- Axiom Space's AX4 Mission Returns: Join us as we check-in on the return of the AX4 crew from the International Space Station. Led by Commentaor Peggy Whitson, the crew conducted over 60 experiments during their extended stay, making history as the first astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to visit the ISS. We discuss their journey aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, and the implications of their research for future missions.
- - Parker Solar Probe's Groundbreaking Discoveries: Delve into the latest stunning images from NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which recently flew closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before. Learn how these insights into solar weather and the Sun's atmosphere are reshaping our understanding of space weather threats and improving safety for astronauts and technology on Earth.
- - Global Launch Roundup: Catch up on a whirlwind week of space launches, including China's successful cargo resupply mission to the Tiangong Space Station, and Gilmour Space's maiden launch attempt of its Eris rocket from Australia. We also highlight SpaceX's busy schedule, featuring the launch of Starlink satellites and Amazon's Kuiper satellites.
- - Surprising Findings on Uranus: Discover new research suggesting that Uranus emits more internal heat than it receives from the Sun, challenging previous assumptions made by Voyager 2. This revelation could redefine our understanding of Uranus's internal structure and evolution, bolstering the case for future exploration missions.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Axiom Space AX4 Mission
[Axiom Space](https://www.axiomspace.com/)
Parker Solar Probe
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/content/parker-solar-probe)
Global Launches
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Uranus Research
[University of Houston](https://www.uh.edu/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily dose
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 of cosmic updates and celestial wonders. I'm
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled to dive
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 into some truly captivating space news with
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 you today. First, we'll be looking at the
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 return trip of private astronauts from the
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 International Space Station after an extended
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 stay highlighting their incredible work and a
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 new splashdown location. Then we'll zoom in
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 on our very own star, the sun, as NASA's
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 Parker Solar Probe sends back the closest
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 ever images, revealing groundbreaking
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 insights into solar weather. Our journey
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 continues with a global launch roundup
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 featuring a busy week for space agencies
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 worldwide, including cargo resupply missions,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 maiden rocket flights and a flurry of
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 Internet satellite deployments. And finally,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 we'll uncover a surprising new discovery
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 about the distant ice giant Uranus that might
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 just rewrite its planetary history and
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 bolster the case for a future mission. So
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 buckle up because there's a lot to explore.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 We kick things off today with news from above
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 our heads as the four intrepid astronauts of
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 Axiom Space's latest private mission,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 AX4, have successfully concluded their stay
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 aboard the International Space Station and
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 are, uh, currently headed home. Their SpaceX
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 Crew Dragon capsule, aptly named Grace,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 undocked from the ISS this morning, July 14,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 marking the final leg of their journey back
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 to Earth. The undocking happened
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 precisely at 7:15am EDT.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 Grace then gracefully maneuvered away from
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 the orbital laboratory which had been the AX4
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 crew's home for the past two and a half
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 weeks. This was actually a bit longer than
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 their originally planned two week stay,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 giving them even more time to complete their
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 extensive research. Leading the AX4
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 mission was Commander Peggy Whitson, a former
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 NASA astronaut and now Axiom's Director of
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 Human Spaceflight. As Grace cleared the
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 isss safety keep out sphere,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Whitson transmitted a heartfelt message
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 saying Space Station grace, the AX4 crew
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 wants to thank you very much for your
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 support. You guys are amazing.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 This mission marks Whitson's fifth trip to
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 orbit, pushing her impressive record for most
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 cumulative days in space by an American to an
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 incredible 695 days.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 Her crewmates included pilot Shubanshu Shuks
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 Shukla and mission specialists
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 Slawas Suave, Uznansky
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. What's
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 particularly exciting is that this was the
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 first space flight for Shucks, Suave and
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 Kapu. And they also made history as the first
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 citizens of India, Poland and Hungary
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 respectively to launch on a mission to the
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 International Space Station. Throughout their
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 time in microgravity, the AX4 crew
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 undertook more than 60 experiments and
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 technology demonstrations with contributions
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 from a remarkable 31 different nations.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 They also participated in numerous public
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 outreach events, setting a new record for
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 Axiom as the company continues to refine its
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 orbital operations. Launched aboard
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's storied
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 Launch Complex 39A in Florida on
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 June 26, the crew spent just over a day
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 catching up to the International Space
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 Station after their extended mission. The
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 departure procedures began early this morning
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 with the crew entering Grace and closing the
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 hatch. Now Grace and its crew are on a
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 22.5 hour trajectory, set to splash
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 California early on Tuesday, Eastern Daylight
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 Time. This will be a notable event as it's
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 only SpaceX's second West coast crew
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 recovery. Following the Crew 9 ISS
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 mission in March, SpaceX has made a permanent
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 shift to Pacific Ocean recoveries instead of
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 the Atlantic or Gulf, a uh change driven by
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 instances of debris from Dragon's trunk
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 surviving atmospheric reentry and crashing
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 back to Earth. This new re entry path
