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Here in Episode #39, podcast host Dr. Jerry Workman speaks with Dr. Macarena Garcia Marin, who is an astrophysicist and instrument scientist for the European Space Agency based at the Space Telescope and Science Institute in Baltimore, MD USA. She will be discussing the highlights of the role of the James Webb Space Telescope, also known as JWST, and its abilities and discoveries using the science of spectroscopy in space, since performing spectroscopic research since its launch in 2021. We have invited Macarena to our Analytically Speaking podcast to discuss the current discoveries using JWST and what the future hopes are for a deeper understanding of the amazing universe that surrounds our home, planet Earth.
It's a brave question to put to three astronauts live on stage but it's a risk we are prepared to take. Recorded in front of a live audience at the UK Space Conference in Manchester, European Space Agency astronauts Tim Peake, Meganne Christian and John McFall discuss the future of human space exploration. Could robots or AI take their place? Will a trip to the Moon be as common as flying across the Atlantic? And can humans be trusted to not mess with Mars? Host Izzie Clarke asks the big questions, producer Richard Hollingham threatens the audience, and (soft sceptic) Dr Robert Massey is prepared to be unpopular as they contemplate the role of astronauts in the 21st century. Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programs at the European Space Agency (ESA), joins Markus to dive into one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects of our time: building a digital twin of our planet. Through Destination Earth (DestinE), ESA is creating a dynamic, real-time model of Earth—a tool designed to simulate future scenarios, test the impact of human decisions, and ultimately help us better care for our fragile world.Quotable Insights“We're giving Earth a voice. Our satellites are the planet's way of telling us what's happening—and what's coming next.” – Simonetta Cheli“We don't need more data to know we must act. We need to use the data we already have to make change visible and urgent.”“Europe is a world leader in Earth observation—both in technology and in making data available for all.”Cosmic Timeline (Timestamps)[00:00:00] Simonetta's first-hand story of shrinking rivers and climate signals[00:01:00] Introduction: Giving Earth a voice through digital twins[00:02:05] What Earth observation means and why it matters today[00:05:00] Looking in the mirror: How satellites diagnose the planet's health[00:09:00] 30+ years of Copernicus satellite data and its value for the future[00:12:00] ESA's Destination Earth: building a sandbox for global “what-if” scenarios[00:17:00] CO₂ tracking, biomass missions, and carbon accountability[00:19:30] Europe's unique leadership in Earth observation and data openness[00:23:00] Integrating AI: The promise and challenges of machine-driven insights[00:27:00] Real-world applications: from urban planning to disaster response[00:29:00] Personal moments: What surprised Simonetta the most from space data[00:32:00] A journey to Greenland: confronting the speed of melting ice[00:34:00] Do we really need more data—or more action?[00:37:00] How satellites connect citizens to the consequences of their choices[00:41:00] ESA's efforts in education, outreach, and startup support[00:45:00] Simonetta's vision: Earth observation as a planetary voice[00:46:00] Music choice and final reflectionsRelevant Links and ReferencesESA Earth ObservationDestination Earth (DestinE)Copernicus ProgrammeSpread the Cosmic Love!If this episode made you see our planet in a new light, share it with a friend. Follow the Space Café Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on LinkedIn or email us at podcast@spacewatch.global. Your thoughts help shape future episodes!Send us a textYou can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcast!Please visit us at SpaceWatch.Global, subscribe to our newsletters. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Send us a textThe deep connection between sunlight and life, from the scale of the cosmos to the quantum.Episode Summary: Astrophysicist Dr. Robert Fosbury discusses the sun's characteristics as a star, its analogies to living systems via entropy and complexity, and Erwin Schrödinger's insights on life as order-maintaining entities; he explores how near-infrared (NIR) light from the sun penetrates bodies to enhance mitochondrial function and metabolism, critiques modern artificial lighting's health impacts like mitochondrial dysfunction leading to diseases, and advocates returning to natural light environments for better wellness, drawing connections from cosmology to everyday architecture and lifestyle.About the guest: Robert Fosbury, PhD is a is a retired astrophysicist. He spent his career at the European Space Agency, working on Hubble and JWST projects, and now pursues interdisciplinary research linking stellar phenomena to biological processes like light's impact on vision and metabolism.Discussion Points:Stars like the sun maintain low-entropy states by exporting entropy as light, mirroring how life ingests low-entropy food to sustain order and homeostasis.The universe's complexity peaks midway in entropy increase, with stars producing elements that enable biological complexity, evolving toward cognition.Near-infrared light, peaking in solar output at ~1.6 microns due to atmospheric physics, catalyzes mitochondrial ATP production by facilitating electron transport, not via photosynthesis but photo-metabolism.Modern LEDs and windows block near-infrared, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction, obesity, diabetes, and aging; historical thermal lights like incandescents provided beneficial infrared.Outdoor environments, especially under trees, flood bodies with reflected near-infrared for health, while blue skies act as cold sinks boosting thermodynamic efficiency.Eyes are mitochondria-rich, vulnerable to poor light; therapies using near-infrared slow macular degeneration by improving energy production.Ultra-processed foods are "high-entropy" with no structural order, akin to waste, reducing nutritional value for maintaining bodily order.Practical fixes: Use low-voltage incandescents indoors, prioritize outdoor time, design buildings with infrared-transmitting glass, and light people, not spaces, for energy savings and Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts
Mike and Chad discuss some of the ongoing space missions currently in operation by NASA as well as the European Space Agency, and space agencies from India and Japan. There is a lot of research taking place that deserves recognition.To recognize this podcast, subscribe and get the benefit of automatically downloading the latest episode as soon as it becomes available.
Exciting Mars Mission Proposal: Discover the ambitious M Metis mission, which aims to be the first dedicated to studying Mars's space weather. Set to compete for a spot as a European Space Agency medium mission, this initiative will deploy two robotic orbiters, Henri and Marguerite, to investigate the Martian atmosphere and its interactions with solar winds. Dr. Beatrice Sanchez Cano from the University of Leicester highlights the mission's importance for future human exploration and the safety of astronauts on the Red Planet.- Unveiling the Sun's Secrets: Get ready for NASA's upcoming Solar Eruption Integral Field Spectrograph mission (SNFS), launching in July. This groundbreaking mission will explore the chromosphere, a crucial layer of the Sun's atmosphere, to understand the energy dynamics that lead to solar flares and coronal mass ejections. With innovative technology, the SNFS will provide unprecedented insights into solar activity and its effects on space weather.- Boeing's Starliner Update: We discuss the latest challenges faced by Boeing's Starliner capsule, which recently returned from its Crew Flight Test. After encountering multiple issues, including helium leaks and thruster failures, the timeline for its next launch has shifted to early 2026. NASA and Boeing are implementing rigorous evaluations and improvements to ensure the spacecraft's reliability for future missions.- A Glimpse into Apollo 11's History: Take a fascinating look at the personal mementos carried by Neil Armstrong during the historic Apollo 11 mission. Detailed manifests of these items have been made public, offering a unique insight into the personal side of this monumental achievement. The items are now preserved at Purdue University, connecting us to the legacy of space exploration.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.✍️ Episode ReferencesM Metis Mission[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)Solar Eruption Integral Field Spectrograph[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Boeing Starliner Update[Boeing](https://www.boeing.com/)Apollo 11 Items[Purdue University](https://www.purdue.edu/)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.
With civil aerospace primes targeting production rates of 75 per month by 2027, and NATO members increasing defence spending to over 2.5% of GDP, business is brisk in the aircraft and defence sectors. The Paris Air Show in June showcased several UK companies that are investing during strong business conditions, says Will Stirling. Bathed in blazing sunshine, Paris Le Bourget Airport hosted the 55th Paris International Air Show from 16 to 22 June. A large UK pavilion featuring over 50 exhibitors joined thousands more. Aerospace is on the rise – the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors contributed £42.2bn to the UK economy last year, marking a 10.4% increase from 2023. Defence is also poised for significant growth: Britain's defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, up from approximately 2.3% in 2024, representing an additional £6bn per year. Furthermore, the government aims to elevate spending to 3% of GDP, potentially adding a staggering £20bn annually on top of the 2.5% baseline by 2030. A large fraction – likely over £20bn annually by 2030 – will be allocated specifically to equipment and weapons programmes such as missiles, submarines, nuclear infrastructure, drones, tanks, and factory expansion. ADS, the aerospace, defence and security industries business group, hosted nearly 100 companies at this year's Paris Air Show, predominantly manufacturing firms that produce everything from machined components, roll forming and composite structures to avionics and AI-powered digital engineering. MTD examines some of the exhibitors' news. Faster composite production for wing tips iCOMAT is a Gloucester-based advanced manufacturing company that has developed an automated composite production process, the Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) process. Working for aerospace primes and defence customers, the RTS, which enables defect-free fibre steering for composites, is helping to advance new lightweight, high-performance structures. The company is one of several innovative SMEs working with GKN Aerospace on a new £12m R&D programme to develop and demonstrate next-generation composite wing and flap structures, called ASPIRE – Advanced Structural Product Integrated Airframe. The project will deliver three full-scale composite wingtip variants for structural testing to ultimate load, allowing the consortium to validate new technologies in highly relevant test conditions. Each wingtip variant will represent a different structural philosophy and technology set. Variant one is a bonded assembly with multiple parts, aligned with GKN Aerospace's design approach. It will validate the manufacture of three wingtip variants. The ASPIRE consortium includes Carbon ThreeSixty, iCOMAT, Lineat, Pentaxia, and the University of Bath, with support from agency Axillium and co-funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute. ASPIRE will also develop an optimised composite flap. The flap demonstration will feature a pre-preg manufacturing approach with RTS skins provided by iCOMAT, tailored fibre-placed brackets from Carbon ThreeSixty, low-energy out-of-autoclave curing moulds, and press-cured ribs. A key programme milestone will be achieving TRL6, Technology Readiness Level 6, for the press-curing of composite ribs. “ASPIRE is a perfect example of the power of UK collaboration to drive aerospace innovation,” said John Pritchard, president for civil airframe at GKN Aerospace. “By bringing together specialist SMEs, academic expertise, and GKN Aerospace's industrial leadership, this programme will accelerate the development of high-rate, sustainable composite wing technologies.” Martin Baker For nearly 80 years, Martin Baker has designed, manufactured and fine-tuned ejector seats in the UK in Denham, Middlesex, and at locations globally. In that time, these devices have saved more than 7,700 aircrew members' lives from over 90 air forces. The seats are fitted to programmes including the F-35 Lightning II, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 (some versions) and BAE Systems Hawk. At Paris, the company showcased the flagship US16E ejection seat. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the company's biggest programme, and the US16E seat equips all variants of the F-35. More than 1,500 US16E seats have been delivered for 12 international F-35 operators; the US16E has saved the lives of 10 aircrew to date. The US16E seat became the genesis for the new Mk18 ejection seat range, with improved ejection performance, reducing the risk of ejection and minimising life cycle costs. The new technology has allowed safe ejection for aircrew with nude weights as low as 46.7Kg (103lbs) and ejection up to speeds as high as 600Kts for aircrew wearing Helmet Mounted Displays, a common peripheral in modern combat operations. Martin-Baker is offering the Mk18 seat range to all the new aircraft trainer and fighter aircraft programmes. The company has doubled its headcount in the last 10 years, and 28 apprentices are enrolled across the business. Complex aerospace systems need AI As aviation becomes more deeply sophisticated and data-reliant, data analytics companies must coordinate. Aerospace engineering companies are prolific users of simulation software to test component performance in different scenarios. AI (artificial intelligence) means you can explore designs 1,000x faster than physics-based simulation, according to Altair Engineering, which was acquired by Siemens in March. In Paris, Altair demonstrated how its solutions are helping the aerospace sector from concept through production to in-flight performance. It applies AI to combine several powerful technologies: digital engineering, smart factories, certification by analysis, digital maintenance, repair and overhaul, and digital twins. “AI, data, and connectivity are no longer future concepts — they are today's competitive advantages,” said Dr. Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defence, Altair. “Our technologies are helping the aerospace industry achieve next-level performance, sustainability, and innovation breakthroughs.” Demonstrations showed how engineers can reduce design cycles, optimize structures for weight and strength, and improve aircraft performance using intelligent, AI-assisted modelling tools. Beyond the marketing, however, the use of AI in simulation has an essential role in democratising engineering. These solutions empower government agencies and startups to deliver advanced programmes quickly. The Altair Aerospace Startup Acceleration Program gives young companies enterprise-grade tools to bring novel technologies to market faster. Altair has recently partnered with the Campania Aerospace District in Italy to provide over 150 SMEs and startups with access to AI simulation tools, empowering them to work at the same technological level as OEMs and tier-one suppliers. Rocket science inspires students to manufacture The continued growth of the aerospace, defence, and security sectors requires a skilled talent pipeline. ADS also supports Race2Space, a multi-university and company initiative that engages young people in designing and building rockets and space systems. Announced at Paris, Carrie Waters, 18, a first-year physics student at Durham University, has spent the past year helping to build a powerful, 600kg thrust liquid-fuel rocket engine. She is a member of Durham University Spaceflight, a student-run rocket launching team competing in this year's Race2Space. In July, the team will ‘hot fire' their engine at the Westcott Space Cluster during the final stage of the competition. In this crucial test, the engine will be securely mounted and ignited horizontally while connected to pressurised fuel systems. The engine must demonstrate its ability to perform under extreme conditions—delivering the correct thrust, flow rates, and structural integrity—before being launched as part of a future rocket. It's like Heinz Wolff's The Great Egg Race on Rocket Fuel. “I'm really excited, I've never done anything like this before,” said Carrie. “I can't wait to see whether what we've designed and built actually works. It's very daunting. I've had a great time working with the team and learnt so much.” Carrie believes that initiatives like Race2Space are vital for helping students from all backgrounds turn academic learning into career opportunities. She hopes to one day work for organisations like Skyrora or the European Space Agency, contributing to rocket and satellite missions.
