S03E201: Cosmic Innovations: Wooden Satellites and Record Launches

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm excited to bring you another

0:03 Speaker 1: packed episode of fascinating space and astronomy news. Today's lineup

0:07 Speaker 1: features some truly groundbreaking developments that showcase humanity's continued innovation

0:12 Speaker 1: in space exploration. We'll start with Japan's remarkable achievement in

0:16 Speaker 1: launching the world's first wooden satellite. Yes you heard that right, Wooden.

0:21 Speaker 1: Then we'll explore Russia's latest record breaking launch that sent

0:24 Speaker 1: dozens of satellites into orbit in a single mission. We'll

0:28 Speaker 1: also take a look at an impressive new lunar vehicle

0:30 Speaker 1: that's pushing the boundaries of Moon exploration, followed by compelling

0:34 Speaker 1: new evidence of ancient oceans on Mars that could reshape

0:37 Speaker 1: our understanding of the red planet's history. Finally, we'll clear

0:41 Speaker 1: up some recent speculation about life aboard the International Space

0:44 Speaker 1: Station and share the latest official updates from NASA. It's

0:48 Speaker 1: a show that spans from innovative space technology to potential

0:52 Speaker 1: signs of ancient water on Mars, so let's dive right in.

0:56 Speaker 1: In a groundbreaking development addressing the growing concern of space debris,

1:01 Speaker 1: researchers from the University of Kyoto have successfully launched the

1:05 Speaker 1: world's first wooden satellite into orbit. The innovative Lingo SAT,

1:09 Speaker 1: carried aboard a SpaceX Falcon nine rocket from NASA's Kennedy

1:13 Speaker 1: Space Center, marks a significant step forward in sustainable space technology.

1:18 Speaker 1: What makes this satellite truly unique is its construction material,

1:22 Speaker 1: Magnolia wood. Apart from its essential electronic components, the entire

1:26 Speaker 1: satellite structure is wooden, representing a radical departure from traditional

1:30 Speaker 1: satellite design. At just ten centimeters on each side and

1:33 Speaker 1: weighing a mere nine hundred grams, it's one of the

1:36 Speaker 1: lightest satellites ever launched into space. This innovative approach tackles

1:40 Speaker 1: a pressing issue in space exploration. Currently, there are over

1:44 Speaker 1: forty thousand, five hundred objects larger than ten centimeters orbiting Earth,

1:49 Speaker 1: with millions more smaller pieces cluttering our orbital space. When

1:53 Speaker 1: traditional satellites re enter Earth's atmosphere, they can release potentially

1:57 Speaker 1: harmful metal particles. Then Ingo Sat, however, is designed to

2:02 Speaker 1: completely burn up upon re entry, leaving no harmful debris behind.

2:06 Speaker 1: The satellite will soon be transported to the International Space Station,

2:10 Speaker 1: where it will be deployed from the Kebo Japanese Experiment

2:13 Speaker 1: Module Over the next six months, researchers will closely monitor

2:17 Speaker 1: how the wooden structure holds up against the extreme conditions

2:20 Speaker 1: of space, including dramatic temperature fluctuations and intense radiation. This

2:26 Speaker 1: mission could revolutionize satellite construction. If successful, it could pave

2:31 Speaker 1: the way for more environmentally conscious space exploration, helping to

2:34 Speaker 1: prevent what scientists call Kessler syndrome, a theoretical scenario where

2:38 Speaker 1: the density of objects in low Earth orbit becomes so

2:41 Speaker 1: high that collisions cascade, creating more debris and potentially rendering

2:46 Speaker 1: parts of Earth's orbit unusable. A second wooden satellite, Lingosat two,

2:51 Speaker 1: is already planned for launch in twenty twenty six, showing

2:54 Speaker 1: Japan's commitment to this innovative approach to space sustainability. Next up,

2:59 Speaker 1: Russia has achieved a remarkable milestone in its space program,

3:03 Speaker 1: launching an impressive array of fifty three satellites in a

3:06 Speaker 1: single mission from the Vostokni spaceport in Russia's far East.

