Blue Origin's Lunar Ambitions, Asteroid Mysteries, and the Cosmic Fossil Discovery
Astronomy Daily: Space News July 01, 2025x
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00:18:2116.86 MB

Blue Origin's Lunar Ambitions, Asteroid Mysteries, and the Cosmic Fossil Discovery

  • Blue Origin's Ambitious Plans: We delve into Blue Origin's upcoming missions, including the anticipated second launch of the New Glenn rocket and the Blue Moon lander, which aims to take humans to the Moon. We discuss the significance of the escapade mission to Mars and how these developments position Blue Origin in the lunar race against SpaceX.
  • - Surprising Discovery from Asteroid Richie: Scientists have uncovered the mineral Jerfischerite within samples from the icy asteroid Richie, challenging previous assumptions about the asteroid’s formation. This unexpected find prompts questions about the conditions that led to its formation and the implications for our understanding of the early solar system.
  • - The Cosmic Fossil Galaxy: Journey with us to a galaxy that has remained unchanged for billions of years, offering a glimpse into the early universe. This cosmic fossil, known as Kids J08420059, provides valuable insights into galaxy formation and the evolution of the cosmos.
  • - A Hidden Planet Factory: The Hubble Space Telescope reveals a stunning blue nebula, GN043.2.8, where new planets are forming around a trio of young stars. We explore the significance of this discovery for understanding planet formation in a stellar nursery.
  • - Exciting Week for Space Launches: We summarise the busy launch schedule ahead, featuring SpaceX's Falcon 9 missions, Australia's first homegrown rocket launch, and a resupply mission to the International Space Station. It's a thrilling time for space enthusiasts!
  • - NASA's Partnership with Netflix: Discover how NASA is bringing the wonders of space closer to home by teaming up with Netflix to stream live programming, making space exploration more accessible than ever.
  • 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.
✍️ Episode References
Blue Origin Updates
[Blue Origin](https://www.blueorigin.com/)
Asteroid Richie Discoveries
[Hiroshima University](https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en)
Cosmic Fossil Galaxy Information
[National Institute of Astrophysics](https://www.inaf.it/en)
Hubble Space Telescope Discoveries
[NASA Hubble](https://hubblesite.org/)
NASA and Netflix Collaboration
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.


00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your regular dose of the latest

00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 and greatest in space and astronomy news.

00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 I'm your host, Anna, and I'm thrilled you could join me today for

00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 an episode packed with fascinating stories from across

00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 the cosmos and beyond. We have a lot to cover,

00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 starting with Blue Origin's ambitious plans for Mars and the

00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 moon, including an update on their new Glenn rocket and

00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 the Blue Moon lander. Then we'll dive into

00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 a perplexing discovery from the icy asteroid

00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 Ryugu that has scientists scratching their heads.

00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 We'll also journey billions of light years away to explore a

00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 truly ancient galaxy, a cosmic fossil

00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 that's been frozen in time, offering us a rare

00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 glimpse into the early universe.

00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 Closer to home, we'll take a dazzling peek inside

00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 a blue nebula where new planets are forming

00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 around not one, but three suns. And

00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 of course, we'll round up all the significant space

00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 launches that are keeping our orbits busy before

00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 looking at how NASA is bringing the wonders of space even

00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 closer to your living room. So buckle up, because it's

00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 going to be an exciting ride.

00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 Blue Origin is making steady progress towards the second

00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 launch of its new Glenn rocket, a significant step

00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 that could occur sometime this fall. The

00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 company has already completed the crucial second stage

00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 ignition test in April, and the first stage is now

00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 in its final preparation at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 While the initial target of August 15 is off the

00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 table, sources suggest a, uh, mid to late

00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 September launch is realistic, with others leaning

00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 towards late October or November. Blue

00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 Origin has remained quiet about the payload for this flight,

00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 but multiple reports indicate it will carry NASA's

00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 escapade mission. This mission involves a pair of

00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 small spacecraft heading to Mars to study the

00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 Red Planet's magnetosphere. Escapade

00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 was originally meant for New Glenn's first flight last October,

00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 but was removed due to launch date uncertainty and the

00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 spacecraft's propellant shelf Life. Missing

00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 that 2024 Mars launch window means these

00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 spacecraft, once launched this fall, won't reach

00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 Mars until late 2027.

