S03E23: Final Flights & Twin Sunsets: Delta IV Heavy's Grand Exit & Life in Binary Star Systems

**Hosts:** Anna and the Astronomy Daily Team
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**Episode Summary:**
Join Anna and the Astronomy Daily Team for a cosmic voyage that takes us from the fiery farewell of a legendary rocket to the tantalizing prospect of extraterrestrial life on twin-sunned worlds. In today's episode, we celebrate the final mission of ULA's Delta IV Heavy, ponder the habitable potential of Tatooine-like planets, bid a fond farewell to NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory, and grapple with the implications of a delayed Russian rocket launch. We also narrow down the search for advanced alien civilizations to seven intriguing exoplanets. Fasten your seatbelts for a stellar journey that brings the wonders of space exploration and the mysteries of the cosmos into focus.
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**Featured Topics:**
1. **Delta IV Heavy's Grand Exit:** Witness the last launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket, a beacon of human ingenuity, as it makes its thunderous ascent, marking the end of an era and the beginning of ULA's Vulcan ambitions.
2. **Life in Binary Star Systems:** Delve into the groundbreaking study that hints at the existence of habitable planets orbiting binary stars, challenging our notions of life in the universe.
3. **NASA's DC-8 Final Mission:** Pay tribute to NASA's DC-8, the world's largest flying laboratory, as it completes its final mission and begins a new chapter in educating future technicians.
4. **Angara A-5 Launch Delay:** Explore the significance of the Angara A-5 launch delay at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome and what it means for the future of the country's space endeavors.
5. **The Search for Alien Societies:** Discover how a new study narrows the search for advanced civilizations to seven exoplanets, potentially bringing us closer to answering the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe.
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**Additional Information:**
For an endless journey through the stars, be sure to visit astronomydaily.io for a wealth of episodes, news, and a community of space enthusiasts. Engage with us on @astrodailypod for the latest cosmic updates and join the conversation. Sign up for our free newsletter to keep the universe at your fingertips.
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**Closing Remarks:**
As we gaze upon the night sky, closing another chapter of Astronomy Daily, we invite you to ponder the infinite possibilities that lie beyond our earthly realm. Remember, the universe is vast, and each discovery is but a step closer to unraveling its secrets. This is Anna, your guide through the cosmos, bidding you farewell until our next stellar encounter. Keep dreaming, keep exploring, and let the stars be your guide.
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**Host Sign-off:** Anna: "Thank you for joining us on this interstellar sojourn. Until we cross paths again in the boundless night sky, this is Anna, signing off. Keep your curiosity alight and your eyes to the heavens. Farewell, fellow stargazers!"
For more visit www.astronomydaily.io
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📋 Episode Chapters
(00:00) The Delta IV heavy rocket successfully launched on Tuesday for a classified mission
(03:15) Yale University study suggests binary star systems may foster planets suitable for life
(05:03) NASA's DC eight aircraft makes its final descent after 37 years in service
(06:15) Issue with oxidizer tank forces abort of Russian Angara a five rocket
(08:07) New study identifies seven potential hotspots for sophisticated alien societies
(10:33) Episode Wrap
For more from the Astronomy Daily team, visit www.astronomydaily.io
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Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcastyour guide to the cosmos and all its
wonders. I'm Anna, your host, bringing the universe a little closer to
you with each episode. In today'sGalactic Journey, we're venturing into a realm
where historic rockets take their final bowand the search for extraterrestrial life takes fascinating

(00:24):
new turns. We're following the trailblazingpath of ULA's Delta for Heavy as it
completes its mission for the Stars,investigating habitable worlds that orbit not one but
two Sons, and pondering discoveries thatchallenge our imaginations. Hold tight as we
embark on this cosmic exploration and unfoldthe secrets of the universe, one star

(00:46):
at a time. The Autonomy forecastthe skies above Cape Canaveral Bore witness to
the thunderous ascent and fiery farewell ofthe Mighty Delta for Heavy Rocket on Tuesday,
marking a poignant conclusion to six decadesof storied launches. United Launch Alliance's

(01:07):
venerable Workhorse roared to life for itssixteenth and final mission, ferrying the classified
NROL seventy payload on behalf of theUS National Reconnaissance Office. It was a
sight to behold the Delta for Heavy, a leviathan of spaceflight, setting itself
ablaze in a spectacular hydrogen fueled infernobefore gracefully ascending to the heavens. This

