S03E152: Polaris Dawn's Spacewalk, Soyuz Record, and Tired Light Theory

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna. Today we're

0:03 Speaker 1: going to explore some of the most exciting recent developments

0:06 Speaker 1: in the world of space and astronomy. You'll want to

0:09 Speaker 1: stick around because we have a packed show ahead. We'll

0:12 Speaker 1: be diving deep into SpaceX's first private space walk during

0:15 Speaker 1: their Polaris Dawn mission, where a group of courageous astronauts

0:19 Speaker 1: will take commercial spaceflight to new hypes. We'll also talk

0:22 Speaker 1: about Russia's flawless Soyuz rocket launch, marking a historic moment

0:25 Speaker 1: with a record nineteen astronauts currently orbiting Earth. But that's

0:29 Speaker 1: not all. We're also going to delve into a groundbreaking

0:32 Speaker 1: proposal for a new mega satellite constellation that promises rapid

0:36 Speaker 1: global observation capabilities like never before. Plus, NASA's Juno mission

0:41 Speaker 1: has just discovered a brand new volcano on Jupiter's moon Io,

0:44 Speaker 1: adding even more intrigue to our geologically active neighbor. And finally,

0:48 Speaker 1: we'll discuss a provocative new study challenging the very foundation

0:52 Speaker 1: of the Big Bang theory, suggesting that light may lose

0:55 Speaker 1: energy over vast distances. So stay tuned for all this

0:58 Speaker 1: and more on today's episode of Astronomy Day. Let's start

1:01 Speaker 1: with the news of the moment. SpaceX is about to

1:03 Speaker 1: make history with the first private spacewalk during the Polarisdawn mission.

1:07 Speaker 1: This mission represents a groundbreaking achievement in commercial spaceflight. The

1:11 Speaker 1: crew for this daring venture consists of four individuals, a

1:13 Speaker 1: billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military fighter pilot, and two SpaceX

1:18 Speaker 1: senior engineers. Jared isaac Mann, the billionaire founder of Shift

1:22 Speaker 1: for Payments, is no stranger to space adventures, having already

1:26 Speaker 1: bankrolled the inspiration for mission in twenty twenty one. Alongside

1:30 Speaker 1: him is mission pilot Scott Petite, a retired US Air

1:33 Speaker 1: Force Lieutenant colonel, and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis and Anna Menin.

1:37 Speaker 1: This eclectic mix of talent and experience embodies the spirit

1:40 Speaker 1: of commercial space exploration, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

1:44 Speaker 1: The team has been orbiting Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew

1:47 Speaker 1: Dragon capsule since they launched from Florida earlier in the week.

1:51 Speaker 1: Now they are set to undertake the riskiest part of

1:53 Speaker 1: their mission, stepping outside the safety of their spacecraft to

1:57 Speaker 1: perform a spacewalk, also known as extra v hitular activity.

2:01 Speaker 1: Or EVA. Live streaming of this monumental event will begin

2:04 Speaker 1: at four fifty five am ET on Thursday. During the EVA,

2:08 Speaker 1: isaac Man and Gillis will venture outside the Crew Dragon,

2:12 Speaker 1: tethered for safety and relying entirely on their new SpaceX

2:15 Speaker 1: developed space suits for life support. Potite and men In

2:19 Speaker 1: will stay inside the capsule to monitor their progress and

2:21 Speaker 1: provide support. The Crew Dragon will be completely depressurized, simulating

2:26 Speaker 1: conditions similar to those faced by government astronauts on the

2:29 Speaker 1: International Space Station. This is a critical test for the

2:32 Speaker 1: new spacesuits, which need to demonstrate their reliability in maintaining

2:36 Speaker 1: a stable environment for the astronauts. As the capsule orbits

2:40 Speaker 1: at an altitude of seven hundred kilometers, the team will

2:43 Speaker 1: not only be making history, but will also be contributing

2:46 Speaker 1: to scientific research. They will act as subjects for various

2:49 Speaker 1: studies on how the human body reacts to the unique

2:52 Speaker 1: conditions of deep space, adding valuable data to decades of

2:56 Speaker 1: research conducted on government astronauts. Jared isaac Mann has describe

3:00 Speaker 1: this mission preparation as the most challenging training he has

3:03 Speaker 1: ever experienced, and given his military background, that says a lot.

