S03E151: Polaris Dawn's Private Spacewalk, Moon Mapping Challenge, and Milky Way Mysteries

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

0:02 Speaker 1: latest and greatest in space and astronomy. I'm your host, Anna,

0:06 Speaker 1: and today we have some thrilling stories lined up for you.

0:09 Speaker 1: Sit tight as we dive into groundbreaking missions, celestial discoveries,

0:12 Speaker 1: and much more. In today's episode, we'll explore SpaceX's pioneering

0:17 Speaker 1: Polaris Dawn mission, which just launched with the first ever

0:20 Speaker 1: private spacewalk. We'll also delve into NASA's exciting fifty thousand

0:24 Speaker 1: dollars reward challenge for mapping the Moon's mysterious south Pole.

0:28 Speaker 2: But that's not all.

0:29 Speaker 1: We've got new research shedding light on the fascinating origins

0:32 Speaker 1: of the Milky Ways supermassive black hole.

0:35 Speaker 2: Plus, we'll track.

0:36 Speaker 1: NASA's Parker Solar Probe as it prepares for its critical

0:38 Speaker 1: final fly by a Venus. And finally, don't miss the

0:42 Speaker 1: incredible story of how NASA's Voyager won journeying through interstellar

0:46 Speaker 1: space successfully overcame technical difficulties after forty seven years. Buckle up, stargazers,

0:53 Speaker 1: it's going to be an exciting ride through the Cosmos.

0:55 Speaker 1: Earlier this week, SpaceX made history with the launch of

0:58 Speaker 1: its Polaris Dawn mission, introducing an extraordinary era of private

1:02 Speaker 1: space exploration. Aboard the modified Crew Dragon Capsule, four courageous

1:07 Speaker 1: private astronauts embarked on a groundbreaking journey, one that is

1:11 Speaker 1: slated to include the first ever private spacewalk, lifting off

1:15 Speaker 1: from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission began

1:18 Speaker 1: at the crack of dawn five twenty three amst to

1:22 Speaker 1: be precise. Just nine and a half short minutes later,

1:25 Speaker 1: the crew Dragon Capsule gracefully entered orbit, a small plush

1:29 Speaker 1: astronaut dog floating freely in zero gravity, signaling the onset

1:33 Speaker 1: of the grand adventure. Upon reaching space, the capsule offered

1:37 Speaker 1: the crew a stunning view of the Earth bathed in sunlight.

1:40 Speaker 1: The separation from the support trunk provided a picturesque backdrop

1:43 Speaker 1: of our home planet as seen from a vantage point

1:46 Speaker 1: so few have ever experienced. The man behind this ambitious

1:49 Speaker 1: mission is Jared Isaacman, a forty one year old billionaire

1:52 Speaker 1: entrepreneur and pilot. Joining him our Scott Petite, a fifty

1:56 Speaker 1: year old retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and Space

2:00 Speaker 1: employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who both serve as

2:04 Speaker 1: senior engineers. This diverse crew is not just making history,

2:08 Speaker 1: they are also serving as test subjects for an array

2:10 Speaker 1: of scientific experiments. Their mission to better understand the effects

2:15 Speaker 1: of cosmic radiation in the vacuum of space on the

2:17 Speaker 1: human body. One of the most exciting aspects of Polaris

2:20 Speaker 1: Dawn is the debut of brand new SpaceX spacesuits.

2:23 Speaker 2: Unlike traditional, thick and.

2:24 Speaker 1: Bulky designs, these suits are slimmed down and optimized for

2:28 Speaker 1: greater ease of movement.

2:29 Speaker 2: The true test of these suits.

2:30 Speaker 1: Will come on the mission's third day, when Isaac, Mann

2:33 Speaker 1: and Gillis plan to venture outside the Crew Dragon for

2:36 Speaker 1: a twenty minute spacewalk at a staggering altitude of seven

2:39 Speaker 1: hundred kilometers. This mission is particularly challenging and risky. The

2:44 Speaker 1: Crew Dragon capsule has no airlock, meaning the entire cabin

2:47 Speaker 1: will have to be depressurized for the spacewalk. This is

2:50 Speaker 1: a nod to the methods used during early space missions

2:53 Speaker 1: in the nineteen sixties. Unlike previous spacewalks that have been

2:56 Speaker 1: the domain of highly trained government astronauts, this daring endeavor

