S03E57: Starlink Surge & Artemis Delays: SpaceX's Triumphs and NASA's Challenges

0:04 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to source for the latest news and updates

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

0:11 we have an exciting lineup of topics to cover. First up, we'll look

0:15 at SpaceX's recent rapid fire launches, delivering twenty three Starling satellites to orbit in

0:20 less than forty eight hours. We'll also dive into the latest updates on NASA's

0:24 gateway for the Artemis program, which faces some delays. Then we'll explore a

0:29 new proposal for a groundbreaking fourteen meter infrared space telescope aimed at uncovering the mysteries

0:35 of our cosmic origins. We'll discuss a massive new catalog of exoplanets from NASA

0:41 that sheds light on potentially habitable worlds. Further, we'll examine a recent discovery

0:47 of an evil twin to Venus, which could provide crucial insights into the conditions

0:52 necessary for life. Lastly, we'll talk about the controversy surrounding the Space Forces

0:58 proposal to build new telescopes in Hawaii and why local residents are opposing it.

1:03 Stay tuned as we delve into these fascinating stories. The Asconomy Day plocaust.

1:14 SpaceX has once again demonstrated its impressive capabilities with the launch of its third Falcon

1:19 nine rocket in less than forty eight hours. This particular mission delivered twenty three

1:25 new Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit and coincided with the fifth anniversary of the

1:30 inaugural dedicated Starlink launch. It's noteworthy that the launch times of both missions are

1:34 strikingly similar, underscoring SpaceX's keen attention to commemorative details. As part of this

1:42 mission, the Falcon nine rocket's first stage booster, designated B one THY seventy

1:46 seven, performed admirably. This was the thirteenth flight for this specific booster,

1:51 which had previously supported missions including the Crew five delivery to the International Space Station

1:57 and several earlier Starlink missions. Following its deployment of the Starlink satellites, the

2:02 booster successfully landed on the drone ship just read the instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.

2:07 This marked the eighty second landing for this particular droneeship and the three hundred

2:13 twelfth booster landing overall for SpaceX, a testament to the company's remarkable reusability achievements.

2:20 In terms of customer growth, SpaceX continues to make significant strides. The

2:24 service now boasts over three million customers worldwide, spread across ninety nine countries,

2:30 markets, and territories. Notably, SpaceX has added roughly seven hundred thousand customers

2:37 since the last quarter of twenty twenty three, demonstrating an accelerating adoption rate for

2:42 its satellite Internet service. Since the first dedicated Starlink flight in twenty nineteen,

2:47 there have been one hundred sixty four missions, with more than half occurring since

2:52 the start of twenty twenty three. This impressive cadence has solidified SpaceX's position as

2:59 a leader in global satellite Internet services. Overall, SpaceX's continued success with the

3:05 Starlink program is not just about rapid launches and booster landings. It's about making

3:09 a global impact by providing widespread Internet access and marking significant technical and operational milestones

3:17 along the way. It will certainly be fascinating to see where SpaceX goes from

3:22 here as they continue to push the boundaries of space technology and connectivity. NASA's

3:30 ARTAMS program is experiencing some scheduling shifts with the launch of the Gateway Lunar space

3:36 station, now projected to be as late as December twenty twenty seven. The

3:39 gateway is a pivotal component of the Artemis campaign, intended to serve as a

3:45 staging point for astronauts en route to the Moon. The initial gateway modules,

3:49 the Power and Propulsion Element PPE and the Habitation and Logistics Module HALO, are

3:54 currently under construction across different continents. Maxar is making strides with the which will

4:00 be integrated with advanced solar electric propulsion systems. The installation of bipropellant tanks and

4:05 xenon composite over wrapped pressure vessels has been scheduled, reflecting tangible progress. This

4:12 element will provide essential power and thrust for Gateways operations. Meanwhile, Thalis Alenia

4:17 Space has completed the structural assembly of HALO in Italy and plans to ship the

4:23 module to Northrop Grumman's facility in Arizona later this year for further integration. Once

4:28 there, the module will undergo subsystems installations, including fluid tubing and wiring,

4:32 before being paired with PPE for their joint mission. The joint launch of these

4:38 elements on a Falcon heavy rocket will set the stage for Gateways operational phase,

4:42 where it will orbit the Moon and serve as a rendezvous and docking station for

4:46 lunar missions. Although official launch dates are still under review, NASA has conservatively

4:51 estimated the readiness by December twenty twenty seven, allowing ample time to address potential

4:57 delays and unforeseen challenges. Gateway initiation will play a vital role in NASA's Moon

5:01 to Mars exploration plans, supporting the Artemis formation and beyond. The integration and

5:08 launch of PPE and Halo mark critical milestones in this ambitious endeavor to extend human

5:15 presence deeper into space, astronomers have proposed an ambitious and groundbreaking project called the

5:23 Single Aperture Large Telescope for Universe Studies, or SALTUS. This fourteen meter infrared

5:29 space telescope aims to explore some of the deepest questions about our cosmic origins and

5:32 the processes that lead to planet and galaxy formation. Unlike any existing infrared observatories,

5:40 SALTUS is designed to capture far infrared wavelengths that have been previously inaccessible.

