Welcome to Astronomy Daily! Join hosts Anna and Avery for Tuesday, February 3rd's space news roundup. Today we're covering a critical setback in NASA's Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal, Elon Musk's controversial vision for orbital AI data centers following SpaceX's acquisition of xAI, NASA's announcement of Axiom Mission 5 to the ISS, extraordinary solar flare activity from a volatile new sunspot, the start of NASA's IMAP mission to map our heliosphere, and exciting opportunities through ESA's Graduate Trainee Programme.
Episode Highlights: - https://jobs.esa.int/
• Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal terminated at T-5:15 due to hydrogen leak
• SpaceX acquires xAI with plans for million-satellite orbital data center constellation
• NASA books fifth Axiom private astronaut mission for January 2027 launch
• Sun unleashes 18 M-class and 3 X-class flares including X8.3 eruption
• NASA's IMAP begins mapping boundaries of our solar system
• ESA opens applications for 2026 Graduate Trainee Programme https://jobs.esa.int/ (https://jobs.esa.int/)
Featured Stories:
ARTEMIS 2 SETBACK
NASA's critical wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis 2 mission was terminated at the T-5 minute 15 second mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak at the tail service mast umbilical interface. The launch control team worked to safe the Space Launch System rocket and drain its tanks. This rehearsal represents one of the final major tests before the historic mission that will send the first crew around the Moon in over 50 years.
SPACEX ORBITAL DATA CENTERS
Elon Musk announced SpaceX's acquisition of xAI and unveiled plans for up to one million satellites serving as orbital data centers. The proposal addresses ground-based data center challenges including electricity demands and water cooling needs by harnessing continuous solar power in space. Industry experts express skepticism about technical feasibility and suggest the timing may relate to SpaceX's potential IPO.
AXIOM MISSION 5
NASA ordered a fifth private astronaut mission from Axiom Space targeting launch no earlier than January 2027. The 14-day mission continues NASA's commercial space strategy, with Axiom proposing four crew members for approval. The mission includes service exchanges with NASA acquiring cold-return capability for scientific samples while Axiom purchases consumables and cargo services.
SOLAR FLARE BARRAGE
Sunspot region 4366 produced at least 18 M-class and three X-class solar flares in 24 hours, including the year's strongest X8.3 eruption. The February 1st flare triggered R3 radio blackouts across eastern Australia and New Zealand. Scientists monitor for coronal mass ejections with possible glancing Earth impact around February 5th that could produce high-latitude auroras.
IMAP MISSION START
NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe officially began its two-year primary science mission on February 1st. The spacecraft's 10 instruments will map heliosphere boundaries and study particle energization and solar wind interactions. IMAP data feeds the I-ALiRT system providing near-real-time space weather observations to protect spacecraft and astronauts.
ESA OPPORTUNITIES
The European Space Agency opened applications for its 2026 Graduate Trainee Programme for recent graduates in engineering, science, IT, and business. The one-year positions with possible second-year extension offer monthly tax-exempt salaries, travel reimbursement, installation allowances, and comprehensive benefits. Candidates can submit up to three applications through jobs.esa.int. (https://jobs.esa.int/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 for the latest space and astronomy news.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 I'm Anna.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 >> And I'm Avery. We're bringing you
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 Tuesday, February 3rd's biggest stories
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 from across the cosmos.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 >> Today, we're covering a setback in
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 NASA's Aremis 2 preparations, a bold new
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 vision from Elon Musk that's raising
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 eyebrows across the space industry, and
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 NASA's announcement of a fifth private
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 astronaut mission to the International
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 Space Station. We'll also explore some
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 dramatic solar activity that's lighting
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 up our sun, NASA's newest mission to map
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 the boundaries of our solar system, and
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 an exciting opportunity for aspiring
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 space professionals in Europe.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 >> Let's dive right in with our top story
00:00:42 --> 00:00:42 today.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 >> NASA's Aremis 2 mission hit a snag
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 during a critical pre-launch test over
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 the weekend. The wet tress rehearsal
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 countdown was terminated at the T5
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 minute and 15 second mark due to a
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 liquid hydrogen leak. For anyone not
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 familiar, a wet dress rehearsal is
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 essentially a full launch simulation
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 where they load the rocket with
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 propellant and run through the entire
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 countdown sequence, stopping just short
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 of ignition. It's one of the final major
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 tests before an actual launch.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 >> Exactly. And this particular leak
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 occurred at the interface of the tail
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 service mast umbilical, which had
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 already experienced high concentrations
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 of liquid hydrogen earlier in the
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 countdown. The launch control team had
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 to work to ensure the space launch
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 system rocket was in a safe
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 configuration and begin draining its
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 tanks. Now, it's worth putting this in
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 perspective. Hydrogen leaks are
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 notoriously challenging to deal with in
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 rocketry. Hydrogen is the smallest
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 molecule, which means it can escape
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 through incredibly tiny gaps. NASA
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 actually dealt with similar issues
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 during the Artemis 1 countdown back in
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 2022.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 >> That's a good point. And while this is
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 definitely a setback, it's exactly why
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 we do these rehearsals, to catch
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 problems and fix them before astronauts
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 are on board. The Aremis 2 crew of Reed
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 Weisman, Victor Glover, Christina Ko,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 and Jeremy Hansen are scheduled to
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 become the first humans to fly around
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 the moon in over 50 years. The team at
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 Kennedy Space Center will now need to
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 analyze what went wrong, make repairs,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 and potentially schedule another wet
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 dress rehearsal. This could impact the
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 launch timeline, though NASA hasn't
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 announced any official changes to the
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 mission schedule yet.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 >> We'll definitely be keeping a close eye
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 on this one. Moving on to our next
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 story, which involves some pretty
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 ambitious claims from SpaceX.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 >> Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX has
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 acquired his artificial intelligence
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 company, XAI. And with that acquisition
