00:00:00
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and astronomy news. I'm Anna.
00:00:06
And I'm Avery. We're bringing you Tuesday, February 3rd's biggest stories from across the cosmos.
00:00:11
Today we're covering a setback in NASA's Artemis II preparations,
00:00:16
a bold new vision from Elon Musk that's raising eyebrows across the space industry,
00:00:21
and NASA's announcement of a fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
00:00:27
We'll also explore some dramatic solar activity that's lighting up our sun.
00:00:31
NASA's newest mission to map the boundaries of our solar system,
00:00:35
and an exciting opportunity for aspiring space professionals in Europe.
00:00:39
Let's dive right in with our top story today.
00:00:42
NASA's Artemis II mission hit a snag during a critical pre-launch test over the weekend.
00:00:48
The wet-trest rehearsal countdown was terminated at the T-5 minute and 15th
00:00:53
second mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak.
00:00:56
For anyone not familiar, a wet-dress rehearsal is essentially a full-launch stimulation
00:01:01
where they load the rocket with propellant and run through the entire countdown sequence,
00:01:06
stopping just short of ignition.
00:01:08
It's one of the final major tests before an actual launch.
00:01:11
Exactly. And this particular leak occurred at the interface of the
00:01:16
Tale's Service Mass Dumbillical, which had already experienced high concentrations of liquid hydrogen
00:01:21
earlier in the countdown. The launch control team had to work to ensure the space-launch system rocket
00:01:27
was in a safe configuration and begin draining its tanks.
00:01:31
Now, it's worth putting this in perspective. Hydrogen leaks are notoriously challenging to deal
00:01:37
with in rocketry. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule, which means it can escape through incredibly
00:01:43
tiny gaps. NASA actually dealt with similar issues during the Artemis I countdown back in 2022.
00:01:49
That's a good point. And while this is definitely a setback, it's exactly why we do these rehearsals,
00:01:55
to catch problems and fix them before astronauts are on board.
00:01:59
The Artemis II crew of Reed Weissman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hanson
00:02:04
are scheduled to become the first humans to fly around the moon in over 50 years.
00:02:08
The team at Kennedy Space Center will now need to analyze what went wrong,
00:02:13
make repairs and potentially schedule another wet-dress rehearsal.
00:02:17
This could impact the launch timeline, though NASA hasn't announced any official changes to the
00:02:23
mission schedule yet. We'll definitely be keeping a close eye on this one. Moving on to our next
00:02:28
story, which involves some pretty ambitious claims from SpaceX. Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX
00:02:34
has acquired his artificial intelligence company XAI, and with that acquisition comes a vision
00:02:40
that sounds like something straight out of science fiction, orbital data centers.
00:02:45
The numbers here are staggering, Anna. The information quoted unnamed sources saying XAI was
00:02:51
valued at $250 billion, while SpaceX was valued at a trillion dollars. That would make SpaceX the
00:02:58
most valuable private company in the world. Though, as one investment advisor quipped,
00:03:04
Musk essentially had a short negotiation with himself since he held controlling interests in both
00:03:10
companies, but the real story here is what Musk plans to do with this combined entity. Right,
00:03:16
Musk is proposing to put up to a million satellites in low-earth orbit to create a constellation of
00:03:22
orbital data centers. The idea is that these would address the major challenges facing ground-based
00:03:27
data centers, the massive electricity requirements and the water needed for cooling.
00:03:32
His pitch is compelling from an engineering standpoint. In space, you have mere constant solar
00:03:38
power with no nighttime interruptions, no atmospheric interference, and no need for water cooling.
00:03:44
As Musk wrote, "It's always sunny in space." He's framing this as a step towards becoming a
00:03:50
Kardashev Type 2 civilization, one that can harness the Sun's full power. He even suggested that
00:03:56
future AI satellites could be built on and launched from the moon using electromagnetic mass drivers.
00:04:02
But here's where the skepticism comes in. Industry observers are raising serious
00:04:07
questions. Jim Cashel, author of the Greek Connecting, suggested the million satellite figure
00:04:14
might be more about publicity and the potential SpaceX IPO than realistic planning. And Martin
00:04:20
Pears from the information pointed out the head-spinning array of technical and financial impediments.
00:04:26
Those challenges include protecting computers from radiation, maintaining hardware in orbit,
00:04:32
the enormous expanse of getting everything into space, and competing with tech giants like Google
00:04:38
and Meta who have cast-generating advertising businesses. Some analysts suggest this move is
00:04:44
financially motivated, a way to throw a lifeline to XAI, which merged with X last year and has been
00:04:50
facing financial troubles. The timing ahead of a possible SpaceX IPO is certainly interesting.
