In this episode, we explore a remarkable array of developments in space exploration and astronomy that are making headlines. We begin with a historic moment as NASA orders its first controlled medical evacuation from the International Space Station, bringing home the entire Crew 11 team due to a medical issue affecting one astronaut. This unprecedented decision underscores the importance of crew safety and the challenges of long-duration spaceflight.Next, we look forward to the upcoming February full moon, known as the Snow Moon, which promises a stunning display in the night sky. With peak illumination set for February 1st, we provide tips for the best viewing experience across various regions.Shifting our focus to the ongoing advancements at SpaceX's Starbase, we discuss significant upgrades to Pad 1, preparing for the next generation of Starship launches. These enhancements aim to facilitate rapid reusability and increase launch frequency, crucial for the ambitious goals of the Starship programme.We also address the unfortunate news regarding NASA's Mars Sample Return mission, which has effectively been shelved due to budget cuts. This opens the door for China's simpler and potentially quicker plans to return Martian samples, marking a significant shift in the landscape of Mars exploration.In a thrilling discovery, the Vera Rubin Observatory has identified the fastest spinning large asteroid ever recorded, prompting discussions on the implications for asteroid deflection strategies.Finally, we unveil a new map detailing the origins of billions of ghostly neutrinos that pass through us daily, offering insights into stellar processes and the mysteries of our galaxy.Join us as we unpack these fascinating stories and more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Astronomy Daily brings you the latest news from space and astronomy
00:57 – **NASA orders medical evacuation of entire ISS crew due to medical issue
03:43 – **February full moon is coming up soon. Peak illumination at 5:09pm Eastern on February 1st
05:29 – **NASA's Mars sample return mission effectively dead after budget cuts
06:31 – **The Vera Rubin Observatory has spotted the fastest spinning large asteroid ever discovered
07:47 – **From ISS drama to neutrino maps. What a day in space news### Sources & Further Reading1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/) 2. SpaceX (https://www.spacex.com/) 3. European Space Agency (https://www.esa.int/) 4. Galactic Neutrinos (https://www.galacticneutrinos.org/) ### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Hello everyone and welcome to Astronomy
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 Daily, the podcast where we bring you
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 the latest and greatest from the world
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 of space and astronomy. I'm Anna and
00:00:11 --> 00:00:15 with me is my co-host Avery. Hey Avery,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 it's January 9th, 2026. Hope you're
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 staying warm wherever you are.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 >> Hey Anna, and hi to all our listeners.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 Yeah, it's chilly out there where I am
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 in the northern hemisphere, but I
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 believe our listeners down under are
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 experiencing very high temperatures
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 today. But the news is heating up.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 Today, we've got a truly historic story
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 leading off. One that's making waves
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 across the space community, plus lunar
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 viewing tips, Starship infrastructure
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 upgrades, big shifts and Mars
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 exploration plans, a record-breaking
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 asteroid spin, and a fascinating map of
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 ghostly particles streaming through us.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 We'll spend extra time on that first one
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 because it's a milestone. Let's jump
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 right in.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 >> Absolutely. This top story is
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 unprecedented. For the first time in the
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 25- year history of the International
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 Space Station, NASA has ordered a
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 controlled medical evacuation, bringing
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 home an entire crew early due to a
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 medical issue with one astronaut.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 >> This involves crew 11, who launched back
00:01:15 --> 00:01:19 in August 2025 aboard SpaceX's Dragon
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 Endeavor. The four-person team, NASA
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 commander Mike Frink, veteran of
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 multiple flights, pilot Zena Cardman on
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 her rookie mission, Jax Kima Yui, and
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 Ros Cosmos cosminot Oleg Platonoff.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 They're a multinational crew
00:01:34 --> 00:01:35 highlighting the international
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 partnership.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 >> The issue arose earlier this week on
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 January 7th with one unidentified crew
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 member experiencing a medical situation
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 in microgravity. NASA emphasizes the
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 astronaut is absolutely stable and the
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 crew provided immediate care using
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 onboard equipment which is advanced but
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 limited compared to a full hospital
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 >> details are private for good reason.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 HIPPA and all that but NASA chief
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 medical officer Dr. JD Pulk noted it's
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 unrelated to station operations or
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 upcoming tasks. The key factor while
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 stable now there could be lingering
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 risks if they stay in orbit longer and
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 full diagnosis or treatment isn't
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 possible up there. After consultations,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 administrator Jared Isacman made the
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 call, air on the side of caution and
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 return the whole crew 11 team in the
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 coming days. They'll undock soon. Exact
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 schedule coming within 48 hours. splash
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 down off California with Space X
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 recovery ships ready.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 >> Why the whole crew? They share one
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 Dragon as their lifeboat. No splitting
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 up. This leaves the ISS with just three
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 people temporarily. NASA astronaut Chris
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 Williams and two Russian cosminauts.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 They'll handle basics, defer some
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 science, and no spacew walks possible
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 until Crew 12 arrives. Maybe accelerated
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 to next month.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 >> It's certainly historic. NASA's first
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 medical early return ever. There was a
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 Soviet case in 1985 on Salute 7, but
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 nothing like this for the ISS era. Past
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 issues like a blood clot in 2019 or
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 pinched nerve in 2021 were managed on
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 board without evacuation.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 >> This shows how far we've come in crew
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 health management, but also the limits
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 of long duration space flight. It's a
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 learning moment for Aremis lunar stays
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 and eventual Mars missions. How do we
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 handle unexpected health events far from
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 Earth?
