S03E68: Starliner's Historic Test & Artemis III Milestone: NASA's Lunar Leap and Neutron Star Discovery

[00:00:00] Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that keeps you up to date with the latest happenings

[00:00:06] in the world of space exploration and astronomy. I'm Anna and I will be your host for this

[00:00:11] episode. Today we have an exciting lineup of stellar news to share with you. We'll

[00:00:16] be discussing NASA's groundbreaking crude test of the Starliner spacecraft, significant

[00:00:21] progress in the Artemis 3 mission, the discovery of an unprecedented neutron star,

[00:00:26] and noteworthy developments on Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano. We also have updates from

[00:00:31] the European Space Agency on the upcoming launch of the Ariane 6 rocket, and a fascinating

[00:00:36] new book exploring the history of UFOs. So buckle up and get ready for a journey

[00:00:41] through the cosmos.

[00:00:50] NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have successfully entered orbit aboard Boeing's

[00:00:56] in a historic test flight to the International Space Station, ISS. This mission marks the

[00:01:01] first crude flight test for the Starliner system, a significant milestone for NASA's

[00:01:06] commercial crew program. Liftoff occurred at 10 52 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex

[00:01:13] 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a United Launch Alliance

[00:01:18] Atlas V rocket. The primary objective of this mission is to validate the Starliner

[00:01:23] system, testing its transportation capabilities, launch performance, in orbit operations and

[00:01:29] return procedures. Prior to this crude test, the Starliner completed two uncrewed orbital

[00:01:34] flights and a pad abort demonstration. With this flight, Boeing aims to secure

[00:01:38] certification for the Starliner to undertake regular rotational missions to the ISS, bolstering

[00:01:43] NASA's capacity for human spaceflight. Boeing's Mission Control Center in Houston is keeping

[00:01:49] a close watch, monitoring a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers. Notably, this mission

[00:01:55] highlights over a decade of collaborative effort from NASA's commercial crew program

[00:02:00] and its industry partners, signifying a pivotal moment for the future of American

[00:02:05] space exploration. After docking with the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will perform

[00:02:10] a series of tests to ensure that the spacecraft systems such as the environmental controls

[00:02:15] and thrusters are functioning as designed. If successful, this flight will pave the way for

[00:02:20] future missions, exemplifying progress toward reliable and cost-effective transport of astronauts

[00:02:25] to space, enhancing the United States' human spaceflight capabilities. NASA and Axiom Space

[00:02:33] have marked a significant milestone in their journey towards the Artemis 3 mission, which

[00:02:38] aims to return astronauts to the moon by 2026. Recently, a groundbreaking integrated test took place

[00:02:46] involving a pressurized simulation that brought together NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX, making it

[00:02:53] the first such collaboration since the Apollo era. The test was conducted to gather crucial

[00:02:58] data on the interaction between the Advanced Space Suit developed by Axiom Space and SpaceX's

[00:03:04] Starship Human Landing System. Astronauts Peggy Whitson and Douglas Wheelock provided

[00:03:10] valuable feedback during the simulation, helping engineers refine both the suit and the

[00:03:16] lander designs. Russell Ralston, Axiom Space's Vice President of Extravehicular Activity,

[00:03:22] emphasized that astronaut feedback is vital for making iterative improvements and developing

[00:03:27] innovative solutions. In just under two years, Axiom Space has made remarkable progress in

[00:03:33] space suit design and testing. The suit has already passed NASA's preliminary design review

[00:03:39] and is set to enter the critical design review phase later this year. Recent trials at NASA's

[00:03:44] Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory simulated lunar gravity, ensuring the suit's capabilities to

[00:03:49] support extensive scientific research on the moon. This milestone marks a significant leap

[00:03:55] forward in preparing for the Artemis 3 mission, as continued testing and refinements bring

[00:04:00] humanity ever closer to once again setting foot on lunar soil. Scientists have recently

[00:04:07] made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of astrophysics, the slowest spinning radio

[00:04:12] neutron star ever detected. This neutron star, identified by a team of international

[00:04:17] astronomers led by Dr. Manisha Caleb and Dr. Emil Lenk, emits radio signals at an unprecedented

[00:04:24] interval of 54 minutes. This rotation rate is significantly slower than any of the more than

[00:04:29] 3,000 radio-emitting neutron stars measured to date. Neutron stars, the dense remnants of

[00:04:34] supernova explosions, typically rotate at extremely high speeds, often completing a full spin in a

[00:04:40] matter of seconds or even milliseconds. The newly discovered neutron star challenges our

[00:04:45] understanding of these celestial objects, demonstrating that there are still many surprises

[00:04:50] hidden in the cosmos. The research team suggests that this unusual finding could reshape

[00:04:55] our knowledge about the life cycles and physical properties of neutron stars.

