- Boeing's Starliner Mission Shift: A significant change has been announced for Boeing's Starliner 1 mission, now transitioning to a cargo-only mission to the ISS, scheduled for no earlier than April 2026. This decision follows a challenging crew flight test earlier this year, emphasizing safety and the need for further analysis and fixes related to thruster issues. The number of required flights for Boeing has also been reduced from six to four, reflecting the success of SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
- China's Shenzhou 22 Lifeboat Launch: In a remarkable display of operational maturity, China successfully launched the uncrewed Shenzhou 22 mission to its Tiangong Space Station as a lifeboat for the crew aboard Shenzhou 20, which sustained damage. This swift response showcases China's capability to handle emergencies, marking a significant milestone in their human spaceflight program.
- International Space Station's Busy Schedule: The ISS is a hive of activity as a Soyuz rocket prepares for a Thanksgiving Day launch carrying three new crew members. The station's crew is engaged in logistical operations, including moving the Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft and offloading supplies from the Japanese HTV X1 spacecraft, all while conducting vital science experiments.
- Mysterious Cosmic Sphere: Astronomers have discovered a strange red sphere, cataloged as CY J1249, racing through the Milky Way at over 1 million miles per hour. This extraordinary speed raises questions about its origin, with two theories suggesting it could be a fragment of a white dwarf or a failed star, necessitating further observations to uncover its true nature.
- ESA Student Internship Opportunity: The European Space Agency has issued a final call for applications for its 2026 student internship program, with a deadline of November 30th. This program offers students hands-on experience in various fields, contributing to real missions alongside top space experts, making it an excellent opportunity for aspiring space professionals. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Final_call_to_apply_for_ESA_Internships_2026
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
Boeing's Starliner Updates
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Shenzhou 22 Mission Details
[China National Space Administration](http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/)
International Space Station Operations
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
CY J1249 Discovery
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
ESA Internship Program Information
[European Space Agency] https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Final_call_to_apply_for_ESA_Internships_2026
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Avery: Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 essential guide to the latest happenings in
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 space exploration and discovery. I'm
00:00:08 --> 00:00:08 Avery.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 today. We're covering everything from mission
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 updates for NASA and Boeing to a rapid
00:00:17 --> 00:00:17 launch from China.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Avery: That's right. We'll also be looking at the
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 busy schedule aboard the International Space
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 Station. And then we'll dive into a cosmic
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 mystery, a strange red sphere hurtling
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 through our galaxy. Plus a great opportunity
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 for students from the European Space Agency.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 Anna: So let's get started. Avery.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 Our first story is a significant pivot for a
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 major commercial crew partner.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Avery: Indeed. We're talking about Boeing's
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 Starliner. NASA and Boeing have announced a
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 major change for the Starliner 1 mission.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 Instead of carrying a crew of four astronauts
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 as planned, it will now be a cargo only
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 mission to the iss.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 Anna: And this mission has been pushed back, now
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 scheduled for no earlier than April
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 2026. This follows a series of
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 setbacks, doesn't it?
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 Avery: Exactly. The decision comes after the
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 challenging crew flight test earlier this
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 year. During that mission with astronauts
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 spacecraft experienced multiple problems with
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 its thrusters.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 Anna: Right. Safety is paramount, of course.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 So NASA and Boeing are taking time to analyze
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 the data and implement fix. The shift to a
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 cargo mission seems like a way to still
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 utilize the spacecraft and fulfill
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 contractual obligations while they work on
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 getting it fully crew rated.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Avery: It does. And speaking of contracts, there's
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 another update there. The number of required
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 flights for Boeing has been reduced from six
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 down to four. This reflects the long delays
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 and the success of SpaceX's Crew Dragon,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 which has been reliably flying astronauts
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 since 2020.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 Anna: Mm mhm. So NASA has a dependable ride with
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 SpaceX, which gives them the flexibility to
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 be more cautious with Starliner.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 Avery: Precisely. The big question now is about the
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 human element. What does this mean for the
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 astronauts who were assigned to future
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 Starliner missions?
