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Artemis II Rollout Weekend: NASA Preps Moon Mission + ESA Hacked & Jupiter’s Oxygen Surprise · Space News Today

0:00
Hello space fans. Welcome to Astronomy
0:03
Daily, your source for the latest news
0:05
from across the cosmos. I'm Anna.
0:08
>> And I'm Avery. Great to have you with us
0:10
today. We've got a really exciting
0:12
lineup of stories covering everything
0:14
from upcoming missions to mysterious
0:16
discoveries.
0:18
>> That's right. We're starting with some
0:19
big news from NASA. Artemis 2 is
0:22
entering its final preparations for the
0:24
first crude mission beyond low Earth
0:27
orbit in over 50 years. The roll out to
0:30
the launchpad happens this weekend.
0:32
>> Very exciting. We'll also be talking
0:35
about a serious cyber security breach at
0:37
the European Space Agency, China's
0:39
ambitious satellite launches to kick off
0:41
2026, and the surprising discovery about
0:44
Jupiter's atmosphere.
0:46
>> Plus, we have an intriguing cosmic
0:48
mystery. Astronomers have found a
0:50
massive bar of iron hidden inside the
0:53
famous ring nebula. and we'll wrap up
0:55
with a fascinating look back at the
0:57
Apollo 14 moon trees and what happened
1:00
to them.
1:01
>> Lots to cover, so let's get started.
1:04
>> All right, Avery, let's dive into our
1:06
top story. NASA is entering the final
1:09
stages of preparation for Artemis 2, and
1:11
the excitement is really building.
1:14
>> This is huge, Anna. We're talking about
1:16
the first crude mission beyond low Earth
1:18
orbit in over 50 years. The launch
1:21
window opens as early as February 6th,
1:23
though it could extend into April
1:25
depending on final preparations.
1:27
>> And this weekend is a major milestone,
1:29
right? The roll out to the launchpad.
1:31
>> Exactly. Targeted for no earlier than
1:34
this Saturday, January 17th, the Space
1:37
Launch System rocket and Orion
1:38
spacecraft will make that slow journey
1:40
from the Vehicle Assembly Building to
1:42
launch pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.
1:46
It's about 6.5 km or 4 miles and it'll
1:50
take up to 12 hours on the crawler
1:52
transporter.
1:53
>> That's the same launchpad used for
1:54
Apollo, isn't it?
1:56
>> It is. Launchpad 39B has quite a
1:59
history. Now, the Artemis 2 crew
2:01
consists of four astronauts. NASA's Reed
2:04
Wiseman as commander, Victor Glover as
2:06
pilot, Christina Coach as mission
2:08
specialist, and Canadian astronaut
2:10
Jeremy Hansen also a mission specialist.
2:13
This mission is essentially a dress
2:15
rehearsal for the actual lunar landing.
2:17
Correct.
2:18
>> Right. Artemis 2 will be a 10-day circum
2:21
lunar flight. They'll loop around the
2:23
moon without landing and return to
2:25
Earth. It's building on the success of
2:27
Aremis 1 uncrrewed mission and paving
2:30
the way for Artemis 3, currently
2:32
scheduled for 2028, which will put
2:34
humans back on the lunar surface for the
2:36
first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.
2:40
I know they've been working around the
2:42
clock to get everything ready. Have
2:44
there been any challenges?
2:46
>> There have been some. Back in December
2:48
during a countdown demonstration test,
2:50
engineers detected a problem with a
2:52
valve associated with the Orion
2:54
capsule's hatch pressurization system.
2:57
They replaced that valve on January 5th
2:59
and successfully completed a pressure
3:01
test. They also resolved a leak in the
3:03
ground support hardware that pressurizes
3:05
Orion with oxygen gas. So, what happens
3:08
when one sits at the launchpad?
