- Unexpected Vision Changes in Space: Explore the startling phenomenon affecting approximately 70% of astronauts on long-duration missions, known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). This episode delves into how microgravity impacts vision, leading to permanent changes, and the ongoing research by NASA to develop countermeasures to protect astronauts' eyesight during future missions, including to Mars.
- - South Korea's Lunar Ambitions: Discover South Korea's ambitious plans to establish a lunar base by 2045, as outlined by the Korea Aerospace Administration. We discuss the nation's roadmap for lunar exploration, including the development of homegrown landing technology and resource utilisation, alongside their previous successes with the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter.
- - The Nancy Chris Roman Telescope: Get excited about NASA's upcoming Nancy Chris Roman Telescope, set to launch no later than May 2027. This episode reveals how Roman could uncover tens of thousands of cosmic explosions, including supernovas and black hole events, while providing insights into dark energy and the evolution of stars.
- - Alternate Apollo 11 Landing Sites: Take a fascinating journey back to the Apollo 11 mission, exploring the potential alternate landing sites that could have been chosen for humanity's first steps on the Moon. Learn about the rigorous selection process and the implications of these sites, offering a compelling glimpse into the meticulous planning behind this historic achievement.
- 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, 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.
SANS Research
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
South Korea's Lunar Plans
[Korea Aerospace Administration](https://www.kasa.or.kr)
Nancy Chris Roman Telescope
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Apollo 11 Landing Sites
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Astronomy Daily
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 Anna, your host and I'm thrilled to have you
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 join us for another journey through the
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 latest and most captivating stories from the
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 cosmos. Today we're delving
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 into some truly fascinating developments that
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 span from the challenges faced by astronauts
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 in space to humanity's ambitious future on
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 the Moon and beyond. We'll start by
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 exploring an unexpected side effect of space
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 travel. How it can permanently change an
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 astronaut's eyesight. Then we're heading to
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 the Moon to look at South Korea's bold plans
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 for a lunar base by 2045,
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 showcasing the growing global race to return
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 to our celestial neighbour. Next up,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 we'll dive into the incredible potential of
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Telescope,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 which is poised to uncover tens of thousands
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 of cosmic explosions and shed light on
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 mysteries like dark energy. Finally,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 we'll take a trip back in time to the Apollo
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 11 mission, revealing the little known
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 stories of where the Eagle could have landed
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 if circumstances had been different. Stick
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 around. It's going to be an exciting episode.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 You've spent months aboard the International
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 Space Station, witnessing Earth from an
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 unparalleled vantage point, performing
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 groundbreaking science and pushing the
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 boundaries of human exploration. You return
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 home a hero, but with an unexpected side
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 effect. Your eyesight has changed. This
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 isn't a rare occurrence. It affects about 70%
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 of astronauts on long duration missions. And
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 it's got NASA scientists intensely focused on
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 understanding why weightlessness impacts our
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 vision so profoundly. One astronaut, Dr.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 Sarah Johnson, reported that text perfectly
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 clear before her six month ISS stay
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 became blurry. She's far from alone.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 Astronauts frequently report difficulty
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 reading blurred distance vision and other
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 visual changes that can persist for years
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 after returning to Earth. This condition has
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 been given a spaceflight associated
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 neuro ocular syndrome, or
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 sans. It has rapidly become one of the most
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 pressing health concerns for extended space
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 missions. Unlike other temporary issues like
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 motion sickness or or muscle weakness, which
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 quickly resolve, on Earth, sans related
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 vision changes can unfortunately be
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 permanent. The primary culprit appears to be
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 microgravity itself. Here on Earth, gravity
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 consistently pulls fluids downwards through
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 our bodies. In the microgravity environment
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 of space, these fluids redistribute. This
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 leads to facial puffiness and more
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 critically, increased pressure inside the
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 skull. This elevated intracranial pressure
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 can flatten the back of the eyeball and cause
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 swelling of the optic nerve, directly
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 impacting vision. These findings carry
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 significant implications for future missions
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 to Mars, which could realistically last two
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 to three years. As Dr. Michael Roberts,
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 NASA's Vision Research Lead, put it, we need
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 to understand whether these changes stabilise
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 or continue worsening over time. An astronaut
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 with severely compromised vision could
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 jeopardise an entire Mars mission. To
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 combat SANS, Dr. Roberts and his team at
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 NASA are actively developing various
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 countermeasures. These include specialised
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 contact lenses, medications designed to
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 reduce fluid pressure, and specific exercise
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 protocols that might help maintain normal
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 circulation. They are also testing an
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 innovative device called the Visual
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 Impairment Intracranial pressure, or
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 viip chamber, which could simulate
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Earth like pressure conditions for the eyes
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 while in space. While SANS presents a
