- NASA's Artemis 3 Mission Delays: A new report indicates that NASA's Artemis 3 mission, aimed at landing astronauts on the moon, is now projected to occur in 2028 instead of the previously planned 2026. This delay is primarily due to the ongoing development challenges faced by SpaceX's Starship, which is key to the mission's success.
- Launch Week Extravaganza: It's a busy week for space launches, with SpaceX planning five Falcon 9 missions, including four for their Starlink Internet Constellation and a rideshare mission. China is also active, with three launches, including the critical Shenzhou 22 spacecraft heading to the Tiangong Space Station.
- Sentinel 6B Satellite Launch: The recent launch of the Sentinel 6B satellite marks a significant advancement in ocean monitoring. This satellite will provide vital data on sea level rise, wind speeds, and wave heights, crucial for climate understanding and disaster preparedness.
- Discovery of Galaxy Y1: Astronomers have discovered a galaxy nicknamed Y1, existing just 800 million years after the Big Bang. This galaxy is a "star factory," producing stars at a rate 180 times faster than the Milky Way, shedding light on early galaxy formation and dust accumulation.
- Tiangong Space Station Rescue Mission: The Shenzhou 22 mission is set to rescue astronauts stranded on the Tiangong Space Station after their original spacecraft was damaged by space debris. With a rapid response from Chinese authorities, this mission aims to ensure the crew's safe return while providing essential supplies.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, 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 and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
NASA Artemis 3 Update
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
SpaceX Launch Schedule
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Sentinel 6B Mission Details
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Galaxy Y1 Discovery
[Astrophysical Journal](https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1538-3881)
Tiangong Space Station Update
[CMSA](http://www.cmse.gov.cn/)
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Avery: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 brings you the universe, one story at a
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 time. I'm Avery.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 Today we'll be talking about some significant
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 delays for NASA's Artemis moon mission,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 a very busy week of launches around the
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 globe, and a new satellite that's keeping a
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 close eye on our planet's oceans.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 Avery: Plus, we're diving deep into the early
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 universe to visit a superheated star
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 factory. And then coming back to low Earth
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 orbit. Update you on a rescue mission for the
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 crew of the Tangong space station. Let's
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 get right into it, starting with the moon.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 Anna: What have you got for us, Avery?
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Avery: All right, first up, some challenging news
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 for lunar exploration enthusiasts.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 It looks like NASA's Artemis 3 mission, which
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 is supposed to land the first astronauts on
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 the moon since the Apollo era, is likely
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 facing a major delay.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 Anna: That's right, Avery. A new government report
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 suggests a more realistic target for that
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 landing is now 2028,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 not the original 2026 goal. The
00:01:08 --> 00:01:09 primary reason comes down to the development
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 of SpaceX's Starship, the
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 massive vehicle chosen to be the human
00:01:15 --> 00:01:15 landing system.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 Avery: Right, so it's all hinging on Starship being
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 ready to fly. What's SpaceX's own
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 internal schedule looking like?
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 Anna: Well, their internal targets are ambitious,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 but they also point to a later date. They're
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 aiming for an uncrewed Starship lunar landing
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 in June of 2027, followed by
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 crucial crewed mission in September of
00:01:37 --> 00:01:38 2028.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 Avery: A 2028 landing that really
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 changes the rhythm of the whole Artemis
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 program. The Apollo missions had a much
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 faster cadence, building momentum with each
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 flight. This means longer gaps between
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 Artemis 2, the lunar flyby, and
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 Artemis 3, the landing.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Anna: Exactly. And it's not surprising when you
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 look at Starship's development. It's been a
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 mixed year of test flights. We've seen some
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 incredible successes, like reaching orbital
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 velo, but also some spectacular
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 failures, or as uh, SpaceX calls them,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 rapid unscheduled disassemblies.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 Avery: It's a, ah, hugely complex vehicle. It's
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 designed for complete reusability, which is a
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 game changer. But there's still some massive
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 technological hurdles to overcome.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 Anna: That's the key. One of the most critical
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 capabilities they still have to prove is
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 orbital cryogenic fuel transfer.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 That means refueling Starship in space, which
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 is essential for the trip to the moon and
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 back. Never been done on this scale before.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 Avery: So while a delay is disappointing, it
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 underscores the sheer difficulty of what
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 they're trying to achieve. It's a marathon,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 not a sprint.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 Anna: Absolutely. We'll be watching those test
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 flights very, very closely.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:56 Avery: Okay.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 From future launches to current ones, it's an
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 incredibly busy week on launch pads around
00:03:02 --> 00:03:02 the world.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 Anna: It really has. Let's start with
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 SpaceX, who are planning a staggering five
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 Falcon 9 missions this week alone.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:11 Five?
