Satellite maps GPS jamming zones & Satellites confirm El Niño’s return - Space News (Jun 18, 2026)

Nearby potentially habitable exoplanet & Swift space telescope rescue mission - Space News (Jul 3, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron] - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad [https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad] - Lindy is your ultimate AI assistant that proactively manages your inbox - https://try.lindy.ai/tad [https://try.lindy.ai/tad] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: NEARBY POTENTIALLY HABITABLE EXOPLANET - ASTRONOMERS REPORT A POTENTIALLY HABITABLE EXOPLANET, GJ 3378B, JUST 25 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY AROUND A SMALL RED STAR, RAISING NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT NEARBY WORLDS THAT COULD HOST LIQUID WATER AND LIFE.[15] KEYWORDS: GJ 3378B, POTENTIALLY HABITABLE EXOPLANET, NEARBY WORLD, RED DWARF, 25 LIGHT-YEARS. SWIFT SPACE TELESCOPE RESCUE MISSION - NASA AND STARTUP KATALYST SPACE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE LAUNCHED THE LINK SPACECRAFT ON A PEGASUS XL ROCKET TO RENDEZVOUS WITH THE AGING NEIL GEHRELS SWIFT OBSERVATORY AND BOOST IT BACK TO A SAFER ORBIT, EXTENDING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS.[11][12][13][17] KEYWORDS: SWIFT BOOST MISSION, PEGASUS XL FINAL FLIGHT, LINK SERVICING CRAFT, ORBITAL RESCUE, GAMMA-RAY BURSTS. ARTEMIS 3 ‘FLYING SAUCER’ HARDWARE - A LARGE DISK-SHAPED WEATHER COVER NICKNAMED THE ‘FLYING SAUCER’ HAS ARRIVED AT NASA TO SHIELD THE CORE STAGE OF THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROCKET FOR ARTEMIS 3, MARKING ANOTHER PIECE OF HARDWARE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT CREWED LUNAR MISSION IN THE LATE 2020S.[2] KEYWORDS: ARTEMIS 3, SLS ROCKET, FLYING SAUCER COVER, LUNAR MISSION HARDWARE. SATELLITES TRACKING SUPER TYPHOON BAVI - SATELLITE AND JOINT TYPHOON WARNING CENTER DATA SHOW TYPHOON BAVI RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING OVER THE PACIFIC AND FORECAST TO REACH SUPER TYPHOON STRENGTH BEFORE APPROACHING GUAM AND THE NORTHERN MARIANAS, UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPACE-BASED MONITORING FOR EXTREME STORMS.[6] KEYWORDS: SUPER TYPHOON BAVI, SATELLITE TRACKING, CATEGORY 5-EQUIVALENT, PACIFIC ISLANDS. ORBITING EYES ON MAJOR WILDFIRES - NEW SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS HUGE PLUMES OF SMOKE FROM MULTIPLE ONGOING WILDFIRES, ILLUSTRATING HOW ORBITAL REMOTE SENSING IS BEING USED TO TRACK FIRE SPREAD, SMOKE TRANSPORT, AND AIR QUALITY IMPACTS IN NEAR REAL TIME.[9] KEYWORDS: SATELLITE IMAGERY, WILDFIRES, SMOKE PLUMES, CLIMATE IMPACTS, REMOTE SENSING. JULY SKYWATCHING HIGHLIGHTS FROM NASA - NASA’S JULY 2026 ‘WHAT’S UP’ GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS A PREDAWN ALIGNMENT OF THE MOON WITH MARS, SATURN, AND URANUS, A DARK-SKY WINDOW FOR COMET 10P/TEMPEL 2 AND THE MILKY WAY AROUND NEW MOON, AND AN UNUSUAL THIN VIEW OF SATURN’S RINGS LATER IN THE MONTH.[1][3] KEYWORDS: SKYWATCHING, COMET TEMPEL 2, MILKY WAY, SATURN’S RINGS, PLANETARY ALIGNMENT. SIBLING SUPERNOVA REMNANTS APOD - NASA’S ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY FEATURES ‘SIBLING SUPERNOVA REMNANTS,’ SHOWCASING DETAILED IMAGERY OF MULTIPLE STELLAR EXPLOSIONS AND HELPING EXPLAIN HOW SUPERNOVAE SHAPE GALAXIES AND SEED SPACE WITH HEAVY ELEMENTS.[16] KEYWORDS: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS, APOD, STELLAR EXPLOSIONS, COSMIC EVOLUTION. Episode Transcript Nearby potentially habitable exoplanet Let’s start with that nearby world that has a lot of astronomers excited. Researchers have announced the discovery of an exoplanet designated GJ 3378b, orbiting a small red star just about 25 light-years from Earth.[15] The planet is described as potentially habitable because its minimum mass and estimated orbit place it in a zone where liquid water could exist on its surface, assuming the right kind of atmosphere.[15] The host star is a relatively cool red dwarf, which means the planet likely orbits close in, but that is common for many of the nearby exoplanets we have found around these stars.[15] What makes GJ 3378b stand out is its combination of proximity, size, and orbital characteristics, which together make it a promising target for future observations. Why is this important? First, 25 light-years is well within the range where upcoming telescopes and instruments could attempt to study the planet’s atmosphere by looking for subtle changes in starlight as the planet passes in front of its star.[15] That kind of work could reveal gases like water vapor, oxygen, methane, or carbon dioxide, which are clues to climate and potential habitability.[15] Second, because the system is relatively close and the star is small, any signals we detect will be stronger than for more distant or larger stars, improving the odds of learning something meaningful.[15] Finally, every new nearby potentially habitable world adds to a growing catalog that guides where we point our most powerful observatories and, over the long term, shapes our thinking about where life might arise beyond the Solar System.[15] GJ 3378b is not proof of life, but it is another intriguing candidate in our cosmic neighborhood. Swift space telescope rescue mission Next up, an unusual and ambitious effort to save an aging space telescope from falling out of the sky. NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, has been quietly doing critical work in high-energy astrophysics for more than two decades, especially by studying gamma-ray bursts and related transient phenomena.[12] Over the past few years, mission teams realized that Swift’s orbit was decaying faster than expected, increasing the risk that it could plunge into Earth’s atmosphere and burn up before the end of this year.[12] Rather than simply let the spacecraft retire, NASA contracted Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies to build a robotic servicing spacecraft called LINK, designed to rendezvous with Swift and push it back up to a safer orbit.[12] In the last day, that rescue mission has moved from planning into reality. The LINK spacecraft was launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, air-dropped from the Stargazer L-1011 aircraft over the Pacific in what has now been confirmed as the final flight of the Pegasus XL system.[11][13] After an earlier attempt was scrubbed due to a launch vehicle issue that prevented rocket deployment, teams reviewed the data and rescheduled, leading to a successful liftoff at 4:36 a.m. Eastern time on July 3.[17][13] The mission, known as Swift Boost, will take one to two weeks for LINK to catch up with the observatory and begin detailed inspections using its cameras.[12][13] Once controllers are satisfied with the approach, LINK will use its three robotic arms to grab Swift and then spend more than six weeks gradually firing thrusters to raise the telescope’s orbit back to around 600 kilometers.[12][13] This is significant for several reasons. Technically, it is one of the first examples of a dedicated, commercial robotic servicing mission specifically tasked with extending the life of a scientific spacecraft rather than simply deorbiting it.[12] Scientifically, rescuing Swift preserves a unique and still-productive set of instruments that rapidly detect and follow up on cosmic explosions, feeding data to observatories across the world.