S03E162: X-Ray Asteroid Defense, Mars Rock Mystery, and ISS Milestones

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E162
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna. And we've got an exciting lineup of stories for you today. From innovative methods to protect our planet from potential asteroid impacts to groundbreaking discoveries on the surface of Mars, we'll be exploring the cutting edge of space exploration and research. We'll also be catching up with astronauts returning from the International Space Station, looking ahead to upcoming missions, and even delving into some cosmic history that might have affected Earth's climate millions of years ago. Strap in and get ready for a journey across the solar system and beyond as we bring you up to speed on the most fascinating developments in Astronomy and space science.
Highlights:
- Asteroid Deflection with X-rays: In a groundbreaking development, scientists have proposed a new method to protect our planet from potential asteroid impacts. A recent study published in Nature Physics suggests that powerful x-rays could be an effective way to divert asteroids on collision courses with Earth. Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories in the USA conducted lab-based experiments firing x-ray pulses at small rock samples, mimicking the effects of x-rays generated by nuclear explosions in space. This method could potentially steer asteroids up to 4 km in diameter away from Earth, offering a faster and more cost-effective alternative to other proposed strategies.
- NASA Astronauts Return: In a triumphant return from the cosmos, NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and her two crewmates have safely touched down on Earth after an incredible 184-day journey in space. The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft made a picture-perfect landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan. Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set an all-time record with a cumulative 1011 Daily in space across five missions. This mission exemplifies ongoing international cooperation in space exploration.
- SpaceX Crew-9 Mission: NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for an exciting milestone in their ongoing partnership. The Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station is set to launch this Thursday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Featuring booster B085 on its second flight, the Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. NASA's Tyler Nick Haig and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will be the only two astronauts on board. Weather permitting, liftoff is targeted for 02:05 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.
- Perseverance Rover's Martian Discovery: NASA's Perseverance rover has made an intriguing discovery on Mars, spotting a rock nicknamed Freya Castle with striking black and white stripes. This rock's texture is completely different from anything previously observed in Jezero Crater, suggesting it may have rolled down from a higher location. This discovery could provide new information about Mars' geological history and processes.
- MAVEN's Decade of Exploration: NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has reached an incredible milestone, celebrating a decade of exploration in Mars' upper atmosphere. MAVEN has revealed how solar storms increase atmospheric erosion, transforming Mars from a potentially habitable world to the cold, arid planet we see today. The spacecraft has also identified a new type of aurora on Mars and provided invaluable insights into Mars' climate history.
- Earth's Journey Through Interstellar Clouds: Researchers have calculated that Earth and our entire solar system may have passed through two dense interstellar clouds approximately two and seven million years ago. These cosmic encounters could have compressed our heliosphere, exposing Earth more directly to the interstellar medium and potentially altering our planet's climate. Such events could have led to an increase in hydrogen levels and the formation of global noctilucent clouds, possibly plunging Earth into an ice age.
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