the mtm's primary thrusters are underperforming,

3:14 Speaker 1: the mission scientific objectives remain unaffected. Ten of the sixteen

3:18 Speaker 1: scientific instruments on board will be operational during this flyby.

3:22 Speaker 1: These instruments will collect data on magnetic fields, plasma, and particles,

3:26 Speaker 1: offering a preview of the detailed science to come once

3:29 Speaker 1: BEPY Columbo settles into orbit around Mercury. Johannesbenkoff, BEPY Columbo's

3:34 Speaker 1: project scientist, couldn't contain his excitement. He pointed out that

3:38 Speaker 1: this fly by allows us to explore parts of Mercury's

3:41 Speaker 1: environment that wouldn't be accessible once the spacecraft is in orbit.

3:44 Speaker 1: This is a chance to gather unique data and ensure

3:47 Speaker 1: a smooth transition when the main mission begins. Moreover, BEPY

3:50 Speaker 1: Columbo's trio of monitoring cameras mcams will capture images of Mercury.

3:56 Speaker 1: While these cameras were designed to monitor the spacecraft's equipment,

3:59 Speaker 1: they also provide black and white snapshots of the planet

4:02 Speaker 1: as the spacecraft zooms past Mercury. MCAM two and MCAM

4:06 Speaker 1: three will start capturing well lit images two minutes after

4:09 Speaker 1: the closest approach, giving us unprecedented views of Mercury's terrain.

4:13 Speaker 1: There's an extra bit of excitement surrounding this fly by,

4:16 Speaker 1: as it marks the first time Bepy Colombo will pass

4:19 Speaker 1: over Mercury's poles. This maneuver is essential for adjusting the

4:22 Speaker 1: spacecraft's trajectory to match Mercury's inclined orbit relative to Earth.

4:27 Speaker 1: Scientists are particularly eager to get a glimpse of Mercury's

4:30 Speaker 1: south pole through the captured images. All of these thrilling

4:33 Speaker 1: developments make Bepy Columbo's fourth fly by a cornerstone in

4:36 Speaker 1: its journey. With new data, images and a fine tuned trajectory,

4:41 Speaker 1: the mission is not just on track, but poised to

4:43 Speaker 1: deepen our understanding of Mercury and its place in our

4:46 Speaker 1: Solar system. Expect the first images to be released on

4:49 Speaker 1: September fifth, and the initial scientific results to follow on

4:52 Speaker 1: September thirteenth. Stay tuned as we bring you more updates

4:56 Speaker 1: on this incredible mission, pushing the boundaries of what we

4:59 Speaker 1: know about our closes planetary neighbor. Next up in today's

5:02 Speaker 1: story list, Galactic Energy, a private rocket manufacturer based in

5:06 Speaker 1: Beijing has achieved its third sea based launch of the

5:09 Speaker 1: Series one carrier rocket, marking China's twelfth successful sea based

5:13 Speaker 1: satellite launch overall. This is a significant milestone for Galactic Energy,

5:18 Speaker 1: cementing its position as a leading private entity in the

5:21 Speaker 1: Chinese space industry. On Thursday afternoon, the Series one rocket

5:25 Speaker 1: blasted off from a mobile launch platform, which was essentially

5:28 Speaker 1: a modified deck barge positioned in the Yellow Sea off

5:31 Speaker 1: the eastern province of Shandong. The launch was a success,

5:35 Speaker 1: and the rocket deployed six satellites into a sun synchronous

5:38 Speaker 1: orbit approximately five hundred and thirty five kilometers above the Earth.

5:42 Speaker 1: The newly deployed satellites come from multiple operators and serve

5:46 Speaker 1: various functions. They are set to collect crucial meteorological data,

5:50 Speaker 1: demonstrate advanced optical remote sensing technologies, and gather hyper spectral

5:54 Speaker 1: remote sensing data. These capabilities are expected to provide valuable

5:58 Speaker 1: information for both scientific research and practical applications such as

6:03 Speaker 1: weather forecasting and environmental monitoring. So far, Galactic Energy has

6:08 Speaker 1: conducted fifteen orbital launches with the Series one model, outpacing

6:12 Speaker 1: other private competitors in China. These missions have successfully placed

6:16 Speaker 1: a total of fifty four commercial satellites into orbit, showcasing

6:20 Speaker 1: the reliability and effectiveness of their technology. The Series one

6:24 Speaker 1: rocket itself stands about twenty meters tall with a diameter

6:27 Speaker 1: of one point four meters, and it primarily uses solid propellant.