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
In this episode of SpaceTime, we unlock the secrets of the Moon's far side, explore the Sun's helicity barrier, and discuss the European Space Agency's advancements in orbital launch vehicles.Extended Volcanism on the Moon's Far SideRecent findings reveal that the Moon's far side has experienced extended volcanism for at least 1.4 billion years, with two significant volcanic phases occurring around 4.2 and 2.8 billion years ago. This research, stemming from samples collected by China's Chang' E6 mission, provides insights into the Moon's geological history and the asymmetry between its near and far sides. The study highlights the role of colossal impacts in shaping the Moon's interior and suggests uneven distribution of volatile elements.Discovery of the Sun's Helicity BarrierA groundbreaking study has identified a region of the Sun known as the helicity barrier, which plays a crucial role in heating and accelerating the solar wind. Observations from NASA's Parker Solar Probe have confirmed the existence of this barrier, providing insights into the mechanisms of turbulent dissipation and coronal heating. This discovery helps explain temperature anomalies in the solar atmosphere and enhances our understanding of space weather events that impact Earth.European Space Agency's Launch Vehicle DevelopmentsThe European Space Agency has narrowed its list of potential candidates for future orbital launch vehicles. The selected companies will receive funding to develop their systems, aiming to increase competition and choice in European launch services. This initiative mirrors efforts by NASA in the U.S. to foster a diverse range of commercial launch providers, enhancing capabilities for future space missions.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesNature Journalhttps://www.nature.com/naturePhysical Reviewhttps://journals.aps.org/pr/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.
Sponsor Links:This episode is brought to with the support of Incogni....when your online privacy and security becomes important, you need Incogni.To check our special discount deal, visit www.incogni.com/spacenutsIf you'd like to check out our special offer from NordVPN, our official VPN provider, just visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts or use the coupon code SPACENUTS at checkout.Both offers come with a 30-day money back guarantee. Quantum Quandaries and Cosmic Curiosities: Your Questions AnsweredIn this engaging Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson tackle an array of thought-provoking questions from listeners that span the realms of quantum physics and cosmic phenomena. From the nature of photons to the mysteries of black holes, this episode is a treasure trove of insights that will leave you pondering the universe.Episode Highlights:- Photons and Quantum Energy Levels: The episode kicks off with a question from Greg in Minnesota about the energy levels of photons as they travel through expanding space. Fred explains the nuances of photon energy, redshift, and how it relates to different reference frames, providing clarity on this complex topic.- Is the Universe Inside a Black Hole? Russell from the UK poses a challenging question about the universe potentially existing within a black hole. Fred discusses the speculative nature of this idea, the implications of being inside an event horizon, and why the universe behaves as it does, despite such theories.- The Gravity of an Apple: Paul from Melbourne wonders if the Earth is slightly tugged by an apple falling from a tree. Fred affirms that gravity works both ways, offering a fascinating look at the mutual attraction between masses, while sharing a historical tidbit about Newton's apple tree.- Solar Orbiter and Ecliptic Orbits: Mikey from Illinois inquires about the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter and its unique orbit outside the ecliptic plane. Fred elaborates on the spacecraft's mission, its groundbreaking images of the sun's poles, and how comets also traverse the solar system in non-ecliptic orbits.For more Space Nuts, including our continuously updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.Become a supporter of this podcast for access to commercial free editions: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.
The UK plans to invest $191 million in satellite operator Eutelsat. The European Space Agency (ESA) has established its first optical communication link with a spacecraft in deep space. Intuitive Machines is partnering with Space Forge on a new vehicle, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest We are joined by NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading Britain joins France in 1.5 billion euro boost for Starlink rival Eutelsat- Reuters Europe looks to Nordic space race to scale back US dependence- Reuters ESA - Europe's first deep-space optical communication link Intuitive Machines Partners with Space Forge to Enable U.S. Space-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing Colorado ONE Fund Invests in CisLunar Industries, Advancing Critical Power Infrastructure for the Space Industrial Economy China's Chang'e‑6 samples unlock deep insights into moon's far side - CGTN Space Investment Quarterly Reports In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing: Benefits, Challenges, and Policy Options - U.S. GAO Rocket Lab Selects Bollinger Shipyards to Support Modification of Neutron Landing Platform NASA's Roman Space Telescope Team Installs Observatory's Solar Panels Ringo Starr sends birthday "Peace and Love" message to the Moon and Back with intuitive machines & goonhilly earth station ltd. T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last week, the European Space Agency revealed that its Planetary Defenders are tracking a fast-moving "interstellar object" zipping through the solar system. It's still unclear whether A11pl3Z or 3IATLAS is a rocky asteroid, an icy comet, or something else entirely. But its size, some say, is at least 25 miles, which is amazing. In other cosmic space news, ISRO activated Chandrayaan-3's ground-penetrating radar, designed to peer beneath the lunar crust. What it found sent shock waves through mission control. Beneath the rover's wheels, several meters down, a massive hollow void was detected, but it wasn't random. The radar returns revealed geometric formations, straight lines, symmetrical angles, and repeating grids. Could the Moon have a functioning system or be an active artificial structure? For the first time, scientists began asking the unthinkable. Did we just uncover an ancient alien base or, more alarmingly, a forgotten human one? Listen tonight from 7-10 pm, pacific time on Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis and guest Richard C. Hoagland on groundzeroplus.com. Call in to the LIVE show at 503-225-0860. #groundzeroplus #ClydeLewis #moon #InterstellarObject #spacestation
The European Space Agency plans to use satellite gravity data to track weakening ocean circulation systems. Rory Bingham of the University of Bristol explains how these satellites can ‘weigh' the Earth's water and might help resolve whether we're approaching the climate tipping point of a shutdown of ocean circulation in the Atlantic Ocean, something we've been following for a while. Scientists have been able to retrieve ancient proteins from fossilized tooth enamel in the Canadian High Arctic. Ryan Sinclair Paterson from the University of Copenhagen tells us how he can fill in the blanks of the molecular tree of life with these proteins from over 20 million years ago. A few weeks ago, we discussed evidence of an impact of a massive crater in northwestern Australia from over 3 billion years ago. However, recent independent evidence from another team of geologists indicate that the size and age of this crater's impact may not be what some had previously thought. Alec Brenner of Yale University talks us through his analysis of the geologic evidence. Finally, we rediscover a forgotten pioneer of fusion science. Mark Cavendish discusses the research done by then-graduate student Arthur Ruhlig that helped develop the hydrogen bomb and thermonuclear physics. Presenter: Roland Pease Producers: Imaan Moin with Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: Map of North Atlantic Ocean currents, with Gulf Stream and other currents. Credit: PeterHermesFurian Via Getty Images.)
Player 1 vs The World's StrangeCast podcast is now back with the second part, dubbed 'Side B,' of episode 105. Following on from 'Side A' -- available on both Player 1 vs The World's YouTube channel and all RSS feeds -- The Lost Records Journal co-hosts Adnan Riaz and Adam Evalt continue to pick apart all of the latest discourse around Don't Nod Entertainment, Don't Nod, Deck Nine, Square Enix's Life Is Strange series, Don't Nod Montreal's Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and so much more!
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore some of the most exciting recent discoveries in astronomy, including the largest Oort Cloud comet ever observed and remarkable achievements from NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover.Comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli-Bernstein: A Giant from the Oort CloudAstronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting molecular activity in Comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli-Bernstein, the largest and most distant active comet ever observed. Originating from the Oort Cloud, this colossal comet measures nearly 140 km across, revealing complex jets of carbon monoxide gas and providing insight into its behavior far from the Sun. Observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile have confirmed its status as the largest known Oort Cloud comet, offering a rare glimpse into the chemistry and dynamics of these distant celestial objects.Nasa's Perseverance Rover Sets New Distance RecordNASA's Mars Perseverance Rover has achieved a new milestone, traveling 411 meters in a single autonomous drive while exploring the Jezero Crater. This episode highlights the rover's innovative AUTONAV self-driving system and its 30th Abrasion Study of a Martian rock named Kenmore. The findings reveal significant mineral compositions, including clay minerals, iron, and magnesium, enhancing our understanding of Mars' geological history and potential past habitability.Exoplanets Triggering Stellar FlaresAstronomers have discovered that certain exoplanets in close orbits around their host stars can trigger powerful stellar flares, leading to atmospheric erosion over time. This groundbreaking finding, reported in the journal Nature, demonstrates the interaction between planets and their stars in a way never before observed. The study, conducted using the European Space Agency's CHEOPS spacecraft, reveals that these energetic flares can significantly impact the evolution of the orbiting planets, providing new insights into the dynamics of stellar systems.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesAstrophysical Journal Lettershttps://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1538-4357NASA Perseverance Roverhttps://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/Nature Journalhttps://www.nature.com/natureBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.
