- Private Spaceflight Anomaly: In this episode, we discuss a recent incident involving the Nyx capsule during the SpaceX Transporter 14 mission. Despite a communication loss and a failed parachute deployment leading to a tragic outcome, the Exploration Company views the mission as a partial success, highlighting the technical milestones achieved.
- NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Innovations: We explore how NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, after nearly two decades in operation, is performing new manoeuvres to gather deeper insights into the Martian subsurface. The orbiter's ability to roll 120 degrees has significantly enhanced its radar capabilities, allowing it to map ice deposits crucial for future exploration.
- Nova Philip A celestial spectacle unfolds as the nova Philip bursts into visibility, transforming from a faint star to one bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. We delve into the fascinating process of classical nova explosions and provide tips for stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of this transient phenomenon.
- Exoplanet Habitability Analysis: We discuss a new statistical analysis of exoplanets that has identified promising candidates for life. By examining key characteristics of both planets and their stars, researchers have categorised exoplanets based on their potential habitability, with Kepler 22b emerging as a leading candidate for further investigation.
- NASA and Australia’s Lunar Laser Communications: We highlight an exciting collaboration between NASA and the Australian National University to develop laser communication technologies for the Artemis 2 mission. This innovative approach promises to enhance data transmission speeds and efficiency for future lunar and deep space missions.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, 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.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Private spaceflight anomaly
10:00 - NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter innovations
20:00 - Nova Philip
30:00 - Exoplanet habitability analysis
40:00 - NASA and Australia’s lunar laser communications
✍️ Episode References
Nyx Capsule Mission Update
[Celestis](https://www.celestis.com/)
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Nova Philip Information
[All Sky Automated Survey](https://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~assn/ASAS.html)
Exoplanet Habitability Study
[UC Irvine](https://www.uci.edu/)
NASA and ANU Lunar 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 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to podcast for
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 the latest and greatest in space news. I'm your
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 host Anna, and I'm thrilled to have you join me today as
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 we embark on another fascinating journey through the
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 cosmos. We have a packed episode for you
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 covering some truly remarkable developments and a few
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 unexpected turns in our exploration of the universe.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Today we'll discuss a private spaceflight mission that
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 faced an unexpected anomaly. We'll then look
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 at how NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is learning new
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 manoeuvres after nearly two decades, offering
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 fresh insights into the Red Planet for
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 stargazers. We'll highlight a recent nova explosion
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 that made a previously dim star visible to the naked
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 eye. We'll also dive into a new statistical
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 analysis of exoplanet habitability,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 revealing promising candidates for life.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 Finally, we'll explore a cutting edge collaboration between
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 NASA and Australia on lunar laser communications
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 for the Artemis 2 mission.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 So buckle up and let's get started.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 First up, let's talk about a recent private space flight that didn't
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 quite go according to plan, yet is still being called
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 a partial success by the exploration company.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 This incident involved their Nyx capsule,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 which was part of the SpaceX Transporter 14
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 rideshare mission launched on June 23.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 Among the 70 payloads sent into orbit, the Nyx
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 capsule had a very special cargo Memorial
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 remains contributed by loved ones through Celestis
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 Memorial Space Flights. Celestis offers various
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 tiers of space memorial services, from launching
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 DNA into space and returning it to Earth to
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 sending remains into deep space for their
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 25th launch. Dubbed the Perseverance Flight,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 Celestis partnered with the Exploration Company's
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 Mission Possible to carry its memorial payload
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 aboard the Nyx capsule with the intention of
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 returning it to Earth. The mission proceeded
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 nominally throughout, with the capsule performing as
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 expected, powering its payloads in orbit,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 stabilising itself and even re establishing
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 communication after the expected blackout period during
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 RE entry. This blackout happens when
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 intense friction with the atmosphere creates a
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 superheated plasma layer around the spacecraft.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Everything seemed to be going perfectly right up until
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 a few minutes before its scale scheduled splashdown in the
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 Pacific Ocean. That's when an anomaly
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 occurred. The exploration company reported losing
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 communication with Nyx. A later statement from
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 Celestis shed more light on the issue, confirming
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 that the capsule's parachute system failed to deploy.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 This tragic failure resulted in the Nyx capsule
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 impacting the Pacific Ocean and dispersing its
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 contents at sea. It's an incredibly sombre
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 outcome for the families who entrusted their loved ones remains
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 to this journey. Celestis expressed their hope
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 that families will find some Peace in knowing their
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 loved ones were part of a historic journey.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 Launched into space, orbited Earth and