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 serious challenge for space exploration, this
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 research offers a broader benefit for
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 everyone on Earth. Scientists are gaining
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 invaluable new insights into how pressure
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 affects vision, which could potentially lead
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 to improved treatments for conditions like
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 glaucoma and intracranial hypertension. Here
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 on our home planet, understanding how our
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 bodies adapt to and are affected by space
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 remains crucial as we continue to test the
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 limits of human endurance and explore further
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 into the cosmos. The research into
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 solutions will continue at NASA and onboard
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 the iss, with the hope that when humanity
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 finally embarks on a trip to Mars, our vision
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 will be clear enough to fully appreciate what
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 we have accomplished.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 Shifting our gaze from astronaut health to
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 ambitious national goals let's talk about
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 South Korea's burgeoning space ambitions the
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 nation is making headlines with its bold plan
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 to establish a moon base by 2045.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 This significant goal was revealed in a long
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 term exploration roadmap laid out by the
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 Korea aerospace administration, or
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 CASA, which was established just last year.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 CASA's roadmap outlines five core missions
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 encompassing everything from low Earth orbit
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 and microgravity exploration to lunar
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 exploration and even solar and space science
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 missions. A key focus for CASA is
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 developing homegrown lunar landing and roving
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 technology alongside the crucial ability to
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 extract and utilise moon resources like water
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 ice. Some of this preparatory work is
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 already well underway. For instance, the
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 Resources has been testing prototype lunar
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 rovers in an abandoned coal mine, practising
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 techniques that could be vital for future
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 space mining operations. South Korea isn't
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 new to lunar endeavours. In August
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 2022, the nation successfully launched its
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 first moon probe, known as the Korea
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Pathfinder lunar orbiter, or Dnuri, atop a
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dannuri reached
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 lunar orbit four months later and is still
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 actively studying the moon with its array of
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 instruments, proving South Korea's growing
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 capabilities in space. While South Korea
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 had already aimed to place a robotic lander
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 on the moon by 2032, this newly
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 revealed roadmap significantly ups the
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 ante. The plan now includes developing a
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 more capable moon lander by 2040,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 all with the ultimate goal of building a
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 robust lunar economic base by
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 2045. It's important to note that
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 South Korea isn't alone in this race to the
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 moon. The United States, through NASA's
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 Artemis programme, also plans to build lunar
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 outposts in the coming decade. China is
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 pursuing similar goals, often in partnership
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 with Russia and other nations. And India has
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 set its sights on a moon base by 2047.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 The moon isn't Khasa's only distant
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 destination either. The agency also has its
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 sights set on South Korea's first ever Mars
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 landing, also by 2045.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 Now let's shift our focus to a truly exciting
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 development on the horizon. NASA's next
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 big space telescope project, the Nancy Grace
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 Roman Telescope. Astronomers are absolutely
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 buzzing with anticipation for its launch,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 currently set for no later than May
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 2027. And for good reason.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 Recent research suggests that Roman, during
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 its High Latitude Time Domain Survey
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 observation programme, could discover an, uh,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 astounding 100 powerful cosmic
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 explosions. We're talking about a dazzling
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 array of violent events, including
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 supernovas, marking the dramatic deaths of
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 massive stars, which occur
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 when two of the universe's most extreme dead
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 stars or neutron stars, Viking violently
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 collide and even burps from actively feeding
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 supermassive black holes. Roman might even
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 detect the explosive destruction of the very
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 first generation of stars in our universe.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 These cosmic fireworks are more than just
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 spectacular sights. They're crucial clues
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 that could help scientists finally crack the
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 mystery of dark energy. That's the
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 placeholder name for the strange unseen force
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 that's causing the expansion of the universe
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 to accelerate. According to Benjamin Rose,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 an assistant professor at Baylor University
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 and the research leader, this survey will be
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 a goldmine. Whether you're exploring dark
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 energy, dying stars, galactic
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 powerhouses, or even entirely new phenomena
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 we've never encountered before, Roman will
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 achieve these explosive results by