Are you ready to witness what happens when passion meets purpose in the energy sector? Then you're going to want to hear this inspiring conversation. Listen to this episode as our host, Diane Rolston, interviews Angelina Bintoudi, a powerhouse entrepreneur from Greece who's revolutionizing the energy transition with her company Optimems. You'll discover how this electrical engineer went from pitch to power at Web Summit Vancouver.Listen to learn these key takeaways:How to build a successful team by leveraging existing relationships and friendshipsThe four essential elements of powerful pitchingAngelina's innovative approach to democratizing energy transition through virtual power plant technologyInsights into overcoming gender-based challenges in male-dominated industriesHow Angelina's company achieved remarkable successThe importance of having multiple support systems, from business partners to family members, when building a demanding startupWhy knowing your science and conducting explicit market research are crucial for success in the energy tech spaceAngelina's message about authentic female leadership and breaking glass ceilings "one fist at a time"Guest Bio: Angelina Bintoudi is an electrical and computer engineer with a master's degree in power engineering and a PhD in Microgrids. Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece, she completed all her academic studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. With a strong research background, the majority of her career has been dedicated to high-level research projects, including aerospace initiatives with the European Space Agency (ESA) and participation in more than a dozen Horizon projects funded by the European Union.Although entrepreneurship wasn't part of her original plan, Angelina realized that for research to create greater impact, it needed to reach the commercial world. This insight led her to co-found Optimems.Optimems is a startup company founded in 2022. Optimems provides Energy Management Systems for RES plants, industries and households. Currently we are the leading company for EMS in PV parks on Greece, having the 25% of the total market. We are currently bootstraped with over 3.5 M total revenue and 2.5 M in this year only. Optimems has 18 employees.Angelina's Social Media links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelinabintoudi/Website: https://www.optimems.gr/This show's host, Diane Rolston, is called THE Expert on Being Dynamic and living a Dynamic Life. After leading hundreds of events and programs in her two businesses, speaking on international stages, being a published author while raising two young children, Diane Rolston knows all about work/life balance and getting things done! As an Award-Winning Coach and the CEO and founder of Dynamic Women®, a global community of women, her purpose is to unlock the greatness in others. Diane works with professionals all over the world to provide clarity, confidence, and action. Visit my website and Sign Up for my WEEKLY NEWSLETTER and you'll get FREE tips on how to live a dynamic life:www.dianerolston.comThe Dynamic Women® Podcast is an Award-Winning action-focused lifestyle and leadership podcast full of stories and strategies to help women design their success and unleash their “Dynamic Woman”. You can learn from the experts how to get clarity, build confidence, and get into action on your biggest goals and...
What's it like living underwater for two weeks? What's the trickiest part of training to be an astronaut? What are the most memorable sights you see from space? Several extreme questions, all of which can be answered by one man: Major Tim Peake. After a childhood packed with outdoor adventures, via the Cub Scouts and school Cadet Force, Tim joined the British Army Air Corps and became a military flying instructor then a test pilot; before eventually being selected as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. In 2015, Tim became the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Over the course of a six-month mission, he took part in more than 250 scientific experiments and worked with more than two million schoolchildren across Europe. In a special New Year's episode recorded in front of an audience at London's Royal Society, Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to Tim about his lifelong passion for adventure, the thrill of flight and why scientific experiments in space are so important. Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy Taylor
Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Progress Theory, where host Dr Phil Price dives into the science behind human performance and achievement. In today's episode, Phil sits down with Dr Meganne Christian, a UK astronaut and European Space Agency reserve astronaut, whose unconventional journey is as fascinating as it is motivating.From her roots in the UK and Australia, through her career as a material scientist, to a transformative year spent in Antarctic darkness and isolation, Meganne's story is a testament to pushing personal and professional boundaries. Together, Phil and Meganne explore the pivotal experiences and mindset that led her to conquer the notoriously challenging ESA astronaut selection process—revealing the surprising mix of technical skills, resilience, teamwork, and honest self-reflection required to thrive.With tales of Antarctic survival, candid insights into what space agencies really look for, and practical advice for anyone dreaming of venturing into space or tackling life's most demanding challenges, this episode offers an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes of human exploration at its most extreme. Whether you're an aspiring astronaut, a science enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a push to go after your own “impossible” goal, there's something here for you.So, strap in as we journey from the Antarctic ice to the stars and uncover what it really takes to reach new heights—both on this planet and beyond.In this episode, we discuss:00:00 Introduction05:12 Isolation's Psychological Challenge08:50 Embracing the Learning Curve09:55 Self-Reflection in Extreme Environments15:30 Astronauts' Challenging Tasks in Space19:12 Job Application Process Overview22:25 ESA Selection Panel Interview Summary24:19 Testing Fears: Memory Test Challenge28:47 "Building Experience for Selection"31:59 UK Astronauts and Space Station Fitness34:04 Getting Involved in Space Projects38:22 Lunar Peaceful Cooperation ProposalTakeawaysEmbrace Diverse Experience: The ESA values not just academic achievement but a proven ability to thrive in extreme and varied environments. My time in Antarctica challenged me physically and mentally and helped me develop resilience, teamwork, and adaptability—skills crucial for future astronauts.Pursue What You Love: There's no single path to becoming an astronaut. Success lies in excelling at what excites you—whether that's engineering, science, or field research. Loving what you do not only builds expertise but also nurtures the enthusiasm agencies look for.Seize Opportunities—Big and Small: From responding to unexpected emails offering unique roles to keeping an eye out for space sector projects, sometimes the most unexpected opportunities set you on the path to your goals. Be ready to put yourself forward, even when you're unsure!FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@astro_meganneResources MentionedEuropean Space Agency
Will China now get to the Moon first? NASA's former head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen, joins Space Boffins to discuss the proposed cuts to NASA's science budget. Richard visits SSTL to see an innovative European Space Agency mission, HydroGNSS, that uses satellite navigation signals to measure water from space. And authors Bruce McCandless III and Emily Carney share stories and songs from their new book, Star Bound, and talk Gemini, Skylab and an angry NASA memo. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Will China now get to the Moon first? NASA's former head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen, joins Space Boffins to discuss the proposed cuts to NASA's science budget. Richard visits SSTL to see an innovative European Space Agency mission, HydroGNSS, that uses satellite navigation signals to measure water from space. And authors Bruce McCandless III and Emily Carney share stories and songs from their new book, Star Bound, and talk Gemini, Skylab and an angry NASA memo. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Unraveling Cosmic Mysteries: Fast Radio Bursts and Earth's MagnetismIn this intriguing episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson delve into the captivating world of cosmic enigmas. From the potential resolution of the 'missing matter' mystery to the groundbreaking findings linking Earth's magnetism and oxygen levels, this episode is packed with revelations that will spark your curiosity about the universe.Episode Highlights:- Fast Radio Bursts and Missing Matter: The episode kicks off with a discussion on fast radio bursts, their origins, and how they may help astronomers account for the elusive missing matter in the universe. Fred explains the significance of these brief bursts of radio waves and their role in revealing the intergalactic medium's composition.- Understanding Neutron Stars: Heidi and Fred take a moment to clarify the difference between neutron stars and our sun, exploring the fascinating life cycle of stars and the unique characteristics of neutron stars that lead to phenomena like magnetars and fast radio bursts.- Proba 3 Mission and Solar Eclipses: The conversation shifts to the European Space Agency's Proba 3 mission, which aims to study the sun's corona using two satellites. Fred shares how this innovative approach allows scientists to observe the sun's outer atmosphere in detail, akin to a solar eclipse, and the potential for citizen scientists to engage with this data.- Link Between Magnetism and Oxygen: The episode concludes with a discussion on a recent study revealing a mysterious correlation between Earth's magnetic field strength and atmospheric oxygen levels over the past 500 million years. Fred emphasizes the implications of this finding for understanding life processes and the search for extraterrestrial life.For more Space Nuts, including our continuously updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.(00:00) Welcome to Space Nuts with Heidi Campo and Fred Watson(01:20) Discussion on fast radio bursts and missing matter(15:00) Clarifying neutron stars vs. our sun(25:30) Insights into the Proba 3 mission and solar corona(35:00) Exploring the link between Earth's magnetism and oxygenFor commercial-free versions of Space Nuts, join us on Patreon, Supercast, Apple Podcasts, or become a supporter here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover significant advancements in our understanding of the universe and ongoing developments in space exploration.Astronomers Find the Universe's Missing MatterA groundbreaking study reveals that the universe's elusive normal matter is concealed within hot intergalactic gas filaments. This discovery, detailed in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, identifies a massive filament of gas, ten times the mass of the Milky Way, connecting four galaxy clusters. Utilizing the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton and JAXA's Suzaku X-ray space telescopes, researchers have successfully characterized this filament, providing crucial insights into the cosmic web's structure and supporting existing models of the universe.Concerns Grow Over Leaks Aboard the International Space StationFresh concerns regarding leaks aboard the International Space Station have led to delays in the SpaceX Axiom Spaceflight 4 mission. NASA is closely monitoring cabin pressure in the Russian segment of the station, where ongoing structural issues have been identified. Despite recent repairs, the situation remains a top safety priority as astronauts prepare for their upcoming mission.European Space Agency's Mars Rover ProgressThe European Space Agency's ExoMars rover, Rosalind Franklin, is back on track to land on Mars in 2028, seven years later than originally planned. This mission aims to search for signs of past life on the Red Planet and investigate its geochemical environment. With new funding and NASA's agreement to provide launch services, the Rosalind Franklin rover is undergoing final tests to ensure its success on the Martian surface.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesAstronomy and Astrophysicshttps://www.aanda.org/European Space Agencyhttps://www.esa.int/NASAhttps://www.nasa.gov/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.00:00 This is Space Time Series 28, Episode 76 for broadcast on 25 June 202501:00 Astronomers find the universe's missing matter12:15 Concerns grow over leaks aboard the International Space Station22:30 European Space Agency's Mars rover progress30:00 Science report: New insights into conversion therapy and health impacts
Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, have officially launched the European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-Lab Ireland - a pioneering six-year programme designed to drive innovation in space technologies within companies in Ireland. Ireland, as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and materials science, will address the thematic area of space-optimised hardware. Phi-Lab Ireland will fund cutting-edge research across the entire life-cycle from materials discovery and testing, to the scaled production of components optimised for the unique and challenging environment of space. Benefiting from the combined capabilities of two of Ireland's leading research organisations, Phi-Lab Ireland will also offer access to expert mentorship and training programmes, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, comprehensive networking opportunities, and significant seed funding for projects up to 24-months. Welcoming the expansion of the European Space Agency's Phi-Lab network to Ireland, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said "the launch of ESA's Phi-Lab Ireland offers Irish companies a great opportunity to further develop in the areas of advanced manufacturing and materials innovation. Available to space active companies and to companies who up to now haven't considering entering into this market, Phi-Lab Ireland will offer expert mentoring and training programmes, access to state of the art research infrastructure and critical seed funding up to €400k. Working in partnership with ESA, IMR and AMBER, two of Ireland's leading research organisations, will strengthen the capability of the growing Irish space eco-system and I look forward to Irish companies taking their place in the globally competitive space sector. I am particularly pleased to see this degree of endeavour and innovation taking place here in Mullingar in my own constituency". "The establishment of ESA's Phi-Lab in Ireland marks a pivotal moment in our journey to position Ireland at the forefront of space innovation. The initiative reflects our continuing partnership with the European Space Agency and our shared ambition to harness cutting-edge technologies for economic growth and global impact. Phi-Lab Ireland will empower Irish companies to lead in the development of transformative advanced manufacturing technologies, unlocking new markets and creating high-value opportunities for the future" said Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon, on the launch of Phi-Lab Ireland as part of the expanding ESA Phi-Lab network. Phi-Lab Ireland's first funding call for research project proposals from Irish companies seeking to grow in Ireland's developing space ecosystem is now open. Unique to Phi-Lab Ireland, projects are welcome from companies who in the past may have never considered their products for the space sector, and also current space-active companies seeking to advance their position in this market and/or bring their innovations to larger terrestrial markets. Commenting on the launch of Phi-Lab Ireland's first funding call, Dr. Ken Horan, Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland said "ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a unique opportunity for Irish SMEs, start-ups, and researchers to become leaders in space-focused innovation. Today the Space sector offers opportunities akin to those presented by the MedTech sector a few decades ago and before that, ICT manufacturing. These have become cornerstones of the Irish economy. We want to see Ireland equivalently recognised as a global leader in the Space sector and are building a national competence centre to advance this ambition". Prof. Mick Morris, Director of the AMBER Centre added "AMBER are delighted to partner with IMR to support Irish industry and researchers in exploring new commercial opportunities in the space sector. This activity will build on our...
