The Automated Daily - Space News Edition

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Welcome to 'The Automated Daily - Space News Edition', your ultimate source for a streamlined and insightful daily news experience.

  1. SpaceX launches television satellite & Jupiter changes direction tonight - Space News (Mar 10, 2026)

    MAR 10

    SpaceX launches television satellite & Jupiter changes direction tonight - Space News (Mar 10, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: SpaceX launches television satellite - SpaceX successfully deployed the EchoStar-25 satellite to geostationary orbit on March 9th, marking the company's first geosynchronous transfer orbit launch of 2026 and supporting Dish Network's direct broadcast capabilities. Jupiter changes direction tonight - Jupiter ends its retrograde motion on March 10, 2026, reversing its westward path through Gemini and resuming normal eastward motion visible to evening sky observers. Starship V3 passes major test - SpaceX's Starship V3 first flight vehicle completed critical cryogenic testing with no issues, bringing the next-generation orbital rocket closer to its anticipated April 2026 debut. NASA restructures Artemis architecture - NASA officially selected ULA's Centaur 5 upper stage for the Space Launch System, standardizing the Artemis program architecture and accelerating lunar mission cadence. Episode Transcript SpaceX launches television satellite Starting with the launch news: SpaceX had a successful Monday night, sending the EchoStar-25 satellite to geostationary orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The satellite deployed nearly 33 minutes after liftoff, exactly where it needed to be. This mission is important because it marks SpaceX's first geosynchronous transfer orbit launch of 2026, and it's going to power Dish Network's direct broadcast television service. The booster came back to Earth safely on the droneship in the Atlantic, marking the 583rd successful landing for SpaceX overall. What's particularly interesting here is the context: EchoStar has been shifting its strategy in a big way. Last year, they sold off spectrum licenses to SpaceX for 17 billion dollars—split between cash and stock—because they decided SpaceX and Starlink were better positioned to deliver mobile connectivity from space. So while Dish gets this TV satellite, SpaceX is clearly the company moving faster in the orbital race. Jupiter changes direction tonight Switching gears to something you can actually see tonight: Jupiter is changing direction in the evening sky. For months now, it's been moving backward through the constellation Gemini—something called retrograde motion. But on March 10th, that stops. Jupiter will pause and then resume its normal eastward motion. Now, this isn't actually Jupiter moving backward through space—it's an optical illusion from Earth's perspective. As we orbit faster than the outer planets, we temporarily overtake them, making them appear to reverse course. It's a neat reminder of how much we learn just by watching the sky change night to night. Starship V3 passes major test In development news, SpaceX has hit a major milestone with Starship. The next-generation V3 vehicle's first flight test article, Ship 39, just completed full cryogenic testing at their test site. This means engineers filled it with super-cold liquid methane and oxygen, ran structural squeeze tests to simulate the forces of a future tower catch, and checked all the redesigned propellant systems. No leaks, no problems. And this matters because Elon Musk has indicated Flight 12—the first full V3 flight—could happen around early to mid-April. That's soon. The V3 design brings larger fuel tanks, more payload capacity, and better reusability. So the pace is accelerating on Starship development. NASA restructures Artemis architecture Finally, NASA is making big moves on the Artemis program. The agency officially selected United Launch Alliance's Centaur 5 upper stage to fly on the Space Launch System starting with Artemis 4, currently targeted for early 2028. This is part of a broader restructuring of the program that emphasizes standardization and reducing complexity. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced last week that the agency is accelerating its lunar mission cadence—planning to fly astronauts to the Moon regularly, with one landing every year after the initial few test flights. By consolidating on proven hardware like the Centaur, instead of developing new upper stages, NASA is betting it can move faster and more reliably. It's a pragmatic shift that trades some future capability for near-term mission assurance. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    4 min
  2. Congress extends ISS operations beyond 2030 & NASA completes Artemis II rocket repairs - Space News (Mar 9, 2026)