3:01 Speaker 1: sets a new precedent for private space exploration. Despite having

3:05 Speaker 1: to overcome a series of technical delays, including a helium

3:08 Speaker 1: leak and a recovery failure of unrelated missions, SpaceX managed

3:12 Speaker 1: to pull off a near perfect launch after a brief

3:14 Speaker 1: weather delay. The science and data collected from Polaris Dawn

3:17 Speaker 1: will undoubtedly pave the way for future missions. This is

3:21 Speaker 1: just the first in a planned series under Isaac Mann's

3:23 Speaker 1: Polaris program, which aims to culminate in a monumental flight

3:27 Speaker 1: aboard SpaceX's Starship, the massive vehicle intended for Moon and

3:30 Speaker 1: Mars expeditions. As the voyage continues, know that the pioneering

3:35 Speaker 1: spirit of these private astronauts isn't just pushing boundaries in space.

3:39 Speaker 1: It's shedding light on human resilience, ingenuity, and the endless

3:43 Speaker 1: possibilities that lie beyond our earthly confines. Next up today,

3:47 Speaker 1: NASA is once again pushing the envelope of space exploration,

3:51 Speaker 1: this time offering a fifty thousand dollars reward for groundbreaking

3:55 Speaker 1: solutions to navigate the rugged terrain of the Moon's South

3:59 Speaker 1: Pole and map the enigmatic Shackleton Crater. This ambitious challenge

4:03 Speaker 1: is part of the Artemis campaign, which aims to facilitate

4:06 Speaker 1: human landing on lunar surfaces and pave the way for

4:09 Speaker 1: future missions to Mars. The Artemis campaign represents NASA's grand

4:13 Speaker 1: return to lunar missions after over half a century, with

4:17 Speaker 1: a special focus on the south pole of the Moon,

4:19 Speaker 1: particularly targeting Shackleton Crater. The reason behind this choice is

4:24 Speaker 1: both scientific and strategic. The permanently shadowed regions here may

4:28 Speaker 1: house water ice reserves, which could prove indispensable for sustaining

4:32 Speaker 1: future long term missions, especially those venturing out to Mars.

4:37 Speaker 1: To make this audacious vision a reality, NASA has introduced

4:40 Speaker 1: two key challenges. The first challenge tasks participants with developing

4:45 Speaker 1: an innovative orienteering aid to help astronauts navigate the lunar

4:49 Speaker 1: surface safely and efficiently. Revisiting techniques used during the Apollo missions,

4:54 Speaker 1: NASA seeks fresh and unique technologies that are accurate, easy

4:57 Speaker 1: to use, and functional even when astra are wearing bulky,

5:01 Speaker 1: pressurized gloves. If you're one of the brains behind a

5:04 Speaker 1: winning solution, you could be walking away with a part

5:07 Speaker 1: of the fifteen thousand dollars prize perse allocated for this

5:10 Speaker 1: challenge alone. But NASA isn't stopping there. The second challenge

5:14 Speaker 1: focuses on creating a robust mapping system that can effectively

5:17 Speaker 1: operate in the extreme and harsh conditions of Shackleton Crater.

5:21 Speaker 1: Imagine an instrument that can brave the relentless cold temperatures

5:25 Speaker 1: that hover around ninety kelvin and successfully map out the crater,

5:30 Speaker 1: characterizing and quantifying its contents. The winning designs will not

5:34 Speaker 1: only need to withstand these conditions, but also relate invaluable

5:37 Speaker 1: data back to Earth, thereby supporting future exploratory missions. The

5:42 Speaker 1: stakes are high, as this challenge has a thirty thousand

5:44 Speaker 1: dollars prize perse up for grabs. Altogether, the available prize

5:48 Speaker 1: pool for these two challenges is fifty thousand dollars, with

5:52 Speaker 1: an additional five thousand dollars reserved for exceptional solutions. The

5:56 Speaker 1: rewards are not just financial. Contributing to this groundbreaking effort

6:00 Speaker 1: can mean a place in the chronicles of space history.

6:03 Speaker 1: If you think you have what it takes, make sure

6:05 Speaker 1: to submit your entries by November twenty fifth, twenty twenty four.