Watching lightning on Earth is fascinating. But watching it from space can be scientifically enlightening.
On today's episode: The European Space Agency has figured out how to make an artificial eclipse every 20 hours! More of your fabulous questions! All that and more today on All Around Science...RESOURCESStunning pictures show the first ever artificial solar eclipseBehold! 1st images of artificial solar eclipse captured by ESA's Proba-3 missionCREDITS:Writing - Bobby Frankenberger & Maura ArmstrongBooking - September McCrady THEME MUSIC by Andrew Allenhttps://twitter.com/KEYSwithSOULhttp://andrewallenmusic.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) started collecting data nearly three years ago, and it has already transformed our understanding of the universe. It has spotted the earliest galaxies ever seen, and, closer to home, captured auroras around Jupiter. So what's the latest from the JWST? In this live broadcast, Hosts Flora Lichtman and Ira Flatow talk with astrophysicist Macarena Garcia Marin, deputy project director for the James Webb Space Telescope.Guest: Dr. Macarena Garcia Marin is an astrophysicist and instrument scientist for the European Space Agency. She's also deputy project director for the James Webb Space Telescope.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
This week, the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers at ice hockey's Stanley Cup championship, which sent us skating into ice-related science.First up, we hear about an ancient ice skate that's been unearthed in Prerov, Czech Republic, which sends us pondering about the physics of ice-skating. We then discover why licking a flagpole on a chilly day is a bad idea, before delving into the science of cryopreservation. Next up, we speak to Dr Mark Drinkwater of the European Space Agency, who reveals how satellites can help us monitor and better understand our planet's melting ice sheets. Plus, what do you do if you want to play ice hockey but you live near the equator? All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Sandy Ong Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins and Minnie Harrop
The European Space Agency have predicted there will a rapid evolution of technology and we could be living in “space oases” on Mars and the Moon. All to chat about with Leo Enright, Space Commentator.
Highlights:- Locating the Universe's Missing Matter: In this episode, we unveil a groundbreaking discovery where astronomers have successfully mapped the universe's missing ordinary matter using fast radio bursts. These cosmic flashlights have revealed that a significant portion of matter is lurking in the vast spaces between galaxies, forming an invisible cosmic web, enhancing our understanding of the universe's structure.- New Theory on the Big Bang: Delve into a thought-provoking theory suggesting that the Big Bang may not be the beginning of everything, but rather a result of gravitational collapse within a massive black hole. This model offers testable predictions and could reshape our understanding of cosmic inflation and dark energy.- Artificial Solar Eclipses: Discover how the European Space Agency's Proba 3 mission is creating artificial solar eclipses with two satellites, allowing scientists to study the sun's corona for extended periods without complex image processing. This innovation could revolutionise our understanding of solar dynamics.- Axiom Mission Update: We provide the latest on the Axiom Space AX-4 mission, which could launch as soon as June 19th, following a resolution to an air leak issue in the ISS's Russian segment. Stay tuned for updates on this private astronaut mission.- Project Kuiper Launch Delay: Learn about the postponement of Amazon's second Project Kuiper launch due to engineering observations, delaying the deployment of satellites intended to enhance global internet connectivity.- Launch Roundup: Join us for an exciting roundup of upcoming launches, including multiple SpaceX Falcon 9 missions, the final flight of Japan's H2A rocket, and much more from around the globe, making for a busy week in space exploration.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 Daily01:10 - Locating the universe's missing matter10:00 - New theory on the Big Bang20:00 - Artificial solar eclipses25:00 - Axiom mission update30:00 - Project Kuiper launch delay35:00 - Launch roundup✍️ Episode ReferencesFast Radio Bursts Research[Astronomy Journal](https://www.astronomy.com/)Big Bang Theory Insights[Cosmology Review](https://www.cosmologyreview.com/)ESA Proba 3 Mission[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)Axiom Space Updates[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Project Kuiper Information[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
A probe developed by the European Space Agency has taken the first images of the Sun's south pole. How big of an achievement is this, and what can we learn from it?Joining Seán to discuss this is Dr. Peter Gallagher, Director of the DIAS (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) Dunsink Observatory.Image: European Space Agency
Space is rapidly becoming a critical domain for so much of 21st-century living. Banking, transport across the sea and land, agriculture, and dozens of other things we take for granted all depend on satellites, and tracking them to avoid collisions. Nick Hague is a NASA astronaut and the first U.S. Space Force Guardian to launch to the International Space Station in that role, and we invited him to talk to us about the Space Force, living on the ISS, his frightening abort on a Soyuz rocket in 2018, how the Space Force tracks orbital objects, and much more. He's a very accomplished guy who makes it all sound routine—and we suspect, for him, it is. Join us for this very special interview. Headlines European Space Agency Programs Threatened by NASA Budget Cuts: The European Space Agency (ESA) reveals three key missions are significantly threatened by proposed NASA budget reductions, requiring "dramatic recovery actions." Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover in Jeopardy: The ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover faces its second major setback as its U.S. launch partner is no longer included in the current budget, leaving the rover without a ride. U.S. as an "Unreliable Partner": Rod and Tariq discuss concerns about the U.S. being perceived as an unreliable partner due to repeated withdrawals from international space partnerships. National Solar Observatory Funding Cuts: The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the most powerful solar observatory, faces drastic funding cuts that could prevent effective science operations. First Look at the Sun's Poles by Solar Orbiter: Scientists using the ESA's Solar Orbiter have obtained the first direct images of the sun's poles to study its cycle, weather, and magnetic field. Geomagnetic Storm & Auroras: Tariq notes a coronal mass ejection is expected to buffet Earth on Saturday, potentially causing visible auroras during the podcast recording. Who Will Lead NASA? Potential Administrator Candidates: Politico Space's newsletter highlights potential candidates for the next NASA administrator, sparking discussion on the agency's future leadership. Main Topic Colonel Nick Hague: Colonel Nick Hague, Space Force Guardian and NASA astronaut, joins the show to discuss his background, path to NASA, and recent ISS experiences. Nick Hague's Path to Space & Service: Colonel Hague shares his journey from stargazing in Kansas to his interwoven military and space exploration career, starting with the Air Force, joining NASA in 2013, and transferring to the Space Force in 2021. Test Pilot Training School & Astronaut Capabilities: Colonel Hague explains how test pilot school develops critical skills highly applicable to astronaut duties and space operations despite not being a direct requirement. Readaptation After Space Flight: Colonel Hague describes adapting to Earth's gravity after six months in space, noting challenges in regaining balance and strengthening muscles, requiring months of physical therapy. Subconscious Mind & Gravity: He shares that after prolonged zero gravity, the subconscious mind still expects that objects will float, making everyday actions on Earth feel strange. First Space Force Guardian to Launch Full Mission: Colonel Hague discusses the personal honor of being the first Space These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/165 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Nick Hague
This week, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the alarming impact of budget cuts on international space missions and crucial solar observatories, share exciting new solar discoveries, and welcome special guest Colonel Nick Hague, the first Space Force Guardian to launch a full mission, for an in-depth conversation about his experiences as an astronaut, the Space Force's vital role, and what it takes to join their elite ranks. Headlines European Space Agency Programs Threatened by NASA Budget Cuts: The European Space Agency (ESA) reveals three key missions are significantly threatened by proposed NASA budget reductions, requiring "dramatic recovery actions." Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover in Jeopardy: The ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover faces its second major setback as its U.S. launch partner is no longer included in the current budget, leaving the rover without a ride. U.S. as an "Unreliable Partner": Rod and Tariq discuss concerns about the U.S. being perceived as an unreliable partner due to repeated withdrawals from international space partnerships. National Solar Observatory Funding Cuts: The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the most powerful solar observatory, faces drastic funding cuts that could prevent effective science operations. First Look at the Sun's Poles by Solar Orbiter: Scientists using the ESA's Solar Orbiter have obtained the first direct images of the sun's poles to study its cycle, weather, and magnetic field. Geomagnetic Storm & Auroras: Tariq notes a coronal mass ejection is expected to buffet Earth on Saturday, potentially causing visible auroras during the podcast recording. Who Will Lead NASA? Potential Administrator Candidates: Politico Space's newsletter highlights potential candidates for the next NASA administrator, sparking discussion on the agency's future leadership. Main Topic Colonel Nick Hague: Colonel Nick Hague, Space Force Guardian and NASA astronaut, joins the show to discuss his background, path to NASA, and recent ISS experiences. Nick Hague's Path to Space & Service: Colonel Hague shares his journey from stargazing in Kansas to his interwoven military and space exploration career, starting with the Air Force, joining NASA in 2013, and transferring to the Space Force in 2021. Test Pilot Training School & Astronaut Capabilities: Colonel Hague explains how test pilot school develops critical skills highly applicable to astronaut duties and space operations despite not being a direct requirement. Readaptation After Space Flight: Colonel Hague describes adapting to Earth's gravity after six months in space, noting challenges in regaining balance and strengthening muscles, requiring months of physical therapy. Subconscious Mind & Gravity: He shares that after prolonged zero gravity, the subconscious mind still expects that objects will float, making everyday actions on Earth feel strange. First Space Force Guardian to Launch Full Mission: Colonel Hague discusses the personal honor of being the first Space Force Guardian to launch and complete an entire mission. Space Force's Critical Roles: Colonel Hague details vital Space Force functions, including maintaining GPS for financial systems and tracking over 50,000 objects in space to prevent collisions. Congestion in Low These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/165 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Nick Hague
This week, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the alarming impact of budget cuts on international space missions and crucial solar observatories, share exciting new solar discoveries, and welcome special guest Colonel Nick Hague, the first Space Force Guardian to launch a full mission, for an in-depth conversation about his experiences as an astronaut, the Space Force's vital role, and what it takes to join their elite ranks. Headlines European Space Agency Programs Threatened by NASA Budget Cuts: The European Space Agency (ESA) reveals three key missions are significantly threatened by proposed NASA budget reductions, requiring "dramatic recovery actions." Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover in Jeopardy: The ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover faces its second major setback as its U.S. launch partner is no longer included in the current budget, leaving the rover without a ride. U.S. as an "Unreliable Partner": Rod and Tariq discuss concerns about the U.S. being perceived as an unreliable partner due to repeated withdrawals from international space partnerships. National Solar Observatory Funding Cuts: The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, the most powerful solar observatory, faces drastic funding cuts that could prevent effective science operations. First Look at the Sun's Poles by Solar Orbiter: Scientists using the ESA's Solar Orbiter have obtained the first direct images of the sun's poles to study its cycle, weather, and magnetic field. Geomagnetic Storm & Auroras: Tariq notes a coronal mass ejection is expected to buffet Earth on Saturday, potentially causing visible auroras during the podcast recording. Who Will Lead NASA? Potential Administrator Candidates: Politico Space's newsletter highlights potential candidates for the next NASA administrator, sparking discussion on the agency's future leadership. Main Topic Colonel Nick Hague: Colonel Nick Hague, Space Force Guardian and NASA astronaut, joins the show to discuss his background, path to NASA, and recent ISS experiences. Nick Hague's Path to Space & Service: Colonel Hague shares his journey from stargazing in Kansas to his interwoven military and space exploration career, starting with the Air Force, joining NASA in 2013, and transferring to the Space Force in 2021. Test Pilot Training School & Astronaut Capabilities: Colonel Hague explains how test pilot school develops critical skills highly applicable to astronaut duties and space operations despite not being a direct requirement. Readaptation After Space Flight: Colonel Hague describes adapting to Earth's gravity after six months in space, noting challenges in regaining balance and strengthening muscles, requiring months of physical therapy. Subconscious Mind & Gravity: He shares that after prolonged zero gravity, the subconscious mind still expects that objects will float, making everyday actions on Earth feel strange. First Space Force Guardian to Launch Full Mission: Colonel Hague discusses the personal honor of being the first Space Force Guardian to launch and complete an entire mission. Space Force's Critical Roles: Colonel Hague details vital Space Force functions, including maintaining GPS for financial systems and tracking over 50,000 objects in space to prevent collisions. Congestion in Low These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/165 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Nick Hague