    MAR 9

    Congress extends ISS operations beyond 2030 & NASA completes Artemis II rocket repairs - Space News (Mar 9, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: Congress extends ISS operations beyond 2030 - The U.S. Senate committee voted to extend International Space Station operations until 2032, pushing back retirement by two years to maintain continuous human presence in low Earth orbit amid competition with China. NASA completes Artemis II rocket repairs - NASA engineers fixed a helium flow issue on the Artemis II rocket's upper stage, keeping the crewed lunar flyby mission on track for an April launch with four astronauts aboard. March auroras peak near spring equinox - March 2026 offers exceptional aurora viewing opportunities in northern regions due to the combination of peak solar activity and the equinox effect, which amplifies geomagnetic activity around March 20. Venus and Saturn conjunction visible tonight - Venus and Saturn appeared just one degree apart in the western evening sky on March 7-8, creating a rare naked-eye planetary conjunction visible with binoculars for optimal viewing. DART mission proves asteroid deflection works - NASA's DART mission confirmed it was the first human-made object to measurably alter an asteroid's orbit around the sun, validating kinetic impact as a viable planetary defense technique. Episode Transcript Congress extends ISS operations beyond 2030 Starting with some significant news from Capitol Hill: The U.S. Senate has voted to extend operations of the International Space Station until September of twenty thirty-two. That's two full years longer than the original retirement date. Here's why this matters. As commercial space stations are still in development, extending the ISS keeps America competitive with China in low Earth orbit. Essentially, Congress wants to avoid any gap where the U.S. doesn't have continuous human presence in space. It's a strategic move in what's become a new kind of space race. NASA completes Artemis II rocket repairs In related news, NASA is making solid progress on Artemis Two. The agency identified and repaired a helium flow issue on the rocket's upper stage that had delayed the mission earlier this year. Engineers found a dislodged seal was causing the problem. Now the Space Launch System is being prepped for rollout, and the crewed lunar flyby is targeted for launch in early April. That mission will send four astronauts farther into space than any human has traveled in more than fifty years. March auroras peak near spring equinox If you're into stargazing, March is turning out to be a remarkable month for aurora hunters. We're approaching the spring equinox on March twentieth, and during the equinox, Earth's magnetic field aligns with the solar wind in a way that significantly boosts aurora activity. Combined with the sun being near its peak activity cycle, skywatchers across northern latitudes are getting some of the best chances in nearly a decade to see the Northern Lights. Even if you're not typically in aurora country, there's a possibility you might catch a glimpse if conditions align just right. Venus and Saturn conjunction visible tonight Speaking of evening skies, if you missed the Venus and Saturn conjunction over the weekend, you still have time. The two planets were at their closest on March seventh and eighth, appearing just a finger's width apart in the western twilight. Venus is the bright one, while Saturn is dimmer but visible with binoculars. They're still relatively close for a few more evenings if you want to step outside about thirty to forty minutes after sunset. DART mission proves asteroid deflection works And finally, some validation for planetary defense efforts. Researchers confirmed this week that NASA's DART mission from twenty twenty-two was the first human-made object to measurably alter an asteroid's orbit around the sun. When the spacecraft hit the moonlet Dimorphos back in September twenty twenty-two, it didn't just change that asteroid's orbit around its larger companion. It also shifted the pair's orbit around the sun by about one-tenth of a second. While that sounds minuscule, scientists say that over time, even tiny changes in an asteroid's trajectory can mean the difference between Earth getting hit or narrowly missing impact. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    4 min
  3. Japanese cargo spacecraft leaves ISS today - Space News (Mar 6, 2026)

