In this episode, we dive into a wealth of exciting updates and discoveries that are shaping the world of space exploration. We begin with a significant follow-up on the medical situation aboard the International Space Station, where NASA and SpaceX have set a target date for Crew 11's return to Earth. This historic early evacuation marks the first time an entire crew has been medically evacuated from the ISS in its 25-year history, highlighting the human element of spaceflight.Next, we shift our focus to Europe, where the European Space Agency is exploring innovative upgrades to the Ariane 6 rocket. These proposed modifications aim to introduce reusable components to improve cost-effectiveness and competitiveness against reusable rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9.In a thrilling revelation, the James Webb Space Telescope has identified peculiar cosmic objects that may represent a new class of early universe galaxies, nicknamed "baby platypus galaxies." These oddly shaped formations challenge existing models of galaxy formation and could reshape our understanding of the early universe.We also examine new observations of Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way, revealing its turbulent past filled with energetic outbursts that have influenced galactic evolution.Lastly, we discuss China's ambitious plans for the Chinese Space Station Telescope, set to launch in 2026. This revolutionary telescope aims to uncover cosmic secrets and complement existing observatories like Hubble and JWST with its wide field of view and advanced imaging capabilities.Join us as we unpack these captivating stories and more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily companion for all things space and astronomy
00:46 – **NASA and SpaceX set target date for Crew 11's return after medical concern
02:46 – **ESA is considering turning Ariane 6 into a Franken rocket with reusable elements
04:09 – **James Webb Space Telescope has spotted unusual galaxies in the early universe
06:07 – **Chinese Space Station Telescope on track for 2026, ready to uncover universe
07:07 – **Thank you for listening to Astronomy Daily. What a packed day### Sources & Further Reading1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/) 2. European Space Agency (https://www.esa.int/) 3. James Webb Space Telescope (https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/) 4. Chinese Space Station (https://www.china-space-station.com/) ### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 your daily companion for all things
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 space and astronomy. I'm Anna and
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 joining me as always is my good friend
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 and co-host Avery. Hey Avery, it's
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 January 10th, 2026. Hope everyone's
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 weekend is stellar.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 >> Hey Anna, and hello to our listeners
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 everywhere. Yeah, it's been a busy start
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 to the year and today we've got some
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 fantastic updates and discoveries. We're
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 kicking off with a big follow-up to
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 yesterday's breaking news on the ISS
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 medical situation, plus rocket upgrades
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 in Europe, some weird early universe
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 galaxies from JWST,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 insights into our galaxy's black hole
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 past, and China's upcoming space
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 telescope that's poised to reveal cosmic
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 secrets. Let's dive right in.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 >> First up, the update we've all been
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 waiting for. NASA and SpaceX have set a
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 target date for Crew 11's return to
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 Earth following the medical concern with
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 one crew member.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 >> This is a historic early return we
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 talked about yesterday. The first
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 medical evacuation of an entire crew
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 from the ISS in its 25-year history.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 Crew 11, who launched last August on
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Dragon Endeavor, includes NASA
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 astronauts Michael Frink and Zena
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 Cardman, Jax's Kimya Yu, and Ross Cosmos
00:01:15 --> 00:01:19 cosminaut Oleg Platanov. The plan now is
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 undocking no earlier than 5:00 p. p.m.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 Eastern time on Wednesday, January 14th,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 weather permitting, and splashdown
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 around 3:40 a.m. on Thursday, January
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 15th off the coast of California.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 Recovery teams are prepped and managers
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 are monitoring sea states, spacecraft
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 readiness, everything to make sure it's
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 safe. NASA stresses the crew member is
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 stable and has been receiving care on
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 board, but the decision was made to
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 return early as a precaution since full
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 diagnosis and treatment aren't feasible
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 in microgravity. Details remain private
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 for medical privacy reasons. No
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 specifics on the condition.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 >> Importantly, this shouldn't impact the
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 upcoming Artemis 2 mission. NASA
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 administrator Jared Eisedman said the
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 evacuation is quote a totally separate
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 campaign at this point and they're still
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 aiming for the first launch window in
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 early February. No delays expected.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 That's reassuring for the whole program.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 >> With Crew 11 heading home, the ISS will
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 temporarily drop to three crew members.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 Russian cosminauts. They'll keep things
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 running, but NASA is looking at
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 accelerating Crew 12's launch from
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 midFebruary to minimize any gap. This
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 shows how flexible the partnership is,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 even in tough moments.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 >> Sending all the best wishes for a safe
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 return to Crew 11. What a reminder of
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 the human element in space flight.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 >> Next, some rocket news from Europe. ESA
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 is considering ways to write the wrongs
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 of Arion 6 by turning it into a sort of
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 Franken rocket with reusable elements.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 >> Arion 6 debuted last year but has faced
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 criticism for being fully expendable,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 high cost, and struggling against
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 reusable competitors like SpaceX's
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Falcon 9. It's not hitting the launch
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 cadence or affordability goals Europe
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 hoped for. Under ESA's best initiative,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Aryan Group is proposing to retrofit
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 Aryan 6 by swapping its solid rocket