3:10 Speaker 1: This launch represents a national record for Russia in terms

3:13 Speaker 1: of the number of domestic satellites deployed in a single mission,

3:16 Speaker 1: with fifty one of the payloads being Russian made. The

3:20 Speaker 1: mission utilized a Soyuz Dash two Dot one B carrier

3:23 Speaker 1: rocket equipped with a frigate upper stage, demonstrating Russia's continued

3:27 Speaker 1: capabilities in space launch technology. Among the diverse payload were

3:32 Speaker 1: two Ionosphera M satellites, each weighing four hundred and thirty kilograms,

3:37 Speaker 1: designed to monitor Earth's ionosphere, providing valuable data for atmospheric

3:42 Speaker 1: research and communications. What makes this launch particularly noteworthy is

3:47 Speaker 1: its international character. Despite current geopolitical challenges, the mission included

3:52 Speaker 1: collaborative projects with multiple nations. A Russian Chinese satellite, a

3:57 Speaker 1: Russian Zimbabwean satellite, and two Iranian satellites were part of

4:00 Speaker 1: the payload, highlighting ongoing international cooperation in space exploration. The

4:06 Speaker 1: Iranian contributions included the Kawsar high resolution imaging satellite and

4:10 Speaker 1: the HADHD communication satellite. While this launch marks a significant

4:14 Speaker 1: achievement for Russia, it's worth noting that the global landscape

4:18 Speaker 1: of space launches has evolved considerably over the past decade. Russia,

4:23 Speaker 1: once the world's leading launch provider, now ranks third in

4:26 Speaker 1: launch frequency, behind the United States and China. Nevertheless, Russia

4:31 Speaker 1: maintains its important role in space exploration, continuing to support

4:35 Speaker 1: the International Space Station through regular progress resupply missions and

4:39 Speaker 1: Soyu's crew launches. This successful mission not only demonstrates Russia's

4:44 Speaker 1: technical capabilities, but also shows how space exploration continues to

4:48 Speaker 1: bridge international divides, fostering collaboration even during challenging times on Earth.

4:54 Speaker 1: The variety of satellites deployed will serve multiple purposes, from

4:59 Speaker 1: Earth observation to communications, contributing to both scientific research and

5:04 Speaker 1: practical applications in space technology. Talking of technology, I think

5:08 Speaker 1: I want one of these. A fascinating development in lunar

5:12 Speaker 1: exploration has just been unveiled in Houston, where Intuitive Machines

5:15 Speaker 1: has revealed their next generation lunar terrain vehicle called moon Racer.

5:20 Speaker 1: This reusable, autonomous crude exploration rover represents a significant leap

5:24 Speaker 1: forward from the Apollo era moonbuggies, combining modern technology with

5:28 Speaker 1: practical design. The fully electric vehicle, built in collaboration with

5:33 Speaker 1: high performance automotive company Rausch, is an impressive piece of engineering.

5:38 Speaker 1: Measuring fourteen feet long, eight point five feet tall, and

5:41 Speaker 1: twelve feet wide, this rover can reach speeds up to

5:44 Speaker 1: nine point three miles per hour, matching its Apollo predecessor's capabilities,

5:50 Speaker 1: but what sets it apart is its enhanced functionality, including

5:54 Speaker 1: the ability to tow a one hundred eight foot long

5:57 Speaker 1: trailer and navigate slopes up to twenty degree. One of

6:01 Speaker 1: the most innovative features of moon Racer is its dual

6:04 Speaker 1: mode operation. While astronauts can drive it manually, the vehicle

6:08 Speaker 1: is also capable of autonomous operation for robotic exploration. When

6:13 Speaker 1: crews aren't present. The rover can be controlled remotely from

6:16 Speaker 1: various locations including Houston, Australia, lunar habitats, and even the

6:21 Speaker 1: Gateway space station orbiting the Moon. The vehicle's communication capabilities

6:26 Speaker 1: are equally impressive, featuring antenna systems that can relay data

6:30 Speaker 1: via satellite or direct to Earth transmissions, ensuring constant connectivity

6:34 Speaker 1: during lunar operations. For safety and efficiency, Moon Racer is

6:38 Speaker 1: equipped with an advanced hazard avoidance system, allowing it to

6:42 Speaker 1: navigate challenging lunar terrain and clear obstacles up to a

6:45 Speaker 1: foot high. This development is part of NASA's Broader Artemis program,

6:50 Speaker 1: with Intuitive Machines being one of three companies selected to

6:53 Speaker 1: develop lunar terrain vehicles under a thirty million dollars contract.

