S03E33: Farewell CloudSat & The Tale of Earth's Quasi-Moon

0:04 Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast your gateway to the Cosmos

0:08 and the latest in space exploration. I'm Anna your host, guiding you through

0:12 the stars and beyond as we discuss the remarkable stories our universe has to share.

0:17 Today's episode promises a journey through a collection of tantalizing astronomical developments. Will

0:23 begin by bidding farewell to NASA's CloudSat, an Earth observing mission that has graced

0:28 our skies for nearly two rich and informative decades. Next, will venture closer

0:33 to Earth or should I say Earth's quasi moon camo Oa Leiwa, to unravel

0:38 the secrets of its lunar lineage. The stellar achievements continue with an update on

0:43 China's Sheenho eighteen, a testament to over two decades of committed human spaceflight by

0:48 the nation. Then we will commemorate the thirty fourth anniversary of the Hubble Space

0:53 Telescope with a visual feast the Little Dumbell nebula captured in a snapshot that continues

0:58 to stretch the boundaries of our imagination. Lastly, we prep for liftoff with

1:02 the first crew of Boeing's Starliner as they embark on a rigorous quarantine protocol ahead

1:07 of their historic journey to the International Space Station. Strap In and Ready year

1:12 telescopes were about to embark on a stellar odyssey. This is Astronomy Daily,

1:17 the podcast the Autonomy Dating Podcast. After nearly eighteen remarkable years aloft tirelessly surveying

1:30 the structure and fabric of Earth's cloudy mantle, NASA has officially brought an end

1:34 to its groundbreaking Cloud Sat mission. Launched in April of two thousand and six,

1:40 on an expedition initially charted for just twenty two months, this pioneering satellite

1:45 far exceeded its proposed lifespan, Deploying the first spaceborn ninety four gigahertz cloud profiling

1:51 radar, this technological marvel pierced through the cloud veil with one thousand fold more

1:56 sensitivity than its terrestrial counterparts, revealing to us now not merely flat representations of

2:00 clouds, but intricate three dimensional cross sections alive with ice and rain. Cloudsat's

2:07 cutting edge observations have been instrumental in crafting a better understanding of precipitation patterns across

2:13 our globe and the influence of cloud formations on Earth's atmospheric heating and cooling.

2:19 The mission offered unprecedented insights into the inner workings of formidable weather systems, including

2:24 hurricanes Maria, Harvey, and Sandy, shedding light on the mechanics of their

2:30 growth and intensification. Yet, with the Cloud Profiling radar turned off in December

2:35 twenty twenty three and the satellite's deliberate descent last month into a lower orbit for

2:39 its eventual atmospheric reentry, we are reminded of the natural cycle of innovation and

2:45 obsolescence. With Cloudsat's termination, a chapter in climatology closes, but its legacy

2:52 continues to resonate through the wealth of data it has provided to scientists. As

2:55 it joins its sister satellite, Calypso in decommission, the curtains draw on a

3:00 truly synergistic dance in our skies, leaving behind a legacy steeped in a deeper

3:05 cognizance of Earth's complex atmosphere. Today, let's journey into the depths of space

3:13 and uncover the secrets of Earth's quasi moon, kam Owalowa. This intriguing celestial

3:17 body, also designated as four six' nine two one nine Kamawalowa captured the

3:23 curiosity of astronomers when it was first discovered in twenty sixteen, and since then

3:29 they've been piecing together its cosmic history. Recent studies suggest that Kamawaloa is a

3:35 fragment, a sizable one measuring between one hundred thirty one to three twenty eight

3:38 feet in width, which was likely blasted away from our Moon by a colossal

3:44 impact event. This dramatic collision is believed to have occurred between one million and

3:49 ten million years ago, leading to the creation of the thirteen point seven mile

3:53 wide crater on the Moon's surface known as Giordano Bruno. The composition of kama

3:58 Walawa closely resembles that of lunar rocks. Its peculiar orbit in lockstep with our

4:03 Earth and its rapid spin hinted it wasn't an ordinary asteroid from the belt between

4:08 Mars and Jupiter, but rather a piece of our very own Moon. Through

4:13 a blend of observation and complex computer modeling, researchers have reconstructed the cataclysmic cosmic

4:19 crime scene, linking Kamawalua not just to the Moon, but directly to the

4:25 crater Giordano Bruno. This connection has profound implications not only for our understanding of

4:31 the Moon's history, but also for the broader a NEEO or Near Earth object

4:35 population. It underscores the importance of planetary defense and the continued monitoring of eneos

4:43 which could potentially threaten our planet. The discovery serves as a vivid reminder of

4:46 the dynamic ballet of our Solar system, an ongoing dance of creation and destruction.