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 significantly minimizes the chances of such
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 debris causing any damage or injury,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 prioritizing safety for everyone.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 Now let's turn our gaze to our closest star,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 the sun, where NASA's Parker Solar Probe
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 continues to redefine our understanding.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 Understanding this incredible spacecraft
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 is certainly no stranger to breaking records.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 On December 24, 2024, Parker
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 made history by flying closer to the sun than
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 any spacecraft ever, reaching a mere
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 3.8 million miles from the solar surface.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 In doing so, it entered the outermost layer
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona. During
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 this daring flyby, it also broke its own
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 record as the fastest human made object,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 soaring at an astonishing 430 miles per
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 hour. Recently, NASA released some
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 truly remarkable video footage captured
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 during this historic flyby, offering us the
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 closest views of the sun ever recorded.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 These groundbreaking images were captured by
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Parker's Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe or
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 Wispiar, revealing a uh, never before seen
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 perspective of the Sun's corona and the solar
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 winds shortly after they're released from it.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 As Nikki Fox, Associate Administrator for the
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 Science Mission Directorate at NASA
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 Headquarters, noted, Parker Solar Probe has
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 once again transported us into the dynamic
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 atmosphere of our closest star. She
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 emphasized the incredible advantage of
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 witnessing where space weather threats to
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 Earth begin with our eyes, not just
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 with models. This new data
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 is set to vastly improve our space
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 weather predictions, enhancing the safety of
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 our astronauts and the protection of our
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 vital technology both on Earth and throughout
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 the solar system. WISPR's images have
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 unveiled an important boundary within the
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Sun's atmosphere known as the heliospheric
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 current sheet, where the Sun's magnetic field
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 Dramatically shifts direction from north to
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 south. Even more impressively, it captured
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 for the first time in high resolution
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 collisions between multiple coronal mass
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 ejections, or CMEs. These
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 CMEs are major drivers of space weather and
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 are crucial for understanding risks to
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 astronauts and Earth based technology like
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 power grids and communication satellites.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 Angelus Vorlidas, the Whisper instrument
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 scientist, explained that in these images,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 we're seeing the CMEs basically piling up on
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 top of one another. We're using this to
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 figure out how the CMEs merge together.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 Before the Parker Solar Probe, NASA and its
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 international partners could only study solar
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 wind from a distance. That's why Parker has
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 been instrumental in bridging key knowledge
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 gaps. It identified the widespread presence
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 of switchbacks, which are zigzagging magnetic
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 field patterns Even at distances of around
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 14.7 million miles from the sun,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 linking them directly to the origins of one
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 of the two main types of solar wind. Closer
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 in, at just 8 million miles, Parker revealed
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 that the boundary of the Sun's corona Is far
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 more uneven and complex Than previously
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 imagined. But the probe's discoveries
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 didn't stop there. The big unknown has always
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 been how solar wind is generated and how it
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 manages to escape the Sun's immense
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 gravitational pull. Noor
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 Rawafi, the project scientist for Parker
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 Solar Probe, Described understanding this
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 continuous flow of particles, especially the
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 slow solar wind, as a major challenge,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 Particularly given the diversity in the
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 properties of these streams. However, thanks
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 to Parker Solar Probe, scientists are closer
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 than ever to uncovering their origins and how
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 they evolve. Prior to Parker Solar Probe,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 distant observations suggested there were two
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 varieties of slow solar wind differentiated
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 by the orientation or variability of their
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 magnetic fields. One type, called
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 alphenic, Exhibits small scale switchbacks,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 While the second, non alphenic, does not.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 As it spiraled closer to the Sun, Parker
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 confirmed the existence of both types. Its
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 close up views are also helping scientists
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 distinguish the origins of these two unique
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 types. It's believed that the non alvenic
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 wind May emerge From features called helmet
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 streamers, Large loops connecting active
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 regions where some particles can heat up
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 enough to escape. While the alphenic wind
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 might originate near coronal holes, which are
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 dark, cooler regions in the corona. As Adam
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 Sabo, Parker Solar Probe mission scientist,
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 put it in we don't have a final consensus
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 yet, but we have a whole lot of new
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 intriguing data. So how does the
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 Parker Solar Probe Manage to endure such
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 extreme conditions? From the freezing cold of
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 deep space to the intense heat near the Sun?