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 are now resting in the vastness of the Pacific,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 akin to a traditional and honoured sea scattering.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 The Exploration company also extended an apology
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 to all their clients. Despite this significant
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 setback, the Exploration company is viewing the mission
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 as a partial success. They highlight the
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 technical, um, milestones achieved, emphasising their
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 ambition and the inherent risks involved in innovation.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 The Nyx capsule is a crucial part of their future
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 plans, designed to transport both crew and
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 cargo to and from low Earth orbit and
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 beyond. They are determined not to let this
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 snag slow them down and are already preparing
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 to re fly as soon as possible, leveraging the
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 lessons learned from this ongoing investigation.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 Now let's turn our gaze to Mars, where NASA's Mars
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 Reconnaissance Orbiter, or MRO, is proving
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 that you can indeed teach an old spacecraft new tricks.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 After nearly two decades orbiting the Red Planet,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 MRO is literally on a roll, performing new
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 manoeuvres to extract even more science data.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 Engineers have managed to teach this probe to roll
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 almost completely upside down, a feat that allows it to
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 peer deeper beneath the Martian surface in its hunt for
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 liquid and frozen water. These new capabilities,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 detailed in a recent paper, describe three
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 very large roles executed between
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 2023 and 2024. This
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 innovative approach means that entirely new regions
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 of the Martian subsurface are now accessible for
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 exploration. While MRO M was
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 originally designed to roll up to 30 degrees to point its
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 instruments, these new rolls push the limits
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 to a full 120 degrees.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 The main beneficiary of these extreme manoeuvres is the
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 shallow radar, or SHARAD instrument.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 SHARAD is designed to penetrate one to two
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 kilometres below ground, helping scientists
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 distinguish between materials like rock, sand and
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 ice. It has been instrumental in mapping
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 subsurface ice deposits, which are crucial for
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 understanding Mars climate and geology and are also
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 vital potential resources for future human missions.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 However, Sharad's antennas were mounted at the back of the
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 orbiter to give prime viewing to other cameras, which
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 inadvertently caused parts of the spacecraft to interfere with
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 its radar signals, making images less clear.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 By performing these dramatic 120 degree
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 rolls, the team found they could give the radio waves
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 an unobstructed path to the surface, strengthening
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 the radar signal by 10 times or more and providing
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 a much clearer picture of the Martian underground.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Planning these roles isn't simple. MRO carries
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 five science instruments, each with different pointing
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 requirements. Regular rolls are planned weeks in
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 advance, with instrument teams negotiating for science time.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 An algorithm then commands the orbiter to roll,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 adjusting solar arrays for power and the high gain
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 antenna for communication with Earth. The
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 very large rolls are even more complex,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 requiring special analysis to ensure enough
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 battery power for safety, as the spacecraft's
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 antenna isn't pointed at Earth and its solar
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 arrays can't track the sun during the manoeuvre.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 Because of these challenges, the mission is currently
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 limited to one or two of these very large
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 rolls per year, although engineers hope to
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 streamline the process for more frequent use.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 In addition to shared, another MRO instrument, the
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 Mars Climate Sounder, is also adapting its operations.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 This instrument, which provides detailed information on Mars's
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 atmosphere, now relies on MRO's standard
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 roles for its observations and calibrations as
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 its ageing gimbal has become unreliable. These
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 clever adaptations ensure that MRO continues to deliver
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 cutting edge science even as it approaches its two
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 decade mark in space.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 From the robotic wonders of Mars, we now
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 shift our focus to a celestial spectacle
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 happening right now in our own night sky. An
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 ordinarily dim star has suddenly burst into
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 brilliance, putting on a powerful display that's
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 even visible to the naked eye. We're talking about
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 the Nova V462 Lupi, first
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 spotted on June 12 by the All Sky Automated
