Space News Today

Today on Astronomy Daily: Astronomers have witnessed something extraordinary in the Andromeda Galaxy — a massive star that simply vanished, collapsing into a brand-new black hole without the usual supernova fireworks. We cover the SpaceX Crew-12 launch to the ISS, Europe's powerful Ariane 64 flying for the first time with Amazon satellites aboard, another booster anomaly for ULA's Vulcan rocket, a bizarre inside-out planetary system that defies formation models, and NASA's plan to rescue the Swift observatory from orbital decay. Timestamped Chapters 00:00 — Welcome to Astronomy Daily 01:30 — SpaceX Crew-12 launches to the ISS 04:00 — Star vanishes in Andromeda — a black hole is born 08:30 — Europe's Ariane 64 flies for the first time 10:30 — Vulcan rocket suffers repeat booster anomaly 13:00 — The bizarre inside-out planetary system of LHS 1903 15:30 — NASA's Swift observatory fights for survival 17:30 — Sign-off and how to stay connected Key Links • NASA Crew-12 Blog: nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew • Vanishing Star Study (Science): doi.org/10.1126/science.adt4853 • Inside-Out Planet Study (Science): doi.org/10.1126/science.adl2348 • NASA Swift Observatory: nasa.gov/swift • Show Website: astronomydaily.io • Social Media: @AstroDailyPod on all platforms





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SpaceTime with Stuart Gary Gary - Series 29 Episode 19


In this episode of SpaceTime , we explore astonishing discoveries in astrophysics, planetary science, and aerospace engineering.


Astronomers Observe Possible Black Hole Explosion


Astronomers are investigating what could be the first ever observation of a black hole explosion. A recent study published in Physical Review Letters suggests that the mysterious high-energy neutrino detected in 2023 may have originated from a quasi-extremal primordial black hole. This type of black hole, theorized to exist since the Big Bang, could explain the otherwise unexplainable energy levels of the neutrino and potentially unlock the secrets of dark matter and the fundamental nature of the universe.


Mars' Dust Storms and Water Loss


New research published in Communications Earth and Environment reveals that localized dust storms on Mars may play a significant role in the planet's water loss. While Mars is currently a dry desert, evidence from its surface indicates a wetter past. The study shows that intense dust storms can transport water vapor to higher altitudes, facilitating its escape into space, thus contributing to the long-standing mystery of Martian water depletion.


Plasma Daniel for Hypersonic Testing


A groundbreaking facility known as the plasma tunnel is now being used by scientists and engineers to simulate the extreme conditions spacecraft face during atmospheric reentry. The plasma tunnel generates high-speed plasma flows that mimic the intense heat and pressure experienced during reentry, providing critical data for developing safer and more efficient spacecraft. This innovative technology could revolutionize our understanding of hypersonic flight and enhance mission safety for future space exploration.


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✍️ Episode References


Physical Review Letters, Communications Earth and Environment


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(00:00:00) Astronomers investigate a potential black hole explosion


(00:07:15) New study reveals how dust storms on Mars contribute to water loss


(00:15:30) The plasma tunnel: recreating atmospheric reentry conditions


(00:22:45) Science report: Genetic factors influencing life expectancy


(00:30:00) Bigfoot sightings and cultural phenomena in America


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Cosmic Dust in a Jar, Volcanic Eruptions on Io, and the Quest for Intelligent Life


In this exciting episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson delve into a series of captivating cosmic stories that will spark your imagination. From the groundbreaking creation of cosmic dust in a lab to the simultaneous volcanic eruptions on Jupiter's moon Io, this episode is a treasure trove of astronomical insights.


Episode Highlights:


- Cosmic Dust in a Jar: A Sydney PhD student has synthesized cosmic dust in a laboratory setting. Andrew and Fred discuss the implications of this breakthrough for our understanding of how complex organic molecules form in space, and whether this could reduce the need for future space missions to gather samples from asteroids.


- Simultaneous Volcanic Eruptions on Io: The hosts explore the extraordinary event of five volcanoes erupting at once on Io, revealing insights into the moon’s geological activity. They discuss the gravitational forces at play and how this discovery challenges previous theories about Io's solid interior.


- Follow the Coal to Find Intelligent Life: A new theory suggests that the presence of coal may be a key factor in the development of intelligent civilizations. Andrew and Fred unpack the idea that access to natural resources could influence technological advancement, raising questions about the rarity of intelligent life in the universe.





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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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In today's episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery unpack six major space stories. China has achieved a crucial milestone in its crewed lunar programme, successfully testing the Mengzhou capsule's abort system at maximum dynamic pressure while also demonstrating SpaceX-style rocket recovery with the Long March 10 first stage. ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket is set to launch its longest mission yet, delivering GSSAP space surveillance satellites directly to geosynchronous orbit for the US Space Force. We explain why NASA's Artemis 2 Moon mission has remarkably few launch opportunities — just 11 dates across March and April — and what orbital mechanics, solar power constraints, and hydrogen leaks have to do with it. In astronomy news, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has produced its clearest image yet of the Egg Nebula, a pre-planetary nebula offering a rare glimpse of a Sun-like star in its death throes. A provocative new study in the journal Astrobiology argues that the 1976 Viking missions may have detected signs of Martian life after all, with perchlorates masking the organic signatures. And finally, astronomers continue searching for remnants of Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS, which spectacularly disintegrated during the 2020 pandemic — but may not be entirely gone. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction [01:30] China's Mengzhou capsule abort test & Long March 10 rocket recovery [05:30] ULA Vulcan USSF-87 launch — GSSAP satellites for Space Force [08:30] Artemis 2 launch windows — why only 11 chances in 2 months [11:30] Hubble's stunning Egg Nebula image — a dying star's final act [14:00] Did NASA's Viking missions find life on Mars? New evidence says maybe [16:30] The mystery of 'dead' Comet ATLAS — could fragments survive? [18:00] Sign-off





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Four astronauts are stuck in quarantine in Florida as weather keeps pushing back the Crew-12 launch — now targeting no earlier than Friday, February 13. We've got the full story, including the remarkable subplot involving a Russian cosmonaut who was quietly removed from the mission in December. Plus: interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is on its way out of the solar system forever, but new data from NASA's SPHEREx and James Webb telescopes reveals it's been carrying a chemical cocktail from another star system — one that's unlike anything we've seen in our own comets. Also in today's episode: NASA let an AI drive the Perseverance rover on Mars for two days straight; new research suggests Earth may have hit a rare chemical jackpot during formation that made life possible; the Ring of Fire solar eclipse is just one week away; and Starship is back on track after the Booster 18 disaster, with Flight 12 targeting a March launch window. In This Episode • SpaceX Crew-12: Three launch scrubs, skeleton ISS crew, and the cosmonaut spy subplot • 3I/ATLAS farewell: SPHEREx detects alien chemistry; JWST finds record CO2-to-water ratio • AI drives Perseverance on Mars — 456 metres without human control • Earth's lucky chemistry: why phosphorus and nitrogen almost didn't make it to the surface • Ring of Fire annular solar eclipse — February 17 over Antarctica • Starship Flight 12: Booster 19 passes cryo tests, March launch window in sight Key Links • Full show notes & blog: astronomydaily.io • NASA Crew-12 mission blog: nasa.gov • NASA SPHEREx 3I/ATLAS data: science.nasa.gov • Universe Today — AI drives Perseverance: universetoday.com • Nature Astronomy — Earth habitability study: nature.com Subscribe & Connect Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episode every weekday. Full transcripts, blog posts and show notes at astronomydaily.io





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