Nuclear Moon Power, Mars Ocean Evidence, and Brains in Space

Astronomy Daily - January 14, 2026 Episode Nuclear Moon Power, Mars Ocean Evidence, and Brains in Space Episode Description Join hosts Anna and Avery for an action-packed episode covering six major space stories! We explore NASA's ambitious plan to put a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, get the latest on tomorrow's historic ISS medical evacuation, examine compelling new evidence for an ancient Martian ocean, discover how spaceflight literally shifts astronauts' brains, learn about a revolutionary privately-funded space telescope, and find out how scientists finally solved the mystery of the Moon's two faces. Episode Duration: 17 minutes Episode Highlights ⚛️ NASA Commits to Lunar Nuclear Reactor by 2030

• NASA and DOE sign memorandum of understanding
• President Trump's executive order drives ambitious timeline
• Nuclear power essential for permanent lunar bases
• Building on 50+ years of space nuclear collaboration

🚀 Crew-11 Cleared for Wednesday Departure

• First-ever medical evacuation from ISS proceeds on schedule
• Undocking set for 5:05 PM EST Wednesday, January 15
• Splashdown off California coast at 3:41 AM Thursday
• Station will operate with skeleton crew of three

🌊 Ancient Martian Ocean Evidence Discovered

• River delta features identified in Valles Marineris
• Ocean covered half of Mars 3+ billion years ago
• High-resolution orbital imagery reveals ancient coastline
• Major implications for Mars' past habitability

🧠 Spaceflight Shifts Astronaut Brains Inside Skulls

• MIT study reveals brains move "backward, upward and tilted"
• Changes persist up to 6 months after return to Earth
• Brain displacement linked to post-flight balance issues
• Critical for planning longer Moon and Mars missions

🔭 $500M Private Space Telescope to Launch in 3-5 Years

• Eric Schmidt funds Lazuli Space Observatory
• "Move fast" philosophy applied to flagship telescope
• Designed to catch transient events like gravitational waves
• Will test technology for future NASA missions

🌙 Moon's Two-Faced Mystery Finally Solved

• Chang'e-6 samples reveal impact chemistry differences
• Ancient collision reshaped Moon's internal structure
• Evidence of hemisphere-wide mantle convection
• First hard evidence from lunar far side

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