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 Survey for Supernovae. This star,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 usually far too faint for us to see with a visual magnitude
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 of 22.3, has undergone a dramatic
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 transformation. Its explosion of radiation has caused
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 it to brighten so significantly that it appears as if
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 brand new star is shining in the night sky. Just as
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 a reminder, the lower an object's magnitude, the
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 brighter it appears. Our eyes can typically pick
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 out stars with a magnitude of plus 6.5 or
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 greater under good dark sky conditions.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 So what exactly is a classical nova? It's a
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 fascinating type of stellar explosion that occurs in binary
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 star systems. Imagine a white dwarf star,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 which is the dense remnant of a star like our sun,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 orbiting very closely with a companion star. The
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 white dwarf's strong gravitational pull
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 strips mass mostly hydrogen from its
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 companion. This material then accumulates
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 on the surface of the white dwarf. As more and
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 more material piles up, it becomes incredibly
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 hot and dense, eventually reaching a critical point
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 where a cataclysmic fusion reaction is ignited.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 This sudden, powerful explosion releases a
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 colossal outpouring of radiation, which is what we
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 observe as a nova. Soon after its
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 discovery, V462 Lupi was
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 reported to be visible through binoculars with an apparent
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 magnitude of around 7.9.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 It continued to brighten steadily in the days that followed,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 eventually becoming visible to the naked eye around the
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 middle of June, with some reports even placing its
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 peak brightness at over 5.5.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 While it was truly spectacular, the nova is now on the
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 decline and its brightness is fading. But don't
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 despair. You still have a chance to witness this
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 ancient light before it vanishes from our view. The
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 dark skies around the new moon offer a perfect opportunity
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 to get away from city lights and hunt down
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 V462 Lupi. We
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 recommend bringing a pair of 10x50 binoculars,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 which will make it easier to spot the subsiding light while
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 providing a wide field of view to appreciate the surrounding
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 stars. To find
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 V462 Lupi, you'll need to look
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 in the constellation Lupus the Wolf, near the
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 bright stars Delta Lupi and Kappa Centauri. For
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 precise positioning, a star chart is your best friend.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 You can generate one easily on the American association
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 for Variable Stars or AAVSO website.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 Just type V462, loop into the Pick a
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 Star box and click Create a Finder Chart.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best view
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 as, uh, the nova will appear highest in the post
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 sunset sky for them. For our listeners in
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 The United States, V462
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 Lupi will be visible close to the southern
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 horizon, especially if you're in states
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 closest to the equator, such as Texas, Florida
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 and Louisiana. It's a fleeting but powerful
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 reminder of the dynamic nature of our universe.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 Next up, let's shift our gaze far beyond our solar
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 system to the fascinating world of exoplanets
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 and the ongoing search for life. While direct
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 imaging of exoplanet atmospheres or discovering
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 systems with multiple planets might grab more headlines,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 one of the most powerful and often underappreciated
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 tools in an astrobiologist's kit is
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 statistics. It's absolutely crucial for
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 ensuring that what we observe is real and not just
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 an artefact of our data or observational
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 techniques. A new paper by Caleb Traxler
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 and his co authors at UC Irvine has done just that,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 statistically analysing a subset of thousands of
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 exoplanets to judge their habitability. For
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 decades, the search for potentially life supporting
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 exoplanets has largely revolved around the
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 concept of the habitable zone. This is
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 essentially a calculation of a planet's average temperature
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 to determine if liquid water, a critical medium for
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 life as we know it, could exist on its surface.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 However, the authors of this new study argue that such a one
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 dimensional system is too general and not practically
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 useful for pinpointing planets with a high probability
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 of supporting life. Mhm. Instead, they
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 propose a more comprehensive approach, looking at
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 characteristics of both the planet and its parent star, and
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 then Comparing these to Earth, which remains our baseline
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 for a habitable world. They analysed each