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 Anna: That's m a key point. The future crew
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 assignments are now uncertain. Several
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 astronauts, including Scott Tingle and Mike
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 Think, who were slated for Starliner 1, have
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 already been reassigned to other flights,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 likely on Crew Dragon. It's a tough situation
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 for the astronauts who have trained for years
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 on this specific vehicle.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 Avery: Absolutely. It underscores the challenges of
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 developing new human rated spacecraft. We'll
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 be watching closely to see how Boeing
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 addresses the thruster issues and what the
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 future holds for Starliner's role in crewed
00:02:41 --> 00:02:41 missions.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 Anna: From one nation's space program to another.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 Our next story takes us to China, which just
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 demonstrated a remarkable capability.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Avery: Yes, this is Quite impressive. China
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 successfully launched the uncrewed Shenzhou
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 22 mission to its Tiangong Space Station.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 But this wasn't a routine supply run.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 Anna: Not at all. The launch was expedited to
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08 serve as a launch on need mission.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 Essentially, it's a lifeboat. The Shenzhou 20
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 spacecraft currently docked at Tiangong
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 sustained some form of damage and mission
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 controllers decided it was necessary to send
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 up a replacement to ensure a safe return
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 vehicle. Vehicle for the crew.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 Avery: A lifeboat. That's the perfect term. And this
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 is a first for China's human spaceflight
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 program. Having a vehicle ready to go on
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 short notice for a rescue scenario is a level
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 of operational maturity that only a few space
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 programs have ever achieved.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 Anna: It really is. It mirrors the capability
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 that Russia has long maintained for the ISS
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 with its Soyuz spacecraft and that NASA
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 now has with SpaceX. It means you can handle
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 unforeseen emergencies like a, uh,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 micrometeoroid strike without having to
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 decrew the station.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 Avery: Details on the damage to Shenzhou 20 are
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 still sparse, but the swift and successful
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 launch of Shenzhou 22 shows a significant
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 confidence and robustness in their systems.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 Anna: MM A M major milestone. It
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 signals that the Tiangong Space Station is
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 intended to be a permanently occupied
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 outpost with all the necessary safety
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 and redundancy measures in place. A
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 very clear statement of their long term
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 ambitions in space.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 Avery: Speaking of permanently occupied outposts,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 let's shift our focus to the International
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 Space Station, where it's been a busy week of
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 logistics and preparation.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 Anna: That's right. The Baikonodrome Cosmodrome is
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 buzzing. A Soyuz rocket has been rolled out
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 to the launch pad for a Thanksgiving Day
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 launch. It will be carrying three new crew
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 members up to the station.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 Avery: And to get ready for that arrival, the
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 station crew had to play a bit of musical
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 chairs with the spacecraft docked there.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 Anna: They did. The Northrop Grumman's Cygnus
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 XL cargo spacecraft had to be
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 temporarily moved from its docking port. The
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 station's robotic arm, Canadarm2,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 was used to unberth the Cygnus and
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 maneuver it to a different location to free
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 up the port needed for the incoming Soyuz.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 Avery: It's like a complex orbital ballet, all
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 while traveling at over 17 miles per
00:05:17 --> 00:05:17 hour.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 Anna: Exactly. And as if that wasn't enough,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 the crew is also in the middle of offloading
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 cargo from another recently arrived vehicle,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 the Japanese HTV X1
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 spacecraft. So it's all hands on deck,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 right?
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 Avery: Unpacking supplies, stowing them away,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 and all the while continuing their primary
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 mission of conducting science experiments in
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 microgravity. It's a constant Juggling act.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 Anna: It certainly is. These logistical
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 operations are crucial for the long term
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 functioning of the station, ensuring the crew
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 has everything they need to live and work in
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 orbit. A reminder that for every
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 glamorous spacewalk, there are countless
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 hours of meticulous planning and hard work.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Avery: Well said. Now Anna, from the
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 meticulous work in near Earth orbit, let's
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 venture out into the deeper cosmos for a
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 genuine mystery.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 Anna: This is a fascinating one. Astronomers
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 using data from the WISE telescope, have
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 discovered something truly
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 a, uh, mysterious red Sphere cataloged as
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 CY J1249
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 that is tearing through the Milky Way at an
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 incredible speed.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 Avery: And, um, when you say incredible, what are we
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 talking about?
