S03E33: Farewell CloudSat & The Tale of Earth's Quasi-Moon

Embark on a celestial voyage with host Anna in today's episode of Astronomy Daily - The Podcast, where we bid a fond adieu to NASA's CloudSat mission after nearly two decades of revolutionizing our understanding of Earth's atmosphere. As we marvel at the legacy of this Earth-observing pioneer, we then set our sights on the mysterious quasi-moon Kamoʻoalewa, unearthing its lunar origins and what it reveals about the moon's violent past.
The episode continues with a salute to China's Shenzhou 18, marking over twenty years of the nation's human spaceflight endeavors, and the ongoing expansion of its celestial ambitions with the Tiangong space station. As we celebrate the technological triumphs of China's space program, we also commemorate the Hubble Space Telescope's 34th anniversary with a breathtaking image of the Little Dumbbell Nebula, a cosmic canvas of stellar demise and rebirth.
Finally, we gear up for the historic launch of Boeing's Starliner, joining the mission's crew as they begin their quarantine countdown to a groundbreaking journey to the International Space Station. With every meticulous preparation, we witness the harmony of human and technological collaboration in the pursuit of the stars.
Join us for a stellar odyssey that not only illuminates the achievements of our spacefaring past but also ignites the dreams of our interstellar future. This is Astronomy Daily - The Podcast, where every episode is a step further into the infinite expanse of the universe.
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**Featured Topics:**
1. **NASA's CloudSat Finale:** Celebrating the end of a pioneering Earth-observing mission that has reshaped our knowledge of the atmosphere.
2. **Secrets of Kamoʻoalewa:** Unraveling the lunar lineage of Earth's quasi-moon and its implications for planetary defense.
3. **China's Shenzhou 18 Milestone:** Reflecting on two decades of human spaceflight and the nation's celestial palace, Tiangong.
4. **Hubble's Anniversary Portrait:** Admiring the Little Dumbbell Nebula's snapshot, a symbol of the telescope's enduring legacy.
5. **Starliner's Inaugural Crew:** Preparing for liftoff with Boeing's first crewed mission to the ISS, a new chapter in commercial spaceflight.
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**Additional Information:**
For more cosmic content, visit astronomydaily.io, where you can dive into our episode archive, sign up for our free newsletter, and engage with our space-loving community. Follow us on X (@AstroDailypod) for the latest updates, and if today's journey has sparked your curiosity, share the episode with others to spread the stellar joy. Until our next celestial encounter, this is Anna, reminding you to keep your gaze skyward and your spirit of exploration alive. Clear skies and boundless curiosity to all our fellow stargazers!
**Host Sign-off:** Anna: As we conclude today's cosmic journey, I'm Anna, thanking you for joining us on Astronomy Daily - The Podcast. Remember, the universe is brimming with stories, and we're here to tell them. Visit astronomydaily.io for more, and until next time, keep looking up and dreaming big. Clear skies and cosmic dreams to all.

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Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast your gateway to the Cosmos
and the latest in space exploration.I'm Anna your host, guiding you through
the stars and beyond as we discussthe remarkable stories our universe has to share.
Today's episode promises a journey through acollection of tantalizing astronomical developments. Will
begin by bidding farewell to NASA's CloudSat, an Earth observing mission that has graced

(00:28):
our skies for nearly two rich andinformative decades. Next, will venture closer
to Earth or should I say Earth'squasi moon camo Oa Leiwa, to unravel
the secrets of its lunar lineage.The stellar achievements continue with an update on
China's Sheenho eighteen, a testament toover two decades of committed human spaceflight by

(00:48):
the nation. Then we will commemoratethe thirty fourth anniversary of the Hubble Space
Telescope with a visual feast the LittleDumbell nebula captured in a snapshot that continues
to stretch the boundaries of our imagination. Lastly, we prep for liftoff with
the first crew of Boeing's Starliner asthey embark on a rigorous quarantine protocol ahead
of their historic journey to the InternationalSpace Station. Strap In and Ready year

(01:12):
telescopes were about to embark on astellar odyssey. This is Astronomy Daily,
the podcast the Autonomy Dating Podcast.After nearly eighteen remarkable years aloft tirelessly surveying
the structure and fabric of Earth's cloudymantle, NASA has officially brought an end