My fellow pro-growth/progress/abundance Up Wingers,America is embarking upon a New Space Age, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin ready to partner with NASA to take Americans to a new frontier — possibly as far as Mars. Lately, however, the world is witnessing uncertainty surrounding NASA leadership and even an odd feud between SpaceX boss Elon Musk and the White House. At a critical time for US space competition, let's hope key players can stick the landing.Today on Faster, Please! — The Podcast, I chat with James Meigs about the SLS rocket, NASA reforms, and the evolving private sector landscape.Meigs is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He is a contributing editor of City Journal and writer of the Tech Commentary column at Commentary magazine. He is also the former editor of Popular Mechanics.Meigs is the author of a recent report from the Manhattan Institute, U.S. Space Policy: The Next Frontier.In This Episode* So long, Jared Isaacman (1:29)* Public sector priorities (5:36)* Supporting the space ecosystem (11:52)* A new role for NASA (17:27)* American space leadership (21:17)Below is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation. So long, Jared Isaacman (1:29)The withdrawal of Jared Isaacman . . . has really been met with total dismay in the space community. Everyone felt like he was the right kind of change agent for the agency that desperately needs reform, but not destruction.Pethokoukis: We're going to talk a lot about your great space policy report, which you wrote before the withdrawal of President Trump's NASA nominee, Jared Isaacman.What do you think of that? Does that change your conclusions? Good move, bad move? Just sort of your general thoughts apart from the surprising nature of it.Meigs: I worked sort of on and off for about a year on this report for the Manhattan Institute about recommendations for space policy, and it just came out a couple of months ago and already it's a different world. So much has happened. The withdrawal of Jared Isaacman — or the yanking of his nomination — has really been met with total dismay in the space community. Everyone felt like he was the right kind of change agent for the agency that desperately needs reform, but not destruction.Now, it remains to be seen what happens in terms of his replacement, but it certainly pulled the rug out from under the idea that NASA could be reformed and yet stay on track for some ambitious goals. I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic that some of these things will happen, but my sense is that the White House is not particularly interested in space.Interestingly, Musk wasn't really that involved in his role of DOGE and stuff. He didn't spend that much time on NASA. He wasn't micromanaging NASA policy, and I don't think Isaacman would've been just a mouthpiece for Musk either. He showed a sense of independence. So it remains to be seen, but my recommendations . . . and I share this with a lot of people advocating reform, is that NASA more or less needs to get out of the rocket-building business, and the Space Launch System, this big overpriced rocket they've been working on for years — we may need to fly it two more times to get us back to the moon, but after that, that thing should be retired. If there's a way to retire it sooner, that would be great. At more than $4 billion a launch, it's simply not affordable, and NASA will not be an agency that can routinely send people into space if we're relying on that white elephant.To me what was exciting about Isaacman was his genuine enthusiasm about space. It seemed like he understood that NASA needed reform and changes to the budget, but that the result would be an agency that still does big things. Is there a fear that his replacement won't be interested in NASA creative destruction, just destruction?We don't know for sure, but the budget that's been proposed is pretty draconian, cutting NASA's funding by about a quarter and recommending particularly heavy cuts in the science missions, which would require cutting short some existing missions that are underway and not moving ahead with other planned missions.There is room for saving in some of these things. I advocate a more nimble approach to NASA's big science missions. Instead of sending one $4 billion rover to Mars every 20 years, once launch costs come down, how about we send ten little ones and if a couple of them don't make it, we could still be getting much more science done for the same price or less. So that's the kind of thing Isaacman was talking about, and that's the kind of thing that will be made possible as launch costs continue to fall, as you've written about, Jim. So it requires a new way of thinking at NASA. It requires a more entrepreneurial spirit and it remains to be seen whether another administrator can bring that along the way. We were hoping that Isaacman would.Public sector priorities (5:36)Congress has never deviated from focusing more on keeping these projects alive than on whether these projects achieve their goals.It seems to me that there are only two reasons, at this point, to be in favor of the SLS rocket. One: There's a political pork jobs aspect. And the other is that it's important to beat China to the moon, which the Artemis program is meant to do. Does that seem accurate?Pretty much, yeah. You can be for beating China the moon and still be against the SLS rocket, you kind of just grit your teeth and say, okay, we've got to fly it two more times because it would be hard to cobble together, in the timeframe available, a different approach — but not impossible. There are other heavy lift rockets. Once you can refuel in orbit and do other things, there's a lot of ways to get a heavy payload into orbit. When I started my report, it looked like SLS was the only game in town, but that's really not the case. There are other options.The Starship has to quit blowing up.I would've loved to have seen the last couple of Starship missions be a little more successful. That's unfortunate. The pork part of SLS just can't be underestimated. From the get go, going way back to when the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011, and even before to when after the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster — that's the second disaster — there was a really big effort to figure out how to replace the space shuttle, what would come next. There was a strong movement in Congress at that time to say, “Well, whatever you build, whatever you do, all the factories that are involved in working on the Space Shuttle, all of the huge workforces in NASA that work on the space shuttle, all of this manpower has to be retained.” And Congress talked a lot about keeping the experience, the expertise, the talent going.I can see some legitimacy to that argument, but if you looked at the world that way, then you would always focus on keeping the jobs of the past viable instead of the jobs of the future: What are we going to do with the blacksmiths who shoe horses? If we lose all this technological capability of shoeing horses . . . we'd better not bring in all these cars! That's an exaggeration, but as a result, first they aim to replace the Space Shuttle with a rocket called Constellation that would recycle some of the Shuttle components. And then eventually they realized that that was just too bloated, too expensive. That got canceled during the Obama administration replaced with the Space Launch System, which is supposed to be cheaper, more efficient, able to be built in a reasonable amount of time.It wound up being just as bloated and also technologically backward. They're still keeping technology from the Shuttle era. The solid fuel engines, which, as we recall from the first Shuttle disaster, were problematic, and the Shuttle main engine design as well. So when SLS flies with humans on board for the first time, supposedly next year, it'll be using technology that was designed before any of the astronauts were even born.In this day and age, that's kind of mind-blowing, and it will retain these enormous workforces in these plants that happen to be located in states with powerful lawmakers. So there's an incredible incentive to just keep it all going, not to let things change, not to let anything be retired, and to keep that money flowing to contractors, to workers and to individual states. Congress has never deviated from focusing more on keeping these projects alive than on whether these projects achieve their goals.I've seen a video of congressional hearings from 15 years ago, and the hostility toward the idea of there being a private-sector alternative to NASA, now it seems almost inexplicable seeing that even some of these people were Republicans from Texas.Seeing where we are now, it's just amazing because now that we have the private sector, we're seeing innovation, we're seeing the drop in launch costs, the reusability — just a completely different world than what existed 15, 16, 17 years ago.I don't think people really realize how revolutionary NASA's commercial programs were. They really sort of snuck them in quietly at first, starting as far back as 2005, a small program to help companies develop their own space transportation systems that could deliver cargo to the International Space Station.SpaceX was initially not necessarily considered a leader in that. It was a little startup company nobody took very seriously, but they wound up doing the best job. Then later they also led the race to be the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station, saved NASA billions of dollars, and helped launch this private-industry revolution in space that we're seeing today that's really exciting.It's easy to say, “Oh, NASA's just this old sclerotic bureaucracy,” and there's some truth to that, but NASA has always had a lot of innovative people, and a lot of the pressure of the push to move to this commercial approach where NASA essentially charters a rocket the way you would charter a fishing boat rather than trying to build and own its own equipment. That's the key distinction. You've got to give them credit for that and you also have to give SpaceX enormous credit for endless technological innovation that has brought down these prices.So I totally agree, it's inconceivable to think of trying to run NASA today without their commercial partners. Of course, we'd like to see more than just SpaceX in there. That's been a surprise to people. In a weird way, SpaceX's success is a problem because you want an ecosystem of competitors that NASA can choose from, not just one dominant supplier.Supporting the space ecosystem (11:52)There's a reason that the private space industry is booming in the US much more than elsewhere in the world. But I think they could do better and I'd like to see reform there.Other than the technical difficulty of the task, is there something government could be doing or not doing, perhaps on the regulatory side, to encourage a more sort of a bigger, more vibrant space ecosystem.In my Manhattan Institute report, I recommend some changes, particularly, the FAA needs to continue reforming its launch regulations. They're more restrictive and take longer than they should. I think they're making some progress. They recently authorized more launches of the experimental SpaceX Starship, but it shouldn't take months to go through the paperwork to authorize the launch of a new spacecraft.I think the US, we're currently better than most countries in terms of allowing private space. There's a reason that the private space industry is booming in the US much more than elsewhere in the world. But I think they could do better and I'd like to see reform there.I also think NASA needs to continue its efforts to work with a wide range of vendors in this commercial paradigm and accept that a lot of them might not pan out. We've seen a really neat NASA program to help a lot of different companies, but a lot of startups have been involved in trying to build and land small rovers on the moon. Well, a lot of them have crashed.Not an easy task apparently.No. When I used to be editor of Popular Mechanics magazine, one of the great things I got to do was hang out with Buzz Aldrin, and Buzz Aldrin talking about landing on the moon — now, looking back, you realize