Artemis II Rollout Weekend: NASA Preps Moon Mission + ESA Hacked & Jupiter's Oxygen Surprise

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Hello space fans, welcome to Astronomy Daily.

Your source for the latest news from across the cosmos.

I'm Anna.

And I'm Avery.

Great to have you with us today.

We've got a really exciting lineup of stories

covering everything from upcoming missions

to mysterious discoveries.

That's right.

We're starting with some big news from NASA.

Artemis II is entering its final preparations

for the first crude mission beyond low Earth orbit

in over 50 years.

The rollout to the launch pad happens this weekend.

Very exciting.

We'll also be talking about a serious cyber security breach

at the European Space Agency.

China's ambitious satellite launches to kick off 2026

and the surprising discovery about Jupiter's atmosphere.

Plus, we have an intriguing cosmic mystery.

Astronomers have found a massive bar of iron hidden inside

the famous ring nebula.

And we'll wrap up with a fascinating look back

at the Apollo 14 moon trees and what happened to them.

Lots to cover, so let's get started.

All right Avery, let's dive into our top story.

NASA is entering the final stages of preparation

for Artemis II.

And the excitement is really building.

This is huge Anna.

We're talking about the first crude mission

beyond low Earth orbit in over 50 years.

The launch window opens as early as February 6,

though it could extend into April

depending on final preparations.

And this weekend is a major milestone, right?

The rollout to the launch pad?

Exactly.

Targeted for no earlier than this Saturday, January 17th,

the space launch system rocket and Orion's spacecraft

will make that slow journey from the vehicle assembly

building to launch pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

It's about 6.5 kilometers or four miles

and it'll take up to 12 hours on the crawler transporter.

That's the same launch pad used for Apollo, isn't it?

It is.

Launch pad 39B has quite a history.

Now, the Artemis II crew consists of four astronauts.

NASA's Reed-Wizeman S. Commander,

Victor Glover as Pilot, Christina Coach

as Mission Specialist, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen,

also a Mission Specialist.

This mission is essentially a dress rehearsal

for the actual lunar landing, correct?

Right.

Artemis II will be a 10-day circumlunar flight,

though loop around the moon without landing

and return to Earth.

It's building on the success of Artemis I, uncrewed mission,

and paving the way for Artemis III currently scheduled

for 2028, which will put humans back on the lunar surface

for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

I know they've been working around the clock

to get everything ready.

Have there been any challenges?

There have been some.

Back in December, during a countdown demonstration test,

engineers detected a problem with a valve

associated with the Orion Capsules Hatch Pressurization System.

They replaced that valve on January 5th

and successfully completed a pressure test.

They also resolved to leak in the ground support hardware

that pressurizes Orion with oxygen gas.

So what happens when sits at the launch pad?

Ground crews will connect all the electrical lines,

fuel control system ducts, cryogenic propellant feeds,

and other ground support equipment.

Then they'll power up all the rockets

integrated systems for the first time

to make sure everything works together,

the rocket, the mobile launcher,

and the launch pad infrastructure.

And then comes the wet dress rehearsal.

Scheduled for the end of January,

that's when they'll load the rocket

with about 2.65 million liters,

that's 700,000 gallons of cryogenic fuel.

Conduct the launch countdown and then safely unload it.

They'll run through several countdown holes and recycles

just like they would during an actual launch.

That's all learned a lot from Artemis One's wet dress rehearsal,

didn't they?

They did, particularly around loading liquid hydrogen propellant.

They experienced some challenges with that,

so they'll be monitoring very carefully this time.

They're also watching how much nitrogen gas

accumulates between the Orion crew module

and the launch abort system,

using recently updated procedures.

And if all goes well with the wet dress rehearsal?

Then NASA's mission management team

will hold a flight readiness review

to assess whether all systems are truly ready.

Only then will they commit to a firm launch date.

And of course, the Artemis two astronauts

will conduct a final walk down at the pad,

which will be quite a media event.

The launch windows are interesting, too, aren't they?