6:08 Speaker 1: This is a golden opportunity to collaborate with NASA and

6:11 Speaker 1: play a pivotal role in the next giant leap in

6:13 Speaker 1: lunar exploration. For more detailed information about how you can participate,

6:18 Speaker 1: you can visit the competition page on freelancer dot com. So,

6:22 Speaker 1: if you're an innovator, engineer, or simply a space enthusiast

6:24 Speaker 1: with a killer idea, now's the time to shine. This

6:27 Speaker 1: isn't just a challenge. It's a call to be part

6:30 Speaker 1: of something monumental, to contribute to knowledge that could one

6:34 Speaker 1: day support humanity's journey to Mars and beyond. Whether it's

6:38 Speaker 1: through high tech solutions or ingenius low tech devices, the

6:41 Speaker 1: goal is the same, to arm astronauts with the tools

6:44 Speaker 1: they need to explore the Moon's most mysterious regions, unlocking

6:49 Speaker 1: secrets that have lain hidden in the shadows for millennia. So,

6:52 Speaker 1: if you're passionate about space and innovation, take up the gauntlet.

6:57 Speaker 1: Help NASA navigate the Moon's South Pole map Shackleton C

7:00 Speaker 1: and get one step closer to Mars. The deadline is

7:03 Speaker 1: approaching fast, and the stars might just align in your favor.

7:06 Speaker 1: Now onto one of our favorite subjects. One of the

7:08 Speaker 1: most intriguing mysteries in astrophysics centers around supermassive black holes,

7:13 Speaker 1: colossal beasts that can be millions of times more massive

7:17 Speaker 1: than our Sun, nestled at the heart of most galaxies,

7:20 Speaker 1: including our very own Milky Way. These enigmatic entities have

7:23 Speaker 1: long puzzled scientists. However, new research from the Nevada Center

7:27 Speaker 1: for Astrophysics and CFA at UNLV might just have unearthed

7:31 Speaker 1: a crucial piece of this cosmic puzzle. The study, recently

7:34 Speaker 1: published in Nature Astronomy takes a closer look at Sagittarius A,

7:39 Speaker 1: the supermassive black hole that lies at the core of

7:41 Speaker 1: the Milky Way. Using data from the Event Horizon Telescope EHT,

7:46 Speaker 1: which astonished the world with the first ever image of

7:48 Speaker 1: CRA a asterisk in twenty twenty two, researchers Yihan Wang

7:52 Speaker 1: and Bingjong offer a compelling new theory. They propose that

7:56 Speaker 1: Suger a asterisk may have formed as a result of

7:58 Speaker 1: a massive cosmic merger. To delve deeper into this possibility,

8:02 Speaker 1: the researchers analyze the peculiar characteristics of CESDR asterisk. One

8:06 Speaker 1: key observation is the black hole's unusual rapid spin and

8:10 Speaker 1: its misalignment with the Milky Way's angular momentum. These anomalies

8:14 Speaker 1: have long baffled scientists, but Wang and Jang suggest they

8:17 Speaker 1: are best explained by a monumental merger event, specifically a

8:21 Speaker 1: collision between sigdr Asterisk and another super massive black hole.

8:26 Speaker 1: This isn't just a captivating notion. The research team used

8:29 Speaker 1: advanced simulations to model the aftermath of such a cataclysmic collision.

8:34 Speaker 1: Their findings indicate that a merger with a mass ratio

8:37 Speaker 1: of four to one and a highly inclined orbit could

8:40 Speaker 1: generate the spin properties observed in SDRA Asterisk. Moreover, the

8:44 Speaker 1: team estimates that this colossal collision likely occurred around nine

8:48 Speaker 1: billion years ago, possibly coinciding with the Milky Way's merger

8:52 Speaker 1: with the Gaya Enceladus galaxy. This discovery paves the way

8:56 Speaker 1: for our understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and evolve,

8:59 Speaker 1: explain in Zihan Wang. On the other hand, Bingjang points

9:03 Speaker 1: out that this event not only adds credibility to the

9:05 Speaker 1: hierarchical black hole merger theory, but also offers significant insights

9:10 Speaker 1: into the dynamic history of our galaxy, as cesga a

9:13 Speaker 1: asterisk sits more than twenty seven thousand light years away

9:16 Speaker 1: from Earth. Obtaining concrete proof of these findings remains a challenge. Nevertheless,

9:21 Speaker 1: future missions like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna LISA, set

9:25 Speaker 1: to launch in twenty thirty five, hold promise. Lisa's advanced

9:29 Speaker 1: gravitational wave detection capabilities could uncover similar merger events in