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 A, uh, key factor in its survival lies in the
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 fundamental difference between temperature
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 and heat. While the space near the sun can
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 reach temperatures of several million
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 degrees, this doesn't necessarily mean
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 there's a lot of heat transferred. This is
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 because the Sun's corona is incredibly thin,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 meaning there are far fewer particles. Even
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 though individual particles in the corona are
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 exceptionally hot, their scarcity means the
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 probe doesn't receive much actual heat.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 NASA scientists explain that while the probe
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 travels through space with temperatures of
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 several million degrees, the surface of its
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 heat shield facing the sun will only be
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 heated to about 2500°F,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 or roughly 1400°C.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 These temperatures are, of course, still
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 incredibly hot, which makes its robust heat
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 shield, the Thermal Protection System, or
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 tps, absolutely essential. This
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 shield is crafted from a carbon composite
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 foam sandwiched between two carbon plates.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Carbon is an ideal material for this purpose
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 because it is both remarkably lightweight and
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 capable of withstanding extremely high
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 temperatures without melting. Tested to
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 withstand up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit, or
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 1 degrees Celsius, the
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 TPS can handle any heat the sun sends its
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 way, keeping almost all the probe's
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 instrumentation safe. Its unique structure
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 enables it to endure intense heat while
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 minimizing weight, a crucial factor for a
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 spacecraft designed to travel at such extreme
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 speeds. Furthermore, the outer surface of
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 the TPS is coated with a white ceramic paint
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 designed to reflect as much solar energy as
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 possible and further reduce the amount of
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 heat absorbed.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 Next, let's look at this week's launch
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 schedule. And this week has certainly been a
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 whirlwind in the world of space launches,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 with multiple missions lifting off from sites
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 across the globe. First, from China,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 their latest cargo supply mission to the
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Tiangong Space Station successfully lifted
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 off The Chang Geng 7 rocket. Launched the
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 Tianzhou 9 cargo vehicle from the Wencheng
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 space launch site on Monday, July 14.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 This mission brings essential supplies for
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 the Shenzhou 20 crew, including food,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 life support, scientific experiments, and
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 propellants. Notably, it also delivered
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 two upgraded Fei Shen extravehicular activity
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 suits designed for extensive use.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 Tianzhou 9 is expected to spend six to seven
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 months at the station carrying a substantial
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 7kg of cargo,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 showcasing China's robust orbital resupply
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 capabilities. Meanwhile, a significant
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 milestone is on the horizon for Australia.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 Gilmour Space is gearing up to try again for
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 its second attempt at the maiden launch of
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 its Eris small satellite rocket this
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 Wednesday, July 16, from the Bowen Orbital
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 Spaceport. This pivotal launch follows a
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 previous stand down in May due to an
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 unexpected power surge. Now mitigated,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 this three stage Eris launcher, proudly
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 Australian made, is poised to become the very
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 first orbital launch from from Australian
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 soil performed by a sovereign built vehicle.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 Standing at 25 meters tall, Eris can carry
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 payloads of up to 215 kilograms to a
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 500 kilometer Sun Synchronous Orbit.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 Its first stage uses unique hybrid Sirius
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 engines and a successful orbital launch would
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 also mark a historic first for a hybrid
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 rocket design globally. Gilmour
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 Space recently partnered with Tokyo based
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 Space bd, opening up opportunities for
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 Japanese and global satellite customers.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 And Speaking of busy, SpaceX continues its
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 relentless pace with a packed schedule of
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 launches, predominantly expanding Internet
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 satellite constellations earlier this week,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 a Falcon 9 rocket launched 26 Starlink
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 VTU mini Internet satellites into low Earth