    MAR 6

    Japanese cargo spacecraft leaves ISS today - Space News (Mar 6, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: Japanese cargo spacecraft leaves ISS today - Japan's HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft departs the International Space Station on March 6, 2026, after delivering over 12,000 pounds of supplies and scientific equipment to support ongoing research missions. NASA restructures Artemis lunar program architecture - NASA announces major restructuring of Artemis program, shifting Artemis III focus to low Earth orbit testing while pushing crewed lunar landings to Artemis IV in 2028, introducing competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin. SpaceX Starship Version 3 prepares for March launch - SpaceX's Starship Version 3 Ship 39 undergoes cryogenic testing at Starbase with a targeted March 2026 launch window, featuring advanced flaps and structural improvements for full reusability. Early universe galaxies challenge formation theories - James Webb Space Telescope discovers unexpectedly bright galaxies formed only 280 million years after the Big Bang, and astronomers identify dusty star-forming galaxies challenging current cosmic formation models. China announces ambitious 2026 space missions - China unveils 2026 crewed spaceflight plan targeting first crewed lunar landing before 2030, with missions involving astronauts from Hong Kong, Macao, and international partners including Pakistan. Episode Transcript Japanese cargo spacecraft leaves ISS today Let's start with what's happening right now. As we're recording this afternoon, Japan's HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft is preparing to depart the International Space Station. This unmanned freighter has been docked to the orbiting lab, where it delivered about twelve thousand pounds of supplies, experiments, and equipment to support both NASA and international partner research. After undocking, HTV-X1 will remain in orbit for several more months, conducting its own scientific experiments before being commanded to reenter Earth's atmosphere. This marks another successful resupply mission in the ongoing effort to keep the space station running smoothly. NASA restructures Artemis lunar program architecture Now, to that major Artemis news we teased. NASA announced this week that it's fundamentally restructuring its lunar exploration program. Here's what changed: Artemis III, which was originally supposed to land astronauts on the Moon, is now being retooled as a low Earth orbit mission focused on testing hardware and demonstrating rendezvous and docking procedures with commercial lunar landers. The actual crewed Moon landing has been pushed to Artemis IV, now targeted for 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained the reasoning. The agency wants to move faster, eliminate delays, and introduce competition. Instead of relying solely on SpaceX's Starship, NASA is reopening the competition to include Blue Origin's lunar lander as well. It's a strategic shift that prioritizes progress over the original timeline. SpaceX Starship Version 3 prepares for March launch Speaking of SpaceX, their Starship program continues to accelerate. Ship 39, the first Version 3 Starship prototype, is undergoing cryogenic testing at the Texas test facility as we speak. This new variant features significant improvements, particularly in the flap design and structural systems. Elon Musk has expressed high confidence that Version 3 will achieve full reusability. SpaceX is still targeting a March launch window for the first integrated flight test of this new configuration. Booster 19 is also being prepared, with its raptor engines already installed. The company is clearly pushing hard to demonstrate the next generation of Starship capability. Early universe galaxies challenge formation theories Moving from Earth orbit to the distant universe, astronomers are continuing to puzzle over unexpected discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope. The latest head-scratcher involves a galaxy called MoM-z14, which existed just 280 million years after the Big Bang. That's remarkably early for such a bright galaxy to exist. In fact, Webb is finding far more bright galaxies in the early universe than current models predict—roughly 100 times more. Meanwhile, other research teams using Webb and ground-based observatories have identified populations of dusty, star-forming galaxies that also formed far earlier than expected. These discoveries are forcing astronomers to reconsider how galaxies actually form and evolve in the early cosmos. China announces ambitious 2026 space missions Finally, let's look beyond American and European space efforts. China announced its 2026 space agenda this week, confirming plans for two crewed missions and one cargo resupply mission to its space station. The announcements include a historic milestone: astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao will carry out spaceflight missions as early as this year. One crew member from Shenzhou-23 will also conduct an extended one-year stay in space, a significant experiment in long-duration spaceflight. Beyond the near term, China continues progressing toward its goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the Moon before 2030. Development of the Long March-10 rocket, the Mengzhou spacecraft, and the Lanyue lunar lander is proceeding on schedule, with multiple critical tests already completed. China is also welcoming international participation, with a Pakistani astronaut scheduled to fly to the Chinese space station as a payload specialist. It's a clear signal that space exploration continues to become increasingly international. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    5 min
  4. SpaceX Starlink Launch Creates Sky Phenomenon & Japan's Space One Rocket Fails Again - Space News (Mar 5, 2026)