It's not every day in February and April.

That's right.

Due to the complex orbital mechanics of Earth and the Moon,

there's a pattern of about a week of launch opportunities

followed by three weeks without any.

NASA has published the specific dates

between February and April when launches are possible.

This is such an exciting time.

50 years since we've sent humans beyond low Earth orbit.

And it's setting the stage for sustainable lunar exploration.

Crew safety remains NASA's top priority every step of the way,

as Laurie Glaze,

acting associate administrator for NASA's

exploration systems development mission directorate,

emphasized in their recent statement.

Moving on to some concerning news, Avery,

the European Space Agency has suffered

a significant cyber attack.

Unfortunately, yes.

This happened just after Christmas on Boxing Day, actually.

Hacker operating under the code name 8888

dumped over 200 gigabytes of ESA data

onto dark web forums.

What kind of data are we talking about?

The leaked information included proprietary software,

authorization credentials, access tokens,

and sensitive project documentation.

ESA initially downplayed the breach,

saying its impact was limited to servers

with unclassified documents.

But there was more to the story.

There was, just a week later,

a cybercrime group known as scattered lapses hunters

claimed they stole another 500 gigabytes of data,

saying the security hole was still unpatched.

This batch reportedly included operational procedures,

spacecraft and mission details,

subsystems documentation,

and even proprietary data from ESA contractors

like SpaceX, Airbus Group, and Follys-Alenia Space.

That's pretty serious.

How did ESA respond?

They've launched a criminal investigation

and are fully cooperating with authorities.

In a press briefing on January 8th,

Eric Morrell, the Westgaver,

ESA's director of European, legal, and international matters,

said the authorities will manage communication about the case

and handle the criminal proceedings.

Is this kind of attack common against space agencies?

More common than you think.

Cybersecurity researcher Clements Porrier

from the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich

told Space.com that during her research,

she frequently encounters email credentials of ESA employees

and even other space agencies being sold on dark web forums.

How are these credentials being obtained?

Porrier suggested maybe due to a lack of cyber hygiene

from ESA staff.

Threat actors may have used info-stealer malware,

which harvests data stored in web browsers.

Things like credentials, session cookies,

multi-factor authentication data,

and even saved credit cards.

That's pretty insidious.

It is.

These info-stealers are particularly dangerous

because they can evade detection by antivirus software.

They often spread through malicious ads

on popular websites or infected links

in YouTube video descriptions.

And NASA faces similar threats.

According to sources familiar with space cyber risk environment,

NASA's actually a frequent victim.

Vulnerabilities are being disclosed almost every day

by the CrowdSource Cybersecurity Platform Bug Crowd.

Even though the recent ESA leaks didn't seem highly critical,

there are still concerns, right?

Absolutely.

Porrier warned that this data could be combined

with information from future breaches

to reveal strategic information that could enable

another cyber attack against the space system.

We're not there yet, but it's an important consideration.

And vulnerabilities might exist with third-party providers, too?

Exactly.

The security holes could be on the side of ESA's software providers

or other third parties they purchase services from.

Or ESA's own networks might be hiding unpatched vulnerabilities

that hackers could exploit.

What's the bottom line here?

As Poir put it, data leaks and breaches

against space agencies are common.

It can happen to each agency and will happen

to each agency in the future given the rise

of cyber attacks against the space sector.

It's a reality that all space organizations

need to take very seriously.

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Let's shift gears to some space activity from China.

They've kicked off 2026 with a couple

of impressive satellite launches.

They really have Anna.

On January 13th, China launched two long March rockets

from the Wayne Chan Space Launch Center,

representing a strong start to what's expected to be

a very busy year for their space program.

What were they launching?

The first mission carried the Yao Gan 501

remote sensing satellite,

and the second deployed a series

of Gua Wang satellites into low Earth orbit.

Both launches were successful

and marked the beginning of what China hopes

will be a record-breaking year.

Tell us about the Yao Gan 501.

That sounds interesting.

It is.