3:10
>> Ground crews will connect all the
3:12
electrical lines, fuel control system
3:14
ducts, cryogenic propellant feeds, and
3:16
other ground support equipment. Then
3:18
they'll power up all the rocket
3:20
integrated systems for the first time to
3:22
make sure everything works together, the
3:24
rocket, the mobile launcher, and the
3:26
launchpad infrastructure.
3:28
>> And then comes the wet dress rehearsal
3:30
>> scheduled for the end of January. That's
3:32
when they'll load the rocket with about
3:34
2.65 million L. That's 700,000 gallons
3:38
of cryogenic fuel, conduct a launch
3:41
countdown, and then safely unload it.
3:43
They'll run through several countdown
3:45
holds and recycles just like they would
3:47
during an actual launch.
3:48
>> NASA learned a lot from Artemis 1's wet
3:51
dress rehearsal, didn't they?
3:52
>> They did, particularly around loading
3:54
liquid hydrogen propellant. They
3:56
experienced some challenges with that,
3:58
so they'll be monitoring very carefully
4:00
this time. They're also watching how
4:02
much nitrogen gas accumulates between
4:04
the Orion crew module and the launch
4:06
abort system using recently updated
4:08
procedures.
4:09
>> And if all goes well with the wet dress
4:12
rehearsal,
4:13
>> then NASA's mission management team will
4:15
hold a flight readiness review to assess
4:17
whether all systems are truly ready.
4:20
Only then will they commit to a firm
4:22
launch date. And of course, the Aremis 2
4:24
astronauts will conduct a final walkdown
4:26
at the pad, which will be quite a media
4:29
event. The launch windows are
4:31
interesting, too, aren't they? It's not
4:33
every day in February and April.
4:35
>> That's right. Due to the complex orbital
4:38
mechanics of Earth and the moon, there's
4:40
a pattern of about a week of launch
4:42
opportunities followed by 3 weeks
4:44
without any. NASA has published a
4:46
specific dates between February and
4:48
April when launches are possible. This
4:51
is such an exciting time, 50 years since
4:54
we've sent humans beyond low Earth
4:56
orbit,
4:57
>> and it's setting the stage for
4:59
sustainable lunar exploration. Crew
5:02
safety remains NASA's top priority every
5:04
step of the way, as Lorie Glaze, acting
5:06
associate administrator for NASA's
5:08
exploration systems development mission
5:10
directorate, emphasized in their recent
5:12
statement. Moving on to some concerning
5:15
news, Avery. The European Space Agency
5:18
has suffered a significant cyber attack.
5:21
>> Unfortunately, yes. This happened just
5:23
after Christmas on Boxing Day. Actually,
5:26
a hacker operating under the code name
5:28
888 dumped over 200 gigabytes of ESA
5:32
data onto dark web forums.
5:34
>> What kind of data are we talking about?
5:36
The leaked information included
5:38
proprietary software, authorization
5:40
credentials, access tokens, and
5:43
sensitive project documentation. ESA
5:45
initially downplayed the breach, saying
5:47
its impact was limited to servers with
5:49
unclassified documents.
5:51
>> But there was more to the story.
5:53
>> There was. Just a week later, a cyber
5:56
crime group known as Scattered Lapsis
5:58
Hunters claimed they stole another 500
6:00
GB of data, saying the security hole was
6:03
still unpatched. This batch reportedly
6:06
included operational procedures,
6:08
spacecraft and mission details,
6:10
subsystems documentation, and even
6:12
proprietary data from ESA contractors
6:15
like SpaceX, Airbus Group, and Thalus
6:17
Alenia Space.
6:19
>> That's pretty serious. How did ESA
6:21
respond?
6:22
>> They've launched a criminal
6:23
investigation and are fully cooperating
6:25
with authorities. In a press briefing on
6:28
January 8th, Eric Morel de Westgver,
6:31
ESA's director of European legal and
6:34
international matters, said the
6:35
authorities will manage communication
6:37
about the case and handle the criminal
6:39
proceedings.
6:40
>> Is this kind of attack common against
6:42
space agencies?
