- James Webb Space Telescope's First Exoplanet Discovery: In this episode, we celebrate a monumental achievement by the James Webb Space Telescope as it successfully images its first exoplanet, TWA 7B. This discovery, detailed in the journal Nature, showcases Webb's advanced capabilities in probing the atmospheres of alien worlds, revealing a young planetary system hidden within a swirling disc of dust and debris.
- Axiom Space's Ax-4 Mission: We discuss the historic docking of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission with the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone for private spaceflight. Commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, this mission features an international crew and over 60 planned science experiments, setting a new record for Axiom missions.
- Fast Radio Burst Traced to NASA Satellite: A surprising development in astronomy as scientists trace a fast radio burst back to NASA's defunct Relay 2 satellite. This unexpected source challenges previous assumptions about these mysterious signals and opens new avenues for studying cosmic events and monitoring defunct satellites in Earth's orbit.
- SpaceX's Rebuilding Efforts: We delve into SpaceX's extensive rebuilding efforts following an anomaly during a static fire test of Starship 36. Despite significant damage at their Massey test stand, SpaceX remains optimistic about their progress on new infrastructure and plans for future launches.
- Nicer X-Ray Telescope Update: NASA engineers are working to resolve issues with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) X-ray telescope, which has temporarily halted its tracking capabilities. We explore the telescope's crucial role in studying neutron stars and other extreme cosmic phenomena, despite its operational challenges.
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 - James Webb Space Telescope's first exoplanet discovery
10:00 - Axiom Space's AXE4 mission
20:00 - Fast radio burst traced to NASA satellite
30:00 - SpaceX's rebuilding efforts
40:00 - Nicer X-ray telescope update
✍️ Episode References
James Webb Space Telescope
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission
[Axiom Space](https://www.axiomspace.com/)
Fast Radio Burst Research
[International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research](https://www.icrar.org/)
SpaceX Updates
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Nicer X-ray Telescope Information
[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 source for the
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 latest updates from across the cosmos. I'm, um, your
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 host, Anna. And today we're diving into some truly
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 groundbreaking discoveries and significant developments
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 in space exploration and astronomical research.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 From the Webb Telescope's first exoplanet discovery,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 to private astronauts docking with the International Space
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Station, and even a fast radio burst traced
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 back to a defunct NASA satellite. We have a lot
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 to cover, so get ready to explore the universe with us.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 The James Webb Space Telescope, or jwst,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 has just hit an incredible new milestone.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 Since beginning its science operations in July
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 2022, Webb has primarily been
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 busy probing the atmospheres of known alien
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 planets, looking for signs of habitability.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 But now, for the very first time, Webb has made its
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 own discovery, directly imaging and finding a
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 brand new exoplanet. This groundbreaking
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 find reveals a young system hidden within a swirling
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 cloud of dust and debris. And the planet
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 itself is the lightest one imaged so far. A
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 truly remarkable accomplishment made possible by Webb's
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 advanced capabilities. This recent
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 discovery, detailed in the journal Nature,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 opens up an exciting new window into hidden
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 Saturn like worlds. Now you might
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 wonder, how exactly does Webb manage to see a planet
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 that's so close to its incredibly bright parent star?
