Have you ever wondered about the colossal forces that shape our planet or dreamt of setting foot on the moon? The latest episode of Spacetime takes you on a journey from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the dusty plains of the moon's south pole.
In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking discovery that the Pacific plate, the giant slab of Earth's crust beneath the Pacific Ocean, is being torn apart by massive undersea faults. This revelation, reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, challenges the century-old model of plate tectonics which presumed these plates to be rigid. Instead, we find out from Erken Gun of the University of Toronto that these oceanic plates are not as strong as we once thought.
But that's not all. We also join the Odysseus lander on its historic journey to the moon. Launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre, Odysseus is part of NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface. With seven experimental payloads onboard, this mission could pave the way for a permanent human presence on the moon.
Listeners will be on the edge of their seats as the episode recounts the tense moments of the launch, the crucial engine burns, and the successful orbit insertion. The stakes are high, with previous missions suffering from fuel leaks and propulsion problems. Will Odysseus make it to the moon and secure its place in history?
And there's more. The episode also covers the launch of NASA's new PACE satellite, which promises to revolutionize our understanding of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. With hyperspectral instruments and polarimeters, PACE will study the impact of microscopic life in the water and particles in the air from space.
As if that wasn't enough, we also hear about the successful docking of a Russian Progress cargo ship with the International Space Station, a reminder of the ongoing collaboration in space amidst a turbulent geopolitical landscape.
This episode of Spacetime is not just a podcast; it's a voyage to the outer edges of human knowledge. So, if you're ready to have your mind expanded and your curiosity ignited, listen to this episode and join the adventure that spans our planet and beyond.