9:34 Speaker 1: other parts of the universe, further validating Wang and Jang's

9:37 Speaker 1: groundbreaking research. Understanding the origins of Sagittarius A is more

9:42 Speaker 1: than an answer to a long held astrophysical question. It

9:46 Speaker 1: opens doors to a deeper understanding of the complex ballet

9:49 Speaker 1: of cosmic forces playing out across the universe. As technology

9:53 Speaker 1: advances and new observational tools become available, such as the

9:57 Speaker 1: EHT and LISA, our comprehension of these awe inspiring celestial

10:01 Speaker 1: phenomena will only continue to grow. NASA's Parker Solar Probe

10:06 Speaker 1: is gearing up for a significant milestone on November six,

10:09 Speaker 1: the final planned Venus flyby. This maneuver is designed to

10:13 Speaker 1: harness Venus's gravitational pull to tighten the spacecraft's orbit around

10:17 Speaker 1: the Sun, ultimately bringing it closer to our star than

10:21 Speaker 1: ever before. It's fascinating to note the precise engineering and

10:25 Speaker 1: planning that goes into such a mission.

10:27 Speaker 2: On August twenty.

10:28 Speaker 1: Sixth, the spacecraft executed a brief but critical thrust burn,

10:32 Speaker 1: adjusting its velocity by less than a mile per hour.

10:35 Speaker 1: This seemingly minor correction is crucial. It ensures Parker Solar

10:40 Speaker 1: Probe is on the optimal path for a targeted approach

10:42 Speaker 1: point just two hundred and forty miles above Venus's surface.

10:46 Speaker 1: This flyby is the seventh and closest among the gravity

10:49 Speaker 1: assists Parker has performed, bringing it nearer to the planet

10:53 Speaker 1: than any of its previous encounters. The proximity to Venus

10:56 Speaker 1: will allow the Parker's Solar Probe to use the planet's

10:59 Speaker 1: gravity to adjust its trajectory. This will enable the spacecraft

11:03 Speaker 1: to move significantly closer to the Sun, down to a

11:06 Speaker 1: distance of just three point eight million miles, an achievement

11:09 Speaker 1: that promises to yield a trove of unprecedented data about

11:13 Speaker 1: our solar system's furnace. Yanpinguo, the mission design and navigation

11:17 Speaker 1: manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, explains that

11:21 Speaker 1: precise positioning is everything when it comes to these maneuvers.

11:25 Speaker 1: The upcoming Venus flyby isn't just essential, it's critical. It

11:28 Speaker 1: represents the last major step required for Parker Solar Probe

11:31 Speaker 1: to reach its minimum solar distance. This November, it will

11:35 Speaker 1: come within a whisker of the Sun compared to its

11:37 Speaker 1: current position. The timing couldn't be more exciting. After this

11:41 Speaker 1: close approach to Venus, Parker will embark on its first

11:44 Speaker 1: of at least three planned passes near the Sun at

11:47 Speaker 1: a record pace of four hundred thirty thousand miles per

11:50 Speaker 1: hour come December twenty fourth. That's Christmas Eve, making this

11:54 Speaker 1: holiday season even more thrilling for space enthusiasts. As Parker

11:58 Speaker 1: Solar Probe prepares for this potent, mentally game changing flyby,

12:01 Speaker 1: it's not taking a break.

12:03 Speaker 2: The spacecraft is currently.

12:04 Speaker 1: In its twenty first orbit and is set to begin

12:07 Speaker 1: a science encounter that will peak with a close approach

12:09 Speaker 1: to the Sun known as perihelion on September thirtieth. This

12:14 Speaker 1: period will help gather critical data, setting the stage for

12:16 Speaker 1: what's to come in November. The mission's trajectory adjustments and

12:20 Speaker 1: the science data it will collect bring us closer to

12:23 Speaker 1: understanding the Sun's outer corona and the solar winds properties.

12:27 Speaker 1: This data is expected to provide invaluable insights into the

12:30 Speaker 1: mechanisms driving solar phenomena, which in turn have direct impacts

12:35 Speaker 1: on space weather, affecting everything from satellite communications to power

12:39 Speaker 1: systems here on Earth. For those wanting to follow the

12:42 Speaker 1: Parker Solar Probe's journey, updates are consistently posted on the JOHNS.