just how insanely risky that was. You see all these rovers designed today with all the modern technology failing to land a much smaller, lighter object safely on the moon, and you just think, “Wow, that was an incredible accomplishment.” And you have so much admiration for the guts of the guys who did it.As they always say, space is hard, and I think NASA working with commercial vendors to help them, give them some seed money, help them get started, pay them a set fee for the mission that you're asking for, but also build into your planning — just the way an entrepreneur would — that some product launches aren't going to work, some ideas are going to fail, sometimes you're going to have to start over. That's just part of the process, and if you're not spending ridiculous amounts of money, that's okay.When we talk about vendors, who are we talking about? When we talk about this ecosystem as it currently exists, what do these companies do besides SpaceX?The big one that everybody always mentions first, of course, is Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's startup that's been around as long as SpaceX, but just moved much more slowly. Partly because when it first started up, it was almost as much of a think tank to explore different ideas about space and less of a scrappy startup trying to just make money by launching satellites for paying customers as soon as possible. That was Musk's model. But they've finally launched. They've launched a bunch of suborbital flights, you've seen where they carry various celebrities and stuff up to the edge of space for a few minutes and they come right back down. That's been a chance for them to test out their engines, which have seemed solid and reliable, but they've finally done one mission with their New Glenn rocket. Like SpaceX, it's a reusable rocket which can launch pretty heavy payloads. Once that gets proven and they've had a few more launches under their belt, should be an important part of this ecosystem.But you've got other companies, you've got Stoke Aerospace, you've got Firefly . . . You've got a few companies that are in the launch business, so they want to compete with SpaceX to launch mostly satellites for paying customers, also cargo for payloads for governments. And then you have a lot of other companies that are doing various kinds of space services and they're not necessarily going to try to be in the launch business per se. We don't need 40 different companies doing launches with different engines, different designs, different fuels, and stuff like that. Eight or 10 might be great, six might be great. We'll see how the market sorts out.But then if you look at the development of the auto industry, it started with probably hundreds of little small shops, hand-building cars, but by the mid-century it had settled down to a few big companies through consolidation. And instead of hundreds of engine designs that were given 1950, there were probably in the US, I don't know, 12 engine designs or something like that. Stuff got standardized — we'll see the same thing happen in space — but you also saw an enormous ecosystem of companies building batteries, tires, transmissions, parts, wipers, all sorts of little things and servicing in an industry to service the automobile. Now, rockets are a lot more centralized and high-tech, but you're going to see something like that in the space economy, and it's already happening.A new role for NASA (17:27)I think NASA should get more ambitious in deep-space flight, both crewed and uncrewed.What do you see NASA should be doing? We don't want them designing rockets anymore, so what should they do? What does that portfolio look like?That's an excellent question. I think that we are in this pivotal time when, because of the success of SpaceX, and hopefully soon other vendors, they can relieve themselves of that responsibility to build their own rockets. That gets out of a lot of the problems of Congress meddling to maximize pork flowing to their states and all of that kind of stuff. So that's a positive in itself.Perhaps a bug rather than a feature for Congress.Right, but it also means that technology will move much, much faster as private companies are innovating and competing with each other. That gives NASA an opportunity. What should they do with it? I think NASA should get more ambitious in deep-space flight, both crewed and uncrewed. Because it'll get much cheaper to get cargo into orbit to get payload up there, as I said, they can launch more science missions, and then when it comes to human missions, I like the overall plan of Artemis. The details were really pulled together during the first Trump administration, which had a really good space policy overall, which is to return to the moon, set up a permanent or long-term habitation on the moon. The way NASA sketches it out, not all the burden is carried by NASA.They envision — or did envision — a kind of ecosystem on the moon where you might have private vendors there providing services. You might have a company that mines ice and makes oxygen, and fuel, and water for the residents of these space stations. You might have somebody else building habitation that could be used by visiting scientists who are not NASA astronauts, but also used by NASA.There's all this possibility to combine what NASA does with the private sector, and what NASA should always do is be focused on the stuff the private sector can't yet do. That would be the deep-space probes. That would be sending astronauts on the most daring non-routine missions. As the private sector develops the ability to do some of those things, then NASA can move on to the next thing. That's one set of goals.Another set of goals is to do the research into technologies, things that are hard for the private sector to undertake. In particular, things like new propulsion for deep-space travel. There's a couple of different designs for nuclear rocket engines that I think are really promising, super efficient. Sadly, under the current budget cuts that are proposed at NASA, that's one of the programs that's being cut, and if you really want to do deep space travel routinely, ultimately, chemical fuels, they're not impossible, but they're not as feasible because you've got to get all that heavy — whatever your fuel is, methane or whatever it is — up into either into orbit or you've got to manufacture it on the moon or somewhere. The energy density of plutonium or uranium is just so much higher and it just allows you to do so much more with lighter weight. So I'd like to see them research those kinds of things that no individual private company could really afford to do at this point, and then when the technology is more mature, hand it off to the private sector.American space leadership (21:17)Exploration's never been totally safe, and if people want to take risks on behalf of a spirit of adventure and on behalf of humanity at large, I say we let them.If things go well —reforms, funding, lower launch costs — what does America's role in space look like in 10 to 15 years, and what's your concern if things go a darker route, like cutting nuclear engine research you were just talking about?I'll sketch out the bright scenario. This is very up your alley, Jim.Yeah, I viewed this as a good thing, so you tell me what it is.In 15 years I would love to see a small permanent colony at the south pole of the moon where you can harvest ice from the craters and maybe you'd have some habitation there, maybe even a little bit of space tourism starting up. People turn up their nose at space tourism, but it's a great way to help fund really important research. Remember the Golden Age of Exploration, James Cook and Darwin, those expeditions were self-funded. They were funded by rich people. If rich people want to go to space, I say I'm all for it.So a little base on the moon, important research going on, we're learning how to have people live on a foreign body, NASA is gathering tons of information and training for the next goal, which I think is even more important: I do agree we should get people to Mars. I don't think we should bypass the moon to get to Mars, I don't think that's feasible, that's what Elon Musk keeps suggesting. I think it's too soon for that. We want to learn about how people handle living off-planet for a long period of time closer to home — and how to mine ice and how to do all these things — closer to home, three or four days away, not months and months away. If something goes wrong, they'll be a lot more accessible.But I'd like to see, by then, some Mars missions and maybe an attempt to start the first long-term habitation of Mars. I don't think we're going to see that in 10 years, but I think that's a great goal, and I don't think it's a goal that taxpayers should be expected to fund 100 percent. I think by then we should see even more partnerships where the private companies that really want to do this — and I'm looking at Elon Musk because he's been talking about it for 20 years — they should shoulder a lot of the costs of that. If they see a benefit in that, they should also bear some of the costs. So that's the bright scenario.Along with that, all kinds of stuff going on in low-earth orbit: manufacturing drugs, seeing if you can harness solar energy, private space stations, better communications, and a robust science program exploring deep space with unmanned spacecraft. I'd like to see all of that. I think that could be done for a reasonable amount of money with the proper planning.The darker scenario is that we've just had too much chaos and indecision in NASA for years. We think of NASA as being this agency of great exploration, but they've done very little for 20 years . . . I take that back — NASA's uncrewed space program has had a lot of successes. It's done some great stuff. But when it comes to manned space flight, it's pretty much just been the International Space Station, and I think we've gotten most of the benefit out of that. They're planning to retire that in 2030. So then what happens? After we retired the Space Shuttle, space practically went into a very low-growth period. We haven't had a human being outside of low-earth orbit since Apollo, and that's embarrassing, frankly. We should be much more ambitious.I'm afraid we're entering a period where, without strong leadership and without a strong focus on really grand goals, then Congress will reassert its desire to use NASA as a piggy bank for their states and districts and aerospace manufacturers will build the stuff they're asked to build, but nothing will move very quickly. That's the worst-case scenario. We'll see, but right now, with all of the kind of disorder in Washington, I think we are in a period where we should be concerned.Can America still call itself the world's space leader if its role is mainly launching things into Earth orbit, with private companies running space stations for activities like drug testing or movie production if, meanwhile, China is building space stations and establishing a presence on the Moon? In that scenario, doesn't it seem like China is the world's leader in space?That's a real issue. China has a coherent nationalistic plan for space, and they are pursuing it, they're pouring a lot of resources into it, and they're making a lot of headway. As always, when China rolls out its new, cutting-edge technology, it usually looks a lot like something originally built in the US, and they're certainly following SpaceX's model as closely as they can in terms of reusable rockets right now.China wants to get to the moon. They see this as a space race the way the Soviets saw a space race. It's a battle for national prestige. One thing that worries me, is under the Artemis plan during the first Trump administration, there was also something called the Artemis Accords — it still exists — which is an international agreement among countries to A) join in where they can if they want, with various American initiatives. So we've got partners that we're planning to build different parts of the Artemis program, including a space station around the moon called Gateway, which actually isn't the greatest idea, but the European Space Agency and others were involved in helping build it.But also, all these countries, more than 50 countries have signed on to these aspirational goals of the Artemis Accords, which are: freedom of navigation, shared use of space, going for purposes of peaceful exploration, being transparent about what you're doing in space so that other countries can see it, avoiding generating more space junk, space debris, which is a huge problem with all the stuff we've got up there now, including a lot of old decrepit satellites and rocket bodies. So committing to not just leaving your upper-stage rocket bodies drifting around in space. A lot of different good goals, and the fact that all these countries wanted to join in on this shows America's preeminence. But if we back away, or become chaotic, or start disrespecting those allies who've signed on, they're going to look for another partner in space and China is going to roll out the red carpet for them.You get a phone call from SpaceX. They've made some great leap forwards. That Starship, it's ready to go to Mars. They're going to create a human habitation out there. They need a journalist. By the way, it's a one-way trip. Do you go?I don't go to Mars. I've got family here. That comes first for me. But I know some people want to do that, and I think that we should celebrate that. The space journalist Rand Simberg wrote a book years ago called Safe Is Not An Option — that we should not be too hung up on trying to make space exploration totally safe. Exploration's never been totally safe, and if people want to take risks on behalf of a spirit of adventure and on behalf of humanity at large, I say we let them. So maybe that first trip to Mars is a one-way