- SpaceX's Starship Update: Join us as we delve into the latest developments surrounding SpaceX's colossal Starship rocket. With the recent approval from the FAA for their 10th full-scale test flight, SpaceX is set to tackle new challenges after a series of setbacks. Discover the details of their propulsion system tests and the innovative changes being implemented to ensure future success in their ambitious Mars settlement plans.
- - Blue Origin's New Glenn Launch: Excitement builds as Blue Origin prepares for the second launch of their New Glenn rocket, carrying NASA's Escapade mission to Mars. Scheduled for September 29th, this interplanetary mission aims to study the Martian magnetosphere and atmospheric interactions, providing crucial insights into Mars' atmospheric history.
- - The Mystery of Intermediate Black Holes: Explore the elusive realm of intermediate black holes, a missing link in our understanding of black hole formation. Learn how astronomers are using gravitational waves to detect these mysterious entities and the implications of recent findings that suggest new pathways for their creation.
- - NASA's Orbital Transfer Vehicles Initiative: Discover NASA's groundbreaking initiative to develop orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) that will revolutionise space logistics. With collaborations from leading aerospace companies, this project aims to enhance spacecraft mobility and efficiency for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
- 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 and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
SpaceX Starship Updates
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Blue Origin New Glenn Launch
[Blue Origin](https://www.blueorigin.com/)
Intermediate Black Holes Research
[LIGO](https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/)
NASA's OTV Initiative
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily your go to source
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 for the latest happenings in space and
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 astronomy. I'm Anna.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 Avery: And I'm Avery. We're excited to bring you
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 more cosmic insights and groundbreaking
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 discoveries from across the universe.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Anna: Today we've got some fascinating stories
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 lined up covering everything from the latest
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 updates on um, SpaceX's ambitious
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 Starship programme to Blue Origin's
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 plans for a uh, second new Glenn launch
00:00:26 --> 00:00:27 heading to Mars.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 Avery: We'll also dive into the mysterious world of
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 intermediate black holes which are truly the
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 universe's most elusive objects. And talk
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 about NASA's new initiative to develop
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 orbital transfer vehicles for more efficient
00:00:41 --> 00:00:42 space travel.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Anna: It's going to be a captivating journey
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 through the cosmos, filled with news that's
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 both professional and easy to understand.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 So buckle up and get ready for Astronomy
00:00:53 --> 00:00:53 Daily.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 Avery: Alright, let's dive into some of the latest
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 news from SpaceX specifically regarding their
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 colossal Starship rocket. It's been quite
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 a journey for them this year with a few bumps
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 along the way.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 Anna: That's right Avery. SpaceX is gearing up for
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 the 10th full scale test flight of Starship
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 and they just received launch approval from
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 the Federal Aviation Administration, which is
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 a big step.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 Avery: Absolutely. They also completed a final
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 propulsion system test known as a spin prime
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 test earlier this week at their Starbase site
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 in South Texas. After that the ship was
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 rolled back to a hangar for engine
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 inspections, heat shield touch ups and other
00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 final preparations.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 Anna: The target launch date is set for no earlier
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 than next Sunday, August 24th at
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 6:30pm local Texas time. This
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 flight is crucial as SpaceX aims to move
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 past a challenging period. Last year,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 2024 was quite successful for Starship
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 with four flights and significant
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 achievements including the first CA patch of
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 uh, a super heavy booster back at the launch
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 pad.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Avery: But 2025 has been a different story.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 We've seen four disappointing test flights
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 from January through May and even a ground
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 test explosion in June. These setbacks
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 have pushed back major programme milestones
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 like the recovery and reuse of the upper
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 stage and in orbit refuelling demonstrations
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 which are both critical for their long term
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 goals of Mars settlement and supporting
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 NASA's Artemis programme.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 Anna: Let's talk about those setbacks because
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 SpaceX has been quite transparent about the
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 causes. The FAA recently closed its
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 investigation into the most recent in flight
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 failure. In May, the rocket started leaking
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 propellant after reaching space, preventing
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 it from completing its test flight.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 Avery: The FAA confirmed that the probable root
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 cause was a failure of a fuel component.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 SpaceX's investigation pinpointed a faulty
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 main fuel tank pressurisation diffuser
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 on the forward dome of Starship' primary
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 methane tank. This diffuser failed just a few
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 minutes after launch, leading to a pressure
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 drop and a worsening fuel leak that
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 overwhelmed the attitude control system.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 Anna: SpaceX actually recreated this diffuser
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 failure on the ground during their
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 investigation, and has since redesigned the
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 part to better direct pressurised gas and
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 reduce strain on the structure. The FAA has
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 signed off on these findings, giving them the
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 green light for flight 10. Now
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 for the ground explosion on June 18th.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 This accident destroyed the vehicle ship