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 Avery: What are they sending up?
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 Anna: The manifest includes four separate missions
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 for their Starlink Internet Constellation.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 Continuing to build out that global network,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 of course.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 Avery: And the fifth?
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 Anna: The fifth is the Transporter 15 rideshare
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 mission, which is always exciting. It's like
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 a cosmic carpool carrying dozens of
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 smaller satellites for various customers into
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 orbit on a single rocket.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Avery: Right. It's not just SpaceX, though. China
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 is also having a busy week.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 Anna: That's right. China is planning three rocket
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 launches of their own. But perhaps the most
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 dramatic launch is their upcoming
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 replacement Shenzhou 22
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 spacecraft, which is headed to the Tiangong
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 Space Station. We'll have more on why that's
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 so critical in a bit.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 Avery: Okay. Intriguing. And there's another player
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 getting in on the action too, right?
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 Anna: Yes. South Korea's private company
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 innospace is set for the maiden flight of its
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 Handbit Nano rocket. It's always a big
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 moment to see a new launch vehicle take to
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 the skies for the first time. So a, uh, truly
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 global week for spaceflight.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 Avery: And speaking of launches, one of those recent
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 SpaceX flights carried a very important
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 passenger for us here on Earth. NASA and
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 SpaceX successfully launched the Sentinel
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 6B satellite.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 Anna: This is a fantastic mission.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 Sentinel 6B is the latest in a
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 series of satellites dedicated to monitoring
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 Earth's oceans with incredible precision.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 It's a crucial tool for understand climate
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 and weather here on Earth.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Avery: So what exactly is a, uh, measuring from
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 orbit?
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 Anna: It's providing a stream of vital data.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Primarily, it measures sea level rise
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 down to the millimeter, but it also tracks
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 ocean surface, wind speeds, wave heights,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 and even collects data on atmospheric
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 temperature and humidity.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 Avery: Wow, that's a lot of information. And it
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 has very direct practical applications.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 Anna: Absolutely. This data is fed directly
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 into models that help with flood predictions
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 and improve hurricane forecasting. For
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 coastal communities and vital infrastructure.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 That information can be life saving.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Avery: That makes sense. Knowing the exact height of
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 the sea and the intensity of a storm surge
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 is critical.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 Anna: Exactly. And it's a great example of
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 International Cooperation. Sentinel 6B
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 is a joint effort between NASA, the
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 European Space Agency Umetsat, which is the
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 European Operational Satellite Agency, and
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 NOAA, uh, the U.S. national oceanic and
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 Atmospheric Administration, A, uh, global
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 team for a global problem.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 Avery: A really important mission from
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 watching our.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 Anna: Own planet to peering Back to the dawn
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 of time.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 Astronomers have made a fascinating discovery
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 in the early universe, finding a galaxy
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 they've nicknamed Y1.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 Avery: And when you say early universe, how early
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 are we talking about?
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 Anna: We're talking very early. This galaxy
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 was observed as it existed just 800
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 million years after the Big Bang. The
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 universe itself is about 13.8
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 billion years old. So this is like seeing a
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 picture from the universe's infancy.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 Avery: Incredible. So what makes Y1
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 so special?
