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Black hole jet stirs galaxy & China launches Gravity-1 from sea - Space News (Jul 22, 2026)
Published 1 week, 3 days ago
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Episode Transcript
Black hole jet stirs galaxy
Our first story comes from the early universe, where astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found what looks like a striking case of black hole feedback in action. A distant, oddly shaped galaxy nicknamed the red potato is surrounded by gas that should be cooling into new stars, but instead that gas appears hot, turbulent, and unsettled. Researchers say the likely cause is a jet from a supermassive black hole in a neighboring galaxy, effectively stirring the gas and suppressing star formation. It's a dramatic reminder that black holes do not just consume matter; they can also control how nearby galaxies grow.
China launches Gravity-1 from sea
Next, China added another launch to its busy space calendar with the third flight of the Gravity-1 rocket. The Y4 mission lifted off from a maritime platform east of Shanghai and placed nine satellites into orbit, showing how sea-based launch operations can add flexibility to a nation's launch system. By moving launches offshore, operators can choose more favorable trajectories and reduce some of the constraints tied to fixed land-based sites. For China, it is another sign that launch capability is broadening beyond traditional spaceports.
Starlink flies after last-second abort
In California, SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, but what makes this flight notable is the timing. It came just a day after a last-second abort, the kind of halt that happens when onboard or ground systems detect something outside safe limits. A rapid return to flight after an abort shows both caution and con
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Today's topics:
Black hole jet stirs galaxy - Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory say a supermassive black hole jet is stirring gas around a neighboring early-universe 'red potato' galaxy, suppressing star formation. The result offers a vivid example of AGN feedback, galaxy evolution, and how black holes can shape entire galactic environments.
China launches Gravity-1 from sea - China's Gravity-1 Y4 rocket launched from a maritime platform off Shanghai and placed nine satellites into orbit on its third flight. The mission highlights China's growing sea-based launch capability and its expanding commercial and strategic space infrastructure.
Starlink flies after last-second abort - A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base just one day after a last-second abort. The successful turnaround underscores launch safety systems, operational resilience, and the continued expansion of the Starlink constellation.
Moon and Mars summit opens - The Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit, or H2M2, opened at Rice University in Houston on July 21. The event brings together leaders from industry, academia, and policy to discuss sustained human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Episode Transcript
Black hole jet stirs galaxy
Our first story comes from the early universe, where astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found what looks like a striking case of black hole feedback in action. A distant, oddly shaped galaxy nicknamed the red potato is surrounded by gas that should be cooling into new stars, but instead that gas appears hot, turbulent, and unsettled. Researchers say the likely cause is a jet from a supermassive black hole in a neighboring galaxy, effectively stirring the gas and suppressing star formation. It's a dramatic reminder that black holes do not just consume matter; they can also control how nearby galaxies grow.
China launches Gravity-1 from sea
Next, China added another launch to its busy space calendar with the third flight of the Gravity-1 rocket. The Y4 mission lifted off from a maritime platform east of Shanghai and placed nine satellites into orbit, showing how sea-based launch operations can add flexibility to a nation's launch system. By moving launches offshore, operators can choose more favorable trajectories and reduce some of the constraints tied to fixed land-based sites. For China, it is another sign that launch capability is broadening beyond traditional spaceports.
Starlink flies after last-second abort
In California, SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, but what makes this flight notable is the timing. It came just a day after a last-second abort, the kind of halt that happens when onboard or ground systems detect something outside safe limits. A rapid return to flight after an abort shows both caution and con