    MAR 5

    SpaceX Starlink Launch Creates Sky Phenomenon & Japan's Space One Rocket Fails Again - Space News (Mar 5, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Build Any Form, Without Code with Fillout. 50% extra signup credits - https://try.fillout.com/the_automated_daily - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: SpaceX Starlink Launch Creates Sky Phenomenon - SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on March 4, creating a spectacular 'space jellyfish' phenomenon visible across Florida and beyond. The Falcon 9 mission included the 600th Starlink satellite deployed in 2026, with the first-stage booster successfully landing on a droneship for its 25th flight. Japan's Space One Rocket Fails Again - Japan's Space One suffered its third consecutive launch failure on March 4 when the Kairos rocket broke apart during its first stage of flight. The 18-meter solid-fuel rocket was carrying five satellites intended for sun-synchronous orbit. Vast Secures $500 Million for Space Stations - California-based startup Vast announced $500 million in new funding on March 5 to accelerate production of its Haven commercial space stations. The funding includes $300 million in equity and $200 million in debt to support development of next-generation orbital habitats. Ganymede's Auroras Mirror Earth's Lights - NASA's Juno spacecraft revealed that auroras on Jupiter's moon Ganymede display patch structures remarkably similar to Earth's northern lights. The discovery suggests that magnetic fields and charged particles may create auroral displays across different worlds in universal ways. Astronomers Map Ancient Hydrogen in Universe - Astronomers using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope revealed the largest 3D map of hydrogen light in the early universe, showing a vast 'sea of light' between galaxies from 9 to 11 billion years ago. The breakthrough used advanced intensity mapping techniques to uncover previously hidden cosmic structures. Episode Transcript SpaceX Starlink Launch Creates Sky Phenomenon Let's start with that stunning light show. Early this morning at 5:52 AM Eastern Time, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral carrying 29 Starlink internet satellites. The timing was perfect. The rocket lifted off in darkness, but as it climbed higher into the upper atmosphere, it caught the light from the sun—which hadn't risen yet for people on the ground. This created an eerie blue glow that spread across the sky like a giant jellyfish with tentacles. People from Florida to Georgia and up the East Coast saw it. Turns out, this happens whenever rockets launch around dawn or dusk, but when conditions align just right, it's absolutely mesmerizing. Beyond the light show, this mission hit a milestone. The 29 satellites included the 600th Starlink satellite launched by SpaceX so far this year. The first-stage booster, a reusable rocket called B1080, completed its 25th flight and successfully landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. That brings SpaceX's total booster landings to 581. Japan's Space One Rocket Fails Again Over in Japan, the story was less celebratory. Space One's Kairos rocket failed on its third test flight. The 18-meter solid-fuel rocket lifted off from Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture at 11:10 AM local time on March 4th. About two minutes later, the mission ended. The rocket broke apart during its first stage of flight, destroying the five satellites it was supposed to deliver to sun-synchronous orbit. This was Space One's third attempt with the Kairos rocket, and unfortunately, all three have ended in failure. The company has some serious work to do to get this vehicle flight-ready. Vast Secures $500 Million for Space Stations In more positive funding news, space station startup Vast announced it has raised 500 million dollars to accelerate development of its commercial space stations. That's 300 million in equity and 200 million in debt, giving the company significant resources to move forward. Vast is building the Haven space stations as commercial alternatives to the International Space Station. Their first station, Haven-1, is scheduled to launch in 2027 on a SpaceX Falcon 9. After that, they plan to deploy new Haven modules roughly every six months from 2028 through 2032. The company is also preparing for a private astronaut mission to the ISS no earlier than summer 2027. With over a billion dollars already invested in their technology and more than 1000 employees on the payroll, Vast is positioning itself as a serious player in the emerging commercial space economy. Ganymede's Auroras Mirror Earth's Lights Moving to Jupiter's moons, scientists using NASA's Juno spacecraft have made a fascinating discovery. The moon Ganymede, which is the only moon we know that has its own magnetic field, displays auroras that look surprisingly similar to Earth's aurora borealis. The Juno spacecraft captured detailed ultraviolet images of Ganymede's auroras, revealing small bright patches—what researchers call 'beads'—scattered across the polar regions. These patch structures are strikingly similar to auroral beads observed on Earth before magnetospheric storms. On Earth, auroras happen when solar wind particles interact with our magnetic field. On Ganymede, the interaction is different—it's with Jupiter's massive magnetosphere instead. The fact that both create similar auroral patterns suggests that the physics of how magnetic fields and charged particles generate light might be universal across different worlds. Astronomers Map Ancient Hydrogen in Universe Finally, astronomers have created something truly remarkable: the largest and most precise 3D map of hydrogen light in the early universe. A team using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope discovered what they're calling a vast 'sea of light' between galaxies from 9 to 11 billion years ago. They used an advanced technique called Line Intensity Mapping, which is like viewing the universe through a slightly smudged window—you see a blurrier picture, but you capture all the light, not just the brightest spots. This breakthrough allowed them to detect faint galaxies and gas that previous surveys had missed. Understanding how galaxies were distributed and how they evolved during this crucial period helps scientists piece together the history of our universe and reveals how dark matter might be organized on the cosmic web. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    5 min
  5. Blood Moon Eclipse Visible Worldwide & SpaceX Starlink Dual Coast Launches - Space News (Mar 4, 2026)