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 orbit from Vandenberg, California. This
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 particular launch was significant as it
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 marked the 150th consecutive successful
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 mission for a Falcon rocket since an anomaly
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 back in July 2024. A truly remarkable
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 streak. Looking ahead, SpaceX is also
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 set to launch its very first contracted batch
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 of Amazon's Kuiper satellites this Wednesday,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 July 16th from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 Project Kuiper is Amazon's direct competitor
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 to Starlink, aiming to build its own massive
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 Internet constellation. This mission will
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 carry at least 20 of these crucial
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 satellites. Amazon faces ambitious
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 deadlines, needing to launch its full
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 constellation of over 3200
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 satellites by July 2029,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 with half required by July 2026.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 This requires numerous launches across
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 various providers. To round out
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 SpaceX's week. Two more Starlink launches are
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 scheduled from Vandenberg. On Wednesday, July
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 16, another Falcon 9 will launch satellites
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 into Starlink's Group 17 shell, flying into
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 a highly inclined sun synchronous orbit.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 And finally, on Sunday, July 20, a third
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 batch of Starlink satellites will launch from
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 the same California pad, completing a
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 remarkably busy period for SpaceX and further
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 expanding global Internet access.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 Now let's turn our attention to one of our
00:13:36 --> 00:13:39 solar system's distant ice giants, Uranus,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 which is proving to be far more fascinating
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 than we once thought. New
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 scientific findings have revealed something
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 quite surprising about this enigmatic planet.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 It's emitting its own internal heat, even
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 more than it receives from the sun. This
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 discovery actually contradicts observations
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 made by NASA's Voyager 2 probe nearly four
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 decades ago. Back in 1986,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 Voyager 2 flew by Uranus, and its readings
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 suggested the planet didn't have significant
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 internal heat. However, new research
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 led by Xinyue Yang of the University of
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 Houston analyzed decades of spacecraft
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 readings and computer models. Their findings
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 indicate that Uranus emits 12.5%
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 more internal heat than it absorbs from solar
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 radiation. While this is less than other
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 outer planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 Neptune, which radiate 100% more heat than
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 they receive, it's still a significant amount
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 that challenges our previous understanding.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 It turns out we might have caught Uranus at a
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 peculiar time during the Voyager 2 flyby,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 with some readings potentially skewed by a
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 surge in solar weather. By combining archival
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 data with advanced computer models,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 scientists now believe this internal heat
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 suggests a completely different internal
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 structure or evolutionary history for the
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 planet. For a long time, it was thought that
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 Uranus formed closer to the sun before
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 migrating outwards. These new
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 findings are now calling that story into
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 question. This fresh understanding of
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 Uranus's internal processes could also
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 significantly boost the case for future
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 missions to the distant planet. The
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 National Academy of Sciences had already
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 flagged a mission concept called the Uranus
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 Orbiter and Probe, or uop, as a high
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 priority for the next decade. These new
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 results showing how Uranus stores and loses
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 heat not only deepen our understanding of
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 this icy world, but also offer valuable
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 insights into fundamental
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 processes that shape planetary
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 atmospheres, weather systems, and even
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 climate systems. It's groundbreaking science
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 that could inform our studies of Earth's own
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 changing climate.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 And that brings us to the end of another
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 fascinating episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 Thank you so much for tuning in and joining
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 me on this cosmic exploration. I'm Anna,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 and it's been a pleasure sharing the latest
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 in space and astronomy news with you.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 Remember, you can catch up on all the latest
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 space and astronomy news and listen to all
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