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 exoplanet based on four key its
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 radius, temperature, insolation, flux, that is how
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 much sunlight it receives, and density. For the
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 exoplanet's host star, they examined its effective
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 temperature, radius, mass and metallicity, which
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 is the ratio of its iron content to its hydrogen
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 content. Using these eight
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 parameters, they sorted 517
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 exoplanets for which this data was available
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 into four distinct categories. An
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 excellent candidate meant the planet was similar enough to
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 Earth to be of strong interest. Good
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 planet poor star indicated that at least one
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 of the star's parameters significantly differed from our Sun.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 Conversely, good star poor
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 planet meant the planet's characteristics were
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 significantly different from Earth. The final
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 category, poor candidate, applied to systems where
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 neither the star nor the planet fit the bill.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 Interestingly, the good star poor planet
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 category contained the vast majority of exoplanets,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 accounting for 388 systems, or
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 75% of the data set. The
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 researchers suggest that this isn't necessarily a physical
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 reality, but rather a detection bias.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 Techniques commonly used to find exoplanets like the
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 transit method are heavily biassed towards detecting
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 large planets with short orbital periods, which would place
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 them firmly in this category. They believe that
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 with longer observational times, we could find many more
00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 planets that fit into the excellent candidate bucket.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 And speaking of excellent candidates, out of the
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 entire 517 planet dataset,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 only three were classified as
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 ExcellentEarth itself Kepler
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 22b and Kepler
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 538b. Kepler 22b
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 in particular stands out as a truly promising
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 prospect, with only a 3.1% difference
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 in temperature and a mere 1% difference in
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 insolation compared to Earth. The paper
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 identifies it as having the highest likelihood of
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 harbouring life, making it a prime target for
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 atmospheric observation by the James Webb Space
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 Telescope. Despite its distance of
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 635 light years. While
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 Kepler 538B is larger
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 and hotter than Earth, it still falls within the realm of
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 potential habitability. This rarity
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 highlights that Earth is statistically unique, but
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 not so rare as to require some miraculous confluence
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 of planetary and stellar characteristics.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 Another rare type found in this analysis were planets in the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 good planet poor star category. Only
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 six planets landed here because their host stars, which were
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 all M dwarfs, the most common stars in our galaxy,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 fell outside the defined habitable temperature range.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 However, the authors point out that despite lying outside
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 the generally accepted framework, these candidates still
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 have a good chance of harbouring life given their other physical
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 parameters. Many are already under
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 observation from the James Webb space telescope.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 And if they prove to have viable habitable conditions,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 it could revolutionise the field of astrobiology
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 due to the sheer prevalence of M dwarf host
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 stars in the galactic population.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 This statistical analysis reinforces several key points
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 that astrobiologists have known for some time.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 Kepler 22B remains a leading candidate for
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 further investigation, offering our best current
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 chance at finding evidence of, uh, life beyond Earth.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 It also suggests that conditions on Earth, while relatively
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 rare, are not so rare as to be a statistical
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 impossibility or a miracle. And
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 crucially, it highlights the significant bias in our
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 current exoplanet detection methods towards
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 planets that, due to their large size and short
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 orbital periods, might not be the most
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 habitable. As astrobiology continues to
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 advance, this kind of rigorous statistical
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 analysis will provide invaluable context,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 helping to direct our powerful new observational
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 equipment towards the areas most likely to answer one
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 of humanity's most profound questions.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 Are we alone? Now let's
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 talk about how we'll communicate with our brave astronauts as
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 they venture back to the moon. As NASA gears
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 up for its Artemis 2 mission, there's an exciting
