S03E145: Spaceflight Health Discoveries, BepiColombo's New Route, and Ganymede's Titanic Collision

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 4th September 2024
Welcome to another episode of Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for the latest in space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have some fascinating stories to delve into, from groundbreaking research uncovering how spaceflight affects human physiology to the thruster issues delaying the BepiColombo spacecraft's journey to Mercury. We also have the intriguing tale of a peculiar noise heard on NASA's Starliner and a look at how a titanic asteroid impact reshaped Jupiter's moon Ganymede. So sit back, relax, and let's explore the cosmos together.
Highlights:
- Spaceflight and Human Physiology: Recent research has shed light on how spaceflight extensively alters the gut microbiome, a bustling community of bacteria essential for digestion and immune function. Led by researchers from University College Dublin and McGill University in collaboration with NASA, the study revealed significant shifts in specific bacteria, affecting gene expression related to immune and metabolic functions. These findings have profound implications for astronaut health during long-duration missions and could also benefit health protocols here on Earth.
- BepiColombo's Thruster Issues: The European-Japanese BepiColombo spacecraft has faced thruster issues, delaying its arrival at Mercury until 2026. Launched in 2018, BepiColombo needs to follow a complex route involving multiple flybys. However, a glitch in the spacecraft's thrusters has led to inadequate thrust. Engineers have revised the spacecraft's trajectory, allowing it to still achieve its scientific objectives despite the delay.
- Peculiar Noise on NASA's Starliner: Astronaut Butch Wilmore reported hearing a strange pulsing noise from Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked to the ISS. NASA explained that the noise originated from feedback in the audio configuration between Starliner and the ISS. This issue had no technical impact on the crew or the spacecraft's operations.
- Titanic Asteroid Impact on Ganymede: Research led by a planetologist from Kobe University has revealed that an asteroid impact around 4 billion years ago reshaped Jupiter's moon Ganymede. The impact was so colossal that it altered not just Ganymede's surface but potentially its rotation as well. This ancient event provides invaluable insights into the early solar system's dynamics and the moon's geological history.
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