Space News Today

Astronomy Daily Season 5, Episode 80 — Friday, April 3, 2026 It's Day 2 of the Artemis II mission and the crew is on their way to the Moon after a perfect translunar injection burn. We've also got a comet about to face perihelion, a dark matter mystery deepening, stunning new JWST images, and the escalating fight over the future of our night skies. In today's episode: 🚀 ARTEMIS II — TRANSLUNAR INJECTION BURN: The Orion spacecraft successfully completed its TLI burn on April 2, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen delivered one of the quotes of the year from orbit. 🚽 ARTEMIS II — THE LUNAR LOO: Hours after launch, Orion's toilet malfunctioned. Christina Koch fixed it. This is why test flights exist. ☄️ SUNGRAZER COMET C/2026 A1 (MAPS): Tomorrow, this Kreutz sungrazer passes 161,000 km from the Sun's surface. It could vaporise — or become the most spectacular comet since Ikeya-Seki. Southern Hemisphere watchers: eyes on the western horizon from April 6. 🌌 DARK MATTER-FREE GALAXIES: Yale astronomers have confirmed a third galaxy with essentially no dark matter — NGC 1052-DF9. The 'Bullet Dwarf' collision theory is gaining powerful evidence. 🌟 JWST + W51: The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed hidden young stars in the W51 star-forming region, piercing dust clouds that have blocked our view for decades. ⚠️ NIGHT SKY UNDER THREAT: Reflect Orbital's orbital mirror satellite launches this month. SpaceX wants one million satellites. The astronomical community is fighting back. Find us at: http://astronomydaily.io (http://astronomydaily.io) Follow us: @AstroDailyPod Part of the Bitesz.com Podcast Network





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SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 40 *Using archaeology to study the history of galaxies like the Milky Way Astronomers have for the first time used what they’re calling galactic archaeology to trace the history of a galaxy beyond our own galaxy the Milky Way. *Europe reconnects with its lost Proba-3 spacecraft The European Space Agency has finally re-established contact with one of the spacecraft in its Proba 3 mission. *Using blue-green algae to grow food on Mars Scientists have used a cyanobacteria-based fertilizer could grow food in a simulated Mars environment. *The Science Report A new study warns that abstinence could affect sperm quality. Scientists recover ancient Pinot Noir grape pips almost 600 years old. New study shows many birds are boozing on the human equivalent of a beer every day. Skeptics guide to Age of Disclosure. Our Guests This Week: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Dr. Lori Glaze acting associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Carlos Garcia-Galan program executive in charge of NASA’s Moon Base Project. Jasmin Plattner from ZARM -- the Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity ZARM research scientist Tiago Ramalho from the University of Bremen. And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics 🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ www.bitesz.com/nordvpn (http://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn) . The discounts and bonuses are incredible! And it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ If you’d like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content by becoming a SpaceTime crew member, you can do just that through premium versions on Patreon, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Details on the Support page on our website https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/ (https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/) For more SpaceTime and show links: https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ (https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ)


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Artemis 2, Space Toilets, and the Discovery of a Second Generation Star


In this fascinating episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson take you on a journey through the latest developments in space exploration. With Artemis 2 set to launch, they dive into the mission's exciting details, including Australia's role in communication and the innovative design of the spacecraft's toilet system. They also discuss NASA's ambitious plans for a permanent moon base and the recent evacuation of an astronaut from the International Space Station, shedding light on the challenges faced in space travel. Finally, the episode wraps up with an intriguing discovery of a second generation star, offering insights into the universe's early history.


Episode Highlights:


- Artemis 2 Launch: Andrew and Fred explore the Artemis 2 mission, discussing the significance of Australia's CSIRO involvement in communications and the advanced technology behind the Orion spacecraft's hygiene bay.


- NASA's Moon Base Plans: The hosts delve into NASA's announcement of a $20 billion investment over seven years to establish a permanent base on the moon, examining the implications for future lunar exploration.


- ISS Crew Evacuation Update: A detailed look at the recent medical emergency involving astronaut Mike Finke, including the mystery surrounding his seizure and the ongoing investigations to ensure astronaut safety in space.


- Second Generation Star Discovery: Andrew and Fred discuss the implications of discovering a second generation star, known as Pick 2503, and what it reveals about the universe's formation and the lifecycle of stars.





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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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Today is the day. Artemis II — NASA's first crewed Moon mission in 54 years — lifted off last night, and as we record this, four astronauts are preparing to leave Earth's orbit forever on the Translunar Injection burn. In this special launch-day edition, Anna and Avery cover the near-flawless launch, today's critical TLI milestone, the historic firsts being set by the crew aboard Orion (named Integrity), what the next ten days look like on the road to the Moon, the international CubeSats that hitched a ride, and the stunning coincidence of a full Pink Moon rising as humanity headed moonward. Key Sources • NASA Liftoff Announcement — nasa.gov • NASA Artemis Live Updates Blog — nasa.gov/blogs/artemis • NASA Coverage Schedule — nasa.gov/missions/artemis • CNN Artemis II Live Updates — cnn.com • Time Magazine — 'The Lunar Mission the World Is Watching' • Astronomy.com — Live Updates: Artemis 2 • NPR — NASA Launches Four People on Artemis II • Wikipedia — Artemis II • FAI World Air Sports Federation — Artemis II Records • Fast Company — Pink Moon / Artemis II Upcoming Mission Milestones • Tonight, April 2 (~8 PM ET): Translunar Injection burn — crew leaves Earth orbit • Sunday, April 5: Crew communication downlinks; Apollo 13 distance record expected to be broken • Monday, April 6: Lunar flyby — closest approach ~4,000 miles from Moon surface • Friday, April 10: Pacific Ocean splashdown





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SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 39 *Gateway space station axed in favour of a base on the Moon – Part 2 In the second part of our special report on the pausing of construction on the Lunar Gateway space station project, we’ll detail the plans to build a permanent base at the Moon’s south pole. The seven year 20 billion dollar project will see more than thirty spacecraft sent to the Moon to deploy rovers, equipment, habitat modules and of course people. *Extending the life of the International Space Station As part of NASA’s new Ignition program the International space Station will have its life extended until at least 2032. *Nuclear powered spacecraft to fly in 2028 In December 2028 NASA will launch the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, the first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft which will journey to Mars demonstrating advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. *Yet another meteor sighting – this time in Texas There’s been yet another large meteor sighting this time in Texas. It’s the third major meteor event in the past month. Last week, a large meteor air burst above Ohio, and the week before another exploded in the skies above northern Europe with fragments raining down across northern Germany. *The Science Report Australia's environment experienced above average conditions for the fifth year in a row. The world’s most detailed cellular atlas of early-stage prostate cancer. New study shows Tik Tok users have difficulty with their concentration and emotions. Alex on Tech Sora killed off.





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