00:04:57
It's definitely an ambitious vision, whether it's brilliant foresight or science fiction remains to be
00:05:03
seen. Either way, it sparked a fascinating debate about the future of space-based infrastructure.
00:05:08
Speaking of space infrastructure, let's talk about something that's actually happening right now.
00:05:14
NASA's Commercial Crew Program. NASA has ordered a fifth private astronaut mission to the
00:05:20
International Space Station from Axiom Space, with a launch targeted for no earlier than January
00:05:26
2027 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This continues the series of commercially sponsored
00:05:32
crewed missions to the orbital laboratory under NASA's Commercial Space Strategy. NASA Administrator
00:05:38
Jared Isaacman emphasized that commercial space activity has become a present reality rather than
00:05:44
a distant prospect. This mission, designated Axiom Mission 5, is expected to spend up to 14 days
00:05:51
aboard the station. The final launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic and other
00:05:57
operational planning factors, basically coordinating the busy schedule of visiting vehicles.
00:06:02
Dana Weagle, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Program, noted that these private
00:06:08
astronaut missions allow the station to serve as a proving ground for new markets and technologies,
00:06:14
while supporting science, research, and outreach that contribute to a growing space economy.
00:06:20
Under this mission order, Axiom Space will propose four crew members for review by NASA and its
00:06:25
international partners. Once approved, though undergo joint training with NASA, partner agencies,
00:06:30
and the launch provider. What's particularly interesting about this arrangement is the exchange
00:06:36
of services. Axiom Space will purchase mission services from NASA, like crew consumables, cargo
00:06:43
delivery, and storage. In return, NASA will acquire from Axiom Space the capability to return
00:06:49
scientific samples that must remain cold during transit. Jonathan Certain, President and CEO of
00:06:56
Axiom Space, said the fort earlier Axiom missions have expanded the global community of human space
00:07:02
explorers, and yielded insights supporting development of the planned Axiom Station.
00:07:06
That's the key here. Axiom Station is intended to succeed the International Space Station as a
00:07:12
next-generation commercial platform once the current laboratory is retired. These missions are
00:07:18
helping build towards that future. It's a great example of NASA's strategy to transition low-earth
00:07:24
orbit services to private providers, while the agency concentrates on deep space exploration,
00:07:29
like the Artemis missions to the moon. Absolutely. Now let's turn our attention to some dramatic
00:07:35
activity happening much closer to home on our own star. The sun has been putting on quite a show
00:07:42
over the past 24 hours. A rapidly growing sunspot has fired off at least 18 M-class flares,
00:07:49
and three X-class flares, including an intense X-8.3 eruption. The strongest solar flare of
00:07:57
2026 so far. To put that in perspective for our listeners, solar flares are ranked from A, B,
00:08:04
and C up to M and X, with each letter representing a 10-fold increase in energy.
00:08:10
So X-class flares are the most powerful explosions the sun can produce,
00:08:15
and the number after the X tells you how intense it is within that class.
00:08:19
The culprit is Sunspot Region 4366, which SpaceWeather.com described as a solar flare factory.
00:08:28
This region has grown rapidly in just a few days and shows no signs of slowing down.
00:08:34
The X-8.3 flare peaked at 6.57 pm Eastern time on February 1, unleashing a blast of extreme
00:08:43
ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that ionized Earth's upper atmosphere. This triggered strong R-3
00:08:50
radio blackouts across parts of the South Pacific. Eastern Australia and New Zealand reported
00:08:56
shortwave radio disruptions. These blackouts happen because the intense radiation from the flare
00:09:02
alters the ionosphere, which radio signals bounce off of for long-distance communication.
00:09:07
Now, what everyone wants to know is, will we see auroras from this? Scientists are watching
00:09:13
for coronal mass ejections that could follow these flares. Early analysis of a CME linked to the
00:09:19
X-8.3 eruption suggests most of the solar material will pass north and east of Earth.
00:09:25
There's a possibility of a glancing blow around February 5, which could briefly elevate
00:09:31
geomagnetic activity and increase the chances of auroras at high latitudes. But forecasters stress
00:09:37
it's too early to know for certain. The bigger concern is that some spot AR-4366 remains highly
00:09:45
active and continues to rotate into an Earth-facing position. That raises the chance that future
00:09:51
eruptions could launch CMEs more directly toward our planet. Noah forecasters expect more exciting
00:09:58
space weather activity from this region in the coming days. So aurora casers should definitely
00:10:03
keep an eye on space weather forecasts over the next week. It's a great reminder that we're still in
00:10:09
solar maximum, the period of greatest solar activity in the sun's 11-year cycle. We can expect more
00:10:15
of these dramatic events over the next year or so. Absolutely. From watching the sun, let's zoom out
00:10:22
to the boundaries of our entire solar system. DASA's IMAP mission, that's the Interstellar
00:10:28
mapping and acceleration probe, officially began its two-year primary science mission on February 1st.