This satellite was launched aboard a long March 6a rocket

and it's notable for its unusual orbit.

Unlike typical satellites and standard low Earth orbits,

Yao Gan 501's orbit is designed to maximize its ability

to observe Earth from unique angles,

providing broader and more detailed views of the planet.

What will it be used for?

It's part of China's growing portfolio

of remote sensing technology,

which has applications ranging from agricultural monitoring

to, let's be honest, military surveillance.

As China develops and deploys more of these satellites,

they're positioning themselves as a leader

in Earth observation capabilities.

And it'll also help with natural disaster monitoring

and resource management.

Absolutely.

It'll contribute to monitoring natural disasters,

managing resources, and supporting scientific research

efforts globally.

The satellite is quite advanced

in terms of what it can do.

Now, what about the Gua Wang satellites?

The Gua Wang constellation is designed

to improve China's capabilities

and telecommunications, Earth observation,

and scientific research.

By placing these satellites in low Earth orbit,

China will be able to provide enhanced communication services,

including high-speed data transmission over large regions.

So it's not just for China domestically?

No, it'll improve their global connectivity,

particularly in areas with limited access

to terrestrial communication networks.

And beyond just communications,

the Gua Wang constellation is expected

to play a crucial role in supporting

China's future space exploration goals.

How so?

By providing real-time communication

and data transfer capabilities,

these satellites will be instrumental

in supporting future missions to the moon and Mars.

It's all part of China's integrated approach

to building space infrastructure.

This seems like quite an ambitious start to the year.

It really is.

According to the China Aerospace Corporation,

these missions underscore China's growing capabilities

and commitment to expanding their space exploration

infrastructure.

And this is just the beginning.

They have many more launches planned throughout 2026.

It's fascinating to see how competitive

the space sector has become

with multiple nations ramping up their capabilities.

Indeed, we're in a new era of space activity,

and it's not just government agencies anymore.

The combination of national programs

and commercial ventures is really accelerating progress.

All right, Avery, let's head out to Jupiter for our next story.

Scientists have made a surprising discovery

about the gas giants atmosphere.

This is really interesting, Anna.

A new study published in the Planetary Science Journal

reveals that Jupiter holds roughly 1.5 times more oxygen

than our Sun.

That's way more than expected, isn't it?

It is.

For decades, studies have disagreed

about how much oxygen Jupiter contains.

Some recent studies even suggested

it was much less than the Sun.

So this finding significantly reshapes

our understanding of the planet's composition.

Why is oxygen content so important?

Oxygen is one of the most abundant elements

in the universe, and its presence on Jupiter

has big implications.

As Ji Heng Yang, a postdoctoral researcher

at the University of Chicago and the studies

lead author explained, the precise quantity of oxygen

offers important clues about how Jupiter formed

and how our solar system evolved.

Because oxygen is key to water formation.

Exactly.

Understanding its presence and distribution

could help researchers learn more about the conditions

that allow for the formation of habitable planets

both in our solar system and beyond.

Jupiter's atmosphere is famously difficult to study, though.

That's putting it mildly.

The thick clouds covering the planet, the great red spot,

which is a storm twice the size of Earth,

and other violent weather patterns have kept scientists

from getting a clear view of what lies beneath the surface.

Previous missions couldn't measure deep into the atmosphere.

The Galileo spacecraft couldn't.

But more recently, the Juno spacecraft

has provided valuable data on the upper layers,

including measurements of ammonia, methane, and carbon monoxide.

Still, building an accurate model has been challenging.

What made this new model different?

The researchers integrated both chemistry and hydrodynamics,

the study of how fluids move.

As Ji Heng Yang explained, you really need both.

Chemistry alone doesn't include water droplets

or cloud behavior, while hydrodynamics alone

oversimplifies a chemistry.

Bringing them together allows for much more accurate predictions.

And they discovered something else surprising, too, didn't they?

They did.

The study revealed that the movement of gases

within Jupiter's atmosphere is far slower

than previously believed.