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 It's a challenge because planets are many orders of magnitude
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 fainter than their stars, and from our perspective, they
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 appear incredibly close to them. Anne Marie
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 Lagrange, research director at the French National Centre
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 for Scientific Research and lead author of the paper,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 explained that when you look at a planet, you mostly
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 just see the star. To overcome this issue,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 her team used a special attachment for Webb's M mid
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 infrared instrument called a coronagraph. Think of
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 it like recreating a tiny solar eclipse. Within the
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 telescope itself, the coronagraph blocks out
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 the overwhelming light from the star, making its much
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 fainter surroundings and any orbiting planets
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 far more visible. Using this ingenious
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 technique, scientists spotted a young planetary
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 system only a few million years old, named
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 TWA7. This system has three
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 distinct rings, with one being particularly narrow and
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 surrounded by two areas that are almost devoid of matter.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 In Webb's image, something lies right at the heart of that
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 narrow ring. And the scientists concluded that
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 this something is indeed an exoplanet.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 This newly discovered exoplanet, now dubbed um,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 TWA 7B, is more massive than
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Neptune, but about 30% less massive than
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 Jupiter, making it quite similar in mass to
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 Saturn. TWA 7b orbits
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 a star that formed approximately 6.4 million
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 years ago. And it maintains a significant distance
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 from its star, about 52 astronomical
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 units, which is 52 times the average
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 distance between Earth and the Sun.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 Lagrange noted that this is also the first planet
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 found that perfectly explains the gaps observed
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 in a protoplanetary disc. Planets are
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 born from the leftover material from a star's birth
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 which forms a swirling disc of matter.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 Previous observations of these protoplanetary
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 discs and have shown ring like structures and
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 gaps which scientists believed were telltale
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 signs of unseen planets. Until now,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 however, there were no direct observations of those planets.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 The mass and orbital characteristics of
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 TWA7B precisely match the
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 predicted properties of an exoplanet that would have
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 formed in the gap between the first and second rings of this
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 disc. By using Webb to observe
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 these young faint planets, scientists have
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 truly unlocked a new doorway into the discovery of
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 alien worlds. As Lagrange puts it.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 In terms of imaging, this opens up the possibility
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 of imaging Saturn like planets in the
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 future. It will allow us to characterise the atmospheres
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 of these Saturn like planets that aren't heavily
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 irradiated by their stars, providing invaluable
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 insights into their composition. It's a huge
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 step forward and helps us understand the complexities of
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 searching for very light planets in these early stages of
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 planetary system formation.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 In other exciting space news, a quartet of private
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 astronauts has successfully reached the International Space
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 Station. Houston based Axiom Space
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 launched its fourth crewed mission to the ISS known
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 as AXE 4, lifting off on a
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 Centre in Florida. The mission began early Wednesday
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 morning, taking off at 2:31am M.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 Eastern Daylight Time after what was
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 described as a particularly long orbital chase.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 More than 24 hours between launch and rendezvous.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 The crew aboard the new SpaceX Crew Dragon,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 aptly named Grace, successfully docked with
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 the space station on Thursday morning. Commanding the
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 AXE 4 mission is none other than former NASA
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 astronaut and Axiom's director of human space flight,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 Peggy Whitson. Peggy holds the
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 impressive record for cumulative days spent in space by
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 an American, a number that continues to climb with this
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 mission. Joining her is a trio of international
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 crew members. Shubanshu Shukla from India
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 serving as mission pilot. Polish mission specialist
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 Slawos Usnanski of the European Space Agency
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, also a mission
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 specialist. Upon their arrival, these three
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 became the very first from their respective countries to
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 journey on a mission to the ISS. Marking
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 a truly historic moment, the
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 AXE4 astronauts are set to spend about 14 days
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 aboard the orbiting lab where they will complete a record number
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 of science investigations and stem, that's
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 science, technology, engineering and math outreach
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 events. In total, they have over 60 experiments
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 planned more than any previous Axiom mission to date.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 Their return date will largely depend on the weather conditions at
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 Dragon's splashdown zone in the Pacific Ocean.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 This will be SpaceX's second West coast crew recovery,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 a shift from previous Atlantic Ocean or Gulf recoveries.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 Now for a fascinating and rather surprising development in the world
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 of astronomy. Fast radio bursts,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 or FRBs, have been a persistent mystery
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 to astronomers ever since the first one, known as the
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 Lorimer Burst, was detected in 2007.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 These quick, intense bursts typically last for mere
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 nanoseconds, although some have been observed for up to
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 three seconds. While their precise cause remains
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 unknown, scientists have recently traced some
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 FRBs back to their source, often finding them