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 boosters for reusable liquid field ones
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 from Myaspace. Their methane fuel
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 design. The core and upper stage would
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 stay expendable because recovering them
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 is much harder. Higher speeds, single
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 engine, no easy descent control.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 >> This plugandplay approach could lower
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 costs, boost flight rates, and give
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 Europe quick experience with
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 reusability. Maya Space's full rocket
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 isn't expected until 2027 at earliest,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 so integration would take time. There's
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 also a separate study for a reusable
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 demonstrator from Isizar Aerospace.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 >> It's a pragmatic step to catch up.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 Europe knows it needs reusability to
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 compete long term. Critics say it's
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 playing catch-up to tech from a decade
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 ago, but gaining data from multiple
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 boosters per flight could accelerate
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 progress.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 >> Exciting to see Europe innovating, even
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 if it's a hybrid solution. Shifting to
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 deep space, the James Webb Space
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Telescope has spotted some truly strange
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 cosmic objects that might be baby
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 platypus galaxies or perhaps an entirely
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 new class of early universe phenomena.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 >> These appear as compact, oddly shaped
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 galaxies in the very early universe with
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 unusual morphologies that don't fit
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 standard models. Maybe mergers, rapid
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 formation, or something unique. JWST's
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 infrared power lets us see them at high
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 red shift when the universe was young
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 and chaotic.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 >> The platypus nickname comes from their
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 bizarre mixed features like a mashup of
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 traits from different galaxy types.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 Researchers are debating if they're
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 transitional forms feeding black holes
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 in disguise or new physics at play. This
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 could reshape our understanding of how
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 the first galaxies assembled.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 >> JWST keeps delivering surprises. Every
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 image challenges our assumptions.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 >> Staying galactic, new observations show
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 that while Sagittarius A star, our Milky
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Way super massive black hole, is quiet
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 now, its recent past was far more
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 active. Using XRISM and other
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 telescopes, astronomers detected FEK
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 alpha emission lines in nearby molecular
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 clouds like 0.11
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 minus 0.11.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 X-ray fluorescents from past outbursts
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 illuminating the gas. These flares
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 happened a few hundred to a thousand
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 years ago, possibly specific events
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 around 130 and 230 years back. The black
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 hole likely had a feeding frenzy,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 gobbling a star or gas cloud, then
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 settled down. We might see another echo
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 in decades.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 >> It highlights how black holes toggle
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 between active and quescent states,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 influencing galactic evolution, even in
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 quiet galaxies like ours. And may it
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 long remain quiet, I might add.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 >> Finally, exciting news from China. Their
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 revolutionary space telescope, the
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 Chinese Space Station Telescope, or
00:06:13 --> 00:06:17 Shanien, is on track for 2026 launch and
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 ready to uncover universe secrets. With
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 a 2meter mirror, wide field of view,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 high resolution imaging across multiple
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 wavelengths, and spectroscopic
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 capabilities, Shantien will map large
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 sky areas, directly image exoplanets,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 survey galaxies and stars, probe
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 cosmology, dark matter, and fundamental
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 physics.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 >> Recent breakthroughs include advanced
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 simulation suites for pixel level data
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 testing, ensuring systems are optimized
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 pre-launch. It's designed for broad
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 surveys and deep looks, complementing
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 Hubble and JWST by covering huge areas
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 efficiently.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 >> This could lead to major discoveries in
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 exoplanets, galaxy evolution, and more.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 China is stepping up big time in space
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 astronomy. We'll be watching this with
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 interest as the year rolls on.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 >> And that's it for today. Time to call it
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 a wrap. What a packed day. From human
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 spaceflight drama to cosmic deep dives.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 Thanks so much for listening to
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 Astronomy Daily. If you enjoy these
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 updates, subscribe, share with a friend,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 and we'll be back on Monday with more.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 In the meantime, if you'd like to keep a
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 breast of all the latest developments,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 just visit our website at
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 astronomydaily.io
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 and check out our news update page.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 >> Until then, keep your eyes on the skies.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:41 >> Clear skies, everyone.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:49 The stories been told.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:53 Stories told.