- Gilmour Space's Eris 1 Rocket Update: We discuss the latest challenges facing Australia's first orbital rocket, the Eris 1, as Gilmour Space pushes back its launch date due to technical setbacks. Learn about the rocket's specifications and the team's commitment to iterative improvement in the face of adversity.
- - Titan's Role in Exoplanet Research: Explore how Saturn's moon Titan is becoming a vital benchmark for understanding the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. We delve into the findings from the Cassini mission and how they inform current research on atmospheric retrievals with next-generation telescopes.
- - Mixed News from the Satellite World: We cover the successful launch of a European weather satellite aimed at environmental monitoring, alongside the unfortunate loss of the MethaneSat, which was designed to track methane emissions. Discover the implications of these developments for climate science.
- - Perseverance Rover's Discoveries on Mars: Join us as we follow NASA's Perseverance rover as it grinds into Martian rock to uncover clues about the planet's ancient habitability. We discuss the rover's advanced techniques and the significance of its findings in the Jezero Crater.
- 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.
Gilmour Space Updates
[Gilmour Space](https://gilmourspace.com/)
Titan Research Findings
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Satellite Launch Information
[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)
Perseverance Rover Discoveries
[NASA Mars Perseverance](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your regular dose
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 of the latest cosmic happenings and stellar
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 insights. I'm Anna, and we have an exciting
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 lineup for you today, packed with fascinating
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 developments from across the cosmos. First
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 up, we'll be checking in on Australia's
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 highly anticipated Eris 1 rocket, which has
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 faced some recent setbacks. Then we'll
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 take a deep dive into the fascinating world
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 of exoplanets, exploring how Saturn's
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 moon Titan is becoming a crucial benchmark
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 for understanding atmospheres far beyond our
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 solar system. We also have a dual report on
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 satellite news, covering a successful
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 European weather satellite launch and the
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 unfortunate loss of a critical methane
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 tracking satellite. Finally, we'll journey to
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Mars, where NASA's Perseverance rover is hard
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 at work grinding into ancient rocks to
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 uncover clues about the Red Planet's past
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 habitability. So buckle up because
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 we're about to embark on an incredible
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 journey through space.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 News okay, let's talk
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 about Gilmour Space's Eris 1 rocket. This is
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 a really big deal for Australia, as it's set
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 to be their very first orbital rocket.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 However, its debut launch has faced a few
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 more hurdles, pushing back its highly
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 anticipated liftoff. Most recently, Gilmour
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 Space decided to stand down from its planned
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 July 2 launch, this citing the need for
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 a longer, more flexible launch window for our
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 first test flight. While a new target date is
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 expected to be announced next week, this
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 isn't the first time the Aris one has
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 encountered a delay. The rocket was initially
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 ready to fly back in May, but that attempt
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 was nixed due to an early trigger of the
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 vehicle's fairing. For those unfamiliar,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 the fairing is the protective shell at the
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 very top of the rocket that shields its
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 payloads during launch. This particular
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 setback wasn't due to Mother Nature. Unlike
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 an even earlier delay, what happened was that
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 neighbouring components created a feedback
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 charge during a routine vehicle shutdown.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 This engaged the fairing's single use
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 deployment protocols, essentially ejecting
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 the protective shell prematurely. Gilmour
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 Space explained that while shutdowns are a
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 normal part of launch operations, this
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 specific issue hadn't appeared in previous
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 tests. Because the fairing separation system
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 is a single use component only activated
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 when absolutely necessary to ensure its
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 reliability and safety. It was quite an
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 unexpected glitch. Prior to that May
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 incident, Gilmour was actually prepared to
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 launch Eris one as early as March, but that
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 first attempt was prevented by Tropical
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Cyclone Alfred. So it's been a bit of a
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 challenging start for their maiden flight,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 but the team is clearly dedicated to getting
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 it right. Gilmour Space, founded by brothers
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 Adam and James Gilmour in 2015 has
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 steadily grown and now boasts over 200
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 employees supporting their operations and
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 their Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 The Eris 1 itself is a modest but capable
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 rocket. Standing 82ft or 25
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 metres tall, it's designed to launch payloads
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 of up to 474 pounds or 215
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 kilogrammes, into Sun Synchronous orbits.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 This debut mission, named Test Flight 1, is
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 the first of several planned flights as
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Gilmour Space works to qualify the new
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 vehicle's various systems. Despite the
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 setbacks, the founders of Gilmour Space
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 maintain a very realistic and practical view
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 of their expectations for this first flight.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 They've emphasised that any measure of
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 success will be considered a win, as they put
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 it in a press release earlier this year,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 whether we make it off the pad, reach max Q
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 or get all the way to space, what's important
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 is that every second of flight will deliver
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 valuable data that will improve our rocket's
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 reliability and performance for future