3:08 Speaker 1: This mission will serve as a milestone proving that commercial

3:11 Speaker 1: entities can extend their reach beyond the confines of Earth,

3:15 Speaker 1: opening the door to a new era of space exploration.

3:19 Speaker 1: As we look forward to this historic event, the anticipation

3:22 Speaker 1: is palpable. This mission is not just about breaking records,

3:25 Speaker 1: It's about advancing our capabilities and understanding in human spaceflight.

3:30 Speaker 1: Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the exciting developments

3:33 Speaker 1: from the Polarisdawn mission. Next up, let's head over to

3:35 Speaker 1: the ISS. NASA and Roscosmos have successfully launched three astronauts

3:40 Speaker 1: to the International Space Station ISS aboard the reliable Soyuz rocket.

3:45 Speaker 1: The mission is particularly remarkable for marking NASA veteran Don

3:48 Speaker 1: Pettit's return to space after a decade long hiatus. Alongside Pettit,

3:53 Speaker 1: cosmonauts Alexei Vchinan and Even Wagner embarked on this six

3:57 Speaker 1: month journey. Lifting off from the Bikonnor Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan,

4:01 Speaker 1: the flight proceeded flawlessly, according to NASA's launch commentator Anna Schneider,

4:05 Speaker 1: who described the launch as an eight minute and forty

4:08 Speaker 1: five second ride to place Soyuz in its preliminary orbit.

4:11 Speaker 1: The spacecraft safely docked with the ISS at three thirty

4:14 Speaker 1: three pm edt orbiting above Ukraine at the time of arrival.

4:19 Speaker 1: This successful launch has set a new record in human

4:21 Speaker 1: spaceflight as it brings the total number of astronauts in

4:24 Speaker 1: orbit to a historic high of nineteen. These spacefarers are

4:27 Speaker 1: spread across four different spacecraft, an unprecedented milestone that underscores

4:33 Speaker 1: the rapid advancements in space exploration and international collaboration. Upon

4:38 Speaker 1: their arrival, the trio joins the Expedition seventy one crew

4:41 Speaker 1: and will transition to Expedition seventy two during their mission.

4:45 Speaker 1: This continued collaboration between NASA and ros Cosmos highlights the

4:50 Speaker 1: importance of international partnerships in the ongoing exploration and utilization

4:54 Speaker 1: of the ISS. Don Pettitt, known for his impressive space

4:58 Speaker 1: photography and long tenure in space, expressed a joyful return

5:02 Speaker 1: to what he calls his home away from home. Having

5:04 Speaker 1: accumulated three hundred and seventy days in space already, Pettit

5:08 Speaker 1: looks forward to capturing new and captivating phenomena, such as

5:12 Speaker 1: atmospheric events associated with auroras. Pettit shared that modern advancements

5:17 Speaker 1: have significantly enhanced the efficiency and organization on the ISS,

5:21 Speaker 1: tools for inventory management and scheduled timelines have improved immensely.

5:25 Speaker 1: According to him, his enthusiasm for space travel remains unshaken,

5:30 Speaker 1: remarking that the sensation of traveling to space resonates with

5:33 Speaker 1: his very soul. This mission not only adds to Pettit's

5:36 Speaker 1: storied career, but also sets a precedence for future collaborations

5:40 Speaker 1: and missions, further expanding our presence and capabilities in space exploration.

5:45 Speaker 1: Now here's something exciting to look forward to. In an

5:48 Speaker 1: exciting new development, researchers have proposed an innovative design for

5:52 Speaker 1: a megasatellite constellation that promises to revolutionize how we observe Earth.