trip, or at least a one-way for a couple of years until more flights become feasible and more back-and-forth return flights become something that can be done routinely. It doesn't really appeal to me, but it'll appeal to somebody, and I'm glad we have those kinds of people in our society.On sale everywhere The Conservative Futurist: How To Create the Sci-Fi World We Were PromisedMicro Reads▶ Economics* Trump economy shows surprising resilience despite tariff impacts - Wapo* Supply Chains Become New Battleground in the Global Trade War - WSJ* This A.I. Company Wants to Take Your Job - NYT* The Mirage of Geoeconomics - PS* Japan urged to use gloomier population forecasts after plunge in births - FT* Europe's nuclear fusion potential draws record investment round - FT▶ Business* How Disney's AI lawsuit could shift the future of entertainment - Wapo* Meta plans big bet on AI's secret ingredient: human brains - FT* Nvidia and Perplexity Team Up in European AI Push - WSJ* CRMArena-Pro: Holistic Assessment of LLM Agents Across Diverse Business Scenarios and Interactions - Arxiv* Fervo Snags $206 Million for Cape Station Geothermal - Heatmap* BYD launches cut-price EVs in Europe amid global price war - Semafor▶ Policy/Politics* The right refuses to take AI seriously - Vox* The Gig Economy Benefits Freelance Workers—Until Regulation Steps In - AEI* The war is on for Congress' AI law ban - The Verge* Disney and Universal Sue AI Company Midjourney for Copyright Infringement - Wired* Big Tech Is Finally Losing - NYT Opinion* American Science's Culture Has Contributed to the Grave Threat It Now Faces - Real Clear Science▶ AI/Digital* New Apple study challenges whether AI models truly “reason” through problems - Ars* The problem of AI chatbots telling people what they want to hear - FT* With the launch of o3-pro, let's talk about what AI “reasoning” actually does - Ars* ‘This is coming for everyone': A new kind of AI bot takes over the web - Wapo* Europe's AI computing shortage ‘will be resolved' soon, says Nvidia chief - FT* We're Not Ready for the AI Power Surge - Free Press▶ Biotech/Health* Pancreatic cancer vaccine eradicates trace of disease in early trials - New Atlas* World first: brain implant lets man speak with expression — and sing - Nature* The Alzheimer's drug pipeline is healthier than you might think - The Economist▶ Clean Energy/Climate* Big Tech Cares About Clean Energy Tax Credits — But Maybe Not Enough - Heatmap* Nvidia ‘Climate in a Bottle' Opens a View Into Earth's Future. What Will We Do With It? - WSJ* Oil's Lost Decade Is About to Be Repeated - Bberg Opinion* How the Pentagon Secretly Sparked America's Clean Energy Boom - The Debrief▶ Space/Transportation* Musk-Trump feud is a wake-up call on space - FT* Trump's 2026 budget cuts would force the world's most powerful solar telescope to close - Space▶ Up Wing/Down Wing* ‘Invasive Species'? Japan's Growing Pains on Immigration - Bberg Opinion* Incredible Testimonies - Aeon* How and When Was the Wheel Invented? - Real Clear Science▶ Substacks/Newsletters* Trump's "beautiful" bill wrecks our energy future - Slow Boring* DOGE Looked Broken Before the Trump-Musk Breakup - The Dispatch* Steve Teles on abundance: prehistory, present, and future - The Permanent Problem* Is Macroeconomics a Mature Science? - Conversable EconomistFaster, Please! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. 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Highlights:- Solar Storms and Satellite Impact: In this episode, we delve into the effects of solar storms on our satellites, revealing how geomagnetic storms can accelerate orbital decay. Discover insights from researcher Yoshita Barua on how different types of solar events impact satellite performance and how we can design more resilient spacecraft to withstand these cosmic tempests.- First Look at the Sun's Poles: Join us as we celebrate a monumental achievement from the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter, which has provided humanity's first images of the Sun's poles. These groundbreaking visuals offer new perspectives on solar magnetic fields and the dynamics of solar plasma, shedding light on the Sun's complex behaviour.- Unpacking Black Holes: Prepare for a mind-bending discussion on the mysteries of black holes. We explore recent theories attempting to resolve the singularity conundrum, including the controversial idea that black holes may spawn new universes. Could this be the key to understanding the enigmatic interiors of these cosmic giants?- SpaceX's Starship Ambitions: Get the latest updates on SpaceX's Starship programme, with exciting developments in Florida as the company prepares for ambitious launch plans. We discuss the implications of the newly released draft Environmental Impact Statement and what it means for future space exploration.- Uranus's Rusty Moons: Finally, we investigate intriguing new findings about Uranus's moons, which are accumulating dust from tiny meteorite impacts. Discover how this phenomenon challenges previous assumptions about the moons' surface characteristics and the potential role of Uranus's magnetic field.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 Daily01:10 - Solar storms and satellite impact10:00 - First look at the Sun's poles15:30 - Unpacking black holes20:00 - SpaceX's Starship ambitions25:00 - Uranus's dusty moons✍️ Episode ReferencesSolar Storms Research[ESA](https://www.esa.int/)Solar Orbiter Discoveries[Solar Orbiter](https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter)Black Hole Theories[Physics Today](https://www.physicstoday.org/)SpaceX Starship Updates[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)Uranus's Moons Research[Hubble Space Telescope](https://hubblesite.org/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about a new show at Hayden Planetarium that draws on new data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission to map the galaxy and our place in it.→ Encounters in the Milky Way
Highlights:- Europe's Nuclear-Powered Space Travel: Join us as we explore the European Space Agency's exciting plans for nuclear propulsion technology that could revolutionise space travel. This innovative approach aims to reduce the journey to Mars from nine months to just four or five, while also minimising harmful radiation exposure for astronauts. Discover how this technology could pave the way for a new era in space exploration.- Asteroid 2024 YR4's Lunar Encounter: We discuss the latest updates on asteroid 2024 YR4, which now has a slightly increased chance of impacting the Moon in 2032. With predictions refined by the James Webb Space Telescope, we delve into the implications of this potential encounter and what it means for planetary defence efforts.- Commercial Launches from Sardinia: Exciting developments in the commercial space sector as Italian company OLM M plans to conduct launch services from Sardinia. With a new rocket named Starlight, designed for suborbital missions, we look at the historical significance of the launch site and what this means for future space endeavours.- Discovery of Giant Radio Galaxies: Prepare to be amazed as astronomers unveil 15 newly discovered giant radio galaxies, the largest single objects in the universe. We discuss their immense sizes and unique structures, shedding light on the behaviour of supermassive black holes and the cosmic processes that lead to the formation of these colossal entities.- Infinite Energy in the Vacuum of Space: Dive into the mind-bending concept of zero-point energy, where quantum fields contain infinite energy even in their lowest state. We explore the implications of this theory and why, despite its existence, this energy remains inaccessible for practical use.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 Daily01:10 - Europe's nuclear-powered space travel10:00 - Asteroid 2024 YR4's lunar encounter15:30 - Commercial launches from Sardinia20:00 - Discovery of giant radio galaxies25:00 - Infinite energy in the vacuum of space✍️ Episode ReferencesEuropean Space Agency Nuclear Propulsion Plans[ESA](https://www.esa.int/)Asteroid 2024 YR4 Updates[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)OLM M Commercial Launches[OLM M](https://www.olm-m.com/)Giant Radio Galaxy Discoveries[Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder](https://www.astronomy.com/news/2023/10/scientists-discover-15-new-giant-radio-galaxies)Zero-Point Energy Concept[Quantum Field Theory](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/physics-and-astronomy/quantum-field-theory)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)For Commercial-Free versions become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of NordVPN - SpaceTimes official VPN service. When it comes to your online privacy, use the one we use and help support the show. To claim your special SpaceTime bonus deal, visit nordvpn.com/stuartgary or use the coupon code STUARTGARY at checkout.In this episode of SpaceTime, we delve into groundbreaking revelations that challenge our understanding of cosmic events and planetary formation.New Insights on the Milky Way and Andromeda CollisionRecent studies utilizing data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft cast doubt on the long-anticipated collision between our Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. New simulations indicate only a 2% probability of a merger occurring within the next 3.7 to 5 billion years, suggesting that both galaxies may continue to evolve largely unperturbed for a much longer period. We explore the implications of these findings and the variables that have altered previous predictions about our galactic future.Understanding Seismic Wave Acceleration in Earth's D LayerA fascinating new study sheds light on the behavior of seismic waves deep within the Earth. Researchers have discovered that the unique crystal structure of minerals in the D layer, located near the core-mantle boundary, influences the acceleration of seismic waves. This breakthrough not only clarifies the mystery behind seismic wave behavior but also provides insights into the dynamics at play in the Earth's depths.Discovery of Embryonic Exoplanets Using Advanced TechniquesAstronomers have unveiled a new technique that has successfully identified five new embryonic exoplanets, offering a glimpse into their early formation stages. Utilizing the ALMA radio telescope, researchers can peer through dense protoplanetary disks to detect these young planets, which are forming rapidly in dynamic environments. This revolutionary method opens new avenues for understanding planetary evolution and the processes that govern the birth of new worlds.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesNature Astronomyhttps://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/Communications Earth and Environmenthttps://www.nature.com/commsenv/Astrophysical Journal Lettershttps://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637XBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.00:00 This is Space Time Series 28, Episode 69 for broadcast on 9 June 202501:00 New insights on the Milky Way and Andromeda collision12:15 Understanding seismic wave acceleration in Earth's D layer22:30 Discovery of embryonic exoplanets using advanced techniques30:00 Science report: AI systems refusing to turn off
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of Insta360...the ultimate in 360-degree video technology. Check out their amazing cameras and grab your special Space Nuts offer by visiting store.insta360.com and using the coupon code Space Nuts at checkout.Cosmic Bubbles, Pancake Volcanoes, and 50 Years of the European Space AgencyIn this exciting episode of Space Nuts, host Heidi Campo and the ever-knowledgeable Professor Fred Watson explore a range of fascinating topics that stretch the imagination. From the discovery of a perfectly spherical cosmic bubble to the intriguing pancake volcanoes of Venus, and a celebration of the European Space Agency's 50th anniversary, this episode is a must-listen for all space enthusiasts.Episode Highlights:- The Cosmic Bubble Telios: Fred shares insights into a newly discovered cosmic bubble, dubbed Telios, that is captivating astronomers with its geometric perfection. The duo discusses the significance of this discovery and the technology behind the radio imaging that revealed this stunning celestial object.- Pancake Volcanoes on Venus: The conversation shifts to Venus, where unique pancake-shaped volcanic formations have sparked curiosity among scientists. Fred explains the geological processes that may lead to the formation of these unusual structures and how they differ from typical volcanoes on Earth.- Celebrating 50 Years of ESA: The episode wraps up with a look at the European Space Agency's 50th anniversary and the release of commemorative coins. Heidi and Fred discuss the significance of ESA's contributions to space exploration and the design elements of the newly minted coins, inviting listeners to engage in a scavenger hunt to decode their mysteries.For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.(00:00) Welcome to Space Nuts with Heidi Campo and Fred Watson(01:20) Discussion on the discovery of the cosmic bubble Telios(15:00) Exploring pancake volcanoes on Venus(25:30) Celebrating 50 years of the European Space AgencyFor commercial-free versions of Space Nuts, join us on Patreon, Supercast, Apple Podcasts, or become a supporter here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
Tom Dunne's guest has been instrumental in the development of ‘Luna', an artificially created simulation of the moon. This Saturday, June 7th, Dr Aidan Cowley from the European Space Agency's Astronaut Centre in Germany will be leading a conversation called “Keeping Astronauts Alive on the Moon”. The event is part of the annual UCD Festival.Aidan joins to discuss.
