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NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations & SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation - Space News (Mar 2, 2026)
Published 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Episode Transcript
NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations
Let's start with what's happening with our own planet. NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory just kicked off its primary science mission yesterday, March 1st. This spacecraft, which launched back in September 2025, has been getting ready for this moment for months. It's now positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 point, about one million miles from Earth toward the Sun. From that vantage point, it can see something pretty remarkable: the glow of hydrogen in Earth's outermost atmosphere. The observatory carries two ultraviolet cameras that will watch how our exosphere expands and contracts as solar activity changes. Over the next two years, this mission will help us understand how our upper atmosphere responds to space weather events and how planets lose water to space over time.
SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation
Speaking of spacecraft doing their thing, SpaceX had a busy Sunday. On March 1st, they launched Starlink satellites from both coasts. A Falcon 9 took off from California in the morning, deploying 25 satellites. Then, nearly twelve hours later, another Falcon 9 launched from Florida with 29 more. Both first stage boosters came back and landed successfully on their respective droneships. These launches brought the total Starlink constellation to more than 9,900 operational satellites in orbit. That's an incredible number when you think about it. SpaceX is now deploying over 500 satellites just this month alone.
Total Lunar Eclipse Incoming Tomorrow
Now, if you haven't heard already, there's something really special happening tomorrow morning. A total lunar eclipse is coming, and depending on where you are, this could be one of the most dramatic skywatching events of the year. The eclipse begins at 3:44 AM Eastern time on March 3rd. The partial phase starts at 4:50 AM, and then totality hits at 6:04 AM. For about 58 minutes, the entire moon will be bathed i
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Today's topics:
NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations - NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory started its primary science mission on March 1, studying Earth's exosphere and ultraviolet hydrogen glow from the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point.
SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation - SpaceX successfully launched 54 Starlink satellites across two Falcon 9 missions on March 1, bringing the total constellation to over 9,900 operational satellites.
Total Lunar Eclipse Incoming Tomorrow - A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red tomorrow morning, March 3, visible across North America, Asia, and the Pacific with 58 minutes of totality.
Prominent Solar Activity Detected - The sun erupted with a massive prominence near its north pole on March 2, following days of increased solar flare activity with multiple C-class flares.
Jupiter and Venus Evening Viewing - Jupiter dominates the evening sky this week in the constellation Gemini while Venus continues its descent toward the western horizon after sunset.
Episode Transcript
NASA's Geocorona Observatory Begins Operations
Let's start with what's happening with our own planet. NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory just kicked off its primary science mission yesterday, March 1st. This spacecraft, which launched back in September 2025, has been getting ready for this moment for months. It's now positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 point, about one million miles from Earth toward the Sun. From that vantage point, it can see something pretty remarkable: the glow of hydrogen in Earth's outermost atmosphere. The observatory carries two ultraviolet cameras that will watch how our exosphere expands and contracts as solar activity changes. Over the next two years, this mission will help us understand how our upper atmosphere responds to space weather events and how planets lose water to space over time.
SpaceX Deploys Starlink Constellation
Speaking of spacecraft doing their thing, SpaceX had a busy Sunday. On March 1st, they launched Starlink satellites from both coasts. A Falcon 9 took off from California in the morning, deploying 25 satellites. Then, nearly twelve hours later, another Falcon 9 launched from Florida with 29 more. Both first stage boosters came back and landed successfully on their respective droneships. These launches brought the total Starlink constellation to more than 9,900 operational satellites in orbit. That's an incredible number when you think about it. SpaceX is now deploying over 500 satellites just this month alone.
Total Lunar Eclipse Incoming Tomorrow
Now, if you haven't heard already, there's something really special happening tomorrow morning. A total lunar eclipse is coming, and depending on where you are, this could be one of the most dramatic skywatching events of the year. The eclipse begins at 3:44 AM Eastern time on March 3rd. The partial phase starts at 4:50 AM, and then totality hits at 6:04 AM. For about 58 minutes, the entire moon will be bathed i