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 originating from neutron stars, leading to the
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 theory that these bursts are caused by compact
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 cosmic objects. However, a recent
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 discovery has added a completely unexpected twist
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 to this cosmic puzzle. On June
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 13, 2024, scientists at the
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder detected a
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 potential fast radio burst that lasted for a
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 minuscule 30 nanoseconds. This pulse,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 with a bandwidth strong enough to temporarily eclipse all
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 other radio signals in the sky, led
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 scientists to initially speculate that it must have come from
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 a distant cosmic source, as is typically
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 the case with these powerful signals.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 But in a recent study, a team of astronomers and
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 astrophysicists made a startling determination.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 This particular FRB did not come from a distant
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 astronomical source at all. Instead, it was
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 traced back to something much closer to home,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 NASA's Pathfinder 2 mission, a uh, now defunct
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 satellite orbiting Earth. The study was led
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 by Clancy James, an associate professor
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 with the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 or icrar, joined by a collaborative team
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 from various institutions. The satellite
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 in question, Relay 2, was launched way back
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 in 1964 as part of a series of
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 early American satellites designed to test
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 communications technologies. While its
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 predecessor, Relay1, famously provided the
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 first American television transmissions across the Pacific,
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 Relay 2 conducted radio transmissions for about a
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 year before ceasing operations in
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 1967 when its transponders
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 failed. When the FRB was detected
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 last year, the assumption was naturally a
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 distant cosmic origin. However,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 subsequent analysis pointed to a source much closer to
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 Earth. The team then used the Skyfield
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 Python module, an astronomy programme that computes the
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 positions of stars, planets and satellites in orbit.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 This programme revealed that the Relay 2 satellite
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 was precisely within the observed FRB's time
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 frame and position. The distance calculated
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 between the ASCAP Telescope and Relay 2 at the time
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 of observation was was
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 4 kilometres,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 which was remarkably consistent with the estimated distance
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 of the burst. The signal was so Strong because the
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 satellite was passing directly over the ASCAP when the burst
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 occurred, explaining its surprising clarity.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 As for what caused this burst from a long dead satellite,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 the team quickly ruled out the possibility that Relay 2
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 had somehow temporarily come back online.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 Instead, they attributed it to electrostatic
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 discharge, also known as esd, a UH
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 phenomenon observed with satellites in the past.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 This happens when electrostatic charges build up on a
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 spacecraft until they discharge in a large
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 sudden burst. Another intriguing
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 possibility is that the burst was caused by a charged plasma
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 cloud resulting from a micrometeorite collision.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 These groundbreaking results could lead to new tools for studying
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 FRBs and other signals, potentially even
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 new techniques for monitoring the vast array of
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 defunct satellites orbiting our planet.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 They also suggest that radio observatories searching for
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 cosmic rays could now be capable of identifying
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 nanosecond scale FRBs, helping future
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 surveys distinguish between genuine cosmic events
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 and interference from local objects. It's
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 truly a testament to how even the oldest space junk
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 can still hold scientific surprises.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 Now let's turn our attention to some significant developments from
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 SpaceX, where they're facing extensive rebuilding efforts
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 following a recent anomaly, while also making impressive
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 progress on new infrastructure at their
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 Massey's test stand. SpaceX is undertaking
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 considerable repair work after a major incident involving
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 Starship 36. During an attempted
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 six engine static fire test, an anomaly
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 occurred causing substantial damage to the facility.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 The immediate focus was on making Massey safe, and M
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 crews have since been busy assessing the damage and cleaning up
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 debris while larger pieces of Starship
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 36 have been removed. Cleaning the trench itself
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 might take longer due to the static fire stand still being in the
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 way. The damage at Massey's is quite extensive. The
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 gantry that held the ship Quick Disconnect is a
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 tangled mess along with the liquid oxygen and
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 liquid methane piping. All the vaporizers used
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 to pressurise the methane tanks are destroyed, and at least
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 one methane pump appears damaged. The static
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 fire stand structure itself seems okay, but all its
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 clamps and piping will need replacing. Inside the
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 trench, the aft section and raptors are likely
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 to have caused damage to the flame deflector.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 One of the items that will take the longest to replace is
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 the control bunker, which was completely burned
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 out. This structure is essential for operating the
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 methane tank farm and the static fire stand.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 Additionally, a storage tent and shipping
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 containers nearby were also destroyed by the fireball.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 Pieces of ship 36 are scattered across Massey's
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 for analysis. According to SpaceX's updates,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 the initial failure mode seems to be a composite