00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 Looking ahead, Blue Origin has several exciting missions planned

00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 for New Glenn. The fourth flight in the first

00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 half of 2026 is slated to carry the

00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 Blue Moon MK1 lander. The fifth

00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 in mid-2026, will deploy the first

00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 batch of 49Amazon Project Kuiper satellites.

00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 Blue Origin's strategy is to launch new rockets as soon as

00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 they're ready to gather performance data, practise first

00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 stage reuse, and achieve a rapid launch cadence.

00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 They even have an inspirational cube for the future

00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 mission ready as a backup or rideshare if a

00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 customer payload isn't Ready. Among

00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 these, The Blue Moon MK1 lander is

00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 generating significant buzz. It's a key part

00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 of Blue Origin's plan for a large reusable

00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 lander capable of taking humans to the moon.

00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 Recent video showed the MK1's midsection arriving at

00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 their assembly facilities. At 8 metres,

00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 or 26.4ft tall, it's

00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 designed to be the tallest vehicle ever to land on

00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 the moon. A um metre taller than the Apollo lunar

00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 module, the MK1 is a cargo version

00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 capable of carrying about 3 metric tonnes to the lunar

00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 surface, roughly 10 times the capacity of

00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 current commercial landers and and a precursor to

00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 the human rated MK2.

00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Interestingly, industry officials now believe Blue

00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 Origin has a realistic chance to beat SpaceX in

00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 landing a vehicle on the lunar surface.

00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 SpaceX has faced development struggles with its

00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 starship, with recent upper stage losses.

00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 Blue Origin's MK2 Lander, while ambitious,

00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 is considered less technically challenging.

00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 Furthermore, sources suggest Blue Origin founder Jeff

00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 Bezos is is more committed to a lunar programme than

00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 SpaceX's Elon Musk, potentially giving him an

00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 edge in this lunar race from

00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 the ambitious future of lunar landings.

00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Let's now shift our focus to a tiny, perplexing

00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 discovery from the icy depths of asteroid

00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 Ryugu, a find that is truly baffling

00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 scientists Researchers at Hiroshima

00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 University have uncovered a mineral called Jerfischerite within

00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 a pristine grain from Ryugu, an asteroid

00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 belonging to the carbon rich C type family. What makes

00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 this so surprising is that Jerfischerite typically forms

00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 in scorching, oxygen poor environments,

00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 conditions completely contrary to what we believed about

00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 Ryugu, which is thought to be an icy water

00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 soaked time capsule from the early solar system.

00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 This unexpected discovery, detailed in the journal

00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 Meteoritics and Planetary Science, is like

00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 finding a tropical seed buried deep in Arctic ice.

00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 Ryugu's samples, brought to Earth by Japan's

00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 Hayabusa2 probe in December 2020, have

00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 been turning planetary science on its head.

00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 The presence of Jerfischerite suggests two main

00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 either the asteroid endured unexpected heat spikes,

00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 or it somehow captured exotic material that

00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 travelled across the early solar system. This m

00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 finding challenges the long held idea that Ryugu

00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 is compositionally uniform and instead points

00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 to a far more chaotic mixing of planetary building

00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 blocks during the solar system's formation.

00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 Ryugu is believed to have originated from a larger parent

00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 body that formed in the outer regions of the solar system,

00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 where water and carbon dioxide existed as

00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 ice temperatures within this parent

00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 body were estimated to have remained below about

00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 50 degrees Celsius. In stark

00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 contrast, Jerfischurite is known to form in much Hotter

00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 conditions, sometimes exceeding 350 degrees

00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 Celsius, often found in meteorites that formed

00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 closer to the sun. Scientists are now

00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 considering whether this mineral arrived from another source during

00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 Ryugu's formation, or if Ryugu

00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 itself experienced localised heating events

00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 that allowed jerfischerite to form intrinsically.