6:43
>> More common than you think. Cyber
6:45
security researcher Clement Porier from
6:48
the Center for Security Studies at
6:49
ETHZurich told space.com that during her
6:53
research she frequently encounters email
6:55
credentials of ESA employees and even
6:58
other space agencies being sold on dark
7:00
web forums.
7:01
>> How are these credentials being
7:03
obtained?
7:04
>> Hier suggests it may be due to a lack of
7:06
cyber hygiene from ESA staff. Threat
7:09
actors may have used info stealer
7:11
malware which harvests data stored in
7:13
web browsers. things like credentials,
7:15
session cookies, multifactor
7:17
authentication data, and even saved
7:20
credit cards.
7:21
>> That's pretty insidious.
7:23
>> It is. These info steelers are
7:25
particularly dangerous because they can
7:27
evade detection by anti virus software.
7:30
They often spread through malicious ads
7:31
on popular websites or infected links in
7:34
YouTube video descriptions.
7:36
>> And NASA faces similar threats.
7:38
According to sources familiar with space
7:41
cyber risk environment, NASA's actually
7:43
a frequent victim. Vulnerabilities are
7:46
being disclosed almost every day via the
7:48
crowdsource cyber security platform Bug
7:50
Crowd.
7:51
>> Even though the recent ESA leaks didn't
7:54
seem highly critical, there are still
7:56
concerns, right?
7:58
>> Absolutely. Puyer warned that this data
8:00
could be combined with information from
8:02
future breaches to reveal strategic
8:04
information that could enable another
8:06
cyber attack against a space system.
8:09
We're not there yet, but it's an
8:10
important consideration.
8:12
>> And vulnerabilities might exist with
8:14
third party providers, too.
8:16
>> Exactly. The security holes could be on
8:18
the side of software providers or other
8:20
third parties they purchase services
8:22
from. Or ISA's own networks might be
8:25
hiding unpatched vulnerabilities that
8:27
hackers could exploit. What's the bottom
8:29
line here?
8:29
>> As Pooyer put it, data leaks and
8:31
breaches against space agencies are
8:33
common. It can happen to each agency and
8:36
will happen to each agency in the future
8:38
given the rise of cyber attacks against
8:40
the space sector. It's a reality that
8:42
all space organizations need to take
8:44
very seriously.
8:45
>> Let's shift gears to some space activity
8:47
from China. They've kicked off 2026 with
8:50
a couple of impressive satellite
8:52
launches.
8:53
>> They really have, Anna. On January 13th,
8:56
China launched two Long March rockets
8:58
from the Wang Chan Space Launch Center,
9:00
representing a strong start to what's
9:02
expected to be a very busy year for
9:04
their space program.
9:05
>> What were they launching?
9:06
>> The first mission carried the Yaoan 501
9:09
remote sensing satellite, and the second
9:12
deployed a series of Guawang satellites
9:14
into low Earth orbit. Both launches were
9:16
successful and marked the beginning of
9:18
what China hopes will be a
9:19
record-breaking year.
9:21
>> Tell us about the Yaoan 501. That sounds
9:24
interesting.
9:24
>> It is. This satellite was launched
9:27
aboard a Long March 6A rocket, and it's
9:29
notable for its unusual orbit. Unlike
9:32
typical satellites in standard low Earth
9:34
orbits, Yaogon 501's orbit is designed
9:37
to maximize its ability to observe Earth
9:39
from unique angles, providing broader
9:42
and more detailed views of the planet.
9:44
>> What will it be used for? It's part of
9:46
China's growing portfolio of remote
9:48
sensing technology, which has
9:49
applications ranging from agricultural
9:51
monitoring to, let's be honest, military
9:54
surveillance. As China develops and
9:56
deploys more of these satellites,
9:58
they're positioning themselves as a
9:59
leader in Earth observation
10:01
capabilities.
10:02
>> And it'll also help with natural
10:04
disaster monitoring and resource
10:05
management.