5:46 This is thanks to its innovative primary mirror and advanced cooling systems that maintain the

5:51 required low temperatures for infrared detection. SALTIS promises to complement the capabilities of the

5:58 James Webb Space Telescope and the Alma Array, adding a new dimension to our

6:01 understanding of the universe. By tracing molecules in protoplanetary disks and observing the earliest

6:08 galaxies, SALTIS will offer invaluable insights into both the formation of life supporting environments

6:15 and the complex evolution of galaxies, unveiling the uncharted territories of the cold universe.

6:21 This space telescope represents a quantum leap in observational astronomy, paving the way

6:27 for future discoveries that could redefine our grasp of the cosmos. NASA's latest catalog

6:34 is a veritable treasure trove for exoplanet enthusiasts and scientists alike, featuring one hundred

6:41 and twenty six newly discovered worlds. The catalog doesn't just list their names,

6:45 but dives deep into their specific characteristics with detailed measurements of their masses and radii.

6:51 By analyzing these parameters, astronomers can begin to draw intriguing comparisons with our

6:58 own solar system. One of the most exciting aspects of this catalog is its

7:02 range of planet types, from rare worlds with extreme and hostile environments to those

7:08 that may resemble Earth and potentially support life. The variety is astounding. These

7:13 newly cataloged exoplanets were studied using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey satellite tests in collaboration with

7:19 the wm kech Observatory in Hawaii. This joint effort has provided us with a

7:25 clearer picture of these distant worlds in their properties. With the combination of mass

7:30 and radius measurements, scientists can infer what these planets might be made of and

7:34 how they could have formed. This knowledge is crucial for understanding how our Solar

7:39 system fits into the grand tapestry of planetary systems scattered throughout the galaxy. Moreover,

7:46 some of these newly discovered planets could offer key insights into the conditions necessary

7:53 for life to arise, providing a broader context for our search for habitable worlds

7:58 beyond Earth. The Astronomy Daily podcasts. The discovery of a planet named Gleiza

8:07 twelve B has intrigued astronomers and sparked interest in the scientific community. Approximately Earth

8:13 sized and situated a mere forty light years away, Gliza twelve B is garnering

8:18 attention as a potential evil twin to Venus. Initial studies suggest that while it

8:22 shares several characteristics with Earth, such as its radius and mass, its environment

8:28 might be more hostile akin to that of Venus. The planet receives one point

8:31 six times more radiation from its star than Earth does from the Sun, a

8:37 factor that could contribute to extreme conditions preventing the emergence of life. The discovery

8:43 was achieved using data from NASA's Test Space Telescope, coupled with observations from ground

8:48 based telescopes in Japan. Understanding planets like Gleiza twelve B is crucial as they

8:52 offer a comparative study to Earth, helping scientists pinpoint what conditions are necessary for

8:58 a planet to harbor life. Further investigations using the James Webb Space Telescope could

9:03 help clarify whether Gliza twelve bee possesses liquid water or if it is indeed more

9:07 like Venus, covered in thick clouds of toxic gases. In either scenario,

9:13 studying Giza twelve B is pivotal. It enriches our understanding of planetary formation and

9:20 the varying evolutionary paths that celestial bodies can take, providing insights that bring us

9:24 closer to answering the age old question of what makes a planet hospitable for life.

9:31 Hawaii residents are expressing strong opposition to the US Space Force's plans to construct

9:35 a suite of new telescopes designed to track satellites and prevent them from colliding in

9:41 orbit. The proposed Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research

9:46 AMOS STAR facility would include up to seven new telescopes and an optic's lab on

9:52 the summit of Halakala on Maui. While the military underscores the necessity of such

9:58 a project for national security and space domain awareness, community members are voicing serious

10:03 concerns over environmental and cultural impacts. Local Hawaiians argue that the construction constitutes a

10:09 continuation of colonial projects, desecrating sacred spaces and negatively affecting their mental, emotional,

10:15 and spiritual health. The project has faced backlash not only for its potential

10:18 cultural ramifications, but also because of past incidents, such as a significant diesel

10:24 fuel leak from a malfunctioning generator at an existing space surveillance complex. Despite the

10:31 military's assurances of its critical nature, the residence mounting opposition places the future of

10:37 the Amos Star facility in question. Public comments on the project are being accepted

10:41 until June seventh, providing an avenue for community voices to be heard as the

10:46 environmental impact statement is being drafted. Thank you for tuning in to this episode

10:54 of Astronomy Daily. We hope you enjoyed our deep dive into the late developments

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11:37 the cosmos. This is Anna signing off. Stay curious and until next time,

11:41 keep looking up Esau Today Stars Star story is the sol