    MAR 4

    Blood Moon Eclipse Visible Worldwide & SpaceX Starlink Dual Coast Launches - Space News (Mar 4, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: Blood Moon Eclipse Visible Worldwide - A total lunar eclipse turned the Moon blood red on March 3rd, visible to over 3 billion people across Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and the Americas. The phenomenon occurs when Earth's shadow completely envelops the Moon, with Earth's atmosphere scattering sunlight to create the distinctive reddish hue. SpaceX Starlink Dual Coast Launches - SpaceX successfully launched Starlink satellites from both California and Florida on March 1st, bringing over 9,900 Starlink satellites into orbit. The dual-coast launches mark SpaceX's continued expansion of its broadband internet constellation in low Earth orbit. NASA Revamps Artemis Moon Program - NASA announced a major restructuring of its Artemis program, moving the first crewed lunar landing from Artemis III to Artemis IV in 2028. The new plan increases launch cadence and keeps Artemis III in low Earth orbit for technology testing instead of attempting an immediate Moon landing. Venus Saturn Conjunction Tonight - Venus and Saturn will appear remarkably close together in the evening sky on March 8th, separated by about one degree. This planetary conjunction offers a spectacular viewing opportunity in the western sky just after sunset. Vernal Equinox Spring Begins - The vernal equinox arrives on March 20th, marking the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. On this day, both hemispheres experience nearly equal daylight and nighttime hours of approximately 12 hours each. Episode Transcript Blood Moon Eclipse Visible Worldwide Let's start with yesterday's main event—the total lunar eclipse that lit up skies across much of the planet on March 3rd. Scientists are calling it a blood moon, and for good reason. When Earth's shadow completely blankets the Moon, something remarkable happens. Rather than going dark, our lunar companion glows a deep crimson red. This happens because Earth's atmosphere acts like a lens, bending sunlight around the planet and filtering it onto the Moon's surface. It's as if every sunrise and sunset happening on Earth at that moment gets projected onto the Moon all at once. The eclipse was visible from evening hours in eastern Asia and Australia, continued throughout the night across the Pacific region, and graced the early morning skies of North and Central America. Over three billion people had the opportunity to witness this rare event, which won't happen again until 2029. SpaceX Starlink Dual Coast Launches In launch news, SpaceX kicked off March with a pair of successful Starlink missions from opposite coasts. On March 1st, the company launched from both Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral in Florida. These weren't small operations either—the company deployed 29 additional broadband satellites, bringing the total Starlink constellation to over nine thousand nine hundred spacecraft in orbit. Both first-stage boosters were successfully recovered and landed on drone ships, continuing SpaceX's impressive track record with reusable rocket technology. The company's aggressive launch schedule is steadily expanding global internet coverage, particularly in remote areas. NASA Revamps Artemis Moon Program Meanwhile, NASA made some significant announcements about its path back to the Moon. The agency revealed a restructured Artemis program that changes the timeline for astronauts actually setting foot on the lunar surface. The original plan had Artemis III carrying astronauts to the Moon, but now that mission will instead focus on testing critical systems in low Earth orbit. The actual lunar landing will move to Artemis IV in 2028. NASA says this approach follows a more methodical, proven strategy—similar to how the original Apollo program progressed through Mercury and Gemini before reaching the Moon. By keeping Artemis III in Earth orbit, the agency can conduct crucial docking tests with commercial lenders from SpaceX and Blue Origin before attempting the ambitious lunar landing. Venus Saturn Conjunction Tonight If you have clear skies tonight and tomorrow evening, mark your calendars for something special. Venus and Saturn will appear to snuggle up together in the western sky. Astronomers call it a conjunction, and while the planets will look almost close enough to touch from our perspective, they're actually separated by nearly a billion miles in space. To the naked eye, they'll be about one degree apart—roughly the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length. Check the western horizon just after sunset for your best view. Vernal Equinox Spring Begins Finally, the calendar is turning toward spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. March 20th marks the vernal equinox, when day and night reach near-perfect balance at approximately twelve hours each. It's also a day when Earth's magnetic activity sometimes ramps up, offering skywatchers in northern latitudes a potential opportunity to see the aurora borealis dancing across the sky. Nature's light show at both cosmic and terrestrial scales. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    4 min
  6. Blood moon eclipse spectacular display & Interstellar comet observed by JUICE - Space News (Mar 3, 2026)