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 launches. This approach highlights their
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 commitment to learning and iterative
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 improvement, which is crucial in the
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 challenging world of rocket development. It's
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 m also worth noting that the upcoming launch,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 whenever it happens, won't be streamed live.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 However, Gilmour Space has committed to
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 providing updates through their social media
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 channels so we can all follow along with
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 their progress there. We'll certainly keep
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 you updated on the Eris one's next launch
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 attempt here on Astronomy Daily.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 Moving from rockets to research let's turn
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 our gaze to a fascinating new study that
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 suggests one of our own solar system's moons.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 Saturn's Titan, could hold the key to
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 understanding alien worlds light years away.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 The NASA ESA Cassini Huygens mission,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 which explored Saturn and its moons from 2004
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 to 2017, provided incredible
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 data, especially on Titan. The
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 probe closely examined Titan, even deploying
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 the Huygens lander to its surface, revealing
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 insights into its atmosphere, methane cycle
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 and rich prebiotic environment. These
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 findings, which led to speculation about
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 methanogenic life in Titan's vast methane
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 lakes, are now being leveraged for exoplanet
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 research with next generation observatories
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 like the James Webb Space Telescope or jwst.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 We're moving from simply discovering
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 exoplanets to deeply characterising their
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 atmospheres, According to this new study.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 Cassini's detailed examinations of Titan's
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 atmosphere can inform these attempts, serving
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 as an aspirational study to help astronomers
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 anticipate and overcome interpretation
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 difficulties. This significant research
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 was led by Prajwal Niraula, a graduate
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 student at MIT, and co author Juliette
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 DeWitt, an associate professor at MIT and
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 leader of its Disruptive Planet Group. Their
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 paper, currently under review for Astronomy
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 and Astrophysics, consulted data from
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 Spectrometer, or vims. VIMS
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 conducted high fidelity observations of Titan
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 using solar occultations, where sunlight
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 passing through an atmosphere is analysed to
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 detect chemical signatures. These
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 observations confirm Titan's atmosphere is
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 95% nitrogen and about 5%
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 methane with trace hydrocarbons. The
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 data also revealed Titan's methane cycle,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 similar to Earth's water cycle, with liquid
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 methane forming clouds and raining onto the
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 surface. As Niraula and DeWitt
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 explained, the Cassini mission demonstrated
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 how challenging it can be to identify
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 molecules in atmospheres because different
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 chemicals can have similar absorption
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 features. This can lead to
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 mischaracterization with drastic implications
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 for determining a planet's habitability.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 Their study's primary focus was to leverage
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 Titan's precise transmission spectrum and our
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 existing knowledge of its atmosphere to
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 investigate the strengths and limitations of
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 exoplanet atmospheric retrievals,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 specifically assessing if misinterpretation
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 impacts only spectroscopic features or biases
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 other atmospheric properties.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 Exoplanet atmosphere characterization has
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 advanced significantly. Previously,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 astronomers relied on transmission spectra
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 during planetary transits. Thanks to
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 Webb, direct imaging of exoplanets based on
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 reflected light is now possible, a
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 monumental step forward. The core
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 challenge remains properly identifying
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 chemical spectra to determine biosignatures.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 The team used the publicly available Tierra
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 model, a one dimensional spectroscopy code.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 In this study, they expanded the model to
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 include a wider range of molecules and
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 account for the similarity of their
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 signatures based on existing astronomical
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 data. Their M findings revealed that spectral
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 signatures can not only be easily
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 misidentified, but such misidentification can
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 also bias other atmospheric parameters like
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 temperature. This highlights the crucial
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 connection between detection and retrieval
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 that wasn't previously fully appreciated.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 What researchers choose as detectable
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 significantly affects their atmospheric
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 derivations. Another key insight relates
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 to identifying the dominant background gas in
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 an exoplanet's atmosphere, even if it lacks
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 strong absorption features like nitrogen.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 This is crucial for understanding the
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 atmospheric chemistry and provides essential
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 context for interpreting trace gases,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 including potential biosignatures.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 As the exoplanet census grows, the search for
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 habitable planets is entering a sophisticated
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 phase. Webb has already shown its ability to
