S03E146: NASA-Boeing Rift, Europa Clipper's Launch, and Asteroid 2024 RW1's Fiery Show

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, a podcast where we dive into

0:03 Speaker 1: the latest space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna,

0:06 Speaker 1: ready to take you on a cosmic journey. In today's episode,

0:09 Speaker 1: we'll cover intriguing updates from NASA, the latest asteroid encounters,

0:14 Speaker 1: skywatching highlights for September, and fascinating experiments on the International

0:18 Speaker 1: Space Station. Get comfortable and prepare to explore the wonders

0:21 Speaker 1: of our universe. Let's kick things off with a story

0:24 Speaker 1: from the There's No Smoke Without firefile. There was quite

0:27 Speaker 1: a bit of drama recently between NASA and Boeing as

0:30 Speaker 1: tension brewed during meetings over how to bring back two

0:33 Speaker 1: astronauts currently stranded on the International Space Station. Originally, astronauts

0:38 Speaker 1: Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams were scheduled for a brief

0:40 Speaker 1: week long mission in June. However, due to several technical

0:44 Speaker 1: malfunctions with Boeing Starliner capsule, that timeline has been extended

0:48 Speaker 1: and they're not expected to return until February twenty twenty five,

0:52 Speaker 1: when the space X Crew nine mission comes to the rescue.

0:55 Speaker 1: The Starliner capsule had several critical issues, including thruster malfunctions,

0:59 Speaker 1: and helium leaks, which understandably raise safety concerns for NASA.

1:03 Speaker 1: Despite Boeing's public confidence in their spaceship, the lack of

1:07 Speaker 1: their executives at recent NASA press briefings spurred rumors of

1:10 Speaker 1: a serious rift between the two giants of space travel.

1:14 Speaker 1: NASA's Steve Stitch, the program manager for the Commercial Crew program,

1:18 Speaker 1: admitted there was tension in the meetings, but he downplayed

1:21 Speaker 1: reports of shouting matches. Instead, he characterized the interactions as

1:25 Speaker 1: intense technical discussions where both sides were heavily invested in

1:29 Speaker 1: parsing out the details. One of the biggest sticking points

1:33 Speaker 1: was Boeing's belief in their predictive model for the thruster

1:35 Speaker 1: degradation of Starliner, a model that NASA's team found too

1:40 Speaker 1: uncertain to rely on. NASA was not willing to gamble

1:43 Speaker 1: with the lives of their astronauts given these uncertainties, so

1:46 Speaker 1: despite Boeing's attempts to persuade NASA of the capsule's reliability,

1:50 Speaker 1: the decision was made to enlist SpaceX to ferry the

1:52 Speaker 1: astronauts back safely. Nonetheless, Wilmore and Williams remain in good

1:57 Speaker 1: spirits and are maintaining regular contact with their family. They

2:00 Speaker 1: were even sent better fitting suits during a recent resupply mission,

2:04 Speaker 1: so they are no longer dependent on borrowed clothes. It's

2:07 Speaker 1: a good reminder of the cooperative spirit and resilience of

2:10 Speaker 1: the astronaut community despite the challenges they face. As for

2:14 Speaker 1: the Starliner capsule, it's scheduled to undock from the ISS

2:17 Speaker 1: soon and will execute a breakout burn to ensure a

2:20 Speaker 1: safe departure and return to Earth. This marks a crucial

2:23 Speaker 1: turning point for NASA and Boeing, one that likely sets

2:26 Speaker 1: the stage for how future collaborations and contracts will be handled.

2:30 Speaker 1: These developments remind us how intense and complex space missions

2:33 Speaker 1: can be, underscoring the high stakes and technical challenges inherent

2:37 Speaker 1: in human spaceflight. Next up some positive news, NASA's Europa

2:41 Speaker 1: Clipper mission is officially cleared for launch in October twenty

2:44 Speaker 1: twenty four, and excitement is building for what promises to

2:47 Speaker 1: be a groundbreaking exploration of one of Jupiter's most intriguing moons, Europa.