00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 Preliminary evidence leans towards the intrinsic formation

00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 hypothesis, but more research is needed.

00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 The next steps involve conducting isotopic studies of

00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 this and other Ryugu grains to

00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 determine their true origins.

00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 Ultimately, the goal is to reconstruct the early mixing

00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 processes and thermal histories that

00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 shaped small bodies like Ryugu, thus

00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 improving our understanding of how planets

00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 formed and how materials were transported in the early

00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 solar system.

00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 It's a tiny mineral, but a huge mystery for

00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 planetary scientists. From

00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 the small wonders of asteroids, we now journey

00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 to the colossal structures of the universe, where

00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 astronomers have made a truly remarkable discoverya

00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 uh, galaxy that has remained frozen in time

00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 for billions of years. Imagine a

00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 cosmic fossil, much like the dinosaur fossils we

00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 find here on Earth. But instead of ancient life,

00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 it's a galaxy that has preserved the conditions of the

00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 early universe. This incredible find is

00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 the Galaxy Kids

00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 J08420059,

00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 located a staggering 3 billion light years away.

00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 What makes it a cosmic fossil is its unique ability

00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 to have, um, remained virtually unchanged by collisions and

00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 interactions with other galaxies. Acting as a

00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 pristine time capsule, recent research

00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 utilising data from the Large Binocular Telescope

00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 has confirmed that this galaxy has been perfectly preserved

00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 for approximately 7 billion years.

00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 As Crescenzo Tortora, a team co leader and

00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 researcher at the National Institute of Astrophysics, put it,

00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 discovering this galaxy is like an

00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 archaeological find that helps us understand how the

00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 first galaxies were born and how the universe has

00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 evolved. These fossil galaxies are truly

00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 like the dinosaurs of the universe, offering clues

00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 about the environmental conditions in which they formed and

00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 how today's most massive galaxies came to be.

00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 M Kids

00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 J084-20059

00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 was initially discovered in 2018 by the

00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 Kilo Degree Survey, or KIDS.

00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 Subsequent observations with instruments like the Very Large

00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 Telescope and its X Shooter instrument helped

00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 astronomers measure its size and mass. It was found

00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 to have a stellar mass about 100 billion times that of our

00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Sun. Yet it's more compact than other galaxies of

00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 similar mass and has notably lacked star

00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 formation for much of its life. All these

00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 characteristics pointed towards it being a fossil galaxy.

00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 To confirm its unique nature, the team used the

00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 adaptive optics system of the Large Binocular

00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 Telescope, obtaining images with 10 times the

00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 detail previously available. This confirmed its

00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 compact structure, similar to other rare, stunted

00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 galactic fossils like NGC1277,

00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 which is much closer to us. The

00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 existence of galaxies like kids

00:08:42 --> 00:08:46 J08420059

00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 indicates that some galaxies can form rapidly,

00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 stay compact, and remain dormant for aeons by

00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 simply avoiding collisions. Studying these

00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 cosmic fossils is crucial for reconstructing the

00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 formation history of the nuclei of today's massive

00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 galaxies, which, unlike these relics,

00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 have undergone numerous merger processes.

00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 Future research with cutting edge technologies and telescopes

00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 such as the Euclid Space Telescope promises to

00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 further unlock the secrets these ancient galaxies hold.

00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 From the ancient past of galaxies, we now turn our gaze

00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 to the vibrant present of star and planet formation

00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 as the Hubble Space Telescope has delivered another

00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 breathtaking image. This time it's a

00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 dazzling peak inside a blue nebula,

00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 revealing what astronomers are calling a hidden planet factory.