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 comes a vision that sounds like
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 something straight out of science
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 fiction, orbital data centers. The
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 numbers here are staggering, Anna. The
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 information quoted unnamed sources
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 saying XAI was valued at $250 billion
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 while SpaceX was valued at a trillion.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 That would make SpaceX the most valuable
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 private company in the world. Though, as
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 one investment adviser quipped, Musk
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 essentially had a short negotiation with
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 himself since he held controlling
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 interests in both companies. But the
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 real story here is what Musk plans to do
00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 with this combined entity.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 >> Right? Musk is proposing to put up to a
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 million satellites in low Earth orbit to
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 create a constellation of orbital data
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 centers. The idea is that these would
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 address the major challenges facing
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 groundbased data centers, the massive
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 electricity requirements, and the water
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 needed for cooling.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 >> His pitch is compelling from an
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 engineering standpoint. In space, you
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 have near constant solar power with no
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 nighttime interruptions, no atmospheric
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 interference, and no need for water
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 cooling. As Musk wrote, "It's always
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 sunny in space."
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 >> He's framing this as a step towards
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 becoming a Cardartesef type 2
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 civilization, one that can harness the
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 sun's full power. He even suggested that
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 future AI satellites could be built on
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 and launched from the moon using
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 electromagnetic mass drivers. But here's
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 where the skepticism comes in. Industry
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 observers are raising serious questions.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 Jim Castel, author of The Greek
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 Connecting, suggested the million
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 satellite figure might be more about
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 publicity and the potential SpaceX IPO
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 than realistic planning. And Martin
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 Piers from the information pointed out
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 the head spinning array of technical and
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 financial impediments. Those challenges
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 include protecting computers from
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 radiation, maintaining hardware in
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 orbit, the enormous expanse of getting
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 everything into space, and competing
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 with tech giants like Google and Meta
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 who have cash generating advertising
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 businesses. Some analysts suggest this
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 move is financially motivated, a way to
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 throw a lifeline to XAI, which merged
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 with X last year and has been facing
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 financial troubles. The timing ahead of
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 a possible Space X IPO is certainly
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 interesting.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 >> It's definitely an ambitious vision.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 Whether it's brilliant foresight or
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 science fiction remains to be seen.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 Either way, it sparked a fascinating
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 debate about the future of space-based
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 infrastructure.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 >> Speaking of space infrastructure, let's
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 talk about something that's actually
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 happening right now. NASA's commercial
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 crew program. NASA has ordered a fifth
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 private astronaut mission to the
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 International Space Station from Axiom
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 Space with a launch targeted for no
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 earlier than January 2027 from Kennedy
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Space Center in Florida. This continues
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 the series of commercially sponsored
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 crude missions to the orbital laboratory
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 under NASA's commercial space strategy.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 NASA administrator Jared Isaacman
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 emphasized that commercial space
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 activity has become a present reality
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 rather than a distant prospect. This
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 mission designated Axiom mission 5 is
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 expected to spend up to 14 days aboard
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 the station. The final launch date will
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 depend on overall spacecraft traffic and
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 other operational planning factors.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Basically coordinating the busy schedule
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 of visiting vehicles. Dana Weaggle,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 manager of NASA's International Space
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 Station program, noted that these
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 private astronaut missions allow the
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 station to serve as a proving ground for
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 new markets and technologies while
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 supporting science, research, and
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 outreach that contribute to a growing
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 space economy. Under this mission order,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 Axiom Space will propose four crew
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 members for review by NASA and its
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 international partners. Once approved,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 they'll undergo joint training with
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 NASA, partner agencies, and the launch
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 provider. What's particularly
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 interesting about this arrangement is
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 the exchange of services. Axiom Space
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 will purchase mission services from NASA
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 like crew consumables, cargo delivery,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 and storage. In return, NASA will
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 acquire from Axiom Space the capability
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 to return scientific samples that must
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 remain cold during transit. Jonathan
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 Certin, president and CEO of Axiom