10:06
>> Absolutely. It'll contribute to
10:08
monitoring natural disasters, managing
10:10
resources, and supporting scientific
10:12
research efforts globally. The satellite
10:15
is quite advanced in terms of what it
10:16
can do.
10:17
>> Now, what about the Guawang satellites?
10:19
>> The Guawang constellation is designed to
10:22
improve China's capabilities in
10:23
telecommunications, Earth observation,
10:25
and scientific research. By placing
10:28
these satellites in low Earth orbit,
10:30
China will be able to provide enhanced
10:32
communication services, including
10:34
high-speed data transmission over large
10:36
regions.
10:37
>> So, it's not just for China
10:38
domestically. No, it'll improve their
10:41
global connectivity, particularly in
10:43
areas with limited access to terrestrial
10:45
communication networks. And beyond just
10:48
communications, the Guawang
10:49
constellation is expected to play a
10:51
crucial role in supporting China's
10:53
future space exploration goals.
10:55
>> How so?
10:56
>> By providing real-time communication and
10:58
data transfer capabilities. These
11:00
satellites will be instrumental in
11:02
supporting future missions to the moon
11:04
and Mars. It's all part of China's
11:06
integrated approach to building space
11:08
infrastructure. This seems like quite an
11:10
ambitious start to the year.
11:12
>> It really is. According to the China
11:14
Aerospace Corporation, these missions
11:16
underscore China's growing capabilities
11:18
and commitment to expanding their space
11:20
exploration infrastructure. And this is
11:23
just the beginning. They have many more
11:24
launches planned throughout 2026.
11:27
>> It's fascinating to see how competitive
11:29
the space sector has become with
11:31
multiple nations ramping up their
11:32
capabilities. Indeed, we're in a new era
11:35
of space activity, and it's not just
11:37
government agencies anymore. The
11:39
combination of national programs and
11:41
commercial ventures is really
11:43
accelerating progress.
11:44
>> All right, Avery, let's head out to
11:46
Jupiter for our next story. Scientists
11:48
have made a surprising discovery about
11:51
the gas giants atmosphere.
11:53
>> This is really interesting, Anna. A new
11:55
study published in the Planetary Science
11:57
Journal reveals that Jupiter holds
11:59
roughly 1.5 times more oxygen than our
12:02
sun.
12:03
>> That's way more than expected, isn't it?
12:05
>> It is. For decades, studies have
12:08
disagreed about how much oxygen Jupiter
12:10
contains. Some recent studies even
12:12
suggested it was much less than the sun.
12:14
So, this finding significantly reshapes
12:17
our understanding of the planet's
12:18
composition.
12:19
>> Why is oxygen content so important?
12:22
Oxygen is one of the most abundant
12:24
elements in the universe and its
12:26
presence on Jupiter has big
12:28
implications. As Ji Hungyang, a
12:30
post-doal researcher at the University
12:32
of Chicago and the study's lead author
12:34
explained, the precise quantity of
12:36
oxygen offers important clues about how
12:38
Jupiter formed and how our solar system
12:41
evolved.
12:41
>> Because oxygen is key to water
12:43
formation.
12:44
>> Exactly. Understanding its presence and
12:47
distribution could help researchers
12:48
learn more about the conditions that
12:50
allow for the formation of habitable
12:52
planets both in our solar system and
12:54
beyond.
12:55
>> Jupiter's atmosphere is famously
12:57
difficult to study, though.
12:59
>> That's putting it mildly. The thick
13:01
clouds covering the planet, the Great
13:03
Red Spot, which is a storm twice the
13:05
size of Earth, and other violent weather
13:07
patterns have kept scientists from
13:09
getting a clear view of what lies
13:11
beneath the surface. Previous missions
13:13
couldn't measure deep into the
13:14
atmosphere.
13:15
>> The Galileo spacecraft couldn't, but
13:17
more recently, the Juno spacecraft has
13:19
provided valuable data on the upper
13:21
layers, including measurements of
13:23
ammonia, methane, and carbon monoxide.