00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 The image showcases a stunning cosmic cloud known

00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 as GN043.2.8,

00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 a type of reflection nebula. Unlike

00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 nebulae that emit their own light, reflection

00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 nebulae glow by scattering light from nearby

00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 stars, often giving them that characteristic

00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 soft, bluish hue, which is certainly the

00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 case here. This glowing cloud is nestled

00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 within the Torus Molecular Cloud, a

00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 rich star forming region located approximately

00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 480 light years from Earth in the

00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 constellation Taurus. It's one of the closest

00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 and most ideal places for observing newborn stars in

00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 action. The soft Glow of

00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 GN04328 comes from a

00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 trio of young stars at its heart. These include the

00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 variable star V1025 Tauri at the

00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 very centre of the image, along with HP Tau,

00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 HP Tau G2, and HP Tau

00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 G3. HP Tau itself belongs to a

00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 special class known as T Tauri stars, which are

00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 energetic and restless stars in the earliest stages of their

00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 lives, perfectly at home in this stellar nursery.

00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 Astronomers believe these three stars form a

00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 gravitationally bound triple system, making this region even

00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 more compelling for study. But perhaps the

00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 most exciting detail for planet hunters is a small

00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 squashed orange spot just to the left of the centre,

00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 below the main cloud, crossed by a dark

00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 line. This is a newly formed

00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 protostar veiled within a protoplanetary

00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 disc that obstructs some of its light.

00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 Because this disc is seen edge on from our

00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 perspective, it presents an ideal opportunity for

00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 astronomers to examine it closely. They're

00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 using Hubble's keen eye to seek out clues about the

00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 kinds of exoplanets that might be formed within discs

00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 just like this one.

00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Moving from the ancient past of galaxies to the

00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 dynamic present here on Earth, this week promises

00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 to be an incredibly busy one for space launches.

00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 As July begins, the global launch manifest

00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 is absolutely jam packed with exciting missions

00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 Kicking things off SpaceX is set for a double

00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 header with two Falcon 9 launches from Florida.

00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 The first is a Starlink mission scheduled for

00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 no earlier than Tuesday, July 1st at

00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 2:06am EDT from Space

00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. This

00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 rocket will fly on a northeast trajectory carrying a batch of

00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 27 Starlink V2 mini satellites for Internet

00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 connectivity. The first stage booster will attempt a

00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 landing on one of SpaceX's East coast drone ships in the

00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 Atlantic. This mission marks a significant

00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 milestone as it will be the 82nd flight of a

00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 Falcon 9 in 2025 and the

00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 staggering 500th mission for the rocket since its

00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 debut back in June 2010.

00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 SpaceX is ambitiously aiming for up to

00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 170 Falcon launches before the year is out.

00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 Just Hours later, the second SpaceX launch could happen.

00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 Liftoff of the MTGS1 mission is

00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 scheduled for no earlier than Tuesday, July 1

00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 at 5:03pm EDT,

00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 this time from the historic Launch Complex

00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 39A at Kennedy Space Centre. The

00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 payload for this M mission is the Meteosat third

00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 generation Sounder 1 or MTG

00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 S1, a crucial weather satellite to be operated

00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 by the European Space agency and Umet Sat.

00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 Weighing in at 3 kilogrammes,

00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 MTG S1 is equipped with an infrared

00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 sounder, Europe's first in geostationary

00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 orbit, and a UVN spectrometer.

00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 These instruments will provide improved weather forecasting data for

00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 Europe and Northern Africa and importantly

00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 monitor air quality by detecting trace gas

00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 concentrations and aerosols, supplying hourly

00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 air pollution information. This will be the 83rd

00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 Falcon 9 launch of the year. Beyond

00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 SpaceX we have a truly momentous occasion for Australia

00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 the debut flight of its first homegrown launch vehicle,

00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 Gilmore Space's Air Ros rocket. This highly

00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 anticipated maiden flight is set to take place no earlier than

00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 Thursday, July 3 at 7:30am

00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 Australian UM Eastern Standard Time from the Bowen Orbital

00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 Spaceport at Abbott Point. After

00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 years of development, the three stage ERIS rocket, which

00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 uses a fascinating hybrid propellant system for its first

00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 two stages, will attempt to reach low Earth