6:58 Speaker 1: The stakes are high, as NASA plans to select one

7:01 Speaker 1: of these designs for deployment to the lunar South Pole

7:04 Speaker 1: before the Artemis five missions, scheduled for no earlier than

7:07 Speaker 1: twenty thirty. In a touching nod to space history, the

7:10 Speaker 1: static mockup of Moon Racer has already received the approval

7:14 Speaker 1: of Apollo veterans Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmidt, two of

7:17 Speaker 1: only six humans who have ever driven a rover on

7:20 Speaker 1: the lunar surface. Duke notably commented that this new vehicle

7:24 Speaker 1: was way more than we had, highlighting just how far

7:26 Speaker 1: lunar vehicle technology has progressed since the Apollo era. Let's

7:31 Speaker 1: head off to Mars now for an update. Exciting new

7:34 Speaker 1: findings from Mars are adding weight to a long debated

7:36 Speaker 1: theory about the red planet's watery past. China's Jorrong rover

7:41 Speaker 1: exploring the Utopia region in Mars's northern hemisphere, has uncovered

7:45 Speaker 1: compelling evidence that a vast ocean once covered up to

7:48 Speaker 1: a third of the planet's surface. The rover's investigation has

7:52 Speaker 1: revealed several tell tale features around its landing site, including

7:56 Speaker 1: pitted cones, polygonal troughs and etched flows. These geological formations

8:02 Speaker 1: are particularly significant because they typically form in areas where

8:06 Speaker 1: water or ice once existed. Perhaps most intriguingly, the research

8:11 Speaker 1: team has identified what appears to be an ancient shoreline

8:14 Speaker 1: near the study area. Using data from both the rover

8:17 Speaker 1: and satellite observations, scientists have pieced together a fascinating timeline.

8:22 Speaker 1: They estimate this Martian ocean form during a massive flooding

8:26 Speaker 1: event approximately three point seven billion years ago. The water

8:30 Speaker 1: body then experienced a freezing period which carved out distinctive

8:34 Speaker 1: coastal features before eventually disappearing around three point four billion

8:38 Speaker 1: years ago. This discovery could have profound implications for our

8:43 Speaker 1: understanding of Mars's potential to have once harbored life. On Earth,

8:49 Speaker 1: life is believed to have emerged either in deep ocean

8:52 Speaker 1: environments near hydrothermal vents or in shallow tidal pools where

8:57 Speaker 1: water meets air. The conformation of an ancient Martian ocean

9:01 Speaker 1: would suggest that similar conditions once existed on the Red planet.

9:06 Speaker 1: While the research team remains appropriately cautious about their findings,

9:11 Speaker 1: noting that definitive proof would likely require bringing Martian rock

9:14 Speaker 1: samples back to Earth for analysis. These new observations add

9:18 Speaker 1: another piece to the puzzle of Mars's mysterious past. They

9:21 Speaker 1: provide fresh evidence that the dry, dusty world we see

9:24 Speaker 1: today was once a much more dynamic and potentially habitable planet.

9:29 Speaker 1: Fascinating new research has emerged about Apophis, the asteroid nicknamed

9:33 Speaker 1: after the Egyptian god of chaos, and what might happen

9:36 Speaker 1: during its extremely close encounter with Earth in twenty twenty nine.

9:40 Speaker 1: While we've known about this approaching space rock for some time,

9:44 Speaker 1: scientists have now uncovered details about how Earth's gravity might

9:47 Speaker 1: dramatically reshape this celestial visitor. A Pofos, which measures about

9:52 Speaker 1: one thy one hundred feet in length and has a

9:54 Speaker 1: distinctive peanut shape, will pass within just twenty thousand miles

9:58 Speaker 1: of Earth, closer than some of our satellites. While this

10:02 Speaker 1: rules out any risk of impact, the close approach will

10:05 Speaker 1: subject the asteroid to intense gravitational forces that could trigger

10:09 Speaker 1: some remarkable changes. Computer simulations suggest that about an hour

10:13 Speaker 1: before its closest approach, a Pofas will begin experiencing significant tremors.

10:19 Speaker 1: Think of it as an asteroid quake, but in this case,

10:22 Speaker 1: Earth's gravitational pull is the trigger. These vibrations could be

10:26 Speaker 1: strong enough to actually launch boulders off the asteroid's surface.