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 Anna: It's what astronomers are calling a star
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 factory. This galaxy is producing stars at
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 an absolutely furious rate. About
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 180 times faster than our own
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 Milky Way galaxy does today.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 Avery: One hundred and eighty times? That's hard to
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 even comprehend. How is that possible?
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 Anna: That's the big question. And why one is
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 providing some new clues. The key finding
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 is that the vast clouds of dust within this
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 galaxy, the raw material for stars, are
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 superheated. They're much warmer than the
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 dust in other comparable galaxies from that
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 era.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 Avery: So a, uh, superheated stellar nursery.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 What does that tell us about how galaxies
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 grew back then?
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 Anna: Well, it could help solve a long standing
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 puzzle. Observations have suggested that
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 early galaxies appeared to have more dust
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 than our theories can account for. This
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 discovery of a superheated region of intense
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 star birth might be the missing piece
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 explaining how these galaxies could build up
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 their mass and their dust content so rapidly.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 Avery: So Y1 could be a blueprint for how
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 galaxies like our own got their start. What a
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 find.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 Anna: And for our final story, let's return to low
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 Earth orbit. And that Shenzhou 22
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 mission we mentioned in the launch roundup
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 and yesterday. This isn't a routine crew
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 rotation. It's a rescue and resupply mission.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 Avery: Right. So what happened? Well, to recap,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 the Chinese astronauts currently on the
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 Tiangong Space Station have been left without
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 a right home.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Anna: That's the situation. Their original Shenzhou
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 20 spacecraft, which was docked to the
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 station to serve as their lifeboat, was
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 damaged by a piece of space debris, resulting
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 in a cracked window. It was deemed
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 unsafe for re entry, effectively stranding
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 them in orbit.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 Avery: Wow. So the Shenzhou 22 is
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 their new ride.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 Anna: Yes, that's right. And full credit
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 to the Chinese authorities who have prepared
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 Shenzhou 22 in record time for an
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 uncrewed mission. It was originally
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 scheduled to lift off in April next year
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 on a regular crew rotation. But they
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 now have it ready and are, uh, targeting
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 November 25th, which is next week.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 Incredible. So the Crew 21
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 astronauts have to hang on for a few more
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 days. But fortunately they are well supplied
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 and.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 Avery: In no immediate danger is
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 Shenzhou 22 carrying anything else?
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 Anna: Yes. It's also carrying essential supplies
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 for the crew and the station, but its
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 primary mission is to provide a safe return
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 vehicle for the astronauts.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 Avery: This feels like something we've heard before.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 It's the second time in just two years that a
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 crew has been stranded on a space station
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 after their right home was damaged.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 Anna: It is. The previous incident involved
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 Russian and American astronauts on the
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 International Space Station. It really
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 highlights a growing concern, the need for
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 a dedicated International Space rescue
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 service.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 Avery: That makes perfect sense, but that would
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 require cooperation between all the major
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 space faring nations including the U.S.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 and China.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 Anna: And that's the major roadblock. Current
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 U.S. law, often called the Wolf
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 Amendment, severely restricts bilateral
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 cooperation between NASA and Chinese
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 state run space entities. So while
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 an international Rescue framework is a
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 logical step for astronauts safety, the
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 geopolitical reality is incredibly
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 complicated.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 Avery: It's a stark reminder that as more people and
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 hardware go into orbit, the risks from space
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 debris are only going to increase. A problem
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 that definitely needs a solution.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 Anna: And that's all the time we have for today. We
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 covered the potential delays for Artemis 3,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 a jam packed launch schedule, a new eye
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 on our oceans, a stellar factory in the early
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 universe, and a crucial rescue mission in
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 orbit.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 Avery: It's a universe of wonders and challenges out
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 there. Thanks so much for joining us on
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 Astronomy M Daily. Be sure to subscribe on
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 your favorite podcast platforms so you don't
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 miss an episode.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 Anna: Until next time, keep looking up.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 Avery: Goodbye everyone. See uh you Tomorrow.