Made of Stars

The President and Elon Musk have taken to social media to talk about plans to return "stranded" astronauts home from the ISS. OSIRIS-REx mission has given scientists a look at key molecules for life found on Bennu. Juno mission has observed massive volcanic activity on Io. Starman has baffled astronomers for the last time... at least for a while.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.sp...

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos both attended President Trump's inauguration this week. Blue Origin and SpaceX launched their big rockets with different results. The "headless" comet is dazzling skies in the southern hemisphere. Scientists say the universe is expanding too fast. The GIRAFF mission will study auroras. And the parade of planets is happening but no, it's not an alignment.  Become a supporte...

Two big rockets are set to launch today. The ISS has deployed the first ever satellite made from wood. JWST has discovered one of  the first gargantuan supernovas ever seen. Comet ATLAS survived its brush with the Sun. And NASA says retrieving those collected soil samples on Mars is currently not going to happen.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--...

Blue Origin is planning to launch its New Glenn rocket tonight. No, seven planst aren't lining up in the night time sky. Yes, the Moon and Mars are. Starlink could potentially adjust their orbits and improve things for astronomers. And a sun-grazer comet could be brighter than Venus in the sky next week.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/s...

Solar activity gave many around the world a dazzling show of auroral activity to begin 2025. The Parker Solar Probe survived its record breaking pass of the Sun. SpaceX smashed 2023's record number of launches by launching every 2.7 days in 2024. And JWST reveals black holes can suppress star formation.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/su...

This week Wes and Shawn take a look back at the 5 biggest space news stories of 2024 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

This week, Wes and Shawn begin their look back at the 10 biggest space news stories of 2024 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

Jupiter dazzles in the nightime sky. A massive thunderstorm was spotted on Jupiter. Nominee to run NASA Jared Isaacman has given his first public statements about his nomination. A cracked rock on Mars has revealed a surprise. Plus the liquid on Mars may not have been what was previously thought.   Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support...

Jared Isaacman has been named as the former and future President's pick to lead NASA in the new administration. Isaacman has been to space as a commercial astronaut and recently did the first ever commercial spacewalk. If confirmed, would Isaacman potentially go to space as the NASA administrator?  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support...

Astronauts aboard the ISS shared a video of themselves opening up their Thanksgiving MREs in space and revaled what their feast would include. There's a strange smell aboard the ISS and its coming from a Russian Progress cargo spacecraft. Scientists have a new theory about FRBs and where they originate. Plus, JWST has given us a new and incredible look at the Sombrero Galaxy.   Become a supporter...

With a group of VIPs watching, SpaceX was not able to catch the booster for its latest Super HEavy Launch. Optus-X was launched by SpaceX Sunday, but what is it? SpaceWeather.com wants to hear from you if you are a farmer whose GPS equipment was impacted by geomagnetic storms. TMATs were photographed over Norway. And a star was imaged in detail outside the Milky Way.  Become a supporter of this po...

Iceland is preparing to receive solar power from a satellite that is beamed down to Earth. Uranus' moon Miranda may have an ocean beneath its surface. Plus let's talk about quasars and super massive black holes! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

The Crew-9 astronauts aboard the ISS all boarded their Dragon capsule so they could move it to another docking port to allow a delivery to be made. SpaceX dazzled with its booster catch but that was just the beginning. Comet ATLAS didn't survive the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe is preparing for a very near miss of the Sun.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-o...

NASA has regained communication with Voyager 1. Perseverance gets a new look and photographs of an asteroid crater on Mars. New data shows methane rich crust on Titan. A Crew-8 astronaut is reportedly stable and back with the crew after a medical issue during the return to Earth. Plus astronomers have discovered the fastest spinning neutron star.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.sp...

SpaceX Crew-8 is on its way home and in spite of reports, it wasn't stuck in space. SpaceX has rolled out its next Heavy Booster. An X-Class solar flare was recorded last night and the region that produced it is now lining up with Earth. Scientists can study tree rings to learn about solar storms from the past. Plus the first ever triple star system has been found that contains a black hole.     B...

We warned you that a second wave of aurora could be coming on last week's show and it did. And there's a chance a third wave could be coming as well. Comet T-ATLAS continues to dazzle in the night time sky. SpaceX has has had an incredible run over the last 10 days. Plus Axiom Space has teamed up with Prada... yes that Prada.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ma...

Severe geomagnetic storms could produce another night of auroral activity like what we experienced in May. Also, there are now two comets lighting up the night sky over the next few days. The HERA spacecraft successfully launched before Hurricane Milton's arrival. JWST has given us valuable information about the formation of stars and their frequency.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://w...

The SpaceX Crew-9 mission has launched and docked with the ISS and the 2 Starliner astronauts have seats for a ride home in February. The two NASA astronauts who were bumped from the Crew-9 mission have spoken about missing out and have been put back into the pool for future possible missions. SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon missions after an issue during the Crew-9 launch. Comet T-ATLA...

Hurricane Helene has delayed the launch of Crew-9. Russia's Soyuz returned home Monday bringing to Earth Oleg Kononenko who now holds the record for most experienced space-flier. The cosmonaut was in command aboard the ISS and has passed that responsibility off to American Suni Williams. A snowman (or peanut) shaped asteroid narrowly missed Earth on a fly-by. The Perseverance rover captured a stra...

This week, Shawn is off and Wes responds to a question sent in by a listener who wants to know what would happen if an astronaut aboard the ISS needed surgery.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

Polaris Dawn has completed its spacewalk. Starliner successfully returned to Earth. October will give us comet A3. WASP-76b has iron winds and rain.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

Boeing's Starliner will return home this weekend with its astronauts still on board the ISS. SpaceX will launch its Crew-9 mission later this month with empty seats to return the Starliner astronauts home in February. Polaris Dawn is now scheduled to launch early Saturday. New evidence suggests that a huge asteroid slammed into Ganymede and altered its surface. The DART mission appears to have cre...

Retired astronaut talks with us to talk about appearing at Dragon Con, her book Sharing Space, her documentary The Longest Goodbye, and her incredible career as an astronaut.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support .

The Polaris Dawn Mission is preparing to launch on Tuesday and taking with it some space friendly Doritos. NASA has issued a a FAQ about the Starliner mission and in it they say t hat the astronauts are not stuck on the ISS. Debris from t he DART mission could make its way to Earth and Mars in the next 10 years. A rogue star is making its way out of the Milly Way. Sunspot activity is at a 20 year...

Data from the Mars Insight Lander has revealed oceans of water beneath the surface of Mars. A severe STEVE was detected this week and seen in Texas. Jupiter and Mars are dancing together in the morning sky. NASA's OIG says Boeing has a quality control problem. Primordial black holes were rough on stars.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/su...