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 36 and damaged the test site,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 pushing back the programme by another couple
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 of months. SpaceX attributed this
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 to likely damage to a high pressure
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 nitrogen storage tank inside Starship's
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 payload bay, specifically a
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 composite overwrapped pressure vessel,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 or COPV.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 Avery: That's right, the COPV violently
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 ruptured as corrective actions, SpaceX
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 plans to operate COPVs on upcoming
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 flights ah at lower pressures, conduct
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 additional inspections for damage, implement
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 more stringent acceptance criteria, and
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 make a hardware change to address the issue.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 It shows their commitment to learning from
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 every test, whether it's in the air or on the
00:04:18 --> 00:04:18 ground.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 Anna: It's all part of the iterative design process
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 that SpaceX is known for. The previous
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 flights this year, including those in January
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 and March, also faced propulsion failures
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 and lost control, scattering debris.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 The May flight made it, further completing
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 its engine burn, but then spun out of
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 control, hindering heat shield data
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 collection.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 Avery: Mastering the heat shield design is
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 absolutely critical as it's vital for
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 Starship's reusability. For Flight
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 10, SpaceX will be testing several
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 different ceramic and metallic tile
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 designs to gather crucial data during
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 reentry. They want this data as soon as
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 possible to inform the design of version
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 three, or Block three of Starship,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 which will be the first to actually fly.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 Anna: Into orbit beyond the heat shield. There
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 are other ambitious objectives for Flight 10.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 They plan to deploy spacecraft simulators
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 mimicking their next generation Starlink
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 Internet satellites, an objective that hasn't
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 been met in the last three flights.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Avery: And for the Super Heavy Booster, instead of
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 attempting a catch at the launch pad, which
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 they've done successfully three times, this
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 flight will aim for a controlled splashdown
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 in the Gulf of Mexico. This will allow them
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 to experiment with new landing methods, such
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 as controlling the final descent with a
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 different mix of engines. And to avoid
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 issues like the structural failure of the
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 field transfer tube seen in the last booster
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 test, which occurred due to a high angle of
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 attack during descent.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 Anna: It's clear that SpaceX is using every
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 flight, successful or not, to gather
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 data and refine their designs. They've
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 stated that every Lesson learned from both
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 flight and ground testing features feeds
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 directly into the next generation of Starship
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 and super heavy. They have just two more
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 version 2 vehicles before moving to the
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 taller version 3 which will feature
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 improved Raptor engines. It's a true
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 try, try again approach to rocketry.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 Avery: Speaking of ambitious endeavours, let's shift
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 our focus to Blue Origin which is also making
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 significant strides. They are gearing up for
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 the second ever launch of their powerful New
00:06:36 --> 00:06:36 Glenn rocket launch.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 Anna: That's right Avery. This launch, dubbed
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 NG2 is particularly exciting
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 because it will loft NASA's escapade
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 mission to Mars. Blue Origin is
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 targeting no earlier than September 29th for
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 this liftoff.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 Avery: The twin Escapade probes, which stand for
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 escape and plasma acceleration and
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 Dynamics explorers have actually been waiting
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 for this ride. They were originally slated
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 for New Glenn's maiden launch back in
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 January, but NASA decided not to risk
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 a costly mission delay on a debut flight.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 Anna: A wise decision I think. Now that the
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 mission has a target date, Blue Origin has
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 been buzzing on social media promising some
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 exciting things around New Glenn's pad
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 at space Launch Complex 36 in
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Cape Canaveral, Florida.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 Avery: So what exactly will Escapade be
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 doing at Mars? It's an interplanetary
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 mission which is quite ambitious for a uh,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 relatively new launch vehicle. The twin
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 orbiters will study the magnetosphere around
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 the Red Planet and analyse how
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 energetic solar wind particles interact
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 with the Martian atmosphere. This kind of
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 data is crucial for understanding Mars
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 atmospheric loss over time.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 Anna: Absolutely fascinating. The satellites
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 themselves were built by California based
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 rocket Lab and once in space their
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 operation will be handed over to the
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 University of California's Space Sciences
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 Laboratory managing the $80 million