(01:34):
to its groundbreaking Cloud Sat mission.Launched in April of two thousand and six,
on an expedition initially charted for justtwenty two months, this pioneering satellite
far exceeded its proposed lifespan, Deployingthe first spaceborn ninety four gigahertz cloud profiling
radar, this technological marvel pierced throughthe cloud veil with one thousand fold more

(01:56):
sensitivity than its terrestrial counterparts, revealingto us now not merely flat representations of
clouds, but intricate three dimensional crosssections alive with ice and rain. Cloudsat's
cutting edge observations have been instrumental incrafting a better understanding of precipitation patterns across
our globe and the influence of cloudformations on Earth's atmospheric heating and cooling.

(02:19):
The mission offered unprecedented insights into theinner workings of formidable weather systems, including
hurricanes Maria, Harvey, and Sandy, shedding light on the mechanics of their
growth and intensification. Yet, withthe Cloud Profiling radar turned off in December
twenty twenty three and the satellite's deliberatedescent last month into a lower orbit for
its eventual atmospheric reentry, we arereminded of the natural cycle of innovation and

(02:45):
obsolescence. With Cloudsat's termination, achapter in climatology closes, but its legacy
continues to resonate through the wealth ofdata it has provided to scientists. As
it joins its sister satellite, Calypsoin decommission, the curtains draw on a
truly synergistic dance in our skies,leaving behind a legacy steeped in a deeper

(03:05):
cognizance of Earth's complex atmosphere. Today, let's journey into the depths of space
and uncover the secrets of Earth's quasimoon, kam Owalowa. This intriguing celestial
body, also designated as four six' nine two one nine Kamawalowa captured the
curiosity of astronomers when it was firstdiscovered in twenty sixteen, and since then

(03:29):
they've been piecing together its cosmic history. Recent studies suggest that Kamawaloa is a
fragment, a sizable one measuring betweenone hundred thirty one to three twenty eight
feet in width, which was likelyblasted away from our Moon by a colossal
impact event. This dramatic collision isbelieved to have occurred between one million and
ten million years ago, leading tothe creation of the thirteen point seven mile

(03:53):
wide crater on the Moon's surface knownas Giordano Bruno. The composition of kama
Walawa closely resembles that of lunar rocks. Its peculiar orbit in lockstep with our
Earth and its rapid spin hinted itwasn't an ordinary asteroid from the belt between
Mars and Jupiter, but rather apiece of our very own Moon. Through
a blend of observation and complex computermodeling, researchers have reconstructed the cataclysmic cosmic

(04:19):
crime scene, linking Kamawalua not justto the Moon, but directly to the
crater Giordano Bruno. This connection hasprofound implications not only for our understanding of
the Moon's history, but also forthe broader a NEEO or Near Earth object
population. It underscores the importance ofplanetary defense and the continued monitoring of eneos

(04:43):
which could potentially threaten our planet.The discovery serves as a vivid reminder of
the dynamic ballet of our Solar system, an ongoing dance of creation and destruction.
Over billions of years, China continuesto soar to new heights beyond our
atmosphere. The nation has embarked onits thirteenth foray into low Earth orbit with
Shenzho eighteen, signifying over two decadesof human endeavors in space. Since the

(05:09):
inception of its space program, Chinahas steadily established itself as a formidable presence
in the extraterrestrial domain. This latestlaunch marks yet another milestone, highlighting its
ambitious pursuit of celestial exploration and advancement. This mission is more than just a
number. Half of these crude sojournstargeted the Tiangong Space station, aptly named

(05:31):
Celestial Palace, a beacon of China'sindependent space faring capabilities. Tiangong serves as
a testament to the country's scientific andengineering prowess. From the maiden voyage of
Shenho I in November nineteen ninety nineto the historical feat of sending the first
Chinese national Yang Liwei, into spaceon Shenzho five, China's trajectory has been

(05:55):
genuinely stratospheric. As we commemorate Shenhoeighteen's journey to the star, we also
acknowledge the relentless spirit and dedication thathas propelled China to this momentous point in
its spaceflight narrative. The echoes ofthe past vividly blend with the promise of
tomorrow as each mission further cements China'srole in the grand tapestry of space exploration,

(06:16):
inspiring future generations of astronauts to gazeskyward and dream the Astronomy Daily podcast.
As the Hubble Space Telescope marks aremarkable thirty four years orbiting Earth,
it presents us with a visual feast, a stunning snapshot of the little Dumbell
Nebula nestled three thousand, four hundredlight years away in the constellation Perseus.

