S03E155: Hypersonic Breakthroughs, Starliner’s Return, and Mars' Spiders Unveiled

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Astronomy AstroDailyPod - The Podcast: 16th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy AstroDailyPod, your ultimate source for the latest in Space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Steve, and today we've got a stellar lineup of stories straight from the Astronomy AstroDailyPod newsletter. Joining us is Hallie, who will share some fascinating updates from Adelaide, South Australia, where hypersonic technology is taking off. So, buckle up as we explore hypersonic testbeds, lunar eclipses, and much more.
Highlights:
- Hypersonic Technology in South Australia: South Australia is set to become a global aerospace hub, thanks to a new memorandum of understanding between Southern Launch and Hypersonics Launch Systems. The collaboration aims to develop a hypersonic testbed service, utilising Southern Launch's spaceports for testing. Hypersonic vehicles, travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, will be launched on rockets and ignite their scramjet engines to achieve speeds up to Mach 12. This technology could revolutionise air travel, potentially reducing flight times from Adelaide to London to just 2 hours.
- Partial Lunar Eclipse and Super Moon: Get ready for a celestial treat! A partial lunar eclipse and a super moon are on the horizon. Visible across North and South America on Tuesday night, and in Africa and Europe on Wednesday morning, this event will feature the moon appearing larger and slightly dimmer. No special eye protection is needed, so grab your binoculars and enjoy the show.
- Iran's Satellite Launch: Iran successfully launched the Shamron-1 research satellite into orbit using the Game 100 carrier. This satellite aims to test hardware and software systems for orbital manoeuvre technology. Despite western criticism, Iran insists its aerospace activities are peaceful and in accordance with UN resolutions.
- Boeing's Starliner Returns: Boeing's Starliner capsule returned to Earth without its two-person crew, marking the end of a challenging test flight to the ISS. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will remain on the ISS until February 2025, returning on a SpaceX Dragon capsule. NASA continues to support Boeing, emphasising the importance of having multiple crew launch systems.
- SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission: The Polaris Dawn mission made history with the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts. The crew, led by Jared Isaacman, ventured into the Van Allen radiation belt, reaching a peak altitude of 870 miles. The mission also featured connectivity tests with SpaceX's Starlink Internet satellite constellation.
- Martian Spiders Recreated: Scientists have recreated the spider-like geologic features found on Mars in a lab. These formations, known as arachniform terrain, are believed to be created by processes involving carbon dioxide ice. This breakthrough helps us understand the unique geological processes on Mars.
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