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 collaboration happening between the agency's Glenn Research
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 Centre in Cleveland and the Australian National University,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 or anu, to test some truly inventive
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 and cost saving laser communications technologies in the
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 lunar environment. Traditionally,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 communicating in space has relied on radio waves.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 However, NASA is actively exploring
00:15:44 --> 00:15:47 laser or optical communications which
00:15:47 --> 00:15:50 promise to send data anywhere from 10 to 100
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 times faster back to Earth. Instead of radio
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 signals, these cutting edge systems use
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 infrared light to transmit high definition video,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 pictures, voice and vital science
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 data across vast cosmic distances
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 in significantly less time.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 While NASA has successfully demonstrated laser communications
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 in previous technology tests, Artemis
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 II will mark the first crewed mission to attempt
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 using lasers to transmit data from deep space.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 To support this ambitious endeavour, researchers working on
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 NASA's Real Time Optical Receiver or Realtor,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 project have developed a remarkably cost
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 effective laser transceiver built largely using
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 commercial off the shelf parts. Earlier
00:16:33 --> 00:16:36 this year, NASA Glenn engineers meticulously built
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 and tested a replica of this system at their aerospace
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 communications facility. Now they're working closely with
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 ANU to build an identical system using the
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 very same hardware models. All to prepare for the
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 university's crucial Artemis 2 laser communications
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 demonstration. Jennifer Downey,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 co principal investigator for the Real Tour project at
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 NASA Glenn, highlights the significance of this
00:16:58 --> 00:17:01 work, stating that Australia's upcoming
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 lunar experiment could showcase the capability,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 affordability and reproducibility of the deep
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 space receiver engineered by Glenn. It's an important
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 step in proving the feasibility of using commercial
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 parts to develop accessible technologies for
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 sustainable exploration beyond Earth
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 during the Artemis 2 mission, currently scheduled
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 for early 2026, NASA plans to
00:17:24 --> 00:17:27 fly an optical communications system aboard the
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 Orion spacecraft. This system will be put to
00:17:29 --> 00:17:32 the test, attempting to transmit recorded 4K
00:17:32 --> 00:17:35 ultra high definition video, flight procedures,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 pictures, science data and even voice
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 communications from the Moon all the way back to Earth.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 Almost 10 miles away from Cleveland at the Mount
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 Stromlo Observatory Ground Station, ANU
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 researchers are eagerly hoping to receive this data during
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 Orion's journey around the Moon using the VARI
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 Glenn developed transceiver model. This ground
00:17:55 --> 00:17:58 station will serve as a vital test location for the new
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 transceiver design, though it won't be one of the mission's
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 primary ground stations. If this test proves
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 successful, it will be a game changer,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:09 demonstrating that readily available commercial parts can
00:18:09 --> 00:18:12 indeed be used to build affordable and scalable space
00:18:12 --> 00:18:15 communication systems for future missions, not just
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 to the Moon, but even to Mars and beyond.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 Marie Piasecki, technology portfolio
00:18:21 --> 00:18:24 manager for NASA's Space Communications and Navigation
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 or SCAN programme, emphasises that
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 engaging with the Australian National University to
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 expand commercial laser communications offerings across the
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 world will further demonstrate how this advanced
00:18:35 --> 00:18:38 satellite communications capability is ready to
00:18:38 --> 00:18:41 support the agency's networks and missions as we
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 set our sights on deep space exploration.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:47 As NASA continues to investigate the feasibility
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 of using commercial parts for ground stations,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 Glenn researchers will continue to provide critical support
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 in preparation for Australia's demonstration.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:58 These strong global partnerships are key to
00:18:58 --> 00:19:01 advancing technology breakthroughs and are instrumental
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 as NASA expands humanity's reach from the Moon
00:19:04 --> 00:19:07 to Mars, all while fueling innovations
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 that improve life here on Earth.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 And that brings us to the end of another fascinating
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 journey through the cosmos on Astronomy
00:19:16 --> 00:19:19 Daily. I'm Anna, your
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 host and I hope you enjoyed our look at the latest
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 developments. Don't forget, you can listen to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 all our back episodes and find more information
00:19:27 --> 00:19:30 by visiting our website@astronomydaily.IO. um,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 you can also subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Apple
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 or wherever you get your podcasts. And please
00:19:39 --> 00:19:42 follow us on social media. Just search for Astro
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 Daily Pod on Facebook X, YouTube,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 YouTube, Music, Instagram, Tumblr and TikTok.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 Until next time, keep looking up