[12] Operationally, it also demonstrates a business model where NASA can partner with smaller space companies for rapid, relatively low-cost solutions to time-critical problems, as shown by the roughly $30 million contract and the compressed schedule from award to launch.[12] Finally, by returning Swift to a safer altitude, the mission buys the astrophysics community several more years of data, which is especially valuable for studying rare events that require long-term monitoring.[12][13] In short, Swift Boost is both a rescue mission and a pathfinder for the future of in-orbit servicing. Artemis 3 ‘flying saucer’ hardware While that rescue mission is underway in Earth orbit, NASA is also quietly assembling the hardware it needs to send humans back to the Moon. One eye-catching piece of equipment that arrived at NASA in recent days is a large disk-shaped structure nicknamed a ‘flying saucer,’ destined for the Artemis 3 mission.[2] Despite the playful name and its resemblance to a classic UFO, this hardware is actually a weather cover for the Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket’s core stage.[2] Once the SLS stack is on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the cover will shield the rocket and its thermal systems from the intense, sometimes unpredictable coastal weather, including heavy rain, wind, and salt-laden air.[2] Artemis 3, currently targeting the middle of 2027, is planned as one of the early missions in NASA’s return to crewed lunar exploration.[2] The arrival of the weather cover matters because it is another visible sign that ground infrastructure for Artemis 3 is taking shape, even as other elements of the mission, such as lander development and schedule details, continue to evolve.[2] Protection for the rocket during pad operations is essential for maintaining reliability and limiting wear on sensitive systems that must function flawlessly during launch.[2] It also shows the level of planning that goes into Artemis missions beyond the more public-facing spacecraft and landers, reminding us that even seemingly simple pieces of hardware play a role in ensuring human spaceflight safety.[2] For listeners following the Artemis program, the “flying saucer” is a reminder that the path back to the Moon involves not only cutting-edge technology but also robust, practical engineering on the ground. Satellites tracking Super Typhoon Bavi Let’s shift our view to Earth and look at how space-based data is informing the response to a major storm developing over the Pacific. Typhoon Bavi is currently moving between the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands, and recent updates from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center show sustained winds around 167 kilometers per hour with gusts above 200 kilometers per hour.[6] Forecasts indicate that Bavi is likely to reach super typhoon status by Saturday morning, with sustained winds potentially reaching 240 kilometers per hour and climbing further to around 278 kilometers per hour within the following day, comparable to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[6] The storm is projected to weaken only slightly before arriving near Guam and the Northern Marianas early next week, regions that are still recovering from the impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku earlier this year.[6] The connection to space comes through the satellites and orbital sensors that provide much of the data behind these warnings. Geostationary meteorological satellites and polar-orbiting platforms collect continuous images and measurements of cloud structure, temperature, and moisture, allowing forecasters to track Bavi’s rapid intensification and adjust forecasts accordingly.[6] This kind of monitoring is crucial for issuing timely alerts, planning evacuations where needed, and helping local authorities secure infrastructure ahead of landfall.[6] In this case, the islands at risk have limited land-based observing networks, making satellite data even more important for understanding both current storm conditions and how they might evolve.[6] So while Typhoon Bavi is, at its core, a weather story, it is also a clear example of how decades of investment in space-based Earth observation underpin modern disaster preparedness. Orbiting eyes on major wildfires Satellites are not only watching extreme storms; they are also keeping an eye on fires and smoke. New satellite imagery published in the last day shows large plumes of smoke rising from multiple ongoing wildfires, with thick columns extending over wide areas and feeding haze that can persist downwind for hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.[9] The video, based on data from orbiting platforms, highlights both the size of individual fire complexes and the combined effect of several blazes burning simultaneously.[9] In these scenes, the smoke plumes stand out against the background, making it easier to identify which regions are releasing the most aerosols into the atmosphere.[9] This kind of satellite-based fire monitoring is important for a few reasons. First, it provides a broad overview that ground observers and local agencies simply cannot achieve, especially when fires occur in remote or heavily forested regions.[9] Second, by tracking the height and spread of smoke plumes, scientists and air-quality experts can better model where pollutants will travel, who will be exposed, and how long the impacts may last.[9] Third, by comparing imagery over time, analysts can estimate the growth or containment of fires, helping to direct firefighting resources and adjust public warnings.[9] Finally, these datasets feed into longer-term research on how wildfire activity and smoke are changing in a warming climate, and how those changes interact with human health, ecosystems, and atmospheric chemistry.[9] For everyday listeners, the takeaway is that the same space technologies used to study stars and planets also play a growing role in tracking and understanding environmental crises on our own world. July skywatching highlights from NASA If you would rather look up at the night sky than at storms and smoke, NASA has some guidance for what to watch this month. The agency’s July 2026 ‘What’s Up’ skywatching update points to a few highlights that are especially timely to note right now.[1][3] On July 11 and 12, before sunrise, observers who look toward the eastern sky will see a graceful alignment of the waning crescent Moon with Mars and Saturn, with Uranus lurking in the same part of the sky but too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope.[1][3] Around July 14, the New Moon brings a dark-sky window that is ideal for hunting Comet 10P/Tempel 2, which will appear as a small fuzzy glow near the constellation Capricornus, possibly with a brighter central knot and a short, broad, fan-shaped tail.[1][3] Those same moonless nights are also the best time this month to look for the Milky Way from a dark location far from city lights, where it stretches like a pale, cloudy band across the sky.[1][3] Later in July, Saturn itself becomes an especially rewarding telescope target because its rings are tilted at a very shallow angle from our viewpoint, making them look unusually thin.