    MAR 3

    Blood moon eclipse spectacular display & Interstellar comet observed by JUICE - Space News (Mar 3, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: Blood moon eclipse spectacular display - A total lunar eclipse transformed the moon into a blood red orb on March 3, 2026, visible across North America, Asia, and Australia. The phenomenon occurred as Earth's shadow completely enveloped the lunar surface, creating a stunning copper-red appearance lasting nearly an hour. Interstellar comet observed by JUICE - The European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft captured detailed images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third known object from outside our solar system ever detected. The comet's glowing coma and sweeping tail revealed its composition and activity just days after passing closest to the sun. Hidden oceans beneath icy moons - New research published in Nature Astronomy suggests hidden oceans beneath icy moons like Enceladus and Mimas may boil beneath their surfaces when tidal heating melts their ice shells. This discovery could explain unusual surface features and has implications for potential habitability on these distant worlds. SpaceX deploys fifty-four Starlink satellites - SpaceX launched fifty-four new Starlink satellites on March 1 across two bicoastal Falcon 9 missions, bringing the constellation to over nine thousand nine hundred operational satellites in orbit. Both rocket boosters were successfully recovered, continuing SpaceX's reusable launch legacy. New method measures universe expansion - Scientists developed a new technique using gravitational waves from colliding black holes to measure how fast the universe is expanding. The stochastic siren method could help resolve long-standing disagreements between different expansion rate measurements in cosmology. Episode Transcript Blood moon eclipse spectacular display Let's start with that incredible lunar eclipse we just witnessed. Early this morning, Earth's shadow completely covered the moon, turning it a deep, rusty red for nearly an hour. This wasn't just any eclipse—it was visible to over three billion people spread across North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The blood moon effect happens because our planet's atmosphere actually filters and bends sunlight onto the lunar surface, creating that distinctive copper-red glow. For anyone in North America watching from the eastern time zones, the moon dipped below the horizon right during totality, making it a race against the sunrise to catch the best views. Lunar eclipses this dramatic won't happen again until New Year's Eve 2028, so if you managed to see this one, you witnessed something truly rare. Interstellar comet observed by JUICE Moving from our moon to a visitor from beyond, the European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft has sent back stunning images of an interstellar comet passing through our solar system. This comet, called 3I/ATLAS, is only the third known object we've ever detected that actually originated from another star system. Back in November, JUICE captured incredible detail of the comet's glowing coma—that bright cloud of gas and dust surrounding its nucleus—along with a sweeping tail sculpted by the solar wind. The images came from just seven days after the comet's closest approach to the sun, when it was still actively outgassing. Scientists are now analyzing data from five different instruments to understand this visitor's composition and activity. It's a rare opportunity to study something that formed around a completely different star billions of years away. Hidden oceans beneath icy moons Sticking with the outer planets theme, new research out of UC Davis is revealing something surprising about the moons orbiting Saturn and Uranus. These icy worlds might be hiding boiling oceans beneath their frozen shells. When tidal forces from the massive planets they orbit melt the ice from below, the pressure drops dramatically, and on smaller moons like Enceladus and Mimas, that pressure change could actually cause subsurface oceans to boil. The researchers suggest this boiling process might explain some of the strange surface features we see on moons like Miranda, including those massive cliffs and ridges. Size matters here—on larger moons, the ice shell would likely crack before boiling occurs. This discovery is significant because these hidden oceans are considered some of the most promising places in our solar system to search for extraterrestrial life. SpaceX deploys fifty-four Starlink satellites On the launch front, SpaceX had a busy Sunday. The company conducted two Falcon 9 missions from opposite coasts, deploying a total of fifty-four new Starlink satellites into orbit. One mission launched from California, the other from Florida, and both rocket boosters were successfully recovered. These launches pushed the total Starlink constellation past nine thousand nine hundred active satellites. The frequency and success of these missions underscores how routine orbital launches have become, with SpaceX now executing dozens of these deployments each year. Each successful mission adds another piece to their global broadband constellation. New method measures universe expansion Finally, cosmologists are getting a new tool to answer one of astronomy's biggest puzzles: how fast is the universe actually expanding? Researchers at the University of Illinois and University of Chicago have developed a novel method using gravitational waves—those ripples in spacetime created by colliding black holes. By studying the gravitational wave background, the faint hum created by countless black hole mergers happening throughout the universe, they can calculate the universe's expansion rate with greater precision. This matters because different measurement techniques currently disagree on this value, creating what's known as the Hubble tension. As gravitational wave detectors become more sensitive in the coming years, this new method could help resolve one of modern cosmology's most stubborn mysteries. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    5 min
  7. NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations & SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation - Space News (Mar 2, 2026)