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 systematically scanning the same vast region
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 of space every five days for a period of two
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 years. These observations will then be
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 meticulously stitched together to create
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 incredible cosmic movies, revealing a wealth
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 of these dynamic events. Many of the
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 explosions Roman detects will be type 1A
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 supernovas. These particular cosmic
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 blasts happen when a dead star known as a
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 white dwarf greedily syphons material from a
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 companion star until it becomes unstable and
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 erupts. Type 1a supernovas
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 are incredibly valuable to astronomers
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 because their light output is and peak
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 brightness are so consistent from one event
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 to the next. This makes them what astronomers
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 affectionately call standard candles,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 allowing them to accurately measure cosmic
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 distances. The new research, which
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 simulated Roman's entire High Latitude Time
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 Domain Survey indicates the telescope could
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 uncover up to 27 new Type 1A
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 supernovas. That's about 10 times the
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 combined total from all previous surveys. By
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 observing these standard candles across
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 immense and varying distances,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 astronomers are essentially looking back in
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 time, enabling them to pinpoint how fast the
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 universe was expanding at different points in
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 cosmic history. This unprecedented
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 wealth of type 1A supernovas should offer
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 significant hints about the secrets of dark
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 energy. It could even help confirm recent
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 Instrument, or dece, which suggests that this
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 mysterious force might actually be weakening
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 over time. As Rose explained, filling
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 these data gaps could also fill in gaps in
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 our understanding of dark energy. Evidence is
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 mounting that dark energy has changed over
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 time, and Roman will help us understand that
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 change by exploring cosmic history in ways
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 other telescopes can't. Beyond dark
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 energy, Roman will also shed light on the
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 life cycles of stars. The team estimates that
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 as many as 60 of the 100
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 cosmic explosions detected could be core
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 collapse supernovas. These occur when massive
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 stars at least eight times heavier than our
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 sun exhaust their nuclear fuel and can
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 no longer support themselves against
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 gravitational collapse. As their cores
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 rapidly implode, their outer layers are
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 violently blasted away. This process
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 disperses elements forged within these stars
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 throughout the cosmos, providing the building
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 blocks for the next generations of stars,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 their planets, and perhaps even life itself.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 While not directly linked to dark energy,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 these events are crucial for understanding
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 stellar evolution and the chemical enrichment
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 of the universe. Rebecca Hounsell, a
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 member of the research team from NASA's
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 Goddard Space Flight Centre, highlighted how
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 Roman's data will allow scientists to
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 distinguish between different types of cosmic
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 flashes. She noted that while searching for
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 type 1A supernovas, Roman will collect a
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 lot of cosmic bycatch, other phenomena that
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 may not be useful for some scientists, but
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 will be invaluable to others. Among these
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 rarer cosmic gems, Roman could detect tidal
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 disruption events, or TDEs, where black
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 holes ruthlessly devour stars that wander too
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 close. As the star is torn apart by immense
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 tidal forces, much of its material is spewed
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 out at near light speed, creating powerful
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 emissions that Roman will hunt for. The team
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 predicts around 40 such star destroying
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 events could be found. Even more elusive are
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 kilonovas, those explosive bursts of light
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 that happen when two neutron stars smash
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 together and merge. The team estimates Roman
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 could uncover around five new kilonovas.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 While that number seems small, it's a huge
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 deal, as only one kilonova has been
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 definitively confirmed to date. These
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 observations are vital for understanding the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 origins of precious metals like gold and
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 silver. While most elements are forged in the
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 hearts of stars, the extreme conditions of
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 neutron star collisions are thought to be the
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 only cosmic furnaces powerful enough to
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 create elements heavier than iron, like gold
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 and plutonium. Studying the light from these
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 kilonovas helps us understand this
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 fundamental process. Kilonova studies could
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 also reveal what types of celestial bodies
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 are formed when neutron stars merge. Perhaps
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 an even larger neutron star, an immediate
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 black hole, or something entirely new.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 Perhaps the most thrilling, uh, potential
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 discovery Roman could make is the observation
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 of the strange explosive deaths of the