[1] This rare geometry gives a striking, almost minimalist appearance to the ringed planet, different from the more open tilt many observers are used to seeing.[1] NASA recommends going somewhere dark, giving your eyes time to adjust, and avoiding phone screens to maximize your chance of seeing the Milky Way and faint objects.[1] For casual skywatchers, these tips are a reminder that some of the most memorable astronomical experiences are not about rare events but about choosing the right time and place to experience sights that are always there but often washed out by urban light.[1][3] As we talk about big missions and distant planets, it is worth remembering that simply stepping outside under dark skies is still one of the most direct ways to connect with the broader universe. Sibling supernova remnants APOD We will close the news segment with a quick look at today’s astronomy outreach image. NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for July 2, 2026 is titled “Sibling Supernova Remnants,” showcasing a detailed view of multiple remnants left behind when massive stars exploded.[16] Supernova remnants are clouds of gas and dust expanding outward from the original explosion, often threaded with complex filaments and shock fronts that glow in different wavelengths of light.[16] In the featured image, the structures and colors reveal how these blasts interact with surrounding material, compressing some regions and leaving others more diffuse.[16] Each remnant is a kind of cosmic scar, marking where a star ended its life in a catastrophic release of energy.[16] Images like this are significant because they visually convey the idea that supernovae are not just dramatic events but also engines of cosmic change.[16] They help enrich galaxies with heavy elements such as iron, calcium, and oxygen, which eventually become part of new stars, planets, and, in our case, living organisms.[16] They also drive turbulence in interstellar gas, influence star formation rates, and can leave behind neutron stars or black holes, which are themselves fascinating objects of study.[16] By highlighting “sibling” remnants together, APOD encourages viewers to compare shapes and structures, hinting at how different initial conditions and environments produce different outcomes.[16] For many people, these daily images serve as an accessible entry point into astrophysics, linking complex processes to striking visuals that can be appreciated without any background in the science. Story 8 That wraps up the main stories for today’s episode. Across these items, a few themes emerge. We are finding nearby worlds like GJ 3378b that may one day be scrutinized for signs of habitability.[15] We are investing in technologies like the LINK servicing spacecraft and the Pegasus XL’s final flight to preserve valuable scientific assets in orbit rather than letting them burn up.[11][12][13] We are steadily assembling hardware, such as the Artemis 3 “flying saucer” weather cover, for a return to human exploration of the Moon.[2] At the same time, satellites watching Earth continue to play critical roles in tracking super typhoons and wildfires, directly affecting safety and environmental understanding.[6][9] And for anyone simply looking up at the night sky, NASA’s July guide and daily APOD imagery keep the wonders of the universe within reach, from delicate planetary alignments to the aftermath of stellar explosions.[1][3][16] Taken together, these stories show how space science and technology span everything from distant exoplanets to very immediate concerns on our own planet. They highlight a mix of discovery, engineering, and practical applications that will continue to shape both scientific research and everyday life. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

Final Atlas V Amazon launch & Intense solar flares and storms - Space News (Jul 2, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Lindy is your ultimate AI assistant that proactively manages your inbox - https://try.lindy.ai/tad [https://try.lindy.ai/tad] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://try.krispcall.com/tad] - Effortless AI design for presentations, websites, and more with Gamma - https://try.gamma.app/tad [https://try.gamma.app/tad] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: FINAL ATLAS V AMAZON LAUNCH - UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE’S ATLAS V ROCKET FLEW ONE OF ITS FINAL MISSIONS, LOFTING 29 AMAZON LEO BROADBAND SATELLITES FROM CAPE CANAVERAL INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT, MARKING A KEY MILESTONE FOR BOTH ULA AND AMAZON’S SATELLITE INTERNET CONSTELLATION. KEYWORDS: ATLAS V, AMAZON LEO, BROADBAND SATELLITES, CAPE CANAVERAL, LOW EARTH ORBIT. INTENSE SOLAR FLARES AND STORMS - A POWERFUL X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE AND A SERIES OF ERUPTIONS FROM ACTIVE SUNSPOTS HAVE TRIGGERED RADIO BLACKOUTS AND RAISED THE PROSPECT OF GEOMAGNETIC STORMS, PUTTING SATELLITE OPERATORS AND POWER GRID MANAGERS ON ALERT WHILE PROMISING VIVID AURORAS FOR SKYWATCHERS. KEYWORDS: X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE, RADIO BLACKOUT, GEOMAGNETIC STORM, SUNSPOT AR4479, SPACE WEATHER. SPACE WEATHER AND ASTEROID RISK - SPACE WEATHER FORECASTERS REPORT MULTIPLE EARTH-DIRECTED CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS AND TRACK THOUSANDS OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROIDS, UNDERSCORING HOW DYNAMIC AND CLOSELY MONITORED NEAR-EARTH SPACE HAS BECOME. KEYWORDS: CORONAL MASS EJECTION, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROIDS, NOAA FORECAST, SOLAR ACTIVITY. BLUE ORIGIN REBUILDS NEW GLENN PAD - BLUE ORIGIN HAS BEGUN REBUILDING ITS DAMAGED NEW GLENN LAUNCH PAD AT CAPE CANAVERAL, SHIFTING TO A NEW HYBRID HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL CONFIGURATION AS IT WORKS TO RETURN THE MASSIVE ROCKET TO FLIGHT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. KEYWORDS: BLUE ORIGIN, NEW GLENN, LAUNCH PAD RECONSTRUCTION, CAPE CANAVERAL, HYBRID CONFIGURATION. JULY 2026 SKYWATCHING HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2026 BRINGS A PACKED SKYWATCHING CALENDAR, WITH BRIGHT EVENING PLANETS, A CONJUNCTION OF MARS AND URANUS, THE START OF MAJOR METEOR SHOWERS, AND A PROMINENT FULL BUCK MOON LATER IN THE MONTH. KEYWORDS: VENUS AND JUPITER, MARS-URANUS CONJUNCTION, PERSEIDS, SOUTHERN DELTA AQUARIIDS, FULL BUCK MOON. Episode Transcript Final Atlas V Amazon launch Let’s start on Florida’s Space Coast, where United Launch Alliance closed an important chapter in its launch history early this morning. In the pre-dawn hours of July 2nd, an Atlas V rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into low Earth orbit.[1][2][3] This mission, known as Leo Atlas 8 or LA-08, followed a northeasterly trajectory and successfully deployed all of its spacecraft about 70 minutes after liftoff, according to ULA. [1][2][3] Amazon’s Leo satellites are part of a planned constellation designed to provide global broadband internet coverage, placing the company in direct competition with other large networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink. While this particular launch is just one batch in a much larger build-out, it marks steady progress in Amazon’s effort to become a major player in space-based connectivity.