5:57 Speaker 1: This ambitious project involves the deployment of ab E one

6:00 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety one satellites strategically positioned in low Earth

6:03 Speaker 1: orbit to ensure rapid and comprehensive global coverage. So what

6:07 Speaker 1: makes this constellation design so special? The team of researchers

6:11 Speaker 1: employed advanced orbital mechanics and optimization algorithms to tackle the

6:14 Speaker 1: complex problem of ensuring uniform global coverage. This means that

6:19 Speaker 1: instead of random satellite placements, the constellation is meticulously planned

6:23 Speaker 1: to have basic and accompanying satellites working together in harmony.

6:27 Speaker 1: To break it down, the Mega constellation is divided into

6:30 Speaker 1: two main satellite types, basic satellites and accompanying satellites. Basic

6:36 Speaker 1: satellites form the backbone of the constellation, evenly distributed across

6:40 Speaker 1: the globe and sharing identical sub satellite trajectories. Surrounding these

6:44 Speaker 1: basic satellites, the accompanying satellites operate in tandem to cover

6:48 Speaker 1: gaps and enhance the overall observational capabilities. The real magic

6:52 Speaker 1: happens with the optimization process. Researchers have used highly sophisticated

6:56 Speaker 1: algorithms to calculate the most effective orbital parameters for eather

7:00 Speaker 1: each satellite. This involves considering factors such as satellite imaging

7:03 Speaker 1: with formation, flying capabilities, and the influence of Earth's gravitational perturbations.

7:09 Speaker 1: These elements ensure that the constellation not only provides excellent coverage,

7:13 Speaker 1: but does so with the maximum efficiency. One of the

7:16 Speaker 1: key features of this constellation is its ability to offer

7:19 Speaker 1: rapid global observation. Imagine being able to get near instantaneous

7:23 Speaker 1: updates on Earth changes from natural disasters to environmental monitoring

7:28 Speaker 1: within just thirty five minutes. This quick response capability could

7:31 Speaker 1: be invaluable for disaster management, climate tracking, and a host

7:34 Speaker 1: of other applications that rely on timely data. Extensive simulations

7:39 Speaker 1: and numerical analyses have verified the effectiveness of this new design.

7:43 Speaker 1: The results demonstrate that deploying these eight hundred and ninety

7:46 Speaker 1: one satellites will achieve collaborative observation of any position outside

7:50 Speaker 1: the polar regions within a remarkably short time frame. This

7:54 Speaker 1: is a game changer, providing continuous, real time data that

7:58 Speaker 1: could transform how we interact with our environment. Next up,

8:02 Speaker 1: NASA's Juno mission has made an exciting discovery on Jupiter's

8:05 Speaker 1: moon Io, unveiling a brand new volcano. iiO, the most

8:09 Speaker 1: geologically active body in our Solar System, has a constantly

8:13 Speaker 1: evolving surface pock marked by volcanic activity. The newly observed

8:17 Speaker 1: volcano features multiple lava flows and volcanic deposits that stretch

8:21 Speaker 1: across an area roughly one hundred and eighty kilometers by

8:24 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighty kilometers. This fresh volcanic feature is

8:28 Speaker 1: located just south of Io's equator, an area that appeared

8:32 Speaker 1: relatively featureless in images taken during NASA's Galileo mission back

8:36 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety seven. The new images from JunoCam, captured

8:40 Speaker 1: in early twenty twenty four show dramatic changes, highlighting the

8:43 Speaker 1: dynamic nature of Io's surface. What's striking about this new

8:47 Speaker 1: volcano are its colorful features. The eastern side is tinted

8:50 Speaker 1: a diffuse red due to sulfur being vented into space

8:53 Speaker 1: and settling back onto Io's surface. Meanwhile, two dark streams

8:57 Speaker 1: of lava flow westward, each stretching for about one hundred kinlosmeters.

9:00 Speaker 1: Where these lava flows have pooled, the heat has vaporized

9:04 Speaker 1: the frozen surface material, creating distinct, gray circular deposits. This

9:09 Speaker 1: discovery was part of three recent flybys of Io conducted

9:12 Speaker 1: by the Juno mission in twenty twenty three and twenty

9:15 Speaker 1: twenty four. During these flybys, JunoCam captured around twenty close

9:19 Speaker 1: up images revealing nine active volcanic plumes and additional surface changes.