[00:05:00] The discovery was made using CSIRO's ASCAP radio telescope in Western Australia and was

[00:05:05] further verified by the Meerkat radio telescope in South Africa. The neutron star, located

[00:05:12] approximately 16,000 light years from Earth, emits three distinct states of radio waves,

[00:05:18] each with unique properties. These findings open new avenues for studying how compact stellar

[00:05:24] remnants evolve and interact with their environments. The researchers have not entirely

[00:05:29] ruled out the possibility that this object could be an isolated white dwarf with an

[00:05:34] extraordinarily strong magnetic field. However, the likelihood of it being a neutron star remains

[00:05:39] higher. Further studies are needed to confirm the object's nature and to explore the intriguing new

[00:05:45] questions it raises about the universe. This discovery underscores the importance of continuous

[00:05:50] observations and the development of advanced radio telescopes to push the boundaries of our

[00:05:55] knowledge about the cosmos. In a significant move aimed at balancing astronomical research

[00:06:03] with the cultural values of indigenous Hawaiians, the first telescope on the sacred

[00:06:08] Mauna Kea volcano has been fully decommissioned and its site meticulously restored to its

[00:06:13] original condition. This marks a milestone in the ongoing effort to respect the land's

[00:06:19] cultural and environmental significance while still advancing scientific endeavors.

[00:06:24] The decommissioning process was executed under a comprehensive plan that involved careful

[00:06:29] deconstruction and removal of the telescope and its associated infrastructure. This plan also

[00:06:35] includes a three-year monitoring period to assess the environmental impact and ensure the

[00:06:40] successful restoration of local wildlife and vegetation. This move comes as part of an

[00:06:45] agreement between the University of Hawaii and the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority,

[00:06:51] which aims to reduce the number of telescopes on the mountain and address the concerns of the

[00:06:56] indigenous community. This authority, which includes representatives from local government,

[00:07:02] observatories and experts in Hawaiian culture, is a testament to the collaborative effort

[00:07:07] to find harmony between scientific exploration and the preservation of Mauna Kea's cultural

[00:07:12] heritage. The decommissioning of Hokukea, the first of three promised telescope removals,

[00:07:19] sets a precedent for future projects, including the contentious 30-meter telescope.

[00:07:24] The hope is that this respectful approach will pave the way for more consensual and considerate

[00:07:29] scientific activities on Mauna Kea. The European Space Agency has set a significant date in its

[00:07:36] space exploration calendar, July 9th, when the new Ariane 6 rocket will have its highly

[00:07:42] anticipated test launch. This next generation rocket marks a pivotal step forward for Europe

[00:07:47] in achieving autonomous and versatile space travel capabilities. Ariane 6 is designed to

[00:07:52] replace the renowned Ariane 5, which has been retired after a remarkable service spanning from

[00:07:57] 1998. With its versatile modular design, Ariane 6 can be configured with either two or four strap

[00:08:03] on boosters to accommodate various payload requirements. It boasts the impressive ability

[00:08:08] to launch payloads ranging from 4,500 kilograms to 20,600 kilograms into a variety of orbits,

[00:08:17] thanks to its reignitable upper stage which supports multiple payload releases

[00:08:21] in different orbits. ISS Director General Josef Aschbacher highlighted the dedication and ingenuity

[00:08:28] that went into developing Ariane 6, stating that this powerful rocket represents a new era

[00:08:34] for European space endeavors. Significant milestones have been achieved, including a

[00:08:39] successful full fuel test simulating a flight to space, which underscores the readiness for

[00:08:44] commercial operations and future ambitions. With its inaugural flight just around the corner,

[00:08:50] Ariane 6 is poised to reaffirm Europe's independent access to space and its commitment

[00:08:55] to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space exploration. A new book by Greg Egegian,

[00:09:03] titled After the Flying Saucers Came, a Global History of the UFO Phenomenon, delves into

[00:09:09] the captivating history of UFO sightings and alien abductions. In this insightful work,

[00:09:15] Egegian explores how these unexplained aerial events have become intertwined

[00:09:19] with humanity's cultural and technological developments since World War II. Egegian traces

[00:09:25] the origin of the term unidentified flying object and investigates how societies, scientists,

[00:09:31] and governments across the globe have responded to these mysterious sightings.

[00:09:36] By diving into archives, newspaper reports, and expert interviews, he uncovers the stories and

[00:09:42] theories that have captured public imagination over the decades. One key insight from the book

[00:09:47] is the link between the post-war technological boom and the surge in UFO reports. The era of

[00:09:54] jet airplanes, rockets, and intercontinental ballistic missiles combined with Cold War

[00:09:59] anxieties provided fertile ground for the UFO phenomenon to take root. Egegian's examination

[00:10:06] reveals that these sightings are not just about extraterrestrial visitors but reflect

[00:10:11] humanity's hopes, fears, and the potential of technological advancement. In essence,

[00:10:18] after the flying saucers came, not only documents the history of UFOs but also offers a lens

[00:10:24] through which we can understand our own evolving perspectives on science and the unknown. It's a

[00:10:30] story as much about us as it is about the mysterious objects in the sky. Thank you for

[00:10:37] tuning into this episode of Astronomy Daily hosted by Anna. We hope you found today's

[00:10:41] space news as exciting and inspiring as we did. Remember to stay updated with all the

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[00:10:52] Additionally, don't forget to visit our website at AstronomyDaily.io

[00:10:57] for even more up-to-date news and to catch all of our previous episodes.

[00:11:01] Until next time, keep looking up.