Turbulent Times for SpaceX, a Monstrous Comet in the Oort Cloud, and Europe’s Space Revival

Highlights:

- SpaceX Starship Explosion: In this episode, we delve into the latest developments from SpaceX as their Starship spacecraft experienced an explosion during a static fire test at the Starbase site. Initial analyses suggest a failure of a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. We discuss the implications of this incident on the timeline for future flight tests and the challenges faced by the upper stage of the Starship programme.

- Monstrous Oort Cloud Comet: Astronomers have made remarkable observations of the colossal comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli-Bernstein, one of the largest Oort Cloud comets ever discovered, measuring 140 kilometres across. We explore its surprising activity, including jets of carbon monoxide gas, and its long journey towards the Sun, with a perihelion expected in January 2031.

- Europe's Space Ambitions: French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to reclaim its status as a global space power, particularly in the competitive low Earth orbit satellite market. We discuss his vision for increased investment and collaboration with international partners to build a robust European satellite infrastructure and the significance of this push for independence in space capabilities.

- ESA's 50th Anniversary: The European Space Agency celebrates its half-century milestone with a new publication highlighting key achievements over the years. From landing on a comet to developing advanced satellite navigation systems, we reflect on the agency's pivotal role in advancing Europe's capabilities in space and its importance for maintaining independence in the field. To download the publication: https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_50_booklet.pdf (https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_50_booklet.pdf)

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Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily

01:10 - SpaceX Starship explosion

10:00 - Monstrous Oort Cloud comet

20:00 - Europe's space ambitions

30:00 - ESA's 50th anniversary

✍️ Episode References

SpaceX Starship Update

[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com/ (https://www.spacex.com/) )

Oort Cloud Comet Discovery

[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )

European Space Initiatives

[European Space Agency]( https://www.esa.int/ (https://www.esa.int/) )

ESA 50yrs Publication Download (PDF): https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_50_booklet.pdf https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_50_booklet.pdf (https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_50_booklet.pdf)

Astronomy Daily

[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.a