Gene J. Mikulka
@genejm1017.bsky.social
Founded the Talking Space Podcast in 2009.
Immersed in spaceflight since the Apollo days, Space Advocate and lovebird Dad. All Opinions are mine alone and don't reflect the position of the podcast. https://www.talkingspaceonline.com
Immersed in spaceflight since the Apollo days, Space Advocate and lovebird