[1][2] The flight was also notable because it marked the final Atlas V mission using the 551 configuration in support of Amazon’s constellation, highlighting that ULA’s venerable Atlas line is gradually giving way to its next-generation Vulcan rocket.[2] For both ULA and Amazon, today’s successful deployment is a quietly significant step in the commercial reshaping of near-Earth space. Intense solar flares and storms From hardware rising off the pad, we move to the star that powers everything in the first place: the Sun, which has been unusually active in the last couple of days. Space weather monitors report that multiple large sunspot regions—specifically numbered 4477, 4478, and 4479—have been producing intense flares, including an M8-class flare and an even stronger X-class eruption.[10] One of these eruptions, associated with sunspot AR4479, caused a temporary radio blackout across parts of North America and the Pacific by disrupting high‑frequency signals below about 25 megahertz.[12] These frequencies are important for aviation, maritime operations, and amateur radio, so even a brief outage is closely watched. The flares have launched several coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, toward Earth, with NOAA analysts warning that a G2‑class, or moderate, geomagnetic storm is possible around July 3rd when one of these CMEs arrives.[10] Separate modeling cited by forecasters suggests the event tied to the X1.1 flare could produce conditions between G2 and G3, meaning moderate to strong geomagnetic activity if the impact aligns just right with Earth’s magnetic field.[12] In practical terms, that mix means a risk of minor disruptions to satellites and navigation systems, along with the chance of enhanced auroras at higher latitudes. Adding a bit of drama, observers also noted that a comet from the Kreutz family of so‑called “sungrazers” plunged into the Sun shortly before one of the major flares.[10] The comet’s destruction was captured by a coronagraph instrument, and while it does not directly drive the flare itself, the timing is a vivid reminder of how dynamic the solar environment is. Between the flares, CMEs, and cometary debris, the Sun has become a central space‑weather story over the last 24 hours. Space weather and asteroid risk Those solar eruptions tie into a broader picture of space weather and near‑Earth hazards that scientists track every day. According to the latest data, there are currently more than two thousand cataloged potentially hazardous asteroids—objects whose orbits bring them close enough to Earth, and which are large enough, to be worth watching for long‑term impact risk.[10] None of the known bodies in this category is on a collision course with Earth, but their sheer number underscores why continuous monitoring of near‑Earth space has become routine. The CMEs expected to brush past Earth over the next couple of days are not tied directly to asteroid activity, but they affect the same environment that satellites and planetary defense sensors operate in.[10][14] Forecasters note that a series of CMEs launched on June 26 and 27 have already set up a disturbed solar wind environment, with minor to moderate geomagnetic storm conditions possible as those plasma clouds interact with Earth’s magnetic field.[14] These disturbances can induce currents in power lines, add noise to radio communications, and alter the upper atmosphere in ways that slightly change satellite orbits. The combined picture is one of a busy, closely watched near‑Earth neighborhood. Solar flares and CMEs, thousands of tracked asteroids, and a dense layer of satellites and space telescopes all share the same physical environment. Days like today, with elevated solar activity and storm forecasts, serve as stress tests for how well our technology and monitoring systems can keep pace with a changing sky. Blue Origin rebuilds New Glenn pad Not all of the week’s launch‑related news involves rockets leaving the ground. Some of it is about getting back to the point where launches can safely happen. Blue Origin has started rebuilding the launch pad at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36A that was damaged by the explosion of a New Glenn rocket during a previous test.[18] According to company CEO Dave Limp, hardware recovery and debris removal operations are now complete, clearing the way for reconstruction of the pad.[18] What makes this effort more than routine repair work is that the company is using the opportunity to rethink how vehicles are handled at the site. Blue Origin plans to move to a hybrid horizontal and vertical configuration for New Glenn at 36A, a shift from earlier plans that relied more heavily on vertical integration.[18] In practical terms, this should give the company added flexibility in how the massive rocket is processed and prepared for flight, potentially improving efficiency and safety. Limp has said that the goal is to get New Glenn flying again by the end of the year, though that timeline will depend on both the pad reconstruction and the outcome of the investigation into the earlier explosion.[18] For observers of the launch industry, this story matters because New Glenn is designed to compete in the heavy‑lift commercial market alongside rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and ULA’s Vulcan. The faster Blue Origin can safely return the vehicle to operations, the more diverse the options become for large payloads heading to orbit and beyond. July 2026 skywatching highlights With rockets and the Sun covered, let’s look at what ordinary skywatchers can expect above their heads in the coming weeks, since some of that guidance has been updated just in time for July. Astronomy guides note that Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky just after sunset in the early part of July, forming a bright pair low in the west.[5][11] Jupiter will fade from view relatively quickly, dropping closer to the horizon each night and becoming difficult to see after about the first week as it heads toward solar conjunction at the end of the month.[5] Venus, by contrast, remains prominent, shining at around magnitude –4 and sitting tens of degrees above the horizon after sunset.[5][11] In the morning sky, Saturn and Mars take over the show. Saturn rises shortly after 1 a.m. local time at the beginning of the month and appears earlier and earlier as July progresses, eventually becoming visible before midnight in the last week.[11] Mars follows a couple of hours later, initially rising around 3:30 a.m. and then shifting to about 2:30 a.m. local time by month’s end.[11] A particularly nice highlight comes on July 4th, when Mars passes close to Uranus in the predawn sky, giving observers an easier way to pick out the faint outer planet near a brighter reference point.[5] Lunar phases also shape observing conditions. After a Last Quarter Moon around July 7th, the Moon wanes toward a New Moon on July 14th, which will be the best night of the month for deep‑sky stargazing.[11] From mid‑July onward, the Moon waxes again, reaching a First Quarter on July 21st and becoming a bright Full Buck Moon on the night of July 28th to 29th.