S03E52: Hubble's Triple Star Triumph & Starliner's Stalled Ascent (Again)

0:04 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for the latest updates and insights

0:08 in the world of space and astronomy. I'm your host Anna. Today we

0:13 have some truly captivating stories lined up for you. We'll explore the discovery of

0:17 a brand new triple Star system courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope, delve into

0:22 the latest updates on Boeing's much anticipated Starliner mission, and hear about India's groundbreaking

0:27 plans for its Mongalion two Mars mission. Additionally, we'll discuss the massive sunspot

0:34 AR three thousand, six hundred and sixty four's impact on Mars, and finally

0:38 look at NASA's ambitious Artemis for mission, which includes building the Gateway Lunar Space

0:43 station. So sit back and get ready for an exciting journey through the Cosmos

0:51 the Autonomy Day podcast. Hubble has recently revealed a stunning image of the Triple

0:57 Star system HP TAO, HP two two and HP tw G three. In

1:03 a time when much of the astronomical world is focusing on the James Web Space

1:07 Telescope, Hubble is reminding us that it still has much to offer. The

1:11 system includes young stars, with HP tow being only about ten million years old

1:15 and yet to begin fusing hydrogen. These stars are surrounded by a reflection nebula,

1:19 located about five hundred and fifty light years away in the Taurus constellation.

1:25 Reflection nebulae like this are composed of interstellar dusts that reflects the light of nearby

1:29 young stars, giving them a characteristic blue hue. The image showcases intricate patterns

1:34 of nebulosity that appear almost hollow, sculpted by the stars at their center.

1:40 Hp tow itself is a t Taari star, a type of young variable star

1:44 that's typically less than ten million years old. These stars are often enveloped in

1:49 the very gas and dusts that formed them, showing both regular and chaotic fluctuations

1:53 in brightness. These variations may be caused by complex processes in their still forming

1:59 accretion discs. This latest observation was part of Hubble's ongoing investigations into protoplanetary discs,

2:05 which are potential precursors to planetary systems around stars. It's amazing to consider

2:10 that the light captivating us in these images has traveled for five hundred fifty years

2:15 before reaching Hubble's optics. This finding is a stellar example of Hubble's enduring legacy

2:20 in advancing our understanding of the universe. Despite being launched in nineteen ninety,

2:25 Hubble continues to provide new insights and breathtaking visuals that inspire wonder and curiosity about

2:31 the Cosmos. The long awaited first astronaut mission for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has encountered

2:39 yet another delay due to a helium leak in the service module. Originally scheduled

2:45 for May twenty first, the launch date has now been pushed to May twenty

2:49 fifth. This mission, known as the Crew Flight Test, aims to send

2:53 NASA astronauts Sunny Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station for approximately a

2:59 way week long stay. The delay was prompted by a small helium leak identified

3:04 in a reaction control system thruster. Although initial assessments indicated the issue was not

3:09 critical, NASA and Boeing have decided to take additional time to further evaluate the

3:15 leak and ensure that all systems are operating safely and effectively before proceeding with the

3:20 mission. This rigorous approach highlights the meticulous preparation and safety protocols necessary for space

3:25 travel. The spacecraft set to launch atop a United Launch Alliance atlasphe rocket from

3:31 Cape Canaveral remains in the assembly building while continued assessments and potential repairs are carried

3:38 out. Meanwhile, astronauts Williams and Wilmore are in quarantine in Houston, preparing

3:44 to head to Florida's space coast when the launch date nears. CFT will be

3:49 a pivotal milestone for the commercial crew program, with Boeing developing and flying the

3:53 Starliner under a four point two billion dollars contract awarded by NASA in twenty fourteen.

4:00 The mission is eagerly anticipated, marking Boeing's first crude flight and following in

4:04 the footsteps of SpaceX's Demo two mission in May twenty twenty. Both NASA and

4:10 Boeing are committed to ensuring success as they work through these final preparatory stages.