    MAR 2

    NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations & SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation - Space News (Mar 2, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations - NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory started its primary science mission on March 1, studying Earth's exosphere and ultraviolet hydrogen glow from the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point. SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation - SpaceX successfully launched 54 Starlink satellites across two Falcon 9 missions on March 1, bringing the total constellation to over 9,900 operational satellites. Total Lunar Eclipse Incoming Tomorrow - A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red tomorrow morning, March 3, visible across North America, Asia, and the Pacific with 58 minutes of totality. Prominent Solar Activity Detected - The sun erupted with a massive prominence near its north pole on March 2, following days of increased solar flare activity with multiple C-class flares. Jupiter and Venus Evening Viewing - Jupiter dominates the evening sky this week in the constellation Gemini while Venus continues its descent toward the western horizon after sunset. Episode Transcript NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations Let's start with what's happening with our own planet. NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory just kicked off its primary science mission yesterday, March 1st. This spacecraft, which launched back in September 2025, has been getting ready for this moment for months. It's now positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 point, about one million miles from Earth toward the Sun. From that vantage point, it can see something pretty remarkable: the glow of hydrogen in Earth's outermost atmosphere. The observatory carries two ultraviolet cameras that will watch how our exosphere expands and contracts as solar activity changes. Over the next two years, this mission will help us understand how our upper atmosphere responds to space weather events and how planets lose water to space over time. SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation Speaking of spacecraft doing their thing, SpaceX had a busy Sunday. On March 1st, they launched Starlink satellites from both coasts. A Falcon 9 took off from California in the morning, deploying 25 satellites. Then, nearly twelve hours later, another Falcon 9 launched from Florida with 29 more. Both first stage boosters came back and landed successfully on their respective droneships. These launches brought the total Starlink constellation to more than 9,900 operational satellites in orbit. That's an incredible number when you think about it. SpaceX is now deploying over 500 satellites just this month alone. Total Lunar Eclipse Incoming Tomorrow Now, if you haven't heard already, there's something really special happening tomorrow morning. A total lunar eclipse is coming, and depending on where you are, this could be one of the most dramatic skywatching events of the year. The eclipse begins at 3:44 AM Eastern time on March 3rd. The partial phase starts at 4:50 AM, and then totality hits at 6:04 AM. For about 58 minutes, the entire moon will be bathed in Earth's shadow, turning that deep reddish-orange color we call a blood moon. This happens because our planet blocks most of the Sun's light, and what little light reaches the lunar surface gets filtered through Earth's atmosphere. If you can get to a clear location in North America, especially in the eastern parts of the country, you should be able to see this. Just be prepared to wake up early. Prominent Solar Activity Detected The Sun has been pretty active lately, and that trend continued into today. A massive prominence erupted near the sun's north pole this morning, March 2nd. These are huge arcs of solar material that shoot up from the sun's surface. This one took several hours to fully develop, and most of the material fell back into the sun, though observers are still tracking whether any material escaped into space. Over the past 24 hours, we've also seen 18 C-class solar flares, which are relatively common but still worth monitoring. One of the larger flares reached C4.5 magnitude. Solar activity has been ramping up, so if you're into space weather, this is an interesting time to be paying attention. Jupiter and Venus Evening Viewing If you're planning to do some skywatching this week beyond the eclipse, Jupiter is your main attraction. It's been dominating the evening sky in the constellation Gemini, and it's bright enough that you can easily spot it without any equipment. Venus is also visible just after sunset if you look low in the western sky, though it's been getting lower each night. Saturn has pretty much disappeared into the sun's glare and won't be visible again until next month. Mercury is also in the process of making a transition, heading toward the morning sky. So if you have binoculars or a telescope handy, Jupiter is definitely worth a look this week. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    4 min
  8. SpaceX launches Starlink satellites west coast & Sun mirrors itself with prominence jets - Space News (Mar 1, 2026)