(01:30):
final sortie was a momentous occasion,not just for ULA, but for the
wider aerospace community. Tory Bruno,the CEO of ULA, encapsulated the sentiment,
describing the rocket as an amazing pieceof technology, twenty three stories tall,
half a million gallons of propellant,two and a quarter million pounds of
thrust. Indeed, there was somethingalmost sentient in the way the Delta for

(01:53):
Heavy consumed its insulation in the throesof launch, reminiscent of a phoenix immolating
itself to be reborn. As theiconic orange and white boosters separated and the
single RIL ten C two to oneengine on the second stage ignited, pushing
NROL seventy into the secrecy of orbit, we likewise turned a page, transitioning
onward from Delta's legacy to the dawnof ULA's next generation launch vehicle. Vulcan

(02:17):
has been conceived as a vessel forthe future, built to encapsulate the collective
learnings and triumphs of both the Deltaand Atlas families. This final performance of
the Delta four Heavy was, asBruno aptly noted, a great mission to
think about that transition. It isthis cyclical nature of innovation and legacy that
propels us forward in space exploration.As we reflect on the profound history of

(02:40):
the Delta rocket family, with itshundreds of launches dating back to nineteen sixty,
we eagerly await the new era slatedto begin with Vulcan, a rocket
designed for the energy demands and securitymissions central to ULA's future flights. This
is not merely the end. Itis an occasion to honor the indelible in
print left by the Delta four Heavy. As we bid adieu to the flame

(03:04):
trenched champion of our skies, welook to the horizon where the maiden voyage
of Vulcan awaits, and with itthe promise of furthering humanities reach into the
cosmos. Imagine twin sunsets on thehorizon and a sky illuminated by the gentle
dance of two stars, an iconicimage that has captured the imaginations of Star
Wars fans worldwide, But today's newsmight just blur the line between the science

(03:29):
fiction of tattooine and reality. Researchersat Yale University have lit up the scientific
community with their revelations about binary starsystems, suggesting that these cosmological duos might
just be fostering planets more suitable forlife than we had previously believed. In
a study that could reshape our searchfor life in the cosmos, it seems

(03:50):
that orderly alignment within these systems ismore common than the chaos of misaligned orbits.
This alignment, with planets gracefully circlingtheir host star while a companion star
mirrors this orbital dance could be theharbinger of stable climates on distant worlds.
It offers not only the potential forsustained life, but also a diversification of

(04:11):
when and where life could thrive unencumberedby the harsh conditions previously associated with such
binary systems. So what might lifebe like on these temperate tattooins. One
might envisage a planet where the transitionfrom day to night stretches across vast uninterrupted
seasons, where the light of dusknever quite fades. As one star sets
only for its companion to rise,we may envision gentle seas and moderate climates

(04:36):
free from the stellar havoc once thoughttypical of twin Sun systems. While these
findings point to a universe that mayfavor order over chaos, they also represent
a beacon of hope for those whowatch the stars and wonder if amidst the
unfathomable vastness of space, other formsof life might be gazing back from their

(04:56):
own temperate tattooin across the sea ofstars that connect our fates in this cosmic
expanse. After thirty seven years soaringthe skies in the name of science,
NASA's venerable DC eight aircraft has madeits final descent, completing its last mission
with a standing ovation from the skyitself, a traditional water salute by the
US Air Force Plant forty two FireDepartment. This airborne marvel has been the

(05:19):
world's largest flying laboratory, embarking ona multitude of airborne science missions that have
immensely contributed to our understanding of Earthand the atmosphere. Marking the end of
an era, the DC eight wrappedup its extensive career with the airborne and
Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality orasia AQ mission, contributing vital data to

(05:42):
the study of our planet's air quality. As it taxis down the runway for
the last time, the DC eightis not destined for obscurity. Instead,
it's set for a second life atIdaho State University, taking on a new
role in the aircraft maintenance Technology program. Its invaluable contribution will continue as it
trains the next generation of aircraft technicians, providing hands on experience. It's a

(06:04):
fitting tribute to an aircraft that hasdedicated its existence to expanding horizons and now
in retirement, will still be helpingto elevate human potential. Y Astronomy Daily
Podcast, and yet another twist inthe saga of space exploration. An issue
with the pressurizing system of the oxidizertank led to a last minute abort of