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 characterise exoplanet atmospheres and make
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 direct detections like TWA7.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 Soon, Webb will be joined by the Nancy Grace
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 Roman Space Telescope and powerful ground
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 based observatories like the Extremely Large
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 Telescope, Giant magellan telescope and
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 30 metre telescope. These will enable more
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 direct imaging and detailed
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 characterizations. The ability to
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 properly identify potential biosignatures is
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 is indispensable for finding an Earth 2.0
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 quote or other habitable exoplanets.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 Niraula and DeWitt believe their work will
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 help the community transition into this new
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 era of information rich data. They emphasise
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 the need to ask what can we reliably say from
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 this data? They break this down further
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 what can we reliably say given our current
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 models, and what could we say if we had
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 perfect models? The first helps account for
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 current limitations where models not data
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 quality are bottlenecks. Not accounting for
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 model induced noise leads to overconfidence.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 The second question identifies dominant model
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 limitations, showcasing the depth of science
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 achievable with targeted upgrades. It's a
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 call to refine our tools as much as our
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 observations.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 Now let's pivot from looking far beyond our
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 solar system to the instruments orbiting much
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 closer to home with some mixed news from the
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 satellite world. On one hand, there's been a
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 successful launch that will aid in
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 environmental monitoring.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 SpaceX's Falcon 9 recently launched a
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 European satellite designed with a dual to
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 collect vital weather data and to monitor
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 atmospheric pollution. This successful
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 deployment adds to our growing capabilities
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 to keep an eye on our planet's changing
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 climate from above. However, on the other
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 side of the coin, we've received some
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 disheartening news about another crucial
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 satellite. Methane Sat, which was
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 anticipated to revolutionise our view of
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 methane emissions, has unexpectedly lost
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 power less than 1 year and 1/2 after its
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 launch. According to a statement from the
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 Environmental Defence Fund, the nonprofit
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 organisation that launched and operated the
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 satellite, MethaneSat is likely not
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 recoverable. This loss is
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 a significant setback for global efforts to
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 track and curb methane emissions, which are a
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 major contributor to the rise in global
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 temperatures. Launched in March
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 2024, MethaneSat joined a growing
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 constellation of satellites dedicated to
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 detecting invisible methane emissions from
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 key sources like oil and gas wells, livestock
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 landfills and wetlands. While other
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 satellites focused on individual sources or
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 broad regions, MethaneSat was uniquely
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 designed to detect methane at a middle scale,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 making it ideal for spotting emissions from
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 oil and gas production. The
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 satellite, which cost nearly $100 million to
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 build and launch, began collecting data in
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 June of last year and released its first
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 detections of methane from oil and gas basins
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 in November 2024. Researchers
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 were actively working on automating data
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 processing to deliver near real time
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 information on emissions. The Environmental
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 Defence Fund reported losing contact with the
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 satellite on June 20, and after exhausting
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 all options to restore communications, they
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 confirmed the power loss. The
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 MethaneSat team is still investigating the
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 exact cause of the malfunction. They will
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 continue to share the valuable data the
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 satellite managed to collect before its power
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 failure, along with the algorithms developed
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 to analyse it. While it's a significant blow,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 the Environmental Defence Fund hasn't ruled
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 out launching another satellite in the future
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 to pick up where MethaneSat left off
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 from satellites orbiting Earth.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 Lets now journey to Mars, where NASA's
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 Perseverance rover is literally digging
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 deeper into the Red Planet's geological past.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 The M rover has shifted its focus from
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 primarily scouting and sampling to more
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 detailed on site science, beginning to grind
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 into Martian rock surfaces to expose
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 material that could hold crucial clues to the
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 planet's ancient environment and potential
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 habitability. Earlier this month,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 Perseverance used its abrasion tool to scrape
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 away the top layer of a rocky Martian outcrop
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 it affectionately nicknamed Kenmore.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 This procedure, which combines mechanical
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 grinding with a, uh, gas blast cleaning,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 reveals a fresh surface for close up
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 analysis. The goal is to study rock
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 interiors that haven't been altered by
