Space News Today

In today's episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery cover five major stories from across the cosmos. SpaceX Crew-12 is targeting Thursday February 12th for launch to the International Space Station, after weather pushed back the Wednesday window. Meet the international crew of four and find out why this mission will run longer than usual. Our Sun has been active overnight, with sunspot region AR4366 firing off four M-class flares including an M2.8 that triggered a radio blackout over the Pacific. We look at what this means for space weather and aurora watchers. A stunning new study from Penn State, published in PNAS, has rewritten how scientists think amino acids formed in asteroid Bennu — and the implications for where life's ingredients can arise in the universe are profound. Italian scientists have confirmed the first lava tube on Venus, using 30-year-old radar data from NASA's Magellan mission. The structure is larger than any lava tube found on Earth, the Moon, or Mars. And finally — could coal be the key to finding advanced alien civilisations? A provocative new paper in the International Journal of Astrobiology makes the case. All stories sourced from NASA, Nature Communications, PNAS, and Phys.org. Links below. Source Links • Crew-12 weather delay: nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation • NSF launch preview: nasaspaceflight.com/2026/02/launch-preview-020926 • Bennu amino acids (PNAS): doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2517723123 • Venus lava tube (Nature Communications): doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68643-6 • Aliens and coal: phys.org/news/2026-02-advanced-aliens-exoplanets-large-coal.html • Solar activity: earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates Chapters / Timestamps (approximate) • 00:00 — Cold Open • 01:00 — Story 1: SpaceX Crew-12 Weather Delay • 05:00 — Story 2: Solar Flare Activity AR4366 • 07:30 — Story 3: Asteroid Bennu & Amino Acid Origins • 10:30 — Story 4: Venus Lava Tube Discovery • 13:30 — Story 5: Alien Civilisations & Coal Deposits • 17:00 — Close





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SpaceTime with Stuart Gary Gary - Series 29 Episode 17


In this episode of SpaceTime , we delve into the recent powerful solar storm that has impacted Earth, the delay of NASA's Artemis 2 manned moon mission, and China's ambitious plans for a futuristic orbital space carrier.


Massive Solar Storm Hits Earth


The sun has unleashed a barrage of solar eruptions, including 41 N-class flares and six X-class flares, with an X8.1 class flare setting a new record for 2026. This storm is described as the strongest radiation event in 20 years, with scientists noting its potential similarity to the historic 1859 Carrington event. The solar activity has disrupted radio communications and produced stunning auroras, while the sun continues its 11-year solar cycle.


Nasa's Artemis 2 Mission Delayed


NASA has postponed the launch of its Artemis 2 manned moon mission due to fuel leaks during a critical launch rehearsal. The mission aims to send a crew of four aboard an Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey around the moon. The delays stem from issues with the SLS rocket's hydrogen tanks and other technical challenges, with new launch windows opening in March.


China's Orbital Space Carrier Plans


China has announced plans for a Star Wars-style orbital space carrier named Luanio, designed to deploy hypersonic missiles and unmanned stealth drones. This massive spacecraft would be part of an ambitious defense system, although the technology to build such a vehicle is still in the realm of science fiction. The announcement comes amid tensions between the U.S. and China regarding military advancements.


www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (https://www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com/)





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Welcome to Astronomy Daily! Today we explore the new lunar space race as SpaceX shifts focus from Mars to the Moon, Europe establishes its Moonport company, and NASA continues Artemis II preparations. Plus, scientists solve the mystery behind auroras, explain Uranus's radiation anomaly from 1986, and SpaceX returns to flight after a brief stand-down.


Join hosts Anna and Avery for your daily dose of space and astronomy news!


---


### Featured Stories


**[00:00] Introduction**


Your hosts Anna and Avery preview today's Moon-focused episode


**[01:15] SpaceX Pivots from Mars to Moon**


- Elon Musk announces strategic shift to lunar settlement


- Moon city achievable in under 10 years vs 20+ for Mars


- Launch windows: Moon every 10 days vs Mars every 26 months


- Alignment with Trump's space policy and Artemis program


- Mars plans delayed but not abandoned (5-7 year timeline)


- History of Musk's changing Mars predictions


**[05:30] Europe's Moonport Ambitions**


- German aerospace company OHB establishes European Moonport Company


- Consolidating lunar mission activities and future infrastructure


- Involvement in ESA's Argonaut lander and Gateway ESPRIT module


- Moon base concept developed with Munich Airport International


- European funding commitments at ESA Ministerial Council


- Italy leads Moon exploration funding at €284 million


**[09:45] NASA Artemis II Progress Report**


- Technicians replace seals after hydrogen leak detection


- Tail service mast umbilical repairs and testing


- Operational changes for next wet dress rehearsal


- Extended countdown hold times for troubleshooting


- Crew training continues: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen


- March launch window still under consideration


**[13:00] Aurora Power Source Discovered**


- International team solves decades-old mystery


- Alfvén waves act as natural particle accelerators


- Analysis of Van Allen Probes and THEMIS mission data


- Universal model applicable to other planets


- Collaboration between HKU and UCLA researchers


- Applications for Jupiter, Saturn, and exoplanet studies


**[15:30] Uranus Radiation Mystery Solved**


- Voyager 2's 1986 anomaly explained after 40 years


- Co-rotating interaction region (CIR) supercharged radiation belts


- Comparative analysis with Earth's space weather events


- Southwest Research Institute breakthrough


- Implications for future Uranus orbiter missions


- Similar applications for Neptune studies


**[18:00] SpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Flight**


- Successful Starlink launch from Vandenberg after 5-day stand-down


- 25 satellites deployed to orbit (Group 17-33)


- Booster 1088 completes 13th flight with successful landing


- February 2nd upper stage anomaly explained


- Gas bubble prevented deorbit burn


- FAA clearance after corrective actions implemented


- Starlink constellation exceeds 9,600 active satellites


- SpaceX's 15th launch of 2026











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Theia's Fate, Galactic Mergers, and the Mysteries of Hydrogen


In this captivating Q&A edition of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson tackle a range of intriguing questions from listeners, diving deep into cosmic mysteries and scientific theories. From the fate of the former planet Theia to the dynamics of galaxy mergers and the origins of hydrogen, this episode is packed with insights that will expand your understanding of the universe.


Episode Highlights:


- The Fate of Theia: Rusty from Donnybrook poses a thought-provoking question about Theia, the planet that collided with Earth. Andrew and Fred discuss the most accepted theories regarding Theia's remnants and how they may have been absorbed into Earth's mantle, leaving behind intriguing geological evidence.


- Galaxy Mergers Explained: New listener Melina asks about the merging of spiral galaxies in an expanding universe. The hosts explain how gravity can overcome the universe's expansion on galactic scales, leading to fascinating interactions and eventual mergers between galaxies.


- Olympus Mons and Mars' Atmosphere: Kevin wonders if the colossal eruptions of Olympus Mons could have contributed to Mars' atmospheric loss. Andrew and Fred explore the volcanic activity on Mars and clarify that while Olympus Mons is impressive, the planet's lack of a magnetic field is a more significant factor in its atmospheric decline.


- Hydrogen's Cosmic Origins: Five-year-old Yuki asks why hydrogen is the only element not formed in stars. The hosts explain that hydrogen was created shortly after the Big Bang, making it the most abundant element in the universe, while other elements formed later through stellar processes.





For more Space Nuts, including our continuously updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. (https://www.spacenutspodcast.com/) Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, Instagram, and more. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.


If you’d like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about (https://www.spacenutspodcast.com/about) .


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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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/31570932?utm_source=youtube

## In Today's Episode:


- **FAA clears Falcon 9 — Crew-12 launch set for February 11** — The four-day grounding ends after SpaceX identifies and addresses the upper stage engine ignition failure. Fourth upper stage issue in 19 months.


- **NASA study: Non-biological sources can't fully explain Mars organics** — Researchers find that known non-biological processes don't account for the abundance of organic compounds discovered by Curiosity in Gale Crater. The team modelled 80 million years of cosmic radiation exposure.


- **Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS flares while exiting the solar system** — NASA's SPHEREx captures the comet dramatically brightening, releasing water vapour, CO₂, methane, methanol, and organic compounds from beneath its cosmic-ray-hardened crust.


- **UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics research** — The deepest funding cut in a generation threatens early-career researchers and the UK's role in major international projects including the Square Kilometre Array and ESO.


- **New Glenn second stage reuse debate reignites** — Blue Origin's Project Jarvis faces the question: can a reusable upper stage beat expendable manufacturing costs? Bezos calls it a "horse race."


- **Fraggles land at Kennedy Space Center** — Jim Henson's beloved characters star in "Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure," a new live show blending comedy, music, and NASA science.


---


## Links & Sources:


- space.com — FAA clears Falcon 9, Crew-12 launch confirmed


- science.nasa.gov — NASA study on Mars organics


- space.com — SPHEREx observations of comet 3I/ATLAS


- space.com — UK astronomy funding cuts


- arstechnica.com — New Glenn second stage reuse debate


- arstechnica.com / kennedyspacecenter.com — Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure


---


## Connect With Us:


🌐 Website: https://astronomydaily.io


📱 Social: @AstroDailyPod (all platforms)


⭐ Subscribe and leave a review to help other space fans find us!





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