[11][15][16] For many listeners, that means early and mid‑July will offer the darkest skies, while the end of the month will be dominated by bright moonlight and good opportunities for casual lunar observing. Story 6 Finally, a quick look ahead to the meteor activity that begins this month, because some of that builds on what we’re seeing right now. In mid‑July, the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower starts to become active, with its first meteors appearing around July 12th.[11][15] Just a few days later, around July 17th, the more famous Perseid meteor shower begins its long ramp‑up toward a peak in August.[11][15] During the second half of July and into August, meteors from these two showers will appear to crisscross the sky, one radiating from the southern constellation Aquarius and the other from the northeast near Perseus.[11] NASA highlights that this is also the time of year when the Milky Way’s galactic core is well placed for viewing, appearing as a hazy band of light stretching across the sky for those under dark, rural conditions.[11][15] Combined with the meteor activity and the relatively warm nights in the Northern Hemisphere, July becomes one of the most inviting months to simply go outside and look up. Taken together, the latest guidance paints a picture of a busy and varied night sky for July 2026. Bright planets, shifting lunar phases, emerging meteor showers, and an active Milky Way backdrop all contribute to the sense that space is not just something happening in distant missions, but something unfolding overhead every clear night. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

Swift space telescope rescue delayed & Launch industry updates Rocket Lab SpaceX - Space News (Jul 1, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Lindy is your ultimate AI assistant that proactively manages your inbox - https://try.lindy.ai/tad [https://try.lindy.ai/tad] - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron] - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily [https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: SWIFT SPACE TELESCOPE RESCUE DELAYED - NASA’S FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SWIFT BOOST MISSION, USING THE PRIVATE LINK SPACECRAFT AND A PEGASUS XL ROCKET, HAS BEEN DELAYED BY POOR WEATHER, POSTPONING EFFORTS TO RAISE THE NEIL GEHRELS SWIFT OBSERVATORY’S ORBIT AND PREVENT IT FROM BURNING UP IN EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. KEYWORDS: NASA SWIFT BOOST, PEGASUS XL, KATALYST SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, ORBITAL SERVICING, SPACE TELESCOPE RESCUE.[7][13][18][19] LAUNCH INDUSTRY UPDATES ROCKET LAB SPACEX - ROCKET LAB ABORTED A LAST-SECOND LAUNCH OF A JAPANESE RADAR EARTH-OBSERVATION SATELLITE, WHILE SPACEX PREPARES A LONE STARLINK MISSION FROM CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK, SHOWING BOTH THE CHALLENGES AND THE ROUTINE PACE OF COMMERCIAL LAUNCH ACTIVITY. KEYWORDS: ROCKET LAB ELECTRON, QPS-SAR-13 MIKURA-I, LAUNCH ABORT, SPACEX FALCON 9, STARLINK.[16][1][17] NASA OUTLINES FIRST MOON BASE MISSIONS - NASA HAS DETAILED THE FIRST THREE MOON BASE MISSIONS AND NEW CONTRACTS FOR LUNAR ROVERS AND CARGO LANDERS, MARKING A CONCRETE STEP TOWARD SUSTAINED OPERATIONS NEAR THE MOON’S SOUTH POLE UNDER THE ARTEMIS AND CLPS PROGRAMS. KEYWORDS: MOON BASE MISSIONS, BLUE ORIGIN, ASTROBOTIC, LUNAR TERRAIN VEHICLE, LUNAR SOUTH POLE.[12] WEBB AND MAVEN RESHAPE PLANETARY SCIENCE - A NEW JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY REVEALS HOW A PLANET SURVIVED THE DEATH OF ITS STAR, WHILE NASA FORMALLY ENDS THE MAVEN MISSION AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF INSIGHTS INTO MARS’ ATMOSPHERE, RESHAPING OUR VIEW OF PLANETARY EVOLUTION. KEYWORDS: JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE, WHITE DWARF, EXOPLANET SURVIVAL, MAVEN, MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE ESCAPE.[8][11] OCEAN SATELLITE TRACKS WILDFIRE SMOKE - AN OCEAN-MONITORING SATELLITE HAS TAKEN ON AN IMPORTANT SECONDARY ROLE BY SPOTTING WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM SPACE, UNDERSCORING HOW EARTH-OBSERVING MISSIONS CAN DOUBLE AS REAL-TIME CLIMATE AND DISASTER MONITORING TOOLS. KEYWORDS: OCEAN-MONITORING SATELLITE, WILDFIRE SMOKE, EARTH OBSERVATION, CLIMATE IMPACTS.[3][14] CHANDRA SHARES COSMIC ANNIVERSARY IMAGES - TO MARK THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES, NASA’S CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY RELEASED STRIKING RED, WHITE, AND BLUE IMAGES OF COSMIC OBJECTS INCLUDING CASSIOPEIA A AND DISTANT GALAXY CLUSTERS, TURNING HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS INTO A VISUAL CELEBRATION. KEYWORDS: CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY, CASSIOPEIA A, GALAXY CLUSTER, ANNIVERSARY IMAGES, PUBLIC OUTREACH.[15] Episode Transcript Swift space telescope rescue delayed Let’s start with that unusual rescue mission, because it really marks a new chapter in how we care for spacecraft already in orbit.[7][13][18][19] NASA and its partners are trying to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope that has been watching high-energy events like gamma-ray bursts for nearly twenty-two years.[18][19] Swift’s orbit has slowly been decaying, and recent analyses showed it was dropping faster than expected, putting it on track to dip too deep into Earth’s atmosphere around October, where it would likely break apart.[19] Instead of letting it fall, NASA hired Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies to build a robotic servicing spacecraft called LINK that can rendezvous with Swift, latch on, and gently raise it back to roughly its original altitude.[18][19] The plan is to launch LINK on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket that is carried to altitude by an L‑1011 aircraft and then released over the Pacific near Kwajalein Atoll.[18] This air-launched rocket is making what is expected to be its final flight, adding a historic note to the mission.[18] LINK itself is roughly the size of a large household appliance but packed with guidance sensors, thrusters, and a capture mechanism designed to grab the telescope without damaging it.[19] Once attached, LINK will slowly fire its ion thrusters over several months to lift both spacecraft to a higher, more stable orbit, potentially extending Swift’s life into the 2030s if its systems keep working.[18][19] What changed in the last twenty-four hours is the schedule.[7][13] The mission, known as Swift Boost, was meant to get underway, but unfavorable weather at the launch site forced the team to scrub the first attempt.[13] NASA and its partners have now retargeted the launch for no earlier than July 1 local time at Kwajalein, around early morning Eastern time, depending on conditions.[7][13] It is a reminder that even with all the technology involved, something as simple as clouds and winds can still hold up a pioneering space operation. When it finally flies, Swift Boost will be the first time a private spacecraft attempts to capture and reboost a U.S. government science satellite on this scale, and its success or failure will shape how we think about repairing and maintaining aging missions in orbit.[7][18][19] Taken together, this story isn’t just about one telescope. It is about a broader shift toward treating orbit as a place where spacecraft can be serviced rather than simply abandoned, opening the door to more sustainable and long-lived space science in the years ahead.