13:26
Still, building an accurate model has
13:28
been challenging.
13:29
>> What made this new model different?
13:31
>> The researchers integrated both
13:33
chemistry and hydrodnamics, the study of
13:35
how fluids move. As Ji Hong Yang
13:38
explained, you really need both.
13:40
Chemistry alone doesn't include water
13:41
droplets or cloud behavior, while
13:43
hydrodnamics alone oversimplifies a
13:46
chemistry. Bringing them together allows
13:48
for much more accurate predictions.
13:50
>> And they discovered something else
13:52
surprising, too, didn't they?
13:53
>> They did. The study revealed that the
13:56
movement of gases within Jupiter's
13:57
atmosphere is far slower than previously
14:00
believed. The diffusion of molecules is
14:02
35 to 40 times slower than the standard
14:05
assumption.
14:06
>> What does that mean practically? As Ji
14:08
Hungyang put it, it would take a single
14:10
molecule several weeks to move through
14:12
one layer of the atmosphere rather than
14:14
hours. This slower diffusion could have
14:17
significant implications for how heat
14:19
and chemical elements are transported
14:20
within the planet, and it may affect how
14:23
clouds form and dissipate.
14:24
>> This must challenge a lot of existing
14:27
assumptions about gas giant atmospheres.
14:29
>> It does. The discovery adds another
14:32
layer of complexity to our understanding
14:34
and shows that even wellstudied planets
14:36
like Jupiter still have surprises in
14:38
store. This is the most comprehensive
14:40
atmospheric model of Jupiter to date,
14:42
but clearly there's still more to learn.
14:45
>> We'll be sure to follow up this one with
14:47
interest.
14:48
>> Anna, our next story is about a cosmic
14:50
mystery hiding in plain sight, or rather
14:53
hiding in one of the night sky's most
14:55
famous objects.
14:56
>> Oh, this is the Ring Nebula discovery,
14:58
right? I was reading about this. It's
15:01
fascinating.
15:02
>> It really is. Astronomers have
15:04
discovered a mysterious bar-shaped cloud
15:06
of iron inside the iconic Ring Nebula,
15:09
and it went completely unnoticed for
15:11
decades, despite this being one of the
15:13
most studied objects in space.
15:15
>> How did they finally spot it? A European
15:18
team led by researchers at University
15:21
College London and Cardiff University
15:23
used a new instrument called Weave, the
15:26
WHT, Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer
15:30
installed on the William Hershel
15:32
telescope. The key was that weave
15:34
allowed them to obtain spectra across
15:37
the entire face of the nebula at all
15:40
optical wavelengths simultaneously.
15:42
So it wasn't about getting a sharper
15:44
image but analyzing the light
15:46
differently.
15:48
>> Exactly. Dr. Roger Wesson, the lead
15:50
author, explained that by obtaining a
15:52
spectrum continuously across the whole
15:55
nebula, they could create images at any
15:57
wavelength and determine the chemical
15:59
composition at any position. And when
16:02
they processed the data, this iron bar
16:05
just popped out clear as anything.
16:07
>> How big is this thing? The bar's length
16:10
is roughly 500 times that of Pluto's
16:13
orbit around the sun. And get this, the
16:16
mass of iron atoms is comparable to the
16:19
mass of Mars.
16:21
>> That's colossal. And it fits inside the
16:24
ring nebula's inner region.
16:25
>> It does. It's shaped like a narrow strip
16:28
that fits neatly within the nebula's
16:30
elliptical inner layer. the part that's
16:33
familiar from all those beautiful images
16:35
we've seen from telescopes, including
16:37
the James Webb Space Telescope.
16:39
>> So, what is the Ring Nebula exactly for
16:42
our listeners who might not know?