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 Anna: Over 1 million miles per hour.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 It's one of the fastest objects of its kind
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 ever detected. Its velocity is so
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 high that it's on a path to eventually
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 escape the gravitational pull of our galaxy
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 entirely.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 Avery: Wow. A million miles per hour.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 So what is it? And, um, where did it get that
00:06:54 --> 00:06:54 kind of speed?
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 Anna: That's the mystery. Its high speed and
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 its unusual composition are challenging our
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 existing theories of how cosmic objects
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 form and behave. Scientists are currently
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 weighing two main theories for its origin.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 Okay, let's hear them. The first theory is
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 that CY's J1249
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 could be a fragment of a white dwarf star.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 In this scenario, a white dwarf in a binary
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 system with another star would have siphoned
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 off too much material from its companion,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 triggering a specific type of supernova
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 explosion.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 Avery: Right, A, uh, type one. A supernova.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 Anna: Exactly. But instead of completely
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 obliterating the white dwarf, this
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 explosion might have been incomplete,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 leaving behind a super dense fragment and
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 flinging it across the galaxy at immense
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 speed. The red color could be due to an
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 unusual mix of elements left over from that
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 partial explosion.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 Avery: That makes sense. Uh, a cosmic cannonball.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 What's the second theory?
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 Anna: The other possibility is that it's a failed
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 star, also known as a brown dwarf,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 or perhaps a rogue planet. In
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 this case, it would have been born in a star
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 system and then violently ejected through
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 gravitational interactions with other more
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 massive objects.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 Avery: Like a slingshot effect.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 Anna: Precisely. This could explain the speed,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 but the composition is still a bit of a
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 puzzle for this theory. Further observations,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 probably with the James Webb Space Telescope,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 will be needed to analyze its light spectrum
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 and figure out what it's made of. Either way,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 it's a fascinating detective story.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Avery: It really is a great reminder that the
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 universe is filled with strange and
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 unexpected objects.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 Finally today we have an important
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 announcement for any students listening who
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 dream of a career in space.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 Anna: Yes, this is a fantastic Opportunity.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 The European Space Agency, or
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 esa, has issued issued a final call for
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 applications for its 2026
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 student internship program.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 Avery: And that deadline is coming up very soon.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 Applications must be in by November 30th.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 This program is an amazing gateway into the
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 industry.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 Anna: It is. It offers students in a wide variety
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 of fields, not just science and engineering,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 the chance to get hands on experience working
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 alongside Europe's top space experts.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Avery: Interns get to contribute to real missions,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 whether that's developing technology for
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 future space probes, analyzing satellite
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 data, or working on the administrative side
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 of one of the world's leading space agencies.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 Anna: So if you are a student and you're passionate
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 about space, this is a call to action.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 Check out the ESA website for details on how
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 to apply and qualifications needed. It
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 could be the first step in an incredible
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 career journey. The deadline again is
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 November 30th and we'll put a link in the
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 show notes for you.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 Avery: An excellent opportunity indeed.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 And on that note, that brings us to the end
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 of our news roundup for this episode.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 Anna: It's been quite a journey. We covered the
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 strategic shift for Boeing's Starliner to a
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 cargo mission as they work through technical
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 hurdles.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Avery: We saw China's growing capabilities with
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 their first ever launch on need rescue
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 mission to the Tiangong Space Station.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 Anna: We checked in on the busy traffic at the ISS
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 with Soyuz on its way and cargo being
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 shuffled around and.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 Avery: A, uh, strange something speeding through our
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 galaxy. And of course, a chance to join
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 ESA as an intern.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 Anna: Thank you for joining us on Astronomy Daily.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 We hope you'll tune in tomorrow for another
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 look at the wonders of the cosmos. Until
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 then, I'm Anna.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 Avery: And I'm Avery. Clear skies and keep looking
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 up.