(06:42):
This celestial wonder, also known asMessia, seventy six M seventy six or
n GC six hundred fifty six hundredand fifty one is a planetary nebula,
a glowing testament to the final breathsof a dying red giant star. This
star now collapses into a hot whitedwarf, a cosmic cinder some two hundred
and fifty thousand degrees fahrenheit in temperature. The Little Dumbell nebula is a complex

(07:05):
structure, at its heart a ringof gas and dust ejected by the star
now seen edge on. The intriguingsuggestion is that a binary companion star shaped
this ring prior to a potential cataclysmicabsorption by its dying partner, a stark
example of stellar cannibalism persevering through torrentsof stellar wind The red and blue hues

(07:29):
of the nebula glow fiercely, aspectacle set by nitrogen and oxygen. The
relentless winds travel so rapidly they couldtraverse the distance from Earth to the Moon
in mere minutes. Yet the existenceof the Little Dumbell nebula is fleeting on
the cosmic scale, set to vanishwithin fifteen thousand years. Reflecting on Hubble's
rich history. This anniversary photograph isbut one glimmer in its trove of over

(07:53):
one point six million observations. It'sa timely reminder of Hubble's role in transforming
our comprehension of the universe, fromthe discovery of supermassive black holes to the
mysteries of dark energy and the birthrate of planets. As Hubble continues its
voyage into the unknown, it standsas a testament to human curiosity and the
enduring quest to understand the stars.The dawn of a new era in commercial

(08:20):
spaceflight approaches as Boeing takes a giantleap forward with its Starliner spacecraft, the
inaugural Crude mission, setting its sitestowards the vast expanse of the Cosmos,
is poised for launch. Veteran NASAastronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have
commenced their standard pre flight quarantine,a vital measure to preserve the health and
safety of the crew and those aboardthe International Space Station. Their mission,

(08:45):
recognized as the Crew Flight Test,will break boundaries as they are set to
become the first humans to be launchedinto space atop the power of a United
Launch Alliance Atlas five rocket. Thisadherence to stringent quarantine protocols highlights the del
delicate balance between human exploration and thepreservation of life on and off our planet.
With a journey slated to commence fromKennedy's Space Center, there is an

(09:09):
air of anticipation swirling through the aerospacecommunity. The days leading up to this
historic launch are packed with precision drivenpreparations and remote interactions, ensuring that when
the moment arrives, the Starliner andits crew are ready to etch their names
in the annals of space travel.Their saga of Fortitude will be one of
splendid isolation, reflective introspection, andultimately seamless integration with the orbital dance of

(09:35):
the International Space Station. Scripted withinthe harmonious cooperation between engineers, scientists,
and astronauts lies the story of humanity'srelentless pursuit to explore the uncharted territories that
lie beyond our terrestrial shores. Aswe stand on the precipice of the unknown.
The journey of the Starliner's first crewundeniably marks a pivotal chapter in the

(09:56):
unfolding narrative of space exploration. Aswe reach the Starlit conclusion of today's episode,
I'd like to thank you for joiningus on this odyssey through the Cosmos.
Remember the journey doesn't end here.To continue exploring the expanse of space
and staying current with astronomy news,visit our digital observatory at Astronomy Daily dot

(10:18):
io. There you can sign upfor our free daily newsletter to stay aligned
with the celestial events and scientific revelations, listen to all our back episodes,
and peruse sponsor links and special deals. We're always eager to hear from fellow
stargazers, so don't hesitate to leaveus a message with your thoughts, questions,
or discoveries. Follow us on xformerly known as Twitter at astro Daily

(10:39):
Pod to keep up with our updatesand connect with our community. If the
stars have aligned for you in today'sepisode, please share it with your friends
and help spread the wonder. Untilnext time, this is Anna saying,
keep your eyes on the skies andyour curiosity boundless day Stars. Stu is

(11:05):
the soul. St the Soul