6:31 Speaker 1: With a lift off weight of thirty three metric tons,

6:34 Speaker 1: the rocket is capable of sending a three hundred kilogram

6:36 Speaker 1: satellite or several satellites with a combined weight of three

6:40 Speaker 1: hundred kilograms into a five hundred kilometer Sun synchronous orbit. Alternatively,

6:45 Speaker 1: it can deliver payloads of up to three hundred and

6:47 Speaker 1: fifty kilograms into a low Earth orbit at an altitude

6:50 Speaker 1: of two hundred kilometers. This successful launch not only highlights

6:53 Speaker 1: the capabilities of galactic energy, but also underscores China's growing

6:58 Speaker 1: prowess in space exploration and satellite deployment. The use of

7:02 Speaker 1: sea based launches offers unique advantages, including increased launch flexibility

7:07 Speaker 1: and reduced risk to populated areas. Now let's get an

7:11 Speaker 1: Artemis update. NASA's upcoming Artemis three mission is set to

7:14 Speaker 1: break new ground not just by landing astronauts on the

7:17 Speaker 1: Moon again, but by equipping them with cutting edge communications technology.

7:21 Speaker 1: The space suits these astronauts will wear won't just be

7:24 Speaker 1: your regular space attire. They'll come with four G connectivity

7:28 Speaker 1: designed by none other than Nokia. Imagine this lunar explorer

7:32 Speaker 1: is broadcasting high definition video or transmitting large volumes of

7:35 Speaker 1: scientific data back to Earth in real time. It's a

7:38 Speaker 1: huge leap forward from the traditional UHF radio communications that

7:42 Speaker 1: passed missions relied on. Nokia's innovation essentially miniaturizes a mobile

7:46 Speaker 1: network tower into a box that can fit onto a

7:48 Speaker 1: lunar lander. This compressed base station will allow the astronauts

7:52 Speaker 1: to stay connected up to two kilometers away from the lander,

7:55 Speaker 1: a considerable range when you think about it. On Earth,

7:59 Speaker 1: a network of based towers dotted landscapes to keep us connected,

8:02 Speaker 1: but on the Moon we only need this compact system,

8:05 Speaker 1: demonstrating how scalable and adaptable our technology has become now.

8:10 Speaker 1: The Aximu space suits, crafted by Axiom Space won't have

8:13 Speaker 1: a touchscreen interface like the smartphones we're all accustomed to. Instead,

8:18 Speaker 1: the suits will integrate components of a smartphone customized for

8:21 Speaker 1: the space environment. What they'll gain from this integration is remarkable,

8:25 Speaker 1: including the ability to stream high definition video or send

8:28 Speaker 1: substantial scientific data back to the base station, which will

8:32 Speaker 1: then relay it to Earth.

8:33 Speaker 2: Traditionally, UHF radio.

8:35 Speaker 1: Has been the go to technology for astronauts during their

8:37 Speaker 1: lunar missions. While UHF has served well, it pales in

8:41 Speaker 1: comparison to the higher bandwidth and faster speeds offered by

8:44 Speaker 1: four G. Nokia has been working on this technology for

8:46 Speaker 1: space application since receiving a fourteen point one million dollars

8:50 Speaker 1: NASA grant back in twenty twenty. The company envisions of

8:53 Speaker 1: future where four G connectivity will benefit not just Artemis

8:56 Speaker 1: three astronauts, but potentially all future lunar missions. In fact,

9:01 Speaker 1: the first test of this lunar four G network will

9:04 Speaker 1: occur later this year with Intuitive Machines IM two mission.

9:07 Speaker 1: This mission will carry the base station, while two other payloads,

9:11 Speaker 1: the map rover and the Micronovadrone, will have four G receivers.