[18][19] Launch industry updates Rocket Lab SpaceX Staying with launch activity, but with a different outcome, Rocket Lab attempted to send a Japanese radar satellite into orbit and had to call it off at the very last moment.[16] The mission, nicknamed “The Grain Goddess Provides,” was scheduled to launch an Electron rocket from the company’s New Zealand site carrying QPS-SAR-13, a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS.[16] The satellite, also known as Mikura-I after a goddess associated with abundance, is part of a growing constellation designed to deliver high-resolution radar images of Earth’s surface, day or night and through clouds.[16] With radar, these satellites can track everything from shipping traffic to land use and disaster impacts, complementing optical Earth-observation fleets.[16] Coverage was live and the countdown reached the final second when the attempt was aborted right before liftoff.[16] Rocket Lab has not yet shared detailed information about the cause, and there is no new launch date announced as of now.[16] While scrubs and aborts are a normal part of launch operations, a last-second halt like this tends to draw attention because all systems appear ready until something triggers an automatic stop.[16] For iQPS, the delay means waiting longer to add another radar node to its network, and for Rocket Lab, it is another test of its ability to diagnose and resolve issues quickly in a crowded small-launch market.[16] In the same commercial-launch arena, SpaceX is planning what amounts to a quieter week from its California site, with a single Falcon 9 Starlink mission slated just before the July 4 holiday.[1][17] The company’s manifest shows one upcoming Starlink launch from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg, continuing the expansion of its broadband satellite constellation but with less of the rapid-fire cadence we’ve seen in some recent months.[1][17] While routine on the surface, these missions keep adding coverage and capacity for global satellite internet, which remains a key part of the company’s business and of the broader trend toward low Earth orbit communications.[1][17] Together, these launch stories highlight both the reliability and the fragility of modern spaceflight. A single second can separate a flawless ascent from an unexpected abort, and yet the overall trend remains one of frequent, almost workmanlike trips to orbit for communications and Earth observation. NASA outlines first Moon Base missions From Earth orbit, let’s move outward to the Moon, where NASA has started to put more detail on its plans for a sustained presence near the lunar south pole.[12] In a recent event at NASA Headquarters, the agency outlined the first three missions in what it is calling its Moon Base campaign, along with new contracts for rovers and cargo landers to support both crewed and uncrewed operations.[12] The idea is to build up infrastructure and experience gradually, using commercial partners under the CLPS, or Commercial Lunar Payload Services, framework while preparing for future Artemis landings by around 2028.[12] The first mission, Moon Base I, is targeted for launch no earlier than fall 2026 and will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver NASA payloads to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge near the south pole.[12] Those payloads include instruments designed to study how rocket plumes interact with the lunar surface and a laser reflector array that helps orbiting spacecraft precisely locate themselves.[12] Later missions, Moon Base II and III, will send additional cargo, including rovers like Astrolab’s FLIP and scientific packages such as the Lunar Vertex investigation to study mysterious bright swirls on the Moon’s surface.[12] Alongside these missions, NASA has awarded significant contracts to companies building Lunar Terrain Vehicles, or LTVs, which will serve as transport for astronauts on the surface and as robotic explorers between crew visits.[12] Astrolab and Lunar Outpost secured Phase 1 awards worth more than two hundred million dollars each, with separate contracts to Blue Origin for delivering these rovers to the south polar region.[12] While the individual dollar amounts matter for the companies involved, the bigger picture is that NASA is leaning heavily on commercial partnerships to assemble a flexible fleet of landers and rovers, rather than building everything in-house.[12] For listeners, the key takeaway is that the Moon is shifting from being a destination visited occasionally to a place where multiple missions are coordinated to build up capabilities over time. If even part of this Moon Base roadmap unfolds as planned, the late 2020s could see a steady stream of robotic and human activity on and around the lunar surface, changing how we think about “living” and working off Earth.[12] Webb and MAVEN reshape planetary science The past day has also brought important updates in planetary science, both in our own solar system and beyond it.[8][11] On the exoplanet front, an international team using the James Webb Space Telescope has studied a planet that somehow survived the death of its parent star, effectively living through the star’s transformation into a white dwarf.[8] This kind of system offers a rare window into what might happen to planetary systems when their stars leave the main sequence and expand into red giants, a fate that awaits our own Sun billions of years from now.[8] By analyzing the planet’s atmosphere and orbit with Webb’s infrared instruments, scientists can test models of how close-in worlds respond to intense stellar winds and heat, and how any remaining atmospheres might be stripped or altered.[8] The findings help refine ideas about long-term planetary survival and the potential for habitable conditions to exist in more extreme environments than previously thought.[8] Closer to home, NASA has formally said farewell to MAVEN, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, after more than eleven years in orbit around the Red Planet.[11] MAVEN was the first mission devoted specifically to studying Mars’ upper atmosphere and how it has changed over time, with a particular focus on how the planet lost much of its early water and air to space.[11] Its instruments measured how solar wind and radiation interact with the Martian atmosphere, helping researchers estimate how much atmosphere Mars has lost over billions of years and why it transformed from a wetter world into the dry, cold planet we see today.[11] Recently, MAVEN experienced a serious anomaly when the spacecraft began rotating faster than its systems could handle, causing its batteries to drain and its communications hardware to lose power.[11] A review board determined that the spacecraft is not recoverable, and NASA has started the process of decommissioning the mission and archiving all its data for long-term use by the scientific community.[11] While it is always disappointing to lose a functioning spacecraft, MAVEN exceeded its original one-year mission by a full decade and leaves behind a rich dataset that will continue to inform Mars research and future exploration.[11] Together, Webb’s glimpse of a planet outliving its star and MAVEN’s decade-long record of Mars’ atmospheric escape tell a broader story about planetary evolution. They remind us that worlds are shaped over eons by both their stars and their own internal processes, and that today’s conditions on a planet are just one frame in a much longer cosmic film.