10:30 Speaker 1: While some rocks might escape completely, most will likely fall back,

10:34 Speaker 1: creating new patterns on the asteroid's surface. But that's not all.

10:39 Speaker 1: The encounter is expected to affect how Apofus tumbles through space.

10:43 Speaker 1: Unlike a perfect spinning top, this asteroid currently rotates irregularly

10:48 Speaker 1: picture a poorly thrown football. Earth's gravitational influence will either

10:52 Speaker 1: speed up or slow down this tumbling motion, depending on

10:54 Speaker 1: the asteroid's orientation during the flyby. This change in rotation

10:59 Speaker 1: could destabilize surface rocks and potentially trigger landslides that would

11:02 Speaker 1: continue to reshape the asteroid for thousands of years afterward.

11:06 Speaker 1: NASA's Osiris APEX mission will be there to witness these

11:09 Speaker 1: changes firsthand. Having been repurposed from its successful Benu sample

11:14 Speaker 1: return mission, the spacecraft will spend eighteen months studying ap Office,

11:18 Speaker 1: giving us an unprecedented opportunity to watch how a close

11:21 Speaker 1: planetary encounter can transform an asteroid in real time. Finally,

11:26 Speaker 1: let's clear this up once and for all. In lighter

11:29 Speaker 1: News from Space Today, NASA has stepped forward to address

11:32 Speaker 1: some concerning tabloid reports about astronaut Sunny Williams's health aboard

11:36 Speaker 1: the International Space Station. Several media outlets, including The Daily

11:40 Speaker 1: Mail and The New York Post, had published speculative stories

11:44 Speaker 1: about Williams's condition, basing their concerns on a September photo

11:48 Speaker 1: where they claimed she appeared gaunt. NASA has firmly refuted

11:52 Speaker 1: these claims, stating unequivocally that Williams, who currently commands Expedition

11:57 Speaker 1: seventy two, is in perfect health. The Space agency emphasized

12:02 Speaker 1: that they are not tracking any health concerns with Williams

12:05 Speaker 1: or any other NASA astronauts currently aboard the station. This

12:09 Speaker 1: situation highlights the robust medical monitoring system in place for

12:13 Speaker 1: astronauts on the ISS. Each crew member undergoes regular medical

12:18 Speaker 1: evaluations and has dedicated flight surgeons watching over their health

12:22 Speaker 1: throughout their mission. Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore

12:26 Speaker 1: have been aboard the station since June, arriving on Boeing's

12:29 Speaker 1: Starliner spacecraft. While their stay has been extended longer than

12:33 Speaker 1: initially planned due to technical issues with Starliner's thruster system,

12:38 Speaker 1: NASA has confirmed they have plenty of supplies, including food

12:42 Speaker 1: to support the extended mission. Williams and Wilmore are now

12:46 Speaker 1: scheduled to return to Earth in February twenty twenty five,

12:49 Speaker 1: traveling back with the SpaceX Crew nine mission. This episode

12:54 Speaker 1: serves as an important reminder about the necessity of relying

12:57 Speaker 1: on official sources for space related news rather than speculative

13:01 Speaker 1: reporting that can cause unnecessary concern about our astronauts well being.

13:07 Speaker 1: And that wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily. From

13:10 Speaker 1: Wooden Satellites to Martian Oceans, It's been another fascinating day

13:14 Speaker 1: in space news. I'm Anna and I've enjoyed bringing you

13:17 Speaker 1: these incredible stories from across the Cosmos. If you'd like

13:20 Speaker 1: to stay up to date with all the latest developments

13:22 Speaker 1: in space and astronomy, head over to Astronomydaily dot io,

13:27 Speaker 1: where you can sign up for our free daily newsletter.

13:30 Speaker 1: While you're there, check out our constantly updating news feed

13:34 Speaker 1: and browse through our complete archive of past episodes. Don't

13:38 Speaker 1: forget to join our growing community on social media. You

13:40 Speaker 1: can find us as astro Daily Pod on Facebook, x, YouTube, Tumbler,

13:45 Speaker 1: and TikTok. We love hearing your thoughts and questions about

13:48 Speaker 1: the stories we cover. Thank you for listening to Astronomy

13:51 Speaker 1: Daily until tomorrow, Keep looking up and stay curious about

13:55 Speaker 1: Our incredible universe is the tall stars. The tall Star

14:16 Speaker 1: is the te