2:52 Speaker 1: This icy celestial body has long fascinated scientists due to

2:56 Speaker 1: its potential for harboring a subsurface ocean which contained twice

3:00 Speaker 1: as much water as all of Earth's seas combined, imagine

3:04 Speaker 1: the possibilities. Equipped with nine advanced instruments, including cameras, ground

3:09 Speaker 1: penetrating radar, and spectrometers, the Europa Clipper spacecraft is designed

3:13 Speaker 1: to delve deep into Europa's mysteries. It will carry out

3:16 Speaker 1: multiple close flybys of the Moon, allowing it to thoroughly

3:20 Speaker 1: examine the environment beneath the icy crust, as well as

3:24 Speaker 1: the Moon's composition and geology. One of the mission's primary

3:28 Speaker 1: goals is to assess whether there are regions beneath Europa's

3:31 Speaker 1: surface that could support life. The detailed exploration aims to

3:35 Speaker 1: deepen our understanding of Europa's potential for habitability and could

3:38 Speaker 1: have significant implications for the search for life beyond Earth.

3:42 Speaker 1: Launching atop a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy

3:45 Speaker 1: Space Center in Florida, the Clipper will embark on a

3:48 Speaker 1: journey set to culminate in its arrival at Jupiter in

3:51 Speaker 1: twenty thirty Over the course of three years, between twenty

3:54 Speaker 1: thirty one and twenty thirty four, the spacecraft will perform

3:57 Speaker 1: nearly fifty flybys of Europa. This extended close encounter strategy

4:02 Speaker 1: will provide scientists with an unprecedented amount of data about

4:05 Speaker 1: this enigmatic moon. Initially, there were concerns about the spacecraft's

4:10 Speaker 1: ability to withstand the intense radiation environment surrounding Jupiter. Earlier

4:14 Speaker 1: tests revealed that its transistors, which control the flow of electricity,

4:18 Speaker 1: were failing at unexpectedly low radiation doses. However, recent tests

4:23 Speaker 1: have confirmed that the transistors can endure the radiation expected

4:26 Speaker 1: during the mission, alleviating previous concerns and ensuring the spacecraft's

4:31 Speaker 1: operational integrity. Before the mission can proceed to its final

4:35 Speaker 1: launch preparations, it must pass a critical review known as

4:37 Speaker 1: Key Decision Point E, slated for September ninth. This milestone

4:42 Speaker 1: will determine if the Europa Clipper is ready to move forward,

4:45 Speaker 1: paving the way for what could be one of the

4:47 Speaker 1: most thrilling chapters in our quest to uncover the secrets

4:50 Speaker 1: of our Solar system. Stay tuned as we keep you

4:53 Speaker 1: updated on this incredible mission and its potential to rewrite

4:56 Speaker 1: our understanding of where life might exist beyond Earth. You

4:59 Speaker 1: know how I keep urging you to look up. Here's why.

5:02 Speaker 1: A small asteroid named twenty twenty four RW one recently

5:06 Speaker 1: put on a show as it burned up in Earth's

5:08 Speaker 1: atmosphere above the Western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island in

5:11 Speaker 1: the Philippines. Discovered just hours before impact by research technologist

5:16 Speaker 1: Jacqueline Fazecas with the NASA funded Catalina Sky Survey twenty

5:20 Speaker 1: twenty four, RW one was only the ninth asteroid to

5:23 Speaker 1: be spotted prior to its impact with our planet. The asteroid,

5:26 Speaker 1: which measured about three feet in diameter, made its fiery

5:29 Speaker 1: entrance at approximately twelve forty six pm Eastern time. Videos

5:33 Speaker 1: posted on social media captured a bright green fireball streaking

5:36 Speaker 1: across the sky, visible from the east coast of the Philippines.

5:40 Speaker 1: This dazzling display captivated onlookers and provided a stunning example

5:44 Speaker 1: of the forces at play in our solar system. NASA's

5:47 Speaker 1: Planetary Defense Coordination Office confirmed that the impact was detected

5:51 Speaker 1: by multiple sensors. This event underscores the critical importance of

5:55 Speaker 1: planetary defense, that is, the effort to detect, track, and

5:59 Speaker 1: putotentially mitigate near Earth objects that might pose a collision risk.