[8][11] Ocean satellite tracks wildfire smoke Back on Earth, one of the more quietly important news items is about an ocean-monitoring satellite doing unexpected work as a wildfire smoke tracker.[3][14] A NASA satellite originally designed to study the oceans has been highlighting plumes of smoke from wildfires, producing striking images that show both the extent and the movement of these airborne pollutants.[3][14] In the most recent example, shared as Space.com’s photo of the day for July 1, the spacecraft captured smoke streaming across large regions, making it possible to see in a single frame what people on the ground experience as hazy skies and poor air quality.[3][14] Because the satellite regularly scans Earth’s surface and atmosphere, it provides a kind of real-time look at how fires interact with weather patterns and transport particles over long distances.[3][14] This is a case of a mission finding an unintended but important purpose. Instruments designed to measure ocean color and surface conditions are sensitive enough to pick up the signatures of smoke and aerosols in the atmosphere, allowing scientists to repurpose the data for air quality and climate impact studies.[3] For communities dealing with wildfire seasons that are longer and more intense, these kinds of observations help improve forecasting, health advisories, and our broader understanding of how fires fit into the changing climate system.[3][14] As Earth observation fleets grow, more satellites are likely to take on multiple roles like this, blending their original oceanographic or land-use missions with real-time monitoring of hazards and environmental change. It’s a reminder that space technology is not just about distant planets, but also about keeping a close eye on our own world. Chandra shares cosmic anniversary images We’ll close today with something visual and celebratory: new images from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory released to mark the 250th birthday of the United States.[15] Chandra has taken four of its high-energy views of the universe and rendered them in red, white, and blue, creating a set of cosmic “fireworks” that tie into the anniversary theme.[15] The images include the remnants of a massive star explosion known as Cassiopeia A, the star-forming region NGC 3603, the galaxy cluster ZwCl 0024+1652, and the spiral galaxy NGC 4736, also called M94.[15] Each of these objects is already scientifically rich, but in this release they are presented together in a grid, using color choices that connect the physics of supernovae and hot gas to a more familiar national palette.[15] Cassiopeia A, for example, shows the aftermath of a supernova, with shock waves and high-energy particles glowing in X-rays, while the galaxy cluster reveals how huge amounts of dark matter and gas shape the large-scale structure of the cosmos.[15] By translating those X-ray data into visually accessible images, Chandra’s team helps the public see beyond visible light and into regimes where temperature, density, and magnetic fields tell their own story.[15] The red, white, and blue rendering is not about scientific accuracy in terms of true color, but about creating a bridge between complex astrophysics and everyday cultural symbols.[15] For listeners, these images are a reminder that science communication can be both accurate and artistic. They invite people who might not follow technical papers or mission briefings to engage with the universe in a more intuitive way, which ultimately supports the broader goal of keeping space science part of the shared cultural conversation.[15] Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

Swift Boost launch delayed again & Robot tug to save Swift - Space News (Jun 30, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily [https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://try.krispcall.com/tad] - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: SWIFT BOOST LAUNCH DELAYED AGAIN - NASA HAS POSTPONED THE SWIFT BOOST MISSION LAUNCH DUE TO UNFAVORABLE WEATHER, WITH THE NEXT ATTEMPT NO EARLIER THAN JULY 1, 2026. THE MISSION WILL SEND THE LINK SERVICING SPACECRAFT TO HELP PREVENT THE NEIL GEHRELS SWIFT OBSERVATORY FROM RE-ENTERING EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. ROBOT TUG TO SAVE SWIFT - SWIFT BOOST IS A ROBOTIC ON-ORBIT SERVICING MISSION IN LOW EARTH ORBIT, WHERE THE LINK SPACECRAFT IS DESIGNED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH, GRAPPLE, AND RAISE THE ORBIT OF NASA’S SWIFT SPACE TELESCOPE. IF SUCCESSFUL, IT HIGHLIGHTS A GROWING SHIFT TOWARD SATELLITE LIFE-EXTENSION AND SPACE SUSTAINABILITY INSTEAD OF LETTING VALUABLE SPACECRAFT DEORBIT. ISS SPACEWALK TO FIX CANADARM2 - ASTRONAUTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ARE FINALIZING PREPARATIONS FOR A JUNE 30, 2026 SPACEWALK TO REPAIR CANADARM2, THE STATION’S VITAL ROBOTIC ARM. NASA HAS CLEARED THE CREW TO REPLACE A MALFUNCTIONING WRIST JOINT SO THE ARM CAN KEEP SUPPORTING STATION OPERATIONS. CANADARM2 MAINTENANCE KEEPS ISS RUNNING - CANADARM2 IS CENTRAL TO ISS OPERATIONS, FROM MOVING HARDWARE TO SUPPORTING VISITING VEHICLE ACTIVITIES, AND A FAILING JOINT CAN LIMIT THE STATION’S CAPABILITIES. THIS MAINTENANCE-FOCUSED EVA UNDERSCORES HOW THE ISS IS DESIGNED TO BE REPAIRED AND KEPT OPERATIONAL FOR DECADES. STRAWBERRY MICROMOON SKYWATCHING TONIGHT - JUNE’S FULL STRAWBERRY MOON IS ALSO A MICROMOON, MEANING THE MOON IS NEAR APOGEE AND APPEARS SLIGHTLY SMALLER AND DIMMER THAN AVERAGE. IT’S ALSO DESCRIBED AS THE LAST MICROMOON OF 2026, OFFERING AN EASY, PUBLIC-FRIENDLY ASTRONOMY MOMENT FOR SKYWATCHERS. Episode Transcript Swift Boost launch delayed again NASA has postponed today’s planned launch of Swift Boost, a mission built around a simple but striking idea: send up a robotic spacecraft to physically grab an aging space telescope and raise its orbit to keep it alive. The target is the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 and famous for catching sudden, high-energy cosmic events like gamma-ray bursts. After more than two decades in low Earth orbit, Swift’s altitude has been slowly dropping due to atmospheric drag, and without intervention it’s expected to re-enter later this year. The plan is for a servicing spacecraft called LINK to rendezvous with Swift, grapple it with robotic arms, and gradually boost it to a higher, more stable orbit over the following months. The newest update is straightforward: the launch was postponed because of unfavorable weather, and the next attempt is now no earlier than Wednesday, July 1. It’s a reminder that even the most futuristic “space tug” missions still start with something very Earth-bound: waiting for the sky to cooperate. Robot tug to save Swift Up on the International Space Station, the focus is on hands-on maintenance. NASA says astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir have been finishing suit configurations and reviewing procedures ahead of a June 30 spacewalk scheduled to begin at 8:35 a.m. Eastern, with about six hours and forty minutes planned outside. Their main job is to replace a malfunctioning wrist joint on Canadarm2, the station’s long-serving robotic arm that’s been in operation since 2001. Canadarm2 is one of the ISS’s most practical tools—used