9:24 Speaker 1: The findings presented at the EuroPlaNet Science Congress in Berlin

9:28 Speaker 1: are not just about raw data. The images captured by

9:31 Speaker 1: JunoCam are shared with the public, inviting people from all

9:34 Speaker 1: walks of life to contribute to the mission's scientific efforts.

9:37 Speaker 1: This democratizes space exploration, allowing anyone with an interest to

9:41 Speaker 1: join in the excitement and discovery. This new volcanic activity

9:44 Speaker 1: on Io enhances our understanding of the Moon's dynamic geological

9:48 Speaker 1: processes and provides a fresh perspective on the volatile environments

9:52 Speaker 1: that exist beyond our planet. One of the most astonishing

9:56 Speaker 1: recent developments in the field of astronomy involves a challenge

10:00 Speaker 1: to one of the cornerstone theories of modern cosmology, the

10:03 Speaker 1: Big Bang theory. A Kansas State University engineer Leor Shamir

10:08 Speaker 1: has published findings that lends support to an alternative theory

10:11 Speaker 1: known as the tired light theory. This theory first emerged

10:14 Speaker 1: nearly a century ago, and if validated, could turn our

10:17 Speaker 1: understanding of the universe on its head. Shamir study utilized

10:21 Speaker 1: imaging data from thirty thousand galaxies to analyze their redshift.

10:25 Speaker 1: Redshift is the phenomenon where light from a galaxy shifts

10:28 Speaker 1: to longer wavelengths as the distance between the galaxy and

10:31 Speaker 1: Earth increases. Traditionally, this has been interpreted as evidence of

10:35 Speaker 1: galaxies moving away from us, thereby supporting the concept that

10:40 Speaker 1: the universe is expanding from a singular Big Bang event

10:43 Speaker 1: approximately thirteen point eight billion years ago. However, Shamir's findings

10:49 Speaker 1: suggest that the more distant a galaxy is, the more

10:52 Speaker 1: its light appears to have lost energy during its travel

10:54 Speaker 1: to Earth, leading to the notion of tired light. This

10:58 Speaker 1: theory was proposed by fritzwick in the nineteen twenties, positing

11:02 Speaker 1: that light loses energy through interactions with other particles or

11:05 Speaker 1: fields in space, rather than the galaxies themselves moving rapidly

11:09 Speaker 1: away from US. Shamir's research draws attention to new images

11:12 Speaker 1: taken by the James Web Space Telescope, which show mature

11:16 Speaker 1: galaxies existing at times when the universe was supposed to

11:19 Speaker 1: be very young. These observations have cast doubts on whether

11:22 Speaker 1: such large evolve structures could form so quickly if the

11:25 Speaker 1: Big Bang theory were correct. By analyzing the rotational velocities

11:29 Speaker 1: and redshifts of galaxies, Shamir found that the red shift

11:33 Speaker 1: changes with the distance from Earth, consistent with Zwicky's tired

11:37 Speaker 1: light theory. According to his analysis, redshift might be more

11:41 Speaker 1: a function of light losing energy over vast distances, rather

11:45 Speaker 1: than galaxies speeding away due to cosmic expansion. This groundbreaking

11:50 Speaker 1: study has provoked much discussion in the scientific community, opening

11:54 Speaker 1: the door for further exploration into the understanding of our

11:57 Speaker 1: universe's origins. While the bit big Bang theory has been

12:01 Speaker 1: the prevailing model, Shamir's work reminds us that science is

12:04 Speaker 1: always evolving, driven by new data and fresh perspectives. Stay

12:09 Speaker 1: tuned to Astronomy Daily for more updates on this fascinating

12:11 Speaker 1: topic and other cutting edge developments in the world of astronomy.

12:15 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning into Astronomy Daily with Meanna. I

12:18 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed today's dive into the latest happenings in

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