12:46 Speaker 1: Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratories Parker Solar Probe website, and as

12:52 Speaker 1: always here at Astronomy Daily, we'll keep you informed with

12:55 Speaker 1: the latest developments. The adventure is far from over, and

12:58 Speaker 1: as Parker narrows in on the Sun, who knows what

13:01 Speaker 1: remarkable discoveries await us now? The spacecraft that just keeps

13:05 Speaker 1: on giving. NASA's Voyager one has been an incredible explorer

13:09 Speaker 1: for over forty seven years, traveling far beyond our Solar

13:12 Speaker 1: System into interstellar space. Recently, the mission team at NASA's

13:16 Speaker 1: Jet Propulsion Laboratory accomplished a significant feat. They successfully switched

13:21 Speaker 1: the spacecraft to a different set of thrusters due to

13:23 Speaker 1: issues with clogged fuel tubes. These thrusters are essential for

13:27 Speaker 1: keeping Voyager one pointed at Earth, allowing it to continue

13:30 Speaker 1: sending valuable scientific data. The problem emerged when the team

13:34 Speaker 1: noticed that the fuel tubes in Voyager one's thrusters were

13:37 Speaker 1: becoming clogged with silicon dioxide, a byproduct from the spacecraft's

13:42 Speaker 1: aging fuel system. These clogs compromise the thruster's efficiency, which

13:46 Speaker 1: in turn made it difficult for the spacecraft to maintain

13:49 Speaker 1: its orientation towards Earth. Maintaining this precise orientation is crucial

13:53 Speaker 1: for communication and data transmission. Throughout its mission. The Voyager

13:57 Speaker 1: team has had to switch between different sets of thrusts

14:00 Speaker 1: multiple times due to similar issues. This time, the challenge

14:03 Speaker 1: was compounded by the spacecraft's extreme distance from Earth and

14:07 Speaker 1: its diminishing power supply. Scientists had to navigate the tricky

14:11 Speaker 1: task of warming up the alternative set of thrusters, which

14:14 Speaker 1: had grown cold after being dormant for years. This preparation

14:18 Speaker 1: was essential to ensure that turning them on wouldn't cause damage.

14:22 Speaker 1: The solution was to temporarily redirect power from one of

14:25 Speaker 1: the spacecraft's main heaters to heat the thruster assembly. This

14:28 Speaker 1: delicate balance of power management was crucial, as the spacecraft

14:32 Speaker 1: operates on a very limited power supply generated by decaying plutonium.

14:36 Speaker 1: After carefully executing their plan, the team confirmed on August

14:40 Speaker 1: twenty seventh that the backup thruster branch was functioning as intended,

14:44 Speaker 1: a remarkable achievement that will allow Voyager one to continue

14:48 Speaker 1: its groundbreaking mission. Voyager one is now more than fourteen

14:51 Speaker 1: billion miles from Earth, exploring a region known as interstellar space.

14:56 Speaker 1: This area lies outside the bubble of particles and magnetic

14:58 Speaker 1: fields emanating from our Sun, a place no other human

15:02 Speaker 1: made object has yet ventured. The successful thruster swap ensures

15:06 Speaker 1: that Voyager one will keep sending back data about this

15:08 Speaker 1: distant and largely unknown part of the universe. The resilience

15:12 Speaker 1: and adaptability of the Voyager missions underscore humanity's enduring quest

15:16 Speaker 1: for knowledge. Even after nearly five decades, Voyager one continues

15:20 Speaker 1: to push the boundaries of exploration, providing insights that could

15:24 Speaker 1: help us better understand the cosmos. The mission science team

15:27 Speaker 1: remains dedicated to keeping the spacecraft operational as long as possible,

15:31 Speaker 1: unlocking new secrets from the frontiers of space. Stay tuned

15:34 Speaker 1: to Astronomy Daily for more updates on Voyager one and

15:38 Speaker 1: other incredible missions exploring the final frontier.

15:41 Speaker 2: That wraps up today's episode of.

15:43 Speaker 1: Astronomy Daily, I've been your host, Anna remember, you can

15:47 Speaker 1: always keep up with the latest space and astronomy news

15:49 Speaker 1: by visiting our website at Astronomydaily dot io. There you

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16:16 Speaker 1: on all things cosmic. Thank you for joining us today.

16:20 Speaker 2: Until next time, keep looking up today. Star is so

16:32 Speaker 2: startz