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 mission.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Avery: And um, in addition to this crucial NASA
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 payload, Blue Origin will also carry
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 a secondary payload as part of the NG2
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 launch. It's a technology demonstration from
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 satellite communications company ViaSat
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 supporting NASA's Communication Services
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 Project for in space networking.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 Anna: One more thing to look out for with this
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 launch. Blue Origin will once again attempt
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 to land and Recover New Glenn's
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 188.5-foot tall Fort First
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 Stage Booster on a drone ship in the Atlantic
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 Ocean. These successfully launched a test
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 version of their Blue Ring satellite bus on
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 the first flight earlier this year. But the
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 landing attempt failed. So this will be a big
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 moment for them as they continue to work
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 towards reusability.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 Now from the Red Planet, let's turn our gaze
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 even further out into one of the
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 universe's most enigmatic phenomena. Black
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 holes. Specifically we're talking about the
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 mysterious intermediate black holes.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 Avery: That's right, Anna we know about supermassive
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 black holes at the centres of galaxies and we
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 understand how smaller stellar mass black
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 holes form from dying stars. But there's
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 always been this missing link, a size range
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 in between from a few hundred to a few
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 hundred thousand times the mass of our sun
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 that has remained incredibly elusive.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 Anna: These in between black holes, often called
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 intermediate black holes or
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 imphs, are much harder to find.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 But a team of astronomers, including Crystal
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 and Karan from the conversation, along with
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 postdoctoral researcher Anjali Yelikar,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 have been making significant strides. They're
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 using ripples in spacetime known as
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 gravitational waves to spot some of these
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 elusive black holes merging.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 Avery: It's a bit like being at a baseball game, but
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 you're sitting behind a concrete column and
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 the crowd is deafening. You can't see or
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 hear the game directly. So what do you do?
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 You use a high quality microphone and a
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 computer algorithm to separate the crowd
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 noise from the distinct thunk of, uh, a bat
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 hitting a ball.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 Anna: And with enough practise, you can start to
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 follow the game, figuring out when the ball
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 is hit, where it goes and even where the
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 runners are. This is a challenging way to
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 watch a game, but it's similar to how
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 astronomers use specialised observatories
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 Wave Observatory, or ligo, to
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 listen to the universe.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 Avery: LIGO is designed to detect the faint
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 gravitational waves produced by two black
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 holes merging into a single more massive
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 black hole. By analysing these waves,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 scientists can deduce incredible details
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 where the merger happened, how far away it
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 was, the masses of the parent and resultant
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 black holes and um, even the direction in the
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 sky.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 Anna: Most of the parent black holes observed in
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 these merger events are stellar mass black
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 holes originating from collapsed stars.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 But here's where the mass gap comes in.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 Stars between about 20 to 100
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 solar masses can form black holes. However,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 due to complex nuclear physics, really
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 massive stars explode differently and don't
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 leave behind a black hole.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Avery: This creates a mass gap where black holes
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 larger than about 60 solar masses are too
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 big to have been formed directly from a sing
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 single dying star. These are what the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 researchers call light intermediate mass
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 black holes or light imbhs.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 They're special because their formation isn't
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 fully understood and they bridge that
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 critical knowledge gap in how the universe
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 grows and evolves.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 Anna: In their recent research, the team analysed
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 11 black hole merger candidates from Ligo's
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 third observing run. Their analysis showed
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 that 5 of the post merger black holes were
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 confidently in the light intermediate black
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 hole range.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 Avery: And here's the kicker. They found that One of
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 the merger events had a parent black hole
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 that was already in the mass gap range, and
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 two had black holes above the mass gap.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 This strongly suggests that there are other
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 currently unknown ways for the universe to
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 create such massive black holes, possibly
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 through earlier black hole mergers.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 Anna: It's an exciting finding because it helps us
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 understand how often black holes find each
00:12:27 --> 00:12:30 other and merge. As LIGO continues its fourth
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 observing run, astronomers are eager to apply