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 overwrapped pressure vessel that was holding nitrogen in
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 the payload Bay. The root cause is still
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 under investigation and it could take some time to
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 determine precisely what happened. It's fortunate this
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 occurred on the ground, making the investigation much more
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 feasible than if it had happened in space. As a
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 result, no static fire testing of ships or flights
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 are likely to occur until the root cause is identified and
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 Massey's is repaired. Despite this
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 setback, SpaceX is known for its resilience
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 and they anticipate this will only cause a short term
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 stand down. They hope to fly the last two block
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 two ships by the end of the year. In parallel with these
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 repairs, SpaceX is also making steady
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 progress on new hardware and infrastructure elsewhere
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 at their Sanchez site, work continues on components for
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 launch Pad B, including booster quick disconnect
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 hardware that might be sent to the launch site within the next
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 month or two. Progress on Pad B is moving at a
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 consistent pace. A new assembled flame diverter
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 ridge is also visible, likely destined for
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 LC39A, which will need it in the coming
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 months. While there was talk of a new gigabay
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 foundation for a new building, that process hasn't started
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 yet.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 Over at the launch site, incredible progress has been made on
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 Pad B. The launch mount is installed along
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 with the final two water plate manifolds and some
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 booster quick disconnect hardware. There's also significant
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 progress on the ground support equipment structure known
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 as the gantry, which houses the high pressure
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 electrical and main cryogenic propellant
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 lines. The flame trench for Pad B is
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 also seeing rapid development, with crews
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 installing steel plates that will form its floor and ramps up.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 This design means there will be no exposed concrete to
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 damage, allowing SpaceX to fix cracks and
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 damage by simply replacing plates or welding
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 cracks on the walls. This pad is designed to use
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 a massive amount of water, around 450
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 gallons per launch, flowing through the mount and flame
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 deflectors to protect hardware from the heat of 33
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 Raptor engines during liftoff. This will ensure quick
00:13:36 --> 00:13:39 turnaround times between launches. To achieve
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 this, SpaceX is using a different pressurisation
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 system than at Pad A or Massey's,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 utilising 9 methane and oxygen turbopumps to
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 vaporise liquid nitrogen before pumping it into the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 tanks, which then force water through the pipes.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 They've also begun digging the trench for the propellant
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 lines that will connect to the tower. Recently,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 testing of the eight liquid oxygen pumps already installed for
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 Pad B's tank farm began it including flowing
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 liquid nitrogen through them for operational checks and
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 leak detection on the subcoolers. This
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 marks a significant step towards getting Pad B fully
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 operational. As for Pad A, it's
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 currently sitting unused, awaiting either Booster
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 152 for a static fire or Flight 10
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 following the loss of ship.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 36 Moving on
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 NASA engineers are currently working to fix an issue with the
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, or
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 Nicer X Ray Telescope. This vital
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 instrument, mounted on the International Space Station,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 has temporarily halted its ability to track celestial
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 objects due to a bad motor. NASA paused its
00:14:44 --> 00:14:47 operations on June 17 when the degradation in its
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 tracking ability became apparent, though they haven't
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 specified when it might resume. This isn't the first
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55 challenge for Nicer, which has been in use since
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 2017. Back in May
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 2023, it developed a light leak when
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 several thin thermal shields were damaged,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 rendering it useless during daylight hours.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 Astronaut Nick Haig installed nine patches in January
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 to fix the worst areas, but some light
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 interference continued. Closer inspection
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 revealed smaller cracks and holes, prompting engineers
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 to reconfigure the telescope's measurement power unit,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 allowing it to resume normal operations on March 12.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 However, additional damage to at least one thermal shield
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 forced NASA to minimise daytime observations
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 again in late May. Despite these
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 setbacks, Nicer remains a crucial tool. It measures
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 neutron stars, identifies black holes, active
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 galaxies, and other phenomena, and even helps map
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 routes for future Mars missions. X ray
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 telescopes like Nicer enable scientists to study
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 and better understand extreme radio events in space.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 For instance, observations from Nicer, along with the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, were
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 instrumental in assessing a rapid burst of radio waves from
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 a Magnetar in 2020, an event that
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 released as much energy in a fraction of a second
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 as our sun does in an entire year, producing
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 a laser like beam instead of an explosion.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 Scientists used these same telescopes to observe another burst
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 from that magnetar in October 2022.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 That's all the exciting news from the cosmos for today's episode of
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 Astronomy Daily. Thank you for tuning in and
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 exploring the universe with us. This episode
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 was hosted by me, Anna, and we hope you enjoyed our look
00:16:28 --> 00:16:31 at the latest in space exploration and astronomical
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 discoveries. For more out of this World
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00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 Bye.