The diffusion of molecules is 35 to 40 times slower

than the standard assumption.

What does that mean practically?

As Ji Heng Yang put it, it would take

a single molecule several weeks to move

through one layer of the atmosphere, rather than hours.

This slower diffusion could have significant implications

for how heat and chemical elements are transported

within the planet, and it may affect how clouds form and dissipate.

This must challenge a lot of existing assumptions

about gas giant atmospheres.

It does.

The discovery adds another layer of complexity

to our understanding, and shows that even well-studied planets

like Jupiter still have surprises in store.

This is the most comprehensive atmospheric model

of Jupiter to date, but clearly, they're still more to learn.

We'll be sure to follow up this one with interest.

Our next story is about a cosmic mystery hiding in plain sight,

or rather hiding in one of the night sky's most famous objects.

Oh, this is the Ring Nebula discovery, right?

I was reading about this.

It's fascinating.

It really is.

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious bar-shaped cloud

of iron inside the iconic Ring Nebula,

and it went completely unnoticed for decades,

despite this being one of the most studied objects in space.

How did they finally spot it?

A European team, led by researchers at University College London

and Cardiff University, used a new instrument called weave.

The WHT enhanced area velocity explorer

installed on the William Herschel telescope.

The key was that weave allowed them to obtain spectra

across the entire face of the Nebula

at all optical wavelengths simultaneously.

So it wasn't about getting a sharper image,

but analyzing the light differently.

Exactly.

Dr. Roger Wesson, the lead author, explained

that by a painting aspect from continuously

across the whole Nebula, they could create images

at any wavelength and determine the chemical composition

at any position.

And when they processed the data,

this iron bar just popped out, clear as anything.

How big is this thing?

The bar's length is roughly 500 times that

of Pluto's orbit around the sun.

And get this.

The mass of iron atoms is comparable to the mass of Mars.

That's colossal.

And it fits inside the Ring Nebula's inner region?

It does.

It's shaped like a narrow strip that fits neatly

within the Nebula's elliptical inner layer.

The part that's familiar from all those beautiful images

we've seen from telescopes, including the James Webb Space

Telescope.

So what is the Ring Nebula exactly

for our listeners who might not know?

The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57,

was first identified in 1779 by French astronomer Charles Messier.

It's what's called a planetary Nebula.

A shell of gas created when a star reaches

the end of its fuel burning life and releases its outer layers

into space.

In several billion years, our own sun

is expected to undergo a similar transformation.

And this iron bar, do we know how it formed?

That's the mystery.

The scientists honestly don't know yet.

Professor Albert Silstra from the University of Manchester

noted that they selected the Ring Nebula

as an early target because it's bright, well studied,

and ideal for testing the instrument.

But then they found something entirely unexpected.

What are the theories?

There are two main scenarios.

First, the iron bar might reveal something

new about how the Nebula was ejected by the parent star,

perhaps showing an uneven or directional outflow in the process.

Second, and more intriguingly, the iron

might be an arc of plasma resulting

from the vaporization of a destroyed planet.

A planet that got too close to the dying star?

Possibly.

As the star expanded into a red giantly in its life,

any rocky planet that wandered too close

could have been torn apart by extreme heat and radiation,

living behind this metal-rich cloud trapped inside the Nebula.

That would be quite a dramatic end for a planet.

Do they think this iron bar is unique?

Dr. Wesson doesn't think so.

He said it would be very surprising

if the Ring Nebula's iron bar is unique.

Weave is conducting surveys of many more ionized Nebulae

across the northern Milky Way, and they

hope to discover more examples of this phenomenon,

which would help them understand where the iron comes from.

It's amazing that such a familiar object still

had this hidden.

I'm meant to that.

Professor Janet Drew, also at UCL,

cautioned that they need to know more, particularly

if any other chemical elements coexist with the iron,

as that would help determine the right model to pursue.

They're planning follow-up studies

using weave at higher spectral resolution.

Just goes to show that even the most studied objects

can surprise us when we look at them in new ways.

