S03E151: Polaris Dawn's Private Spacewalk, Moon Mapping Challenge, and Milky Way Mysteries

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 11th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest and greatest in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have some thrilling stories lined up for you. Sit tight as we dive into groundbreaking missions, celestial discoveries, and much more. Buckle up, stargazers. It's going to be an exciting ride through the cosmos.
Highlights:
- SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission: Earlier this week, SpaceX made history with the launch of its Polaris Dawn mission, introducing an extraordinary era of private space exploration. Aboard the modified Crew Dragon capsule, four courageous private astronauts embarked on a groundbreaking journey, one that is slated to include the first-ever private spacewalk. The mission is led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, with Scott Petit, Sara Gillis, and Anna Menon joining as crew members. This mission also debuts new SpaceX spacesuits designed for greater ease of movement.
- NASA's Moon Mapping Challenge: NASA is offering a $50,000 reward for groundbreaking solutions to navigate the rugged terrain of the moon's south pole and map the enigmatic Shackleton crater. This ambitious challenge is part of the Artemis campaign, aiming to facilitate human landing on lunar surfaces and pave the way for future missions to Mars.
- Origins of the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole: New research from the Nevada Center for Astrophysics at UNLV might have unearthed a crucial piece of the cosmic puzzle surrounding Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the core of the Milky Way. Researchers propose that it may have formed as a result of a massive cosmic merger, possibly coinciding with the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy around 9 billion years ago.
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe: NASA's Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for a significant milestone on November 6, with its final planned Venus flyby. This maneuver is designed to harness Venus's gravitational pull to tighten the spacecraft's orbit around the sun, bringing it closer than ever before. The probe is currently in its 21st orbit and will begin a science encounter that will peak with a close approach to the sun on September 30.
- NASA's Voyager 1: NASA's Voyager 1 has been an incredible explorer for over 47 years, recently overcoming technical difficulties. The mission team successfully switched the spacecraft to a different set of thrusters, ensuring it continues to send valuable scientific data from over 14 billion miles away in interstellar space.
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Thank you for tuning in, and remember to keep your eyes on the skies. Until next time, keep looking up.
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