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 universe's very first stars. Current
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 theories suggest these early massive stars
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 may have died differently than modern stars
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 undergoing what's called a pair instability
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 supernova. In these colossal
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 blasts, gamma rays within the star could have
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 generated matter antimatter pairs, leading
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 to a self detonation so powerful it theorised
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 to leave nothing behind but the elemental
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 fingerprint of its lifetime. While
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 astronomers have dozens of candidates for
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 these events, none have been confirmed.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 The simulation suggests Roman could turn up
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 as many as 10 confirmed pair instability
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 supernovas. As Rose put it, they're
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 incredibly far away and very rare. So you
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 need a telescope that can survey a lot of the
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 sky at a deep exposure level and in near
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 infrared light, and that's Roman.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 The team plans further simulations to explore
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 Roman's full capabilities, which might even
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 include detecting phenomena not yet
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 theorised. As Rebecca Hounsel aptly
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 summarised, Roman's going to find a whole
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 bunch of weird and wonderful things out in
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 space, including some we haven't even thought
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 of yet. We're definitely expecting the
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 unexpected. This groundbreaking research,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 by the way, was published on July 15 in the
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 Astrophysical Journal.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 From the cutting edge of cosmic discovery,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 let's take a quick look back at, ah, one of
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 the most iconic moments in space. The
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 Apollo 11 moon landing on July
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong's famous
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 words Houston Tranquilly Base here,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 the Eagle has landed, marked humanity's first
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 steps on another world. But what if those
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 words had been uttered from a different
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 location on the lunar surface? It's a
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 fascinating thought, isn't it? The truth is
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 that historic phrase could very easily have
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 come from a completely different part of the
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 moon. In February 1968,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 NASA's Apollo Site Selection board had
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 narrowed down a list of 30 potential landing
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 sites for Apollo 11 to just five. Among these
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 were two sites on the opposite side of the
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 lunar disc from Tranquilly Base, specifically
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 in Oceanus Procellarum, also known as the
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 Ocean of Storms. Each of these prospective
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 landing zones, which were roughly 3 by 5
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 miles in size, underwent intensive orbital
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 imaging and a rigorous selection process. The
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 criteria were incredibly strict. Each site
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 needed to be within 5 degrees of the lunar
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 equator to minimise fuel consumption. There
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 could be no large hills or deep craters along
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 the lander's approach path, as these could
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 confuse its landing radar. Furthermore, each
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 site had to have a slope of less than 2
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 degrees, with relatively few craters and
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 excellent lighting conditions during the
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 chosen landing windows. Ultimately,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 Site two in the Sea of Tranquilly was
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 selected as the prime landing location.
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 However, two of the other shortlisted zones
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 were designated as contingency landing sites,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 ready to be targeted if the launch of Apollo
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 11's mighty Saturn V rocket had been delayed.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 Imagine if the mission's launch had slipped
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 by just two days from July 16
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 to July 18, 1969.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 In that scenario, humanity's first steps on
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 the moon would have taken place in the Sinus
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 Medii region, right in the centre of the
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 Earth facing lunar surface. And if the launch
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 had been pushed back even further to July
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 21, 1969,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 then the footprints would have been left in
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 the regolith of Oceanus Procellarum.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 While Tranquilly Base has certainly become a
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 legendary name, Procellarum Base just doesn't
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 quite have the same ring to it, does it? It's
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 a compelling reminder of the meticulous
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 planning and the precise conditions that led
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 to one of history's most defining moments.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 And that brings us to the end of another
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 fascinating journey through the cosmos on
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 Astronomy Daily. I hope you've enjoyed
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 exploring these stories as much as I have
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 enjoyed sharing them with you. Thank you for
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 tuning in and being a part of our cosmic
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 conversation. This has been Anna, your host,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 and I invite you to keep exploring the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 wonders of the universe with us. You can
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 become a completionist and listen to all our
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 back episodes and even get a shout out on the
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 show by visiting our website at
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 astronomydaily IO. That's
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 astronomydaily IO. And don't forget
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00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 get your podcasts so you never miss an
00:16:33 --> 00:16:36 update. Until tomorrow when I'll be back to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 do it all again. Keep looking up.