6:03 Speaker 1: The successful identification and monitoring of twenty twenty four are

6:07 Speaker 1: W one demonstrate the strides being made by global space

6:10 Speaker 1: agencies to keep our planet safe and speaking of looking up,

6:14 Speaker 1: September is shaping up to be an extraordinary month for skywatchers,

6:18 Speaker 1: so grab your telescopes and binoculars for some spectacular celestial events.

6:22 Speaker 1: First up, we have an incredible harvest supermoon eclipse on

6:25 Speaker 1: September seventeenth. This full moon, also known as the Harvest Moon,

6:30 Speaker 1: is extra special this year as it coincides with a

6:32 Speaker 1: partial lunar eclipse. As the moon rises for those on

6:35 Speaker 1: the West coast of the United States, you'll notice a

6:38 Speaker 1: subtle bite taken out of it. Check the timing locally,

6:41 Speaker 1: but it's set to be visible for most of the night.

6:44 Speaker 1: Even though the difference in size and brightness compared to

6:47 Speaker 1: an average full moon is hard to detect with the

6:49 Speaker 1: naked eye, the supermoon always provides an impressive sight, and

6:54 Speaker 1: that's just the beginning. All month long, you can catch

6:56 Speaker 1: views of five planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Mars Mercury.

7:00 Speaker 1: Venus will be hanging low in the western sky shortly

7:03 Speaker 1: after sunset, gradually climbing higher as we move into the

7:07 Speaker 1: later months of the year. Saturn will be visible all night,

7:10 Speaker 1: starting in the southeastern sky at dusk and setting in

7:12 Speaker 1: the west by dawn. Jupiter and Mars are both early

7:15 Speaker 1: morning delights, rising around midnight or a bit afterward. Keep

7:19 Speaker 1: an eye out for Mercury too visible during morning twilight.

7:22 Speaker 1: In the first week of September. For those with a

7:24 Speaker 1: clear eastern view, mark your calendars for a couple of

7:29 Speaker 1: key dates. On September sixteenth, the Moon will lead Saturn

7:32 Speaker 1: across the sky, an awe inspiring sight for anyone with

7:35 Speaker 1: a clear southeastern horizon, and the following night, as the

7:39 Speaker 1: Moon journeys through the Pleiades, fans of this star cluster

7:43 Speaker 1: will get to see the Moon passing right in front

7:45 Speaker 1: of it, a striking spectacle for sure. Another event to

7:49 Speaker 1: look forward to is the International Observe the Moonnight on

7:52 Speaker 1: September fourteenth. Whether you're attending a local event or observing

7:55 Speaker 1: from your backyard, it's a wonderful opportunity to appreciate our

7:59 Speaker 1: closest life lestial neighbor. This year's event is uniquely special,

8:03 Speaker 1: as we'll get to observe the Marius Hills, volcanic domes,

8:06 Speaker 1: and cones of lunar terrain under ideal lighting conditions. Last,

8:10 Speaker 1: but certainly not least, there's a new NASA spacecraft to

8:13 Speaker 1: watch for in the night sky, the Advanced Composite Solar

8:16 Speaker 1: Sale System or ACS three. This satellite, now equipped with

8:19 Speaker 1: thirty foot solar sales, will be testing new propulsion technologies.

8:23 Speaker 1: These highly reflective sales make the spacecraft almost as bright

8:26 Speaker 1: as serious, and you can track its passages using the

8:29 Speaker 1: NASA app on your mobile device. Don't miss your chance

8:32 Speaker 1: to see this fabulous innovation. Sailing through space September truly

8:37 Speaker 1: offers something for everyone, from seasoned astronomers to casual stargazers,

8:41 Speaker 1: So get out there and enjoy the night sky. NASA

8:45 Speaker 1: astronaut Don Pettitt is a name synonymous with innovation and curiosity.