to move hardware around the exterior and support a wide range of station tasks—so keeping its joints healthy matters for daily operations and long-term station reliability. The pre-spacewalk checks also include safety gear like the small spacesuit jetpack used as a last-resort way to get back to the station if an astronaut ever became untethered. While two crew members prepare to work outside, others continue the inside work of keeping experiments running and systems maintained, which is basically the ISS in a nutshell: constant operations, layered on top of occasional headline-making moments. ISS spacewalk to fix Canadarm2 Finally, something you can take part in without a mission patch: June’s full Moon, often called the Strawberry Moon, is also a micromoon this year. “Strawberry Moon” is a seasonal name tied to the time of year when wild strawberries traditionally ripen in parts of North America, not a promise that the Moon will look pink. The micromoon part comes from timing: the full Moon is occurring near apogee, the farthest point in the Moon’s orbit, so it appears slightly smaller and a bit dimmer than an average full Moon. Outreach posts have also framed this as the last micromoon of 2026, since later full Moons won’t line up as closely with that far-point timing. The difference is subtle to the naked eye, but it’s a neat excuse to step outside around sunset, watch the Moon rise, and remember that even familiar sky events have their own small variations from month to month. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

Strawberry Micromoon peaks tonight & SiriusXM SXM-11 launched to GEO - Space News (Jun 29, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron] - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad [https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://try.krispcall.com/tad] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: STRAWBERRY MICROMOON PEAKS TONIGHT - THE JUNE 29, 2026 STRAWBERRY FULL MOON PEAKS TONIGHT—AND IT’S ALSO A MICROMOON, OCCURRING NEAR LUNAR APOGEE. LEARN WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE MOON’S APPARENT SIZE AND THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY THE VIEW. SIRIUSXM SXM-11 LAUNCHED TO GEO - SPACEX LAUNCHED SIRIUSXM’S SXM-11 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ON FALCON 9 FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, CONTINUING A MAJOR REFRESH OF SATELLITE RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE. THE MISSION SUPPORTS LONG-TERM RELIABILITY FOR SIRIUSXM’S GEOSTATIONARY BROADCAST SERVICE ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. STARLINK 17-40 ADDS 24 SATELLITES - A FALCON 9 FROM VANDENBERG DEPLOYED 24 NEW STARLINK SATELLITES, MARKING ANOTHER STEP IN THE RAPID EXPANSION OF LOW EARTH ORBIT BROADBAND. THE FLIGHT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS SPACEX’S HIGH-CADENCE OPERATIONS AND ROUTINE BOOSTER REUSE. APOD SPOTLIGHTS GALAXY M82 WIND - NASA’S ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY FOR JUNE 29 FEATURES THE STARBURST GALAXY M82 AND ITS DRAMATIC SUPERGALACTIC WIND. THE IMAGE OFFERS A VIVID WINDOW INTO HOW INTENSE STAR FORMATION CAN DRIVE GALAXY-SCALE OUTFLOWS THAT SHAPE EVOLUTION OVER TIME. NASA PARTNERS WITH SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - NASA AND THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ARE SET TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AIMED AT STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO WORK WITH NASA. THE MOVE SIGNALS CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON BROADENING PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE SPACE SUPPLY CHAIN. ESA CLEAN SPACE DAYS 2026 BEGINS - ESA’S CLEAN SPACE DAYS 2026 OPENS AT ESTEC IN THE NETHERLANDS, SPOTLIGHTING DEBRIS MITIGATION AND SUSTAINABLE MISSION DESIGN. THE CONFERENCE REFLECTS GROWING INTERNATIONAL FOCUS ON KEEPING EARTH ORBITS SAFE AND USABLE AS LAUNCH RATES RISE. Episode Transcript Strawberry Micromoon peaks tonight First up, a skywatching note you can actually use today. The June Strawberry Full Moon peaks shortly before 8 p.m. Eastern, and this one is also a micromoon—meaning the full Moon happens near apogee, when the Moon is farthest from Earth. The result is a Moon that’s subtly smaller and dimmer than average, though most people won’t notice without side-by-side comparisons. The takeaway is simple: it’s still a full Moon worth seeing, and it’s a nice reminder that the Moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle. SiriusXM SXM-11 launched to GEO Now to launches. Late Sunday night, SpaceX flew a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 carrying SiriusXM’s SXM-11 satellite. The payload is a high-capacity communications spacecraft headed for geostationary orbit, part of SiriusXM’s effort to refresh satellites that have been working since the late 2000s. In practical terms, this is the kind of infrastructure maintenance that keeps satellite radio service steady for millions of listeners across North America. Starlink 17-40 adds 24 satellites Earlier Sunday, SpaceX also launched a separate Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California: Starlink 17-40. The rocket deployed 24 Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit, adding capacity and redundancy to an already huge constellation. The flight also underscored how normalized booster reuse has become, with the first stage flying again on a high flight count—one more indicator that rapid launch cadence is now a defining feature of today’s orbital economy. APOD spotlights galaxy M82 wind For a quick deep-space pivot, NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for June 29 highlights M82—the Cigar Galaxy—caught in a powerful starburst phase. The featured view emphasizes reddish filaments streaming out above and below the galaxy’s disk, a galaxy-scale outflow often described as a supergalactic wind. It’s driven by the combined energy of intense star formation and supernovae, and it’s a striking example of how galaxies can actively reshape themselves by pushing gas—and future star-making material—out into surrounding space. NASA partners with Small Business Administration In U.S. space policy and industry news, NASA is scheduled to sign a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration today at NASA Headquarters. While the ceremony itself is brief, the signal is important: NASA is continuing to formalize support structures that help small businesses connect to agency programs, compete for work, and contribute specialized technology and services. Over time, partnerships like this can widen who gets to participate in NASA’s mission pipeline—and where innovation comes from. ESA Clean Space Days 2026 begins And in Europe, ESA’s Clean Space Days 2026 opens today at ESTEC in the Netherlands, running through July 3. The focus is sustainability: reducing debris risk, improving end-of-life planning, and encouraging eco-design choices that limit long-term harm to the orbital environment and the broader footprint of space activity. With more satellites launching to both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit, events like this are where engineers, operators, and policymakers compare approaches to keeping space usable and safe as traffic continues to rise. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]