4:51 Over billions of years, China continues to soar to new heights beyond our

4:58 atmosphere. The nation has embarked on its thirteenth foray into low Earth orbit with

5:02 Shenzho eighteen, signifying over two decades of human endeavors in space. Since the

5:09 inception of its space program, China has steadily established itself as a formidable presence

5:15 in the extraterrestrial domain. This latest launch marks yet another milestone, highlighting its

5:20 ambitious pursuit of celestial exploration and advancement. This mission is more than just a

5:26 number. Half of these crude sojourns targeted the Tiangong Space station, aptly named

5:31 Celestial Palace, a beacon of China's independent space faring capabilities. Tiangong serves as

5:39 a testament to the country's scientific and engineering prowess. From the maiden voyage of

5:44 Shenho I in November nineteen ninety nine to the historical feat of sending the first

5:48 Chinese national Yang Liwei, into space on Shenzho five, China's trajectory has been

5:55 genuinely stratospheric. As we commemorate Shenho eighteen's journey to the star, we also

6:00 acknowledge the relentless spirit and dedication that has propelled China to this momentous point in

6:05 its spaceflight narrative. The echoes of the past vividly blend with the promise of

6:11 tomorrow as each mission further cements China's role in the grand tapestry of space exploration,

6:16 inspiring future generations of astronauts to gaze skyward and dream the Astronomy Daily podcast.

6:28 As the Hubble Space Telescope marks a remarkable thirty four years orbiting Earth,

6:31 it presents us with a visual feast, a stunning snapshot of the little Dumbell

6:36 Nebula nestled three thousand, four hundred light years away in the constellation Perseus.

6:42 This celestial wonder, also known as Messia, seventy six M seventy six or

6:47 n GC six hundred fifty six hundred and fifty one is a planetary nebula,

6:53 a glowing testament to the final breaths of a dying red giant star. This

6:57 star now collapses into a hot white dwarf, a cosmic cinder some two hundred

7:00 and fifty thousand degrees fahrenheit in temperature. The Little Dumbell nebula is a complex

7:05 structure, at its heart a ring of gas and dust ejected by the star

7:10 now seen edge on. The intriguing suggestion is that a binary companion star shaped

7:15 this ring prior to a potential cataclysmic absorption by its dying partner, a stark

7:20 example of stellar cannibalism persevering through torrents of stellar wind The red and blue hues

7:29 of the nebula glow fiercely, a spectacle set by nitrogen and oxygen. The

7:33 relentless winds travel so rapidly they could traverse the distance from Earth to the Moon

7:39 in mere minutes. Yet the existence of the Little Dumbell nebula is fleeting on

7:44 the cosmic scale, set to vanish within fifteen thousand years. Reflecting on Hubble's

7:48 rich history. This anniversary photograph is but one glimmer in its trove of over

7:53 one point six million observations. It's a timely reminder of Hubble's role in transforming

8:00 our comprehension of the universe, from the discovery of supermassive black holes to the

8:05 mysteries of dark energy and the birth rate of planets. As Hubble continues its

8:09 voyage into the unknown, it stands as a testament to human curiosity and the

8:13 enduring quest to understand the stars. The dawn of a new era in commercial

8:20 spaceflight approaches as Boeing takes a giant leap forward with its Starliner spacecraft, the

8:26 inaugural Crude mission, setting its sites towards the vast expanse of the Cosmos,

8:30 is poised for launch. Veteran NASA astronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have

8:35 commenced their standard pre flight quarantine, a vital measure to preserve the health and

8:39 safety of the crew and those aboard the International Space Station. Their mission,

8:45 recognized as the Crew Flight Test, will break boundaries as they are set to

8:48 become the first humans to be launched into space atop the power of a United

8:54 Launch Alliance Atlas five rocket. This adherence to stringent quarantine protocols highlights the del

9:00 delicate balance between human exploration and the preservation of life on and off our planet.

9:05 With a journey slated to commence from Kennedy's Space Center, there is an

9:09 air of anticipation swirling through the aerospace community. The days leading up to this

9:13 historic launch are packed with precision driven preparations and remote interactions, ensuring that when

9:20 the moment arrives, the Starliner and its crew are ready to etch their names

9:24 in the annals of space travel. Their saga of Fortitude will be one of

9:28 splendid isolation, reflective introspection, and ultimately seamless integration with the orbital dance of

9:35 the International Space Station. Scripted within the harmonious cooperation between engineers, scientists,

9:41 and astronauts lies the story of humanity's relentless pursuit to explore the uncharted territories that

9:46 lie beyond our terrestrial shores. As we stand on the precipice of the unknown.

9:52 The journey of the Starliner's first crew undeniably marks a pivotal chapter in the

9:56 unfolding narrative of space exploration. As we reach the Starlit conclusion of today's episode,

10:03 I'd like to thank you for joining us on this odyssey through the Cosmos.

10:07 Remember the journey doesn't end here. To continue exploring the expanse of space

10:13 and staying current with astronomy news, visit our digital observatory at Astronomy Daily dot

10:18 io. There you can sign up for our free daily newsletter to stay aligned

10:22 with the celestial events and scientific revelations, listen to all our back episodes,

10:26 and peruse sponsor links and special deals. We're always eager to hear from fellow

10:31 stargazers, so don't hesitate to leave us a message with your thoughts, questions,

10:35 or discoveries. Follow us on x formerly known as Twitter at astro Daily

10:39 Pod to keep up with our updates and connect with our community. If the

10:43 stars have aligned for you in today's episode, please share it with your friends

10:48 and help spread the wonder. Until next time, this is Anna saying,

10:50 keep your eyes on the skies and your curiosity boundless day Stars. Stu is

11:05 the soul. St the Soul