00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 orbit. A successful launch would mark the first for an

00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 Australian built rocket and the first for a hybrid

00:13:58 --> 00:14:01 fueled rocket. Fun fact. While

00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 not carrying an operational payload, Gilmour Space has

00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 humorously placed a container of vegemite flavour spread

00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 inside the payload fairing. Also on Thursday, July

00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 3, China's only scheduled launch of the week will see a

00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 uh Chang Geng 4B or CZ4B

00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 Rocket take flight at 9:35am UTC

00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. This three

00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 stage launcher has a long and successful history,

00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 having flown 53 times with 52 successes over

00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 its 26 year tenure, primarily launching

00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 remote sensing satellites. Rounding out the

00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 week's launches, the Russian space agency Roscosmos

00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 is looking to resupply the International Space Station with a

00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 Progress cargo mission. Liftoff from site

00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 31.6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in

00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 Kazakhstan is scheduled for Thursday, July

00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 3 at 3:32pm Eastern Daylight

00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 Time. The Progress M S31

00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 spacecraft will deliver approximately

00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 2 kilogrammes of food, water

00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 and equipment for the crew aboard the station, with

00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 docking expected on Saturday, July 5. This

00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 will mark the 184th flight of a Progress cargo

00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 spacecraft and the sixth launch of a Soyuz

00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 rocket in 2025. What a week for space

00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 enthusiasts.

00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 Finally, in exciting news for space enthusiasts

00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 everywhere new NASA has announced its latest

00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 venture to bring space closer to home by

00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 teaming up with a major streaming service.

00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 Starting this northern summer, NASA live

00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 programming will be available on Netflix.

00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 This partnership means that audiences will have another

00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 fantastic option to stream live rocket

00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 launches, awe inspiring astronaut

00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 spacewalks, comprehensive mission coverage,

00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 and breathtaking live views of Earth directly from

00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 the International Space Station.

00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 Rebecca Sermons, General Manager of NASA,

00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 highlighted the agency's commitment, stating that the

00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 National Aeronautics and Space act of

00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 1958 calls on them to share their story

00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 of space exploration with the broadest possible

00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 audience. This collaboration aims for

00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 a golden age of innovation and exploration,

00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 inspiring new generations right from the comfort of their couch

00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 or the palm of their hand. Through this strategic

00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 partnership, NASA's groundbreaking work in science and

00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 exploration will become even more accessible,

00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 allowing the agency to significantly increase

00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 engagement and inspire a global audience within

00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 the modern media landscape. With

00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 Netflix reaching over 700 million people

00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 worldwide, this move aligns perfectly with

00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 NASA's broader efforts to connect with as many people as

00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 possible through various platforms, including

00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 video, audio, social media and

00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 live events. The ultimate goal is simple

00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 to bring the excitement of the agency's discoveries,

00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 inventions and space exploration to people

00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 wherever they are. It's also worth noting

00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 that NASA itself will continue to be available

00:16:55 --> 00:16:58 for free with no ads through the official

00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 NASA app and on the agency's website.

00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 More programming details and schedules are expected to be

00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 announced closer to the launch date.

00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 And that brings us to the end of another fascinating

00:17:10 --> 00:17:13 episode of Astronomy Daily. Thank you so much for joining

00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 me today. I hope you enjoyed exploring the latest in space and

00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 astronomy news from Mars missions and puzzling

00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 asteroid discoveries to ancient galaxies and

00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 the cutting edge of launch technology.

00:17:24 --> 00:17:27 Before we sign off. Remember, you can always catch up

00:17:27 --> 00:17:30 on all the latest space and astronomy news

00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 with our constantly updating news feed, and listen to

00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 all our back episodes by visiting our

00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 website@astronomydaily.IO. that's

00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 Astronomy Daily IO. And if you haven't

00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 already, make sure to subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Apple

00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, or wherever

00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 It's been a pleasure being your host, Anna, and I look

00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 forward to sharing more cosmic wonders with you tomorrow.

00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Until then, keep looking up.