S03E121: NASA's Crew Nine Delay and Venus's Tectonic Secrets

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, where we cover the latest in space and astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna. Today we've got an exciting lineup that will take you on a journey through some of the most intriguing recent updates in the cosmos. We'll start with NASA's latest move to push the Crew-9 mission launch to September as they delve into the intricacies of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Then we'll shift gears to explore groundbreaking research that peels back the layers on Venus, revealing that our inhospitable "evil twin" might share more in common with Earth than we ever imagined. Finally, we'll spotlight a compelling study on red dwarf stars and how their stellar flares could pose both challenges and potentials for habitability on nearby exoplanets. So grab your telescopes and your curiosity, and let's dive into today's episode.

• NASA's Crew-9 Mission Postponed: NASA is postponing the launch of the Crew-9 mission to September due to ongoing analysis of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. This delay will give mission managers more time to finalize plans for the Boeing crew flight test, which is currently docked at the International Space Station. Thruster issues with the Starliner spacecraft have been the main concern. NASA is taking this extra time to analyze the results of recent hot fire testing and to ensure the reliability of the integrated propulsion system. Until either the Starliner or Crew-8 Dragon departs the space station, there will be no available docking ports for the Crew-9 mission.
• - Venus's Geological History: New research suggests that Venus, often dubbed Earth's inhospitable "evil twin," may have once been tectonically active despite its current stagnant lithosphere. Today, Venus is known for its extreme surface conditions, temperatures hot enough to melt lead, and surface pressures intense enough to crush most materials. However, this new study reveals that the planet's surface features such as faults, folds, and volcanoes indicate a history of significant tectonic activity.
• - Red Dwarf Stars and Habitability: A recent study has shed light on the potential dangers facing habitable planets around red dwarf stars. The research, led by astronomers from the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, reveals that these stars can emit far-ultraviolet radiation at levels much higher than previously believed. This finding has striking implications for the habitability of planets orbiting red dwarfs.
• - (00:00) Astronomy Daily brings you the latest in space and astronomy news
• - (00:49) NASA is postponing the launch of the crew nine mission to September
• - (04:54) New research suggests Venus may have once been tectonically active
• - (06:49) Red dwarf stars emit far ultraviolet radiation at levels much higher than previously thought
• - (09:12) That's it for today's episode of Astronomy Daily
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