Highlights:- The Earliest Galaxy Discovered: Join us as we unveil the groundbreaking discovery by the James Webb Space Telescope, which has detected the earliest galaxy known to humanity, MAM Z14. Existing just 280 million years after the Big Bang, this remarkable find challenges our understanding of galaxy formation and reveals the presence of heavier elements, hinting at even more ancient galaxies yet to be discovered.- Europe's Ambitious Apophis Mission: Explore the European Space Agency's daring Ramses mission, set to study the infamous asteroid Apophis during its close approach to Earth in 2029. With plans to land on the asteroid, this mission promises to enhance our understanding of planetary defence and the dynamics of near-Earth objects.- SpaceX's Starship Saga Continues: Get the latest on SpaceX's ninth Starship test flight, which faced challenges leading to the loss of the upper stage. Despite setbacks, the mission marks significant progress in the reuse of super heavy boosters and the experimental nature of space exploration.- The Mystery of Betelgeuse: Delve into the enigma surrounding Betelgeuse, one of the night sky's most recognisable stars. As astronomers investigate the possibility of a hidden companion influencing its peculiar brightness fluctuations, we explore how this discovery could reshape our understanding of massive star evolution.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 Daily01:10 - The earliest galaxy discovered10:00 - Europe's ambitious Apophis mission15:30 - SpaceX's Starship saga continues20:00 - The mystery of Betelgeuse✍️ Episode ReferencesJames Webb Space Telescope[NASA JWST](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html)Apophis Mission Details[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)SpaceX Updates[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)Betelgeuse Research[Hubble Space Telescope](https://hubblesite.org/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support
Northrup Grumman has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, now known as Eclipse. Chinese startup Space Epoch has completed its first sea recovery test of a verification rocket. Jaguar Space is collaborating with The Karman Project in a multinational partnership, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading Northrop Grumman Invests $50 Million in Firefly Aerospace to Advance Medium Launch Vehicle Named Eclipse™ Chinese rocket completes vertical sea recovery test to boost reusable technology India's Protoplanet and Jaguar Space sign MOU Snowdonia Space Centre Officially Opens with Support from UK Space Agency Elevating Europe in space for fifty years Watch SpaceX launch advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force today in record-short turnaround New Shepard's Crewed NS-32 Mission Targets Liftoff on Saturday, May 31- Blue Origin Momentus to Host Portal Space Systems' Inaugural On-orbit Demonstration Mission- Satcom UNOOSA "When the sky falls" Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of Insta360 - the game changer in 360-degree camera technology. Capture stunning moments with the Insta360 X5, which records 8K 360-degree video. To bag a free invisible selfie stick with your purchase, head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code SpaceTime!In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover remarkable revelations about Jupiter, lightning-induced gamma rays, and groundbreaking achievements in spaceflight.Jupiter's Magnificent PastA new study reveals that Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet, was once twice its current size and possessed a magnetic field 50 times stronger than today. Researchers, led by Konstantin Batygin, used the orbits of Jupiter's small moons, Amalthea and Thebe, to deduce these findings, providing critical insights into the early stages of planetary formation. The implications of this research could reshape our understanding of gas giants and their formation processes across the universe.Gamma Rays and LightningIn a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have detected intense flashes of gamma rays produced by lightning strikes. This phenomenon, known as terrestrial gamma ray flashes, occurs when lightning accelerates electrons to near light speeds, resulting in bursts of radiation. The study, published in Science Advances, sheds light on the high-energy processes occurring in Earth's atmosphere, enhancing our understanding of lightning's power and its effects on our planet.Precision Formation Flying in SpaceHistory has been made in Earth orbit as two spacecraft from the European Space Agency's Proba 3 mission successfully flew in millimeter-perfect formation for the first time. This precision alignment is crucial for studying the Sun's corona, allowing the two satellites to simulate a single large spacecraft. We discuss the technology behind this mission and its potential to revolutionize solar observations.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesNature Astronomyhttps://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/Science Advanceshttps://www.science.org/journal/sciadvBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.00:00 This is Space Time Series 28, Episode 64 for broadcast on 28 May 202501:00 Jupiter's original size and magnetic field12:15 Gamma ray flashes unleashed by lightning22:30 Precision formation flying in space30:00 Science report: New contact lens technology for night vision
EnduroSat has raised €43 Million in an investment round to support the production of their satellites. The Czech Republic says it will send an astronaut to space on a future Axiom mission. Redwire has delivered the onboard computer for the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Comet Interceptor mission, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Jim Way, Executive Director of the American Astronautical Society (AAS). You can connect with Jim on LinkedIn, and learn more about AAS on their website. Selected Reading EnduroSat Secures €43 Million to Accelerate Endurance Gen3 Satellite Production Czech Republic Intends to Send National Astronaut to Space on Future Axiom Mission EgSA and Axiom Space Sign MoU to Promote Space Exploration and Development - Space in Africa Redwire Successfully Delivers Onboard Computer for ESA's Comet Interceptor Mission to Study Pristine Comet UK Space Agency Accelerator Intelsat Wins India Approval for Direct Broadcast Services SatixFy Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Proposed Acquisition by MDA Space Chinese, South African telescopes expand galactic horizons - CGTN AECOM awarded a more than $80 million environmental remediation contract for Vandenberg Space Force Base in California The European Space Agency will beam the famous 'Blue Danube' waltz into space Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Take any device anywhere on Earth and connect it to any other device on a common shared network! Basically treat the entire planet like one data center!In this milestone 100th episode of Great Things with Great Tech, Anthony Spiteri is joined by ZeroTier's founder Adam Ierymenko and new CEO Andrew Gault. Together, they unravel the story of ZeroTier: a peer-to-peer networking platform rewriting the rules of global connectivity for a cloud-driven, edge-connected world.Andrew brings a seasoned operator's lens, revealing why the company's mission resonates with him and how ZeroTier is quietly becoming the connective fabric for everything from gaming rigs to drones, oil wells, and the future internet of things.Adam dives into his early years programming on a Commodore 64, the pain points of working at NOAA, and why he set out to build a “virtual smart switch the size of the Earth.” Andrew shares what drew him to ZeroTier as a user and why he believes packaging, simplicity, and reliability will take the company mainstream.In This Episode, We Cover:Adam's journey from coding on a Commodore 64 to building ZeroTier out of open-source roots.Why enterprise networking is stuck in the past—and how ZeroTier is rewriting the rulesThe birth of cryptographic addressing and what it means for privacy, security, and autonomy.How ZeroTier's peer-to-peer platform turns the whole planet into one giant virtual network switch.Andrew's story: from the European Space Agency, Gaikai, Oculus, and Magic Pony to ZeroTier CEO.The secrets behind ZeroTier's viral growth and global adoption—from gamers to oil rigs and dronesWhy simplicity and security are the magic combo that wins over both engineers and enterprises.Use cases you didn't expect: industrial automation, edge computing, IoT, and even self-hosted, airgapped deployments.How ZeroTier is getting ready for a world with billions of connected devices—including robots, cars, and the next internet of things.The ZeroTier elevator pitch: “like making a Slack channel for machines”—and what's next for the company.ZeroTier is a U.S.-based technology company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Irvine, California.ZeroTier specializes in software-defined networking, offering a platform that enables secure, peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices anywhere in the world. The company's approach combines the best of VPN, SD-WAN, and SDN technologies, allowing users to create production-ready, scalable networks across cloud, edge, and on-premises environments. With open-source roots and a focus on simplicity and security, ZeroTier eliminates networking complexity—empowering organizations to connect devices instantly and securely, without hardware or manual configuration.PODCAST LINKSGreat Things with Great Tech Podcast: https://gtwgt.comGTwGT Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GTwGTPodcastListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Y1Fgl4DgGpFd5Z4dHulVXListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/great-things-with-great-tech-podcast/id1519439787EPISODE LINKSZero Tier Web: https://www.zerotier.comAdam Ierymenko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamierymenkoAndrew Gault on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgaultZero Tier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zerotierGTwGT LINKSSupport the Channel: https://ko-fi.com/gtwgtBe on #GTwGT: Contact via Twitter/X @GTwGTPodcast or visit https://www.gtwgt.comSubscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GTwGTPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Great Things with Great Tech Podcast Website: https://gtwgt.comSOCIAL LINKSFollow GTwGT on Social Media:Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/GTwGTPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/GTwGTPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@GTwGTPodcast
In April 2024 Rosemary Coogan became only the third person from the UK to qualify as an astronaut after completing basic training with the European Space Agency (ESA). Originally from Northern Ireland, she excelled academically and holds two master's degrees from Durham University and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Sussex. She became an ESA astronaut after a challenging selection process which whittled down 22,000 applicants. The agency hopes to send Rosemary to the International Space Station by 2030. In this episode of Profile, Stephen Smith explores the life and career of the woman who has a chance of becoming the first person from the UK to walk on the moon.Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Tom Gillett and Lucy Pawle Editor: Nick Holland Sound: Neil Churchill Production Coordinator: Sabine Schereck
It’s time for another trip around the solar system on the BIGGER and BETTER Science Weekly! In this episode of the Fun Kids Science Weekly, we answer YOUR questions, have scientists battle it out to determine which science is the best, and on top of all that... Dan has a MASSIVE announcement to tell you all. Dan kicks off with the latest science news, starting with the European Space Agency's mission to weigh the world's trees using a satellite. Next, we learn about a discovery made by archaeologists in Scotland that proves the existence of an ancient civilisation. And finally, Megan Quail from Aberystwyth University joins Dan to discuss her study showing that goats are smarter than sheep and alpacas. Then, we answer your questions! Etta wants to know: Why do frogs croak? And Professor David Pyle from the University of Oxford answers Shaan's question: How do volcanoes erupt? In Dangerous Dan, we learn all about the Horse Hair Worm—creepy and deadly! In Battle of the Sciences, we hear from the incredible Tree Sisters, a group on a mission to protect our planet and fight climate change one tree at a time. What do we learn about? · A mission to weigh the world's trees· The smartest animal on the farm· How volcanoes erupt· The DEADLY Horse Hair Worm· And in Battle of the Sciences, the importance of conservation All on this week's episode of Science Weekly!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After more than a decade of mapping billions of stars across the Milky Way and beyond, a groundbreaking spacecraft is retiring. The European Space Agency’s space-based observatory known as Gaia is leaving behind a legacy of stunning discoveries that changed what we know about the universe. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders