**Featured Topics:**
- **SpaceX Crew-7's Triumphant Return:** Reflecting on the achievements of the international crew and their record-setting mission aboard the Endurance spacecraft.
- **The Black Hole's Feast:** Diving into the tidal disruption event in galaxy NGC 3799, shedding light on the nature of supermassive black holes.
- **AtLAST's Vision:** Exploring the potential of the proposed Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope to unlock the universe's radio wave secrets.
- **Nuclear Power on the Moon:** Discussing Roscosmos and CNSA's plans for a nuclear reactor on the moon to power the International Lunar Research Station.
- **SLS Block 1B's Evolution:** Anticipating the enhanced capabilities of NASA's SLS Block 1B and its role in the Artemis program's expansion.
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00:00:04
ANNA: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast, your copilot
00:00:07
on this interstellar voyage through the stars, planets and
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the black void beyond. You're tuned into the place where the
00:00:13
vast expanse of space feels just a bit closer to home. So fellow
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space enthusiasts prepare for liftoff, fasten your seatbelts
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and let's dive head first into the cosmic news all around us.
00:00:26
Join me as we chart a course through the latest developments
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in astronomy and space exploration. There won't be any
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light years between us and the universe as we bring the wonders
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of space right to your ears. Let's begin our journey across
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the cosmos. Here we go.
00:00:44
GENERIC: The Astronomy Daily Podcast.
00:00:46
ANNA: After circling our planet for nearly 200 days, the
00:00:49
international team aboard spacex crew seven made their triumphant
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splash down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.
00:00:57
Welcome back to Earth astronauts.
00:00:59
This mission under NASA's commercial crew program saw
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remarkable achievements forged in the micro gravity far above
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us. Now, let's paint a picture of this Odyssey picture. Four
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individuals from different corners of the Earth.
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NASA's Jasmine Mog belly, Issa's Andreas Mo Jack says Satoshi
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Furukawa and Roscosmos, Constantine Borisov, together
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they've traveled an eye watering 84 million miles completing over
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3000 orbits around our home planet. Imagine watching sunrise
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and sunset 16 times a day. This was their life for 199 days.
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This mission was more than just a record long space flight.
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It became a beacon of international unity, bringing
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together expertise from USA Europe, Japan and Russia. Their
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co-operative spirit didn't just keep them going but also pushed
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the boundaries of what we thought was possible in space
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single spacewalks during this mission, felt like small steps
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at the station.
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But we're giant leaps in how we maintain our space outposts. And
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oh the science, these intrepid explorers didn't just gaze at
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the stars.
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They were hands on with hundreds of experiments growing food in
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orbit check, studying the human response to long duration space
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flight check every bit of research on board was another
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crucial puzzle piece to our grand plans of establishing a
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human presence at the Moon Mars and Beyond Spacex's dragon
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spacecraft.
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The sturdy vessel named Endurance has completed its
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third mission, but it's not taking a break after a pit stop
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at Cape Canaveral for a little TLC Endurance will set off
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again. Ever. The reliable space taxi. This safe return fires up
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the engines for NASA's explorative vision. Reminding us
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that our species quest among the stars is a truly collaborative
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endeavor.
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As we embark on future journeys to new horizons, the spirit of
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crew seven will continue to inspire reminding us that when
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we unite the universe unveils its wonders in the cosmic
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wilderness. Far from the comforting glow of our own sun,
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an astronomical drama unfolds in the galaxy NGC 3799 about 16
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million light years away from Earth.
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The volatile spotlight centers on a supermassive black hole, a
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gravitational Behemoth lurking at the heart of this distant
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galaxy. It's a scene of celestial catastrophe where a
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wandering star strayed too close to the black hole clutches.
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What followed is both brutal and illuminating a stellar feast as
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the star is inexorably torn apart by the immense title
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forces a process termed as a title disruption event. This
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cosmic phenomenon is akin to watching Mother Nature's own
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horror show. But through the chaos and destruction, it
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delivers valuable insights.
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Witnessing a star's death spiral into a black hole offers
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astronomers a rare opportunity to study these enigmatic giants
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whose whispers echo through the fabric of space time and whose
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appetites shaped the evolution of Galaxies.
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The event highlighted by an initial flare of brightness and
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a subsequent dimming provides a real life laboratory for us to
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observe the mechanics of black hole feasting the doomed stars.
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Final moment, send shockwaves of x rays and light across the
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cosmos. A signal that triggers our telescopes and fuels our
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understanding.
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Each observation feeds a theory or hatches new questions about
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the nature of these dark space titans that straddle the line
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between the known and the unfathomable supernovas may be
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the common birth cries of stellar mass black holes.
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These smaller siblings of the supermassive variety are
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impressive yet mere shadows of their gargantuan cousins that
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weigh millions to billions of times more than our son
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supermassive black holes. Like the one in NGC 3799 are critical
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to the dynamics of Galaxies. They are at once, architects and
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destroyers and their origins are still cloaked in mystery. So
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what does it mean for us?
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The onlookers from a distant world when we see a star being
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dismantled piece by piece, it means we're one step closer to
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unlocking the growth patterns of black holes. This event observed
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as assassin 23 BD with its exceptional proximity and
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uniquely energetic profile could be a harbinger of newfound
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understanding.
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As researchers peer over the data, a narrative forms painting
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a picture of a universe more dynamic and interconnected than
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we ever imagined.
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We must keep our telescopes trained and our minds open for
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these stellar feasts are not just distant spectacles, they're
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beacons that ignite the human spirit of inquiry, send our
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intellects chasing after the shadows and push the boundaries
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of what we dare to comprehend about the monstrous yet majestic
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rulers of the dark black holes picture this an astronomical
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titan in the Chilean desert, a single dish stretching across 50
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m like a giant ear tuned to the whispers of the universe.
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Welcome to the vision of at last the Atacama large aperture
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submillimetre telescope. A gigantic leap forward is
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proposed one where we could dissect the universe's most
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guarded secrets in radio waves while we've marveled at a rays
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like alma, their limitations have astronomers dreaming
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bigger.
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The collective urge now is for a single vast dish, a Behemoth
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capable of picking up signals that interwoven setups can't
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focus on as sharply a single large dish like at last could
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capture details with a precision and depth that we've only
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imagined from the fingerprints of distant Galaxies to the life
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story of individual molecules all laid out in the dialect of
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radio frequencies.
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But why radio waves, you might ask, it's the language in which
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a lot of the universe's most intriguing information is
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transmitted, especially when it comes to the colder or more
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energetic corners of deep space.
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Current telescopes have limitations, their smaller
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apertures drown in noise, obscuring the extreme features,
00:06:50
only larger single dishes can clearly unveil at last would not
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just be any ordinary large aperture radio antenna. Its 50 m
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single dish design promises a max field of view of two degrees
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providing unprecedented mapping speeds for extensive cosmic
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phenomena.
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And whereas current large dishes give us tantalizing glimpses at
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last, aims to fling open the cosmic curtains wide, allowing
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us to peer at the peak of Galaxies spectral energy
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distributions or the intricate contours of interstellar medium
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with newfound clarity.
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This proposal isn't just about technological bravado. It's a
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meticulous blueprint. A detailed plan oozing with the potential
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to affect a multitude of scientific endeavors. The hope
00:07:32
is that at last could survey the entirety of our milky way
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scrutinize proto planetary risks and even chase down the elusive
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signatures of complex organic molecules, those cosmic
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breadcrumbs potentially leading us to the origins of life.
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And while the challenges are as steep as its proposed location
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at last is an embodiment of the scientific community's ambition.
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A facility designed to endure adaptable and driven by
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renewable energy. A testament to our ever reaching quest to
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comprehend the great tapestry of the cosmos.
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As astronomers look ahead to potentially break ground by the
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end of this decade, the Atacama Desert might just become our
00:08:08
window into the cosmos's grandest tales. A cathedral
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dedicated to the heavens where the universe's most ancient
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lights are finally untangled in the sub millimeter range in the
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cosmic dance of space. Discovery at last is more than just a
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step.
00:08:24
It's a daring leap and for all of us who gaze upward, yearning
00:08:28
to understand what's out there. It is quite literally a vision
00:08:32
for the future Roscosmos and C NSA are leaping forward with an
00:08:36
audacious vision that could light up lunar exploration in
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ways we've never seen before. They're talking nuclear, a
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nuclear reactor to be precise on the surface of the moon.
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Their goal to energize a lunar base, turning it into a hub of
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scientific activity and cosmic Discovery and they've set their
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deadline for 2035.
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This shared lunar base with the potent name of the International
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Lunar Research Station introduces a bold new chapter in
00:09:04
International Space collaboration. It isn't just a
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sign of ambition. It's a declaration of the continued
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human urge to push into new frontiers.
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The base once conjured into reality will stand as a
00:09:16
testament to human ingenuity. A beacon on the moonlit landscape
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that says here we are and here we stay but setting up shop on
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the moon isn't like flipping the switch on your home power grid.
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Traditional energy sources fall short in the harsh cold silence
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of space.
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That's where the nuclear reactor comes in promising to deliver a
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steady and reliable power source vital for the sustenance of
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lunar bases. Think about it, no looming shadows or long nights
00:09:45
will dim the lights of the ILRS as this reactor could churn out
00:09:49
power continuously supporting life and science. Far from our
00:09:53
blue home.
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It's not just about keeping the lights on this nuclear reactor
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is envisioned to be fully automated, picture this machines
00:10:01
building and managing a powerhouse on another world. A
00:10:04
scenario plucked from science fiction becoming science fact,
00:10:08
the technologies needed for this task are reportedly nearing
00:10:11
readiness and that's huge. It implies a leap in our robotic
00:10:14
capabilities.
00:10:15
Hinting at a future where humans and machines tackle the cosmos
00:10:19
hand in robotic hand. And before you ask, no NASA astronauts
00:10:24
likely won't be swinging by political tides on Earth. Ebb
00:10:27
and flow. And right now, they're drawing clear distinctions in
00:10:30
the lunar dust. Nevertheless, this project between Russia and
00:10:33
China invites us to dream of what's to come.
00:10:36
Lunar Bases. Humming with the silent song of nuclear power
00:10:40
propelling humanity into a future as boundless as the night
00:10:44
sky, the space launch system or SLS for intimates NASA's
00:10:49
Behemoth rocket meant to escort humans beyond Earth stratosphere
00:10:52
and onwards to the moon is evolving just picture a
00:10:56
caterpillar unfolding into a lunar soaring butterfly.
00:11:00
This isn't just any butterfly though. It's the SLS block one
00:11:04
B, the upgraded sibling in the SLS family and it means serious
00:11:08
celestial business. Imagine the SLS block one, the beast that
00:11:12
propelled Artemis one into the Firmament.
00:11:14
Now amplify that vision SLS block one B is set to make its
00:11:18
grand debut with Artemis Four boasting beefier configurations
00:11:22
to shuttles us further and faster into spaces vast
00:11:24
frontier. It's a clear statement NASA is not just dabbling in
00:11:28
lunar visits. It's crafting a highway of rockets designed for
00:11:32
consistent ambitious moonshots.
00:11:34
John Honeycutt, the SLS program manager has put it plainly
00:11:38
accentuating how SLS was congenitally faded to morph into
00:11:42
heftier versions capable of launching more audacious
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missions to not only the moon but the far reaches of our solar
00:11:49
system, their blueprints been clear, start strong then reach
00:11:53
for the cosmic shores built upon the triumphs of their Artemis
00:11:56
predecessors and gather round tech enthusiasts because we're
00:12:00
not just talking brawn, but brains too.
00:12:03
The block one B's brainy boost comes from the exploration upper
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stage or E us loaded with four engines replacing the interim IC
00:12:11
PS solitary one. This is the celestial locomotive expected to
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keep us chugging along for the first eight hours post launch.
00:12:18
That's like comparing an energetic sprint to a marathon.
00:12:21
The stakes just got higher. And when you peer into SLS block one
00:12:25
B's tool kit, you'll find a universal stage adapter bigger
00:12:28
than a city apartment to fit payloads, dream bigger think
00:12:32
gateway modules for an orbital lunar outpost. It's a clarion
00:12:35
call beckoning to the days of building in moon orbit gear by
00:12:39
gear, creating layovers for astronauts en route to lunar
00:12:42
surfaces.
00:12:43
Payloads, those precious cargoes of lunar dreams get a hefty
00:12:47
heave ho too soaring from Ā£59 to a whopping Ā£84.
00:12:53
That's equivalent to hoisting more than six adult African
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elephants straight out of Earth's gravitational embrace.
00:13:00
Here's the cosmic cherry on top flexibility. Sl SS block one B
00:13:04
ensures we've got windows wide enough to seize launch
00:13:07
opportunities twice daily. We're talking about a logistics
00:13:10
revolution.
00:13:11
A streamlined path to orbit and joy rides to the moon dance with
00:13:14
more grace and less weight. The vision NASA is casting before us
00:13:18
is clear as Starlight. This agency is not just stepping on
00:13:21
the gas. It's charting paths, constructing ladders and
00:13:25
highways among the stars set to land. The next echelons of
00:13:28
intrepid explorers upon our cratered neighbor. So when we
00:13:31
think of NASA's Artemis expansion, it's more than a
00:13:34
rocket.
00:13:35
It's the heartbeat of a program, a pulsing symphony of science
00:13:38
exploration and human aspiration with SLS block one B's powerful
00:13:42
allure NASA is pushing us to ride the fiery chariot, carving
00:13:46
a trail that solidifies humanity's place amidst the
00:13:48
timeless waltz of the cosmos and just like that, our cosmic
00:13:52
journey together across the expanse of space wraps up but
00:13:56
fret not fellow stargazers for our shared curiosity is a star
00:13:59
that never burns out to keep fueling.
00:14:01
That wonder head over to astronomy daily dot IO. It's the
00:14:05
hub where you can dive into the archives for all our past
00:14:07
episodes. Craving more celestial news. Sign up for our daily
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newsletter where we distill the vast universe into a digestible
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payload delivered straight to your inbox.
00:14:19
And if you're looking to connect, send a message our way,
00:14:22
we love hearing from the community. The cosmos is
00:14:25
brimming with mysteries that beckon stories that stir the
00:14:28
spirit of exploration. So keep your eyes on the skies and your
00:14:32
ears tuned to astronomy daily, the podcast until we embark on
00:14:36
our next stellar quest. Clear skies and godspeed the
00:14:39
astronomy.