8:49 Speaker 1: His talent for turning everyday moments into extraordinary scientific experiments

8:54 Speaker 1: has earned him a reputation for groundbreaking discoveries. Aboard the

8:57 Speaker 1: International Space Station. Today were diving into some of Pettitt's

9:01 Speaker 1: most inventive science of opportunity experiments. One of Pettit's fascinating

9:05 Speaker 1: investigations involved freezing ice in the microgravity of space. He

9:09 Speaker 1: observed that, unlike on Earth, where gravity causes trapped air

9:12 Speaker 1: to accumulate in one spot inside the ice cube, water

9:15 Speaker 1: freezes differently in microgravity. Using a minus ninety degree celsius

9:19 Speaker 1: freezer on board the ISS and polarizing light, Pettit was

9:23 Speaker 1: able to capture and study these differences. His findings provide

9:27 Speaker 1: valuable insights into the behavior of fluids and the physical

9:30 Speaker 1: principles at play in the absence of gravity. Not one

9:33 Speaker 1: to overlook daily rituals, Pettit also devised a solution for

9:36 Speaker 1: drinking beverages more conveniently in space. Traditional methods involve sipping

9:41 Speaker 1: through a straw from sealed bags, an approach that left

9:44 Speaker 1: much to be desired. Using overhead transparency film, he created

9:47 Speaker 1: the prototype for the capillary beverage or space cup. This

9:51 Speaker 1: ingenious cup exploits surface tension and container shape to imitate

9:54 Speaker 1: the effects of gravity, making it easier and more enjoyable

9:57 Speaker 1: to sit beverages. Pettit's curiosity extended to planetary formation too.

10:03 Speaker 1: Using materials such as table salt, sugar, and coffee grounds,

10:07 Speaker 1: he examined how tiny particles clumped together in microgravity, an

10:11 Speaker 1: early and crucial step in planetary formation. By placing these

10:15 Speaker 1: particulate mixtures in plastic bags, filling them with air, and

10:20 Speaker 1: shaking them, he demonstrated how particles naturally aggregate due to

10:24 Speaker 1: electrostatic forces. These simple, yet profound observations are helping scientists

10:30 Speaker 1: understand the fundamental processes that lead to planet formation. He

10:34 Speaker 1: didn't stop there. Pettit also explored orbital motion using knitting

10:38 Speaker 1: needles rubbed with paper to charge them electrically. He then

10:41 Speaker 1: observed water droplets orbiting the needles, providing a fascinating analogy

10:45 Speaker 1: to charge particles in Earth's magnetic field and offering potential

10:49 Speaker 1: applications for future spacecraft systems. One of Pettit's most visually

10:53 Speaker 1: stunning contributions has been his astrophotography. Utilizing various techniques like

10:58 Speaker 1: time exposure and multiple cameras, he has captured exquisite images

11:03 Speaker 1: of Earth and star trails from the unique vantage of

11:06 Speaker 1: the space station. These images not only contribute to scientific research,

11:10 Speaker 1: but also inspire public fascination with space exploration. From freezing

11:15 Speaker 1: ice to capturing cosmic photos, Pettit's inventive experiments have significantly

11:20 Speaker 1: enriched our understanding of space science, proving that sometimes the

11:24 Speaker 1: best discoveries come from a keen sense of curiosity and

11:28 Speaker 1: the willingness to explore the unknown. Thanks for tuning in

11:31 Speaker 1: to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host, Anna. We hope you

11:34 Speaker 1: enjoyed today's episode and found our cosmic discussions both enlightening

11:38 Speaker 1: and engaging. If you're looking to stay up to date

11:40 Speaker 1: with all the latest in space and astronomy news, make

11:43 Speaker 1: sure to visit our website at Astronomy Daily dot io.

11:47 Speaker 1: There you can sign up for our free daily newsletter,

11:50 Speaker 1: which will keep you informed about everything happening in the universe. Additionally,

11:55 Speaker 1: you can catch up on all our past episodes and

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12:20 Speaker 1: and happy stargazing.

12:21 Speaker 2: Sunday Stars, starz Star