9:15 Speaker 1: Beyond the Artemis three mission, Nokia s's potential applications for

9:19 Speaker 1: this technology in various lunar devices. Think of a lunar

9:23 Speaker 1: terrain vehicle equipped with four G connectivity, or even smaller

9:26 Speaker 1: science experiments and sensors linking through this network. Throughout twenty

9:31 Speaker 1: twenty four and into twenty twenty five, the four G

9:34 Speaker 1: equipped suits will go through rigorous testing, everything from vacuum

9:37 Speaker 1: chambers to simulations in the indoor pool at NASA's Johnson

9:41 Speaker 1: Space Center. These tests aim to ensure that both the

9:44 Speaker 1: suits and their components can withstand the extreme conditions they'll

9:47 Speaker 1: face during life on the Moon. This technological leap doesn't

9:52 Speaker 1: just make communication easier, it opens the door for more

9:55 Speaker 1: advanced scientific exploration and data collection. It's an exciting time

9:59 Speaker 1: for SpaceX exploration as we blend the advancements made in

10:02 Speaker 1: consumer technology with the rigors of space travel. The Artemis

10:06 Speaker 1: three mission, with its four G connectivity, is certainly one

10:09 Speaker 1: to watch as we prepare for humanity's next giant leap

10:12 Speaker 1: on the lunar surface. Let's explore a truly fascinating topic,

10:17 Speaker 1: the mysterious light colored swirls on the Moon's surface.

10:20 Speaker 2: Visible through even the.

10:21 Speaker 1: Most basic backyard telescopes, These lunar swirls have long puzzled scientists.

10:25 Speaker 1: Some say these swirls resemble the brushstrokes in an abstract painting,

10:30 Speaker 1: but they are far from mere artistic flourishes. NASA's images

10:34 Speaker 1: show that These intricate patterns can extend for hundreds of miles.

10:38 Speaker 1: So what's behind these captivating formations. Recent studies suggest that

10:42 Speaker 1: lunar swirls are the result of magnetized rocks. These rocks

10:45 Speaker 1: create a magnetic field strong enough to deflect solar wind

10:48 Speaker 1: particles which bombard the Moon continuously. While nearby areas darken

10:53 Speaker 1: over time due to chemical reactions caused by these solar winds,

10:57 Speaker 1: the swirls maintain their lighter appearance because they are protected

11:00 Speaker 1: by their magnetic fields. This brings us to a crucial question,

11:04 Speaker 1: how did the rocks in these swirls become magnetized? After all,

11:07 Speaker 1: the Moon no longer has a global magnetic field. Recent

11:10 Speaker 1: modeling and spacecraft data have started to unravel this mystery.

11:14 Speaker 1: One popular theory is that these magnetic anomalies were caused

11:17 Speaker 1: by impacts, or possibly by subterranean lava with high titanium

11:21 Speaker 1: content cooling down in the presence of an ancient magnetic field.

11:26 Speaker 1: Assistant Professor Michael J. Krutchinsky from Washington University believes that

11:31 Speaker 1: localized magma could be the real culprit. His recent experiments,

11:35 Speaker 1: co designed with pH d graduate Yuan Yuan Liang, tested

11:38 Speaker 1: whether lunar light conditions could magnetize materials like ilmanite, a

11:42 Speaker 1: mineral abundant on the Moon. They concluded that high surface

11:46 Speaker 1: area to volume ratio in ilmanite grains could indeed create

11:50 Speaker 1: the necessary magnetic fields.

11:52 Speaker 2: These theories have significant implications.

11:54 Speaker 1: Understanding the origin of lunar swirls could help scientists piece

11:58 Speaker 1: together the historical magnetic environment of the Moon, revealing more

12:02 Speaker 1: about its geological history and even the broader surface effects

12:06 Speaker 1: experienced by other planets and moons.

12:09 Speaker 2: Looking ahead, NASA.

12:10 Speaker 1: Intends to send a rover to one of the most

12:12 Speaker 1: famous lunar swirls, Reiner Gamma, in twenty twenty five, as

12:15 Speaker 1: part of the Lunar Vertex mission. This mission aims to

12:18 Speaker 1: gather more data and possibly provide direct evidence of the

12:21 Speaker 1: processes behind these enigmatic patterns. Thus, while the mystery of

12:26 Speaker 1: lunar swirls has yet to be completely solved, ongoing research

12:29 Speaker 1: and upcoming missions are set to offer invaluable insights. For now,

12:34 Speaker 1: the study of these swirls continues to excite the scientific community,

12:37 Speaker 1: bridging the gap between remote observations and hands on lunar exploration.

12:42 Speaker 1: And that's all for today's episode of Astronomy Daily. Thanks

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