16:44
>> The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier
16:46
57, was first identified in 1779 by
16:50
French astronomer Charles Messier. It's
16:53
what's called a planetary nebula, a
16:55
shell of gas created when a star reaches
16:58
the end of its fuel burning life and
17:00
releases its outer layers into space. In
17:03
several billion years, our own sun is
17:05
expected to undergo a similar
17:07
transformation.
17:08
>> And this iron bar, do we know how it
17:11
formed?
17:12
>> That's the mystery. The scientists
17:14
honestly don't know yet. Professor
17:16
Albert Silstra from the University of
17:18
Manchester noted that they selected the
17:20
Ring Nebula as an early target because
17:23
it's bright, wellstudied, and ideal for
17:25
testing the instrument. But then they
17:27
found something entirely unexpected.
17:30
>> What are the theories?
17:32
>> There are two main scenarios. First, the
17:35
iron bar might reveal something new
17:36
about how the nebula was ejected by the
17:39
parent star, perhaps showing an uneven
17:41
or directional outflow in the process.
17:44
Second, and more intriguingly, the iron
17:47
might be an arc of plasma resulting from
17:50
the vaporization of a destroyed planet.
17:53
>> A planet that got too close to the dying
17:55
star,
17:56
>> possibly, as a star expanded into a red
17:59
giant late in its life, any rocky planet
18:02
that wandered too close could have been
18:04
torn apart by extreme heat and
18:06
radiation, living behind this metalrich
18:09
cloud trapped inside the nebula. That
18:12
would be quite a dramatic end for a
18:14
planet. Do they think this iron bar is
18:16
unique?
18:16
>> Dr. Wesson doesn't think so. He said it
18:19
would be very surprising if the ring
18:21
nebula's iron bar is unique. Weave is
18:23
conducting surveys of many more ionized
18:26
nebuli across the northern Milky Way.
18:28
And they hope to discover more examples
18:30
of this phenomenon which would help them
18:32
understand where the iron comes from.
18:34
>> It's amazing that such a familiar object
18:37
still had this hidden.
18:38
>> Amen to that. Professor Janet Drew, also
18:41
at UCL, cautioned that they need to know
18:44
more, particularly if any other chemical
18:46
elements coexist with the iron, as that
18:49
would help determine the right model to
18:51
pursue. They're planning follow-up
18:53
studies using weave at higher spectral
18:55
resolution.
18:56
>> Just goes to show that even the most
18:58
studied objects can surprise us when we
19:00
look at them in new ways.
19:02
>> Amen to that.
19:03
>> For our final story today, we're taking
19:05
a look back at a fascinating piece of
19:07
Apollo history. Avery, tell us about the
19:10
moon trees.
19:12
>> This is such a cool story, Anna. When
19:14
Apollo 14 returned to Earth in 1971, it
19:17
brought back something unexpected.
19:19
Hundreds of tree seeds that had orbited
19:21
the moon.
19:22
>> These were part of a scientific
19:24
experiment.
19:25
>> It started as a small experiment led by
19:27
astronaut Steuart Rousa, who was a
19:30
former US Forest Service smoke jumper
19:32
before becoming an astronaut. He carried
19:35
several hundred seeds in his personal
19:37
kit. Lobli pine, sycamore, sweet gum,
19:41
redwood, and Douglas fur.
19:43
>> And there was an accident with these
19:45
seeds, wasn't there?
19:46
>> There was. As NASA recounts, the seed
19:49
bags burst open during the
19:51
decontamination procedures after the
19:53
spacecraft returned to Earth. The seeds
19:55
scattered around the chamber and were
19:57
exposed to vacuum and everyone thought
20:00
they might not be viable.
20:02
>> But they decided to try planting them
20:03
anyway.
20:04
>> They did to test whether the seeds had
20:06
survived and the results were
20:08
extraordinary. Many sprouted and grew
20:11
just like normal trees, showing no
20:13
visible damage from their cosmic
20:15
journey.
20:16
>> How many trees eventually grew?