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 billions of years of wind, radiation or dust.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 Interestingly, Kenmore was a weird,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 uncooperative rock, according to Ken Farley,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 Perseverance's deputy project scientist. He
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 explained that visually it looked promising
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 for a good abrasion and possibly sample
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 collection. However, during the process
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 it vibrated excessively and small chunks
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 broke off. Fortunately, the team managed to
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 get just deep enough below the surface to
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 move forward with their analysis.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 Perseverance employs an advanced abrading bit
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 and a gaseous dust removal tool, or
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 gdrt, which applies five puffs of nitrogen
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 to clear samples. This method poses less
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 risk of contamination compared to earlier
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 rovers that used brushes to sweep debris
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 away. Once an abrasion is complete,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 Perseverance's sophisticated science
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 instruments are deployed to investigate the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 exposed rock. The rover's Watson Imager,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 which stands for Wide Angle Topographic
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 Sensor for operations and engineering, snaps
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 detailed close up photos. Its supercam
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 then uses laser pulses to analyse the
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 composition of vaporised material with one
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 spectrometer and studies visible and infrared
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 light reflected from the freshly exposed
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 surface with another. The initial
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 findings from Kenmore are already revealing
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 fascinating insights. The tailings or
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 abraded debris showed that this rock contains
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 clay minerals which are composed of water as
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 hydroxide molecules bound with iron and
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 magnesium. This composition is relatively
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 typical of ancient Mars clay minerals. The
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 abrasion spectra further provided the
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 chemical composition of the rock, showing
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 enhancements in iron and magnesium.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 Perseverance also relies on its SHERLOCK and
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 PIXL instruments, which are designed to scan
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 habitable environments with Raman and
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 luminescence for organics and Chemicals and
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 planetary instrument for X ray
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 lithochemistry, respectively. These tools
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 help determine mineral content, chemical
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 composition, and potential signs of past
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 water activity or even microbial life.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 Not M only did they confirm the presence of
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 more clay, but they also detected feldspar,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 a mineral common in Earth's crust, the Moon,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 and other rocky planets. Crucially,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 the team also found manganese hydroxide in
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 the observed specimens. For the very first
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 time, this work is being carried out in
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 Mars Jezero Crater, a vast basin
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 spanning 28 miles wide that once hosted a
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 river delta and a lake. Scientists
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 believe this region contains some of the best
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 preserved records of Mars wet past,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 making it a prime location to search for
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 biosignatures or indicators of ancient life.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 Kenmore marks the 30th Martian rock that
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 Perseverance has studied in such fine detail.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 The data being obtained from rocks like
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 Kenmore is invaluable for future missions,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14 providing a much clearer idea of what types
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 of rocks can be easily traversed, sampled, or
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 even used as construction material for
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 habitats. Perseverance is also
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 continuing to collect rock core samples,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 sealing them in tubes for a possible future
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 return to Earth through the planned Mars
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 Sample Return campaign, although it's worth
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 noting that the recently released fiscal year
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 2026 NASA budget
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 proposal from the Trump administration
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 suggests cutting the Mars Sample Return
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 programme altogether, highlighting ongoing
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 uncertainties for this ambitious endeavour.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 That brings us to the end of another
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 captivating episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 We've covered some truly exciting ground
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 today, from the ongoing Saga of Gilmour
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 Space's Eris 1 rocket and its journey towards
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 launch to how Saturn's moon Titan is helping
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 us decode the mysteries of exoplanet
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 atmospheres. We also discussed the latest
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 in Earth orbiting satellites, including a
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 successful weather satellite launch, and the
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 unfortunate loss of the crucial methanesat
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 before taking a deep dive into Mars with the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 Perseverance rover's fascinating discoveries
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 in the Jezero Crater. Thank you for joining
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 me, Anna, on this celestial journey through
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 the latest in space news. If you want to dive
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 deeper into any of these stories or catch up
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 on previous episodes, be sure to visit our
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 website@astronomydaily.IO While
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 you're there, you can sign up for our free
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 daily newsletter to get all the updates
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 delivered straight to your inbox. And don't
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 forget to subscribe to Astronomy Daily on
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 wherever you get your podcasts, so you never
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 miss an episode. Until next time, keep
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 looking up.