S03E55: Moon Rocks & Exoplanet Blocks: China's Chang'e 6 and NASA's Roman Revolution

0:04 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to source for the latest updates in space

0:07 and astronomy. I'm your host Anna. Today we have a compelling lineup of

0:12 stories for you. First, we'll dive into China's chang six mission, which

0:16 is preparing for an ambitious sample return mission on the far side of the Moon.

0:22 Next, we'll explore how NASA's Roman Space Telescope and its innovative coronagraph instrument

0:27 could revolutionize our ability to image distant planets. Also on the agenda, we'll

0:33 discuss how dimming plant glow detectable via satellite can serve as an early warning system

0:39 for flash droughts, a discovery that could have significant implications for agriculture. These

0:44 are just a few of the fascinating topics we'll cover, so stay tuned for

0:47 an engaging and enlightening episode podcast. China's Changay six mission is gearing up for

1:00 an ambitious sample return mission on the far side of the Moon. The spacecraft

1:03 is currently in orbit, busily scouting landing sites in the South Pole Aitken Basin,

1:10 one of the Moon's oldest and largest impact structures. Scheduled to touch down

1:14 in early June, chang A six will drill into the lunar surface to collect

1:19 rock and soil samples. Within forty eight hours of landing, these valuable lunar

1:23 specimens will be loaded onto an ascender that will dock with the orbiter for the

1:27 return journey to Earth. The entire mission will last fifty three days, culminating

1:33 with the return capsule landing in China's Inner Mongolia region, bringing back these unprecedented

1:38 samples for scientific study. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is on the verge

1:45 of deploying groundbreaking technology with its coronagraph instrument, which aims to transform how we

1:51 image distant planets. The coronagraph instrument functions by blocking the overwhelming light from stars,

1:57 thereby allowing astronomers to detect the faint glow of planets that would otherwise remain

2:01 hidden in the glare. This innovative technology, known as the Roman coronagraph,

2:07 utilizes advanced tools to achieve its goal. Key components include deformable mirrors backed by

2:14 thousands of tiny pistons which adjust to block out unwonted starlight more effectively than ever

2:19 before. This active coronagraph can make precise changes to compensate for imperfections in the

2:24 telescope's optics, a critical capability for observing planets that are billions of times dimmer

2:30 than their parent stars. By enhancing the ability to directly image exoplanets, the

2:36 Roman Coronagraph instrument will significantly aid the search for habitable worlds. It will demonstrate

2:42 techniques that future missions can build upon to eventually detect Earth like planets in habitable

2:46 zones around sunlike stars. This undertaking marks a monumental step forward in our quest

2:52 to find life beyond our Solar system. Flash drouts here on Earth are incredibly

2:59 challenging to predict as they develop rapidly and can cause significant agricultural damage. However,

3:05 scientists at NASA have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change the game.

3:08 Utilizing satellite data, they've found that the dimming glow of plants and indication not

3:14 visible to the human eye, can serve as an early warning signal for these

3:17 sudden droughts. This glow, known as solar induced fluorescence, diminishes as plants

3:23 experience moisture stress, providing crucial data weeks sometimes even months before a flash drought

3:29 occurs. This early detection system could be a game changer for farmers and communities,

3:35 allowing them to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of these sudden weather

3:38 events. The US Space Force is exploring new frontiers and satellite maintenance with Starfish

3:46 Space's Otter spacecraft. This mission represents a significant leap forward in satellite servicing technology.

3:53 The Otter is designed to autonomously rendezvous, dock and provide additional propulsion to

3:58 satellites that were never originally aquipped for such maneuvers. By attaching itself to these

4:02 satellites, the Otter can extend their life and enhance their maneuverability, effectively boosting

4:08 their operational lifespan by up to two years. This initiative underscores the growing importance

4:13 of InOrbit servicing, ensuring that our satellite infrastructure remains robust and flexible in the

4:18 ever evolving space environment. The UK space industry is gearing up for new launches

4:26 with developments across various spaceports. One significant milestone comes from rocket factory Augsburg RFA,

4:32 which recently conducted successful static fire tests of its RFA one rocket at sax

4:38 Offord Spaceport in Shetland. This marks a crucial step towards the first vertical orbital

4:44 launch from the UK. The stainless steel constructed first stage of the RFA one

4:48 underwent a twenty second hot fire test where its helix engines were ignited in sequence,

4:54 demonstrating flawless performance. Sax Oford Spaceport has also obtained the nest necessary licenses

5:00 from the Civil Aviation Authority, bringing it closer to becoming fully operational. If

5:04 all goes according to plan, the first vertical orbital launch from this site could

5:09 take place as early as September. Other UK spaceport projects include Sutherland Spaceport,

5:15 which has started construction under the management of Orbex, and Prestwick Spaceport, which

5:20 aims to rival Cornwall in the horizontal launch market. These advancements mark an exciting

5:26 time for the UK's growing space sector. NASA's latest heliophysics experiment is setting the

5:32 stage for groundbreaking discoveries as it prepares to hitch a ride on a European mission

5:38 aimed at studying the Sun. This collaborative effort is designed to deepen our understanding

5:43 of solar phenomena, which includes solar flares and coronal mass ejections, events that

5:47 can have significant impacts on space weather, space weather affects a variety of human

5:54 technologies, such as satellites and communications systems, making this research critically important.

6:00 By investigating the Sun's behavior more closely, NASA and its European partners hope to

6:05 develop better predictive models, ultimately improving the resilience of our technological infrastructure against solar

6:12 disruptions. This experiment represents a promising step forward in safeguarding our increasingly interconnected planet.

6:23 Thank you for joining us on this episode of Astronomy Daily. Remember to

6:27 visit our website, Astronomy Daily dot io for the latest space news and updates.

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6:46 Amazon and more. Once again, I'm Ana, and we'll be back soon

6:49 with more exciting updates from the world of space and astronomy. Thanks for listening.

6:55 Suday Stars, The Star is the Toll. Star is Thetrole