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 these analytical techniques to new data,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 hoping to hear even more signals from these
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 elusive, more massive black holes and
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 shed more light on their formation.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 Avery: That's truly fascinating, Anna.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 From the fundamental building blocks of the
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 universe, let's now pivot to a more practical
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 aspect of space exploration. How we actually
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 get things where they need to go in the
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 vastness of space.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 Anna: Absolutely, Avery. NASA has just announced
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 a significant new initiative asking six
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 companies to help the agency move spacecraft
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 between those notoriously difficult to reach
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 orbits. They've awarded a total of
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 $1.4 million to a
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 group that includes some big names like Blue
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 Origin, United Launch alliance and
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 Rocket Lab.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 Avery: This is all about what are called Orbital
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 Transfer vehicles, or OTVs. These
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 vehicles launch on top of rockets,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 essentially carrying other spacecraft and
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 then delivering them to very specific,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 often hard to access orbits. It's
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 a game changer because spacecraft usually
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 have limited fuel on board, making it tough
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 for them to change orbits on their own. And
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 rockets, well, most of their fuel is
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 burned just getting off the ground.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 Anna: Exactly. So OTV's are designed to
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 take a, uh, satellite or even a series of
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 satellites away from the main rocket and
00:13:58 --> 00:14:01 transport them to another orbit or even
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 further afield into deep space. The initial
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 studies for NASA are due by mid September
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 and the agency's long term goal is to send
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 more missions to the Moon and Mars in a more
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 cost efficient way.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 Avery: It's a multi orbit approach that NASA sees as
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 essential, especially with the increasing
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 pace of commercial space deliveries. Joe
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 Dant, an Orbital Transfer Vehicle Strategic
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 Initiative owner at Kennedy Space Centre,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 stated that these new awards will increase
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 unique science capability and lower the
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 agency's overall mission costs.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 Anna: And they've got some interesting proposals on
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 the table. For instance, Aeroscience and
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 Technology is partnering with Quantum Space
00:14:43 --> 00:14:46 to look at Quantum's Ranger for delivering
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 payloads from low Earth orbit to lunar
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 orbit.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 Avery: Blue Origin has two studies, one for their
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55 Blue Ring platform, which can use hybrid
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 propulsion for orbits ranging from
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 geostationary to cislunar,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 Mars and even interplanetary locations.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 Their second study is for an upper stage of
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 their new Glenn rocket.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 Anna: Firefly Aerospace is looking at using its
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 Elytra orbital vehicles for lunar
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 orbit operations and CIS lunar space
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 applications like imaging or payload
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 delivery. Impulse Space has two vehicles,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 MIRA and Helios, designed for
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 payload hosting and deployment, with
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 Helios specifically able to move from low
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 Earth orbit to medium or
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 geostationary orbits or even further.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 Avery: Rocket Lab is conducting two studies, one for
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 their neutron rocket and another for an OTV
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 based on their Explorer spacecraft capable of
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 reaching various orbits including medium
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 Earth orbit, geosynchronous and even
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 destinations like the Moon, Mars or
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 asteroids. And United Launch alliance is
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 studying their Centaur 5 upper stage for
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 rideshare missions to cislunar Space really
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 highlights the push.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 Anna: Towards more efficient, flexible space
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 logistics. With these OTV's, we could see
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 a future where getting to any orbit, no
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 matter how remote, becomes far more
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 achievable and affordable. It really does.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 From the ambitious next steps for SpaceX's
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 Starship to despite its recent challenges to
00:16:18 --> 00:16:21 Blue Origin's exciting second new Glenn
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 launch carrying NASA's Escapade mission to
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 Mars, and the ongoing quest to understand
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 intermediate black holes using gravitational
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 waves, it's been a packed episode. And of
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 course, the promising developments in orbital
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 transfer vehicles showing how companies are
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 innovating to make space travel more
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 efficient and accessible. It's clear
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 that the universe continues to offer endless
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 discoveries and technological advancements.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Avery: That's all the time we have for today's
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 Astronomy Daily. Thank you for joining us for
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 these cosmic discussions.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 Anna: We hope you enjoyed diving into the latest
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 space and astronomy news with us. Be sure to
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 tune in next time for more interstellar
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 updates. In the meantime, keep looking up.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 Bye