S03E126: SpaceX's Polar Mission, Mars' Hidden Water, and Gaia's Asteroid Moons

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for the latest in space and astronomy news. Today, we've got an exciting lineup of stories that will take you on a journey through some of the most intriguing recent updates in the cosmos. From SpaceX's remarkable new mission to hidden reservoirs of liquid water on Mars and a flurry of rocket launches, we've got it all covered for you. Plus, we'll delve into fascinating findings from the Gaia Space Telescope. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into today's stellar stories.
- **SpaceX's Groundbreaking Polar Mission**: SpaceX has announced a privately financed mission that will send a diverse international crew of four around Earth's poles. This historic flight will feature a blockchain entrepreneur, a cinematographer, a polar adventurer, and a robotics researcher. Leading the team is Chun Wang, a well-known blockchain pioneer. The mission, named Fram II, will last between three to five Daily and aims to observe the ice caps and extreme polar environments from space for the first time. The Crew Dragon capsule will orbit Earth at altitudes between 265 and 280 miles, offering a unique vantage point for the crew.
- **Hidden Water Reservoirs on Mars**: Recent studies using data from NASA's Mars InSight lander have indicated the presence of liquid water deep beneath the Martian surface. These findings suggest that Mars's subsurface could hold vast reservoirs of water, potentially even more extensive than previously thought. This discovery is monumental as water is a key ingredient for life. Researchers believe that microbial life could exist in these underground reservoirs, similar to Earth.
- **Rocket Launch Roundup**: This week is packed with activity, featuring four major rocket launches. A Russian Soyuz rocket will make another resupply mission to the International Space Station, carrying approximately 2400 kg of vital supplies. The Indian Space Research Organization will achieve a significant milestone with the final certification flight of its new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. SpaceX will also have a busy week with two Falcon 9 launches, including the WorldView Legion 3 and 4 mission and the Transporter-11 rideshare mission, carrying around 50 small payloads from various countries.
- **Gaia Space Telescope's Discoveries**: The Gaia Space Telescope has identified more than 350 potential moons around asteroids, offering new insights into the dynamics of binary asteroid systems. This detection was achieved by observing the gravitational wobble in the light signals captured by Gaia. Lead author Luana Liberato and her team at the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in France spearheaded this innovative study. This discovery suggests that a significant fraction of asteroids in our solar system could have moons, reshaping our understanding of these celestial bodies.
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