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 Space, said the four earlier Axiom
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 missions have expanded the global
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 community of human space explorers and
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 yielded insights supporting development
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 of the planned Axiom station.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 >> That's the key here. Axiom station is
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 intended to succeed the International
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 Space Station as a next generation
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 commercial platform once the current
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 laboratory is retired. These missions
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 are helping build towards that future.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 It's a great example of NASA's strategy
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 to transition low Earth orbit services
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 to private providers while the agency
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 concentrates on deep space exploration
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 like the Aremis missions to the moon.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 >> Absolutely. Now, let's turn our
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 attention to some dramatic activity
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 happening much closer to home on our own
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 star.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 >> The sun has been putting on quite a show
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 over the past 24 hours. A rapidly
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 growing sunspot has fired off at least
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 18 M-class flares and three X-class
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 flares, including an intense X8.3
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 eruption, the strongest solar flare of
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 2026 so far.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 >> To put that in perspective for our
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 listeners, solar flares are ranked from
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 A, B, and C up to M and X with each
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 letter representing a tfold increase in
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 energy. So X-class flares are the most
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 powerful explosions the sun can produce.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 And the number after the X tells you how
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 intense it is within that class.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:24 >> The culprit is sunspot region 4366,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 which spaceweather.com described as a
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 solar flare factory. This region has
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 grown rapidly in just a few days and
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 shows no signs of slowing down. The X8.3
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 flare peaked at 6:57 p.m. Eastern time
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 on February 1st, unleashing a blast of
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 extreme ultraviolet and X-ray radiation
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 that ionized Earth's upper atmosphere.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 This triggered strong R3 radio blackouts
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 across parts of the South Pacific.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 >> Eastern Australia and New Zealand
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 reported short-wave radio disruptions.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 These blackouts happen because the
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 intense radiation from the flare alters
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 the ionosphere, which radio signals
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 bounce off of for long-distance
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 communication.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 >> Now, what everyone wants to know is,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 will we see auroras from this?
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 Scientists are watching for coronal mass
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 ejections that could follow these
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 flares. Early analysis of a CME linked
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 to the X8.3 eruption suggests most of
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 the solar material will pass north and
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 east of Earth. There's a possibility of
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 a glancing blow around February 5th,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 which could briefly elevate geomagnetic
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 activity and increase the chances of
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 auroras at high latitudes. But
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 forecasters stress it's too early to
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 know for certain. The bigger concern is
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 that some spot AR4366
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 remains highly active and continues to
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 rotate into an Earth-facing position.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 That raises the chance that future
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 eruptions could launch CMEs more
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 directly toward our planet. Noah
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 forecasters expect more exciting space
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 weather activity from this region in the
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 coming days. So, Aurora casers should
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 definitely keep an eye on space weather
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 forecasts over the next week.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 >> It's a great reminder that we're still
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 in solar maximum, the period of greatest
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 solar activity in the sun's 11-year
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 cycle. We can expect more of these
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 dramatic events over the next year or
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 so.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 >> Absolutely. From watching the sun, let's
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 zoom out to the boundaries of our entire
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 solar system.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 >> NASA's IMAP mission, that's the
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 Probe, officially began its 2-year
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 primary science mission on February 1st.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 >> IMAP's job is to explore and map the
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 boundaries of our heliosphere, which is
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 the protective bubble created by the
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 solar wind that encapsulates our entire
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 solar system. Think of it as our cosmic
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 shield against interstellar radiation.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 >> The mission launched on September 24th,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 2025, and relies on 10 scientific
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 instruments to chart what's happening in
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 space. That includes high energy
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 particles from the sun, magnetic fields
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 in interplanetary space, and even dust
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 from exploded stars in interstellar
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 space.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 >> What makes this particularly exciting is
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 that IMAP is investigating some of the
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 most important questions in helopysics.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 how charged particles from the sun get
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 energized and how the solar wind
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 interacts at its boundary with
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 interstellar space.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 >> And there's a practical benefit, too.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 Some of IMAP's data is being fed into