4:16 India is making significant strides in space exploration, with the upcoming launch of Mangolian

4:21 two scheduled for a late twenty twenty four launch. This mission is a follow

4:26 up to the highly successful Mars Orbiter mission or Mangolian, which made India the

4:30 first country to reach Mars on its first attempt. Menglian two promises to be

4:35 even more ambitious, featuring a complex array of instruments, including a rover and

4:40 a helicopter, reminiscent of NASA's Perseverance and Ingenuity duo currently on Mars. If

4:46 successful, India will join an elite group, becoming the third country to land

4:49 a spacecraft on Mars, following the United States and China. The mission aims

4:55 to study the early history of Mars, analyze its atmosphere, and search for

4:59 a high apothesized dust ring generated by its moons, Phobos and Demos. Utilizing

5:04 a supersonic parachute and a sky crane for its landing, Mengalion two will exemplify

5:10 cutting edge space technology, further propelling India's status in the field of space exploration.

5:15 Local reports have suggested an ambitious timeline, but several key components, like

5:20 the multi instrument helicopter, skycrane and supersonic parachute are still under development. Despite

5:28 the challenges, India's Space agency ISRO remains optimistic about achieving these milestones. With

5:34 the successful legacy of Mangolion and a futuristic array of instruments in tow Mangolion two

5:41 is poised to add another chapter to the storied history of Martian exploration. Recent

5:47 observations have spotlighted sunspot AR three thousand, six hundred sixty four, an enormous

5:53 solar feature making headlines for its solar activities. This sunspot unleashed a substantial solar

5:59 flare on May fourteenth, significantly impacting Mars. The flare is expected to rapidly

6:04 heat and ionize Mars's upper atmosphere, a phenomenon that scientists are actively studying.

6:11 According to doctor Ed Thiemann, a heliophysicist at the University of Colorado at Boulder's

6:15 Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, the flare from AR three thousand, six

6:20 hundred and sixty four is the largest observed by the Maven spacecraft since its arrival

6:26 at Mars in twenty fourteen. NASA's Maven and the Perseverance Rover currently hold front

6:31 row seats to this cosmic event. The flare could inflate Mars's upper atmosphere by

6:36 tens of kilometers and potentially generate a global scale aurora, a magnificent display for

6:43 Perseverance. Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a magnetic field to shield it from these

6:46 supercharged particles, making NASA's study all the more significant. Events such as these

6:53 offer invaluable insights into how the Sun's activity erodes Mars's atmosphere over time. Over

7:00 this is not the first time Maven has witnessed such auroras. Previous solar storms

7:04 have delivered similar light shows on Mars, enriching our understanding of the red planet's

7:09 atmospheric dynamics. It's anticipated that this ongoing solar event will temporarily increase atmospheric loss

7:15 on Mars, providing essential data to comprehend better the historical climatic changes that transformed

7:23 Mars from a potentially habitable environment to the barren landscape we see today. The

7:30 Astronomy Daily podcasts. NASA's Artemis four mission will herald a new chapter in lunar

7:36 exploration with the construction of the Gateway, which will be humanity's first lunar space

7:42 station. This mission serves as a cornerstone in NASA's long term strategy to establish

7:47 a sustainable human presence on the Moon and lays the groundwork for eventual missions to

7:53 Mars. The mission will utilize an upgraded Space launch System SLS rocket, demonstrating

7:59 NASA's continued commitment to advancing space exploration capabilities. The Gateway will not only provide

8:05 a platform for scientific research, but also act as a critical staging point for

8:09 future lunar sorties and interplanetary expeditions. With docking ports for various spacecraft and living

8:15 quarters for astronauts, Gateway's unique elliptical orbit will offer unprecedented access to the lunar

8:20 surface and facilitate comprehensive scientific studies. Artemis four is a giant leap forward,

8:26 promising to transform our approach to space exploration and preparing humanity for the next frontier.

8:37 Thank you for tuning in to Astronomy Daily. We hope you enjoyed today's

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9:16 This is your host, Anna signing off until next time. Keep reaching for

9:20 the stars Today Stars Star