I'm meant to that.

For our final story today, we're taking a look back

at a fascinating piece of Apollo history.

Avery, tell us about the Moon Trees.

This is such a cool story, Anna.

When Apollo 14 returned to Earth in 1971,

it brought back something unexpected.

Hundreds of tree seeds that had orbited the Moon.

These were part of a scientific experiment.

It started as a small experiment

led by astronaut Stuart Russo,

who was a former US Forest Service smoke jumper

before becoming an astronaut.

He carried several hundred seeds in his personal kit,

loblolly pine, sycamore, sweet gum, redwood, and Douglas fur.

And there was an accident with these seeds, wasn't there?

There was.

As NASA recounts, the seed bags burst open

during the decontamination procedures

after the spacecraft returned to Earth.

The seeds scattered around the chamber

and were exposed to vacuum,

and everyone thought they might not be viable.

But they decided to try planting them anyway.

They did, to test whether the seeds had survived.

And the results were extraordinary.

Many sprouted and grew just like normal trees,

showing no visible damage from their cosmic journey.

How many trees eventually grew?

Over 400 seedlings grew into mature trees.

Some were planted beside Earth-grown control trees

to compare their development.

And remarkably, after years of observation,

no differences were found between the space-flown seeds

and their Earth-bound counterparts.

When were these trees distributed?

The distribution coincided with the US

bicentennial celebrations of 1975 and 1976.

Most were given to state-force reorganizations

to be planted as part of the nation's

bicentennial celebration.

The trees were only sent to countries and states

where they could actually be grown and thrive.

And some went to pretty notable places, right?

Oh, yes.

A loblolly pine was planted at the White House.

Trees were sent to Brazil, Switzerland,

and even presented to the Emperor of Japan.

Each tree served as a living connection

between space exploration and Earth's natural environment.

There were telegrams that accompanied the trees.

NASA sent telegrams highlighting their symbolic importance.

The message read that the tree is a living symbol

of our spectacular human and scientific achievements,

and the fitting tribute to our National Space Program,

which has brought out the best of American patriotism,

dedication, and determination to succeed.

That really captures the spirit of that era.

It does.

It was this beautiful blend of scientific curiosity

and national pride during the Apollo years.

Each moon tree represented not just

the triumph of space exploration,

but a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge

can be rooted quite literally in the natural world.

Many of these trees are still standing today.

They are.

Their plaques may be faded,

but their symbolism remains intact.

NASA continues to track and document

the locations of surviving moon trees.

And there's even a modern continuation of this project.

The Moon Tree 2.0 project?

Exactly.

It uses seeds taken aboard the Orion spacecraft

during the Artemis I mission.

So this initiative bridges past and future,

connecting the pioneering Apollo missions

to the next generation of lunar explorers.

I love that these trees serve

as both scientific curiosities and powerful symbols.

They really do.

From forests across the United States

to royal gardens overseas,

these trees stand as silent witnesses

to one of the most extraordinary chapters in human history.

Their story rooted in science, resilience, and wonder

remains a testament to what happens

when curiosity literally takes flight beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Well, that wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily.

We covered quite a journey today

from NASA's preparations to return humans to lunar orbit,

to cybersecurity challenges in the space sector.

China's expanding satellite network,

surprising discoveries about Jupiter,

a mysterious iron bar hidden in a famous nebula,

and the enduring legacy of the Moon trees.

It's episodes like this that really show

the breath of space science and exploration.

Whether it's cutting-edge missions,

astronomical discoveries,

or looking back at historic achievements,

there's always something fascinating happening in space.

Thanks so much for joining us today.

If you enjoyed this show, please subscribe and leave us a review.

It really helps other space enthusiasts find us.

And if you have questions or topics you'd like us to cover,

reach out to us on social media.

We love hearing from our listeners.

Until next time, keep looking up.

Clear skies, everyone.

Astronomy Daily, the star is the toe.

Astronomy Daily, the star is the toe.

The star is the toe.

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