00:11:28 --> 00:11:32 the eyelink
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 for real time. This broadcasts
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 nearrealtime observations of space
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 weather headed toward Earth. That data
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 can inform forecasters who issue
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 warnings about potential adverse space
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 weather effects on spacecraft and
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 astronauts. Though IMAP is both
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 advancing our scientific understanding
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 and providing practical benefits for
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 space operations.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 >> The mission is led by David Mccomomas, a
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 principal investigator and professor at
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 Princeton University with an
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 international team of 27 partner
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 institutions. Dons's Hopkins Applied
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 Physics Laboratory manage development
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 and operates the mission. It's the fifth
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 mission in NASA's Solar Terrestrial
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 Probes program, and it's going to give
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 us unprecedented insights into the edge
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 of our solar neighborhood over the next
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 2 years.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 >> Speaking of opportunities to advance our
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 understanding of space, let's wrap up
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 with some news for aspiring space
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 professionals. The European Space Agency
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 has opened applications for its 2026
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 graduate trainee program, offering an
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 incredible opportunity for recent
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 graduates passionate about engineering,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 science, IT, or business. This is a
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 unique professional experience where
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 trainees become part of teams of
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 scientists, engineers, and business
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 professionals from all over Europe
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 working together on inspiring space
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 missions in an international
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 multicultural environment.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 >> The positions are one-year contracts
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 with possible extension to a second
00:12:58 --> 00:13:02 year. Trainees get 2.5 days of paid
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 leave per month and receive a monthly
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 salary that's exempt from national
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 income tax and ISA member states. ESSA
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 also reimbures travel expenses at the
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 beginning and end of the contract,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 provides an expatriation or installation
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 allowance for those moving from another
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 country and includes affiliation to
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 comprehensive social security and
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 pension schemes. To be eligible, you
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 need to be a student in the final year
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 of a master's degree or a recent
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 graduate. You must have graduated by the
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 time you start your traineeship and be
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 able to provide a copy of your diploma
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 within 3 months of starting. Important
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 note, you shouldn't have more than one
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 year of professional experience after
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 graduation. And you must be a citizen of
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 one of the member states, associate
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 members, European cooperating states, or
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 Canada as a cooperating state. ISSA is
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 holding three information sessions in
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 early February where prospective
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 applicants can learn more about the
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 program and ask questions. The first one
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 is February 5th. There is another on
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 February 12th and a third on February
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 17th. Each candidate can submit up to
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 three applications, so it's worthwhile
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 exploring multiple opportunities that
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 match your academic background and
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 aspirations. All the details in
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 application portal can be found at
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 jobs.a.int.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 I'll be sure to add that link in the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 show notes.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 >> This is genuinely a fantastic
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 opportunity for anyone looking to start
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 a career in Europe's space sector. Has a
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 long history of groundbreaking missions
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 and continues to be at the forefront of
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 space exploration, Earth observation,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 and space science.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 >> It's programs like this that help
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 develop the next generation of space
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 professionals who will be working on
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 tomorrow's missions to explore our solar
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 system and beyond. And that wraps up
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 today's episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 We've covered everything from challenges
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 with Aremis 2 preparations to ambitious
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 visions for orbital data centers,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 ongoing commercial space station
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 missions, dramatic solar activity, the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 start of a new NASA mission mapping our
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 cosmic neighborhood, and opportunities
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 for the next generation of space
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 professionals.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 >> As always, there's never a dull moment
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 in space exploration. If you want to
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 stay connected with us and get more
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 space news throughout the week, visit
00:15:20 --> 00:15:24 our website at astronomydaily.io.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 >> You can also find us on social media at
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 Astro Daily Pod on X, Facebook,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube, and Tumblr.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 >> Thanks for joining us today. Keep
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 looking up and we'll see you tomorrow
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 with more news from the cosmos.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:43 >> Until then, clear skies everyone.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:52 The stories we told
00:15:52 --> 00:16:00 stories told
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 stories