Space News Today

Today on Astronomy Daily: NASA's Artemis II mission is rolling back to the Vehicle Assembly Building today after a helium flow issue dashed hopes of a March launch. We cover the latest on what went wrong, what it means for the April window, and what happens next. We also have five more stories to get through: Perseverance just gained the ability to locate itself on Mars with GPS-like precision — no Earth assistance required. Scientists have published a daring plan to intercept interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using a solar slingshot manoeuvre, with a launch in 2035 and a 50-year journey to follow. China's mysterious Shenlong space plane is back in orbit on its fourth mission, and we still know almost nothing about it. We run through this week's packed launch schedule — including Rocket Lab's hypersonic scramjet test flight happening today, and Firefly Aerospace's return to flight on Friday. And we close with a genuinely beautiful piece of science: researchers have used supercomputers to solve a 50-year-old mystery about how elements move inside red giant stars. In This Episode 00:00 — Introduction 01:30 — Story 1: Artemis II rollback — the latest 05:30 — Story 2: Perseverance gets GPS on Mars 09:00 — Story 3: The 50-year mission to chase 3I/ATLAS 12:30 — Story 4: China's Shenlong space plane — Mission 4 15:00 — Story 5: This week's launch schedule 17:30 — Story 6: Supercomputers solve the red giant mystery 19:30 — Outro Find Us Website: astronomydaily.io Social: @AstroDailyPod Network: Bitesz.com Podcast Network





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SpaceTime with Stuart Gary Gary - Series 29 Episode 23


In this episode of SpaceTime, we investigate the discovery of a nearly invisible galaxy dominated by dark matter, the latest delays in the Artemis 2 mission to the Moon, and the anticipated launch of Australia's new hypersonic scramjet.


A Dark Matter Galaxy Unveiled


Astronomers have identified an almost invisible galaxy, catalogued as CDG2, located in the Perseus galaxy cluster approximately 300 million light years away. This galaxy is believed to be composed of about 99% dark matter, making it one of the most dark matter-dominated galaxies ever detected. The findings, published in Astrophysical Research Letters, reveal that dark matter constitutes roughly 80% of the universe's total matter, and CDG2's faint presence was confirmed through observations of its globular clusters using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Euclid Space Observatory.


Artemis 2 Mission Delayed Again


NASA has announced another delay for the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to return humans to lunar orbit for the first time in over 50 years. A helium leak discovered in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's upper stage has prompted the agency to roll back the launch vehicle to the vehicle assembly building for repairs. This setback eliminates the potential for a March launch, with the next available windows opening in early April. The Artemis 2 mission will carry a crew of four on a 10-day journey to the Moon, including critical system tests and satellite deployments.


Australia's Hypersonic Scramjet Launch Imminent


An Australian company is set to test its new hypersonic scramjet-powered aircraft, the Dart AE, before the end of the month. This innovative vehicle will utilize a 3D printed Spartan Scramjet engine, designed to operate at speeds exceeding Mach 5 with liquid hydrogen fuel. The mission, codenamed Cassowary Vex, will launch aboard a Rocket Lab electron rocket and aims to validate the scramjet propulsion system under real hypersonic flight conditions while producing zero carbon emissions.


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✍️ Episode References


Astrophysical Research Letters


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🚀 Astronomy Daily — Season 5 | Monday, February 23, 2026 NASA rolls back the Artemis 2 moon rocket, Europa's ocean gets a life-friendly upgrade, SpaceX breaks its own booster reuse record, Rocket Lab launches a hypersonic mission TODAY, Mars dust storms reveal how the Red Planet lost its water, and SIX planets are visible in tonight's sky. IN THIS EPISODE: 🌕 Artemis 2 rollback — the crew is released from quarantine and the moon launch is pushed to April 🌊 Europa's hidden ocean may be receiving nutrients from the surface — big news for the search for life 🛸 SpaceX flies two Falcon 9s in one day and sets a new booster reuse record 🔥 Rocket Lab's HASTE hypersonic test rocket launches TODAY from Wallops, Virginia 🌪️ A Mars dust storm was moving water at unexpectedly high rates — new clues to the Red Planet's past 🌟 Six-planet parade peaks this week + the crescent Moon passes through the Pleiades tonight FOLLOW ASTRONOMY DAILY: 🌐 astronomydaily.io 📱 @AstroDailyPod on all platforms 🎙️ Part of the Bitesz.com Podcast Network





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Exploring Dark Matter, Telescope Innovations, and Olympus Mons


In this engaging Q&A edition of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson tackle a range of fascinating listener questions that dive deep into the mysteries of our universe. From the elusive nature of dark matter to the future of space telescopes, this episode promises to enlighten and entertain.


Episode Highlights:


- The Mystery of Dark Matter: Listener Bob from Chicago asks how astronomers have determined that approximately 80% of the universe is made up of dark matter. Fred explains the historical context and the groundbreaking techniques that have led to this astonishing conclusion.


- Next-Gen Telescopes: Ben also inquires about the next large telescope to be launched. Fred shares his excitement for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile, which promises to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos with its advanced capabilities.


- Understanding Telescopes: Ash from Australia seeks clarity on the different types of telescopes and the wavelengths they detect. Fred elaborates on the intricate designs of optical, infrared, and radio telescopes, explaining how their unique technologies allow them to observe various forms of light.


- The Graviton Enigma: Russ from the UK poses a thought-provoking question about the graviton and its relation to Einstein's theory of gravity. Fred discusses the complexities of gravity as a force and the ongoing quest to understand its fundamental particles.


- Olympus Mons and Space Elevators: Robert from Iceland wonders if Olympus Mons could serve as a staging point for a space elevator. The hosts explore the challenges and feasibility of this intriguing concept, revealing the importance of location in such ambitious projects.





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Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.





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Astronomy Daily — Season 5, Episode 45 | February 21, 2026 "Countdown to the Moon: Artemis II Crew in Quarantine" The Artemis II crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (NASA), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (CSA) — have officially entered quarantine ahead of a targeted March 6, 2026 launch. With the second Wet Dress Rehearsal completed successfully on February 19th, humanity is just two weeks away from returning to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Anna and Avery break down everything you need to know about this historic mission. Also on today's episode: • DARK MATTER UNDER PRESSURE: A new paper in Physical Review D claims its findings represent the first step toward the end of dark matter theory as we know it — researchers have found a plethora of baryonic (ordinary) dark matter signals that challenge the standard cosmological model. • AURORA WATCH: A large coronal hole on the Sun has rotated into a geoeffective position, with fast solar wind expected to reach Earth around February 22nd. Skywatchers at higher latitudes should keep their eyes on the skies tomorrow night. • MARS WATER UPDATE: New research suggests water ice on Mars may be accessible far closer to the equator than previously believed — a game-changing development for future human exploration of the Red Planet. • SERIAL KILLER BLACK HOLES: Astronomers using James Webb Space Telescope data have confirmed that active supermassive black holes don't just shut down star formation in their own galaxies — they can suppress star formation in neighbouring galaxies too. • SPACEX NEAR MISS: SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 booster in The Bahamas for only the second time ever after launching 29 Starlink satellites — but someone at SpaceX admitted they 'almost did have a really terrible day.' Full show notes and episode sources available at astronomydaily.io Follow us: @AstroDailyPod on all platforms Part of the Bitesz.com Podcast Network





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