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 >> Totally. NASA stressed crew safety as
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 priority one and the quick response
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 highlights training. We'll keep an eye
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 on updates. Safe return wishes to crew
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 11.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 >> Okay, moving to something more serene.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 The February full moon is coming up
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 soon, known as the snow moon.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 >> Peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. Eastern
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 on February 1st. Look east at sunset for
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 that classic big orangeet tinted rise
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 due to the moon illusion and atmospheric
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 scattering. It'll be near Cancer stars,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 easy naked eye spot.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 >> Traditional names reflect winter in the
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 northern hemisphere. Snow moon for heavy
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 snowfall. Hungary or bare moon in some
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 indigenous cultures. In India, Maga
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 porna with rituals. Bonus. On February
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 2nd, it occults regulus for parts of
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 North America and Africa. Incidentally,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 you will be able to see this in the
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 southern hemisphere as well with best
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 date in Sydney, for instance, forecasted
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 to be on February 2nd, the same day as
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 Beijing and Tokyo.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 >> Great for photos, tripod, long lens for
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 details or wide for landscapes. No
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 special super status, but always
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 magical.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 >> Up next, updates from Starbase. SpaceX
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 is futurep proofing pad 1's tower and
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 launch mount for Starship Block 3. Pad 1
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 had supported early block 2 flights, but
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 is now offline for major rework,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 demolishing the old mount, adding a
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 flame bucket with powerful water deluge,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 nitrogen inerting to prevent fires, and
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 reinforced structures.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 >> Upgrades include better quick
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 disconnects for propellants, shortened
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 chopsticks for heavier lifts. Goal is
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 rapid reusability, minimal refer between
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 launches, handling 33 Raptors power.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 This mirrors pad 2 improvements,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 enabling frequent flights, which are
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 crucial for Starship's goals.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 >> Next, let's shift our gaze to Mars.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 NASA's ambitious Mars sample return
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 mission is effectively dead, opening the
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 door wider for China.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 >> Budget cuts slashed funding. Original 11
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 billion ballooned, redesigned to around
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 7 billion, but it was still too complex.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Perseverances, caches, lander, fetch
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 rover or helicopters, ascent rocket,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 orbital rendevous. It was a lot.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 Congress prioritized other spending, so
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 there was only $110 million left for
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 tech development. This disrupts the ESA
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 partnership, too. Perseverance's 33
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 tubes stay on Mars. Stable and cold
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 dryness for potential future grab.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 >> Meanwhile, China's plans advance.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 Simpler, opportunistic sampling. They
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 could be first to return Martian rocks
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 which will be huge for science.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 >> H a bitter pill for NASA after all their
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 planning but it does redirect resources
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 elsewhere. So there is that.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 >> Let's move on now to asteroid hunting.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 The Vera Rubin Observatory has spotted
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 the fastest spinning large asteroid ever
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 discovered. This huge rock rotates in an
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 insanely quick period under the
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 theoretical rubble pile limit, yet holds
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 together, likely monolithic or strong
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 internally. This discovery highlights
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Vera Rubin's power and importance for
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 locating near Earth objects.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 >> There are implications for deflection
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 strategies as spin affects how we nudge
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 threats if needed.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 >> Okay, moving on. Finally, today, those
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 billions of ghost particles, nutrinos,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 streaming through you every second. You
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 were aware of them, weren't you? Of
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 course. Well, we now have a map of where
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 many of them come from.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 >> New models using Gaia star data show
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 stellar nutrinos from nuclear fusion in
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 massive young stars across the Milky
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Way, although denser toward galactic
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 center. Detected via giant Antarctic
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 instruments catching rare interactions,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 this first comprehensive stellar nutrino
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 map filters solar noise, probes core
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 processes, and has led to potential new
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 physics.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 >> Wild invisible messengers from our
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 galaxy's heart.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 >> And that's a wrap for today. From ISS
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 drama to nutrino maps, what a day in
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 space news.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 >> Thanks for joining us. Subscribe, share,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 and we'll be back tomorrow. And if you'd
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 like to keep up with the evacuation
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 story unfolding on the ISS, just visit
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 our website and check out our constantly
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 updating news feed. You'll find us at
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 astronomyaily.io.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 >> Clear skies, everyone.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 >> And one final reminder to keep looking
00:08:12 --> 00:08:16 up. Bye. Astronomy day.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:24 Stories we told.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:28 Stories to tell.