20:18
>> Over 400 seedlings grew into mature
20:21
trees. Some were planted beside
20:23
earthgrown control trees to compare
20:25
their development. And remarkably, after
20:28
years of observation, no differences
20:30
were found between the space flown seeds
20:33
and their earthbound counterparts.
20:35
>> When were these trees distributed?
20:37
>> The distribution coincided with the US
20:39
bsentennial celebrations of 1975 and
20:42
1976.
20:44
Most were given to state forest
20:46
reorganizations to be planted as part of
20:48
the nation's bsentennial celebration.
20:51
The trees were only sent to countries
20:53
and states where they could actually be
20:55
grown and thrive.
20:56
>> And some went to pretty notable places,
20:58
right?
20:59
>> Oh yes. A lobly pine was planted at the
21:02
White House. Trees were sent to Brazil,
21:05
Switzerland, and even presented to the
21:07
emperor of Japan. Each tree served as a
21:10
living connection between space
21:12
exploration and Earth's natural
21:14
environment.
21:15
>> There were telegrams that accompanied
21:16
the trees. NASA sent telegrams
21:19
highlighting their symbolic importance.
21:21
The message read that the tree is a
21:23
living symbol of our spectacular human
21:26
and scientific achievements and the
21:28
fitting tribute to our national space
21:30
program which has brought out the best
21:32
of American patriotism, dedication and
21:35
determination to succeed.
21:37
>> That really captures the spirit of that
21:39
era.
21:39
>> It does. It was this beautiful blend of
21:42
scientific curiosity and national pride
21:45
during the Apollo years. Each moon tree
21:48
represented not just a triumph of space
21:50
exploration, but a reminder that the
21:52
pursuit of knowledge can be rooted quite
21:55
literally in the natural world.
21:57
>> Many of these trees are still standing
21:59
today.
22:00
>> They are. Their plaques may be faded,
22:02
but their symbolism remains intact. NASA
22:05
continues to track and document the
22:07
locations of surviving moon trees. And
22:09
there's even a modern continuation of
22:11
this project.
22:12
>> The Moon Tree 2.0 project.
22:15
>> Exactly. It uses seeds taken aboard the
22:18
Orion spacecraft during the Aremis 1
22:20
mission. So, this initiative bridges
22:23
past and future, connecting the
22:25
pioneering Apollo missions to the next
22:27
generation of lunar explorers.
22:29
>> I love that these trees serve as both
22:32
scientific curiosities and powerful
22:34
symbols.
22:35
>> They really do. From forests across the
22:38
United States to royal gardens overseas,
22:41
these trees stand as silent witnesses to
22:43
one of the most extraordinary chapters
22:45
in human history. Their story, rooted in
22:48
science, resilience, and wonder, remains
22:51
a testament to what happens when
22:53
curiosity literally takes flight beyond
22:56
Earth's atmosphere.
22:57
>> Well, that wraps up today's episode of
22:59
Astronomy Daily. We covered quite a
23:01
journey today. From NASA's preparations
23:04
to return humans to lunar orbit to cyber
23:06
security challenges in the space sector,
23:09
China's expanding satellite network,
23:11
surprising discoveries about Jupiter, a
23:13
mysterious iron bar hidden in a famous
23:16
nebula, and the enduring legacy of the
23:18
moon trees. It's episodes like this that
23:21
really show the breath of space science
23:23
and exploration. Whether it's
23:25
cuttingedge missions, astronomical
23:27
discoveries, or looking back at historic
23:29
achievements, there's always something
23:31
fascinating happening in space.
23:33
>> Thanks so much for joining us today. If
23:36
you enjoyed the show, please subscribe
23:38
and leave us a review. It really helps
23:41
other space enthusiasts find us.
23:44
>> And if you have questions or topics
23:46
you'd like us to cover, reach out to us
23:48
on social media. We love hearing from
23:50
our listeners. Until next time, keep
23:53
looking up.
23:54
>> Clear skies everyone. Astronomy day.
23:58
Stories be told.
24:06
Stories to tell.