00:10:35
IMAP's job is to explore and map the boundaries of our heliosphere, which is the protective bubble
00:10:41
created by the solar wind that encapsulates our entire solar system. Think of it as our cosmic shield
00:10:48
against interstellar radiation. The mission launched on September 24th, 2025, and relies on 10
00:10:55
scientific instruments to chart what's happening in space. That includes high energy particles from
00:11:01
the sun, magnetic fields in interplanetary space, and even dust from exploded stars in interstellar space.
00:11:08
What makes this particularly exciting is that IMAP is investigating some of the most important
00:11:14
questions in heliophysics, how charged particles from the sun get energized, and how the solar wind
00:11:20
interacts at its boundary with interstellar space. And there's a practical benefit, too. Some
00:11:26
of IMAP's data is being fed into the eyelert system, which stands for IMAP active link for real time.
00:11:33
This broadcasts near real-time observations of space weather headed toward Earth.
00:11:37
That data can inform forecasters who issue warnings about potential adverse space weather
00:11:43
effects on spacecraft and astronauts. Though IMAP is both advancing our scientific understanding
00:11:49
and providing practical benefits for space operations. The mission is led by David McComis,
00:11:55
a principal investigator and professor at Princeton University with an international team of 27
00:12:01
partner institutions. Don's Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Manage Development, and Operates
00:12:06
the Mission. It's the fifth mission in NASA Solar Terrestrial Probe's program, and it's going to
00:12:12
give us unprecedented insights into the edge of our solar neighborhood over the next two years.
00:12:17
Beaking of opportunities to advance our understanding of space, let's wrap up with some news for
00:12:22
aspiring space professionals. The European Space Agency has opened applications for its
00:12:28
2026 graduate trainee program, offering an incredible opportunity for recent graduates passionate
00:12:34
about engineering, science, IT, or business. This is a unique professional experience,
00:12:41
where trainees become part of teams of scientists, engineers, and business professionals from all
00:12:47
over Europe, working together on inspiring space missions in an international multicultural environment.
00:12:54
The positions are one-year contracts with possible extension to a second year.
00:12:59
Trainees get 2.5 days of paid leave per month and receive a monthly salary that's exempt
00:13:05
from national income tax in ESA member states. ESA also reimburses travel expenses
00:13:11
at the beginning and end of the contract, provides an expatriation or installation allowance for
00:13:16
those moving from another country, and includes affiliation to ESA's comprehensive social security
00:13:22
and pension schemes. To be eligible, you need to be a student in the final year of a master's degree,
00:13:28
or a recent graduate. You must have graduated by the time you start your traineeship,
00:13:33
and be able to provide a copy of your diploma within three months of starting.
00:13:38
Important note, you shouldn't have more than one year of professional experience after graduation,
00:13:44
and you must be a citizen of one of the ESA member states, associate members,
00:13:48
European cooperating states, or Canada as a cooperating state.
00:13:53
ESA is holding three information sessions in early February, where prospective applicants can
00:13:58
learn more about the program and ask questions. The first one is February 5th,
00:14:03
there is another on February 12th, and a third on February 17th. Each candidate can submit up to
00:14:10
three applications, so it's worthwhile exploring multiple opportunities that match your academic
00:14:15
background and aspirations. All the details in application portal can be found at jobs.esa.int.
00:14:22
I'll be sure to add that link in the show notes. This is genuinely a fantastic opportunity for anyone
00:14:28
looking to start a career in Europe's space sector. ESA has a long history of groundbreaking missions
00:14:34
and continues to be at the forefront of space exploration, earth observation, and space science.
00:14:40
It's programs like this that help develop the next generation of space professionals
00:14:45
who will be working on tomorrow's missions to explore our solar system and beyond.
00:14:49
And that wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily. We've covered everything from challenges
00:14:55
with Artemis II preparations to ambitious visions for orbital data centers.
00:15:00
ongoing commercial space station missions, dramatic solar activity, the start of a new NASA mission
00:15:06
mapping our cosmic neighborhood and opportunities for the next generation of space professionals.
00:15:12
As always, there's never a dull moment in space exploration. If you want to stay connected with us
00:15:18
and get more space news throughout the week, visit our website at astronomydaily.io.
00:15:24
You can also find us on social media at astrodaleapod on x,
00:15:28
facebook, instagram, tiktok, youtube, and tumblr.
00:15:31
Thanks for joining us today. Keep looking up and we'll see you tomorrow with more news from the cosmos.
00:15:38
Until then, clear skies everyone.
00:15:40
Astronomy day, the star is the toe.
00:15:46
The star is the toe.
00:15:54
The star is the toe.
00:16:01
(upbeat music)