(06:26):
the Angara A five rockets test launchfrom Russia's Vostokni Cosmodrome. This is notable
not merely as a setback, butas a critical juncture for Russia's spacefaring aspirations.
For the Angara A five represents thedawn of a new era. It
is the first heavy booster rocket developedpost Soviet Union and holds the promise of
deploying crucial modules for Russia's anticipated spacestation, alongside satellites for the Glannis navigation

(06:53):
system. With the count stopped mereminutes before the anticipated launch and the loudspeakers
announcing a twenty four hour delay,we're reminded of the complexities and challenges that
space agencies face in their quest towardthe stars. This particular instance carries the
weight of strategic significance. The successof the ANGERA A five is seen as

(07:14):
a key to fortifying Russia's position inthe global space race. Given its location,
the Vostocchni Cosmodrome offers an advantageous positioncloser to the equator, which in
theory allows the rocket to deliver aheavier payload. The stakes are high for
Russia's space program, especially considering pastmisadventures such as the failed Moon mission last
August, that have to be contendedwith poignant victories like the recent Soyuz missions

(07:40):
to the International Space Station. Asthe world watch the unfolding drama of the
Angora A five, questions linger onthe resilience and adaptability of Russia's space endeavors.
Will this obstacle be just a bumpin the road leading to the cosmos,
or does it signify a deeper technologicaland administrative recalibration within ros Cosmos.

(08:01):
These are questions that for now wecan only ponder as we watch and wait
for what comes next. In thechapter of space exploration, the quest to
answer whether humanity stands alone as anadvanced civilization in the vast expanse of the
Cosmos continually propels our scientific inquiries.Today, an enlightening study beckons us to

(08:22):
consider the possibility that we indeed mighthave cosmic neighbors. Balas Braidak of Kobe
University in Japan has added a newdimension to this quest by narrowing down the
potential homes of other advanced societies.Using an approach simple yet profound, doctor
Braidak has identified seven exoplanets from themeandering list of thousands that might hold the

(08:45):
key to unlocking the ultimate enigma ofour solitude in space. These aren't just
random selections from the cosmic lottery,but are the culmination of well thought out
criteria. To be considered a cradlefor complex life, these worlds need to
possess certain features, a hospitable climateand an ocean, just as Earth does.
Size wise, we're talking about terrestrialand super earth exoplanets situated comfortably within

(09:09):
the habitable zones of their stars,locations where liquid water could exist and where
life as we know it might flourish. But that's not all to account for
the time it would take a civilizationto evolve to the point of seeding life
through panspermia. Intentionally, these planetsmust be much older, approximately nine point
two billion years at a minimum.After subtracting improbable candidates and factoring in every

(09:33):
essential the result is a concise listof seven potential hotspots for sophisticated alien societies.
Among these is the front runner,Kepler four hundred fifty two B,
orbiting a star similar to our ownSun at a distance that feels almost next
door by cosmic standards, a mereone thousand, four hundred light years away.
If bradac speculation holds any drop ofthe cosmic ocean, then systems like

(09:58):
Kepler four hundred and fifty two BBE could very well emerge as the focus
of future exoplanetary surveys, deepening ourunderstanding and perhaps one day leading to a
monumental discovery. So while we combthrough interstellar signals and peer through telescopic lenses.
This study reignites the enduring conjecture arewe alone? Or could it be

(10:20):
that within these seven distant worlds thereresides a spark of life, an echo
of civilization, calling across the void, as curious of us as we are
of them. Only time and relentlesspursuit of knowledge will tell. As we
draw this episode to a close,let us take a moment to look upwards
and ponder the vast mysteries of thecosmos we've traversed today. If you've enjoyed

(10:41):
this journey through space and time,I encourage you to continue the adventure with
us online. Connect with us onx at astro Daily Pod, where we
share the latest updates in the universeand ignite discussions with fellow astronomy enthusiasts.
Don't forget to navigate your way toAstronomy Daily dot io to access a universe
of episodes and browse the constellation ofnews we curate for curious minds like yours

(11:05):
and for those who wish to havethe cosmos delivered directly to their digital doorstep.
Sign up for our free newsletter.It's your daily Space news bulletin,
ensuring that you never miss out ona cosmic story until next time. This
is Astronomy Daily, the podcast yourbeacon in the cosmic ocean, clear skies,
and see you beyond the stars.This is your host Anna saying bye

(11:28):
bye the Astronomy Daily Podcast