    MAR 1

    SpaceX launches Starlink satellites west coast & Sun mirrors itself with prominence jets - Space News (Mar 1, 2026)

    Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad - Effortless AI design for presentations, websites, and more with Gamma - https://try.gamma.app/tad - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily Today's topics: SpaceX launches Starlink satellites west coast - SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully launched 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 1, 2026, marking the booster's 20th flight with a successful Pacific Ocean droneship landing. Sun mirrors itself with prominence jets - Solar activity shows unusual mirror-effect prominence jets with the sun's southwest region responding to the previous day's southeast prominence, demonstrating complex magnetic interactions on Earth's nearest star. Total lunar eclipse coming March 3 - A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood-red on March 3, 2026, visible across North America, Australia, and East Asia with totality lasting approximately 58 minutes in early morning hours. Tonight's sky offers Saturn viewing - Saturn reaches its final visibility window in the evening western sky on March 1, appearing just 7 degrees above the horizon with its rings stretching 36 seconds of arc, viewable through telescopes. Solar activity remains active and dynamic - The sun maintains active flare production with 17 C-class flares recorded on March 1, 2026, as geomagnetic disturbances continue from a February 25 coronal mass ejection reaching Earth. Episode Transcript SpaceX launches Starlink satellites west coast Let's start with what happened in the pre-dawn hours this morning. SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 2:10 AM Pacific time, carrying 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites toward low Earth orbit. What's particularly noteworthy here is that this booster, known as B1082, has now completed its 20th flight. That's right—the same rocket engine that launched critical military missions and resupply cargo is now routinely hauling internet satellites to the sky. The booster landed safely on the droneship in the Pacific, and the satellites reached their target orbit about an hour after launch. For those keeping track, SpaceX aims to launch another Starlink batch tomorrow morning from Florida. Sun mirrors itself with prominence jets Now, speaking of remarkable recycling efforts, let's talk about what the sun has been up to. Solar activity took an interesting turn over the past day. Scientists observed something unusual happening on our star. A prominence—that's a large loop of hot plasma—erupted from the sun's far side on February 27. But here's where it gets interesting. The next day, the sun's visible side responded with a powerful jet on the opposite side. It's almost like the sun is mirroring itself. Experts describe this as an unusual pattern, but it demonstrates just how interconnected the sun's magnetic systems really are. Today, March 1st, the sun produced 17 solar flares, all of them relatively modest C-class events. Still, this elevated activity means geomagnetic conditions on Earth could remain unsettled over the next couple of days. Total lunar eclipse coming March 3 If you've got a telescope handy and clear skies tonight, here's your final chance to catch Saturn in the evening. The ringed giant is sinking lower toward the western horizon, currently sitting just seven degrees above the horizon at an hour after sunset. Through a telescope, you're looking at those iconic rings stretching about 36 arcseconds from end to end. The planet's disk spans about 16 arcseconds, and if you're lucky, you might spot Titan, its largest moon, positioned about 2.5 arcminutes to the west. Venus and Mercury have already set by this hour, but Saturn remains the brightest light in the western evening sky. After tonight, Saturn moves into conjunction with the sun and will disappear from evening viewing for several weeks. Tonight's sky offers Saturn viewing Looking ahead just two days, we're in for a celestial treat. March 3rd brings a total lunar eclipse—what's often called a blood moon. The moon will enter Earth's shadow in the early morning hours, and those in North America will have excellent viewing opportunities. Totality begins at 6:04 AM Eastern time and lasts about 58 minutes. The entire moon should turn a striking coppery red as sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere and casts shadows on the lunar surface. This is the last total lunar eclipse visible from Earth until the very end of 2028, so it's definitely worth setting an alarm for. The best views from the continental United States will be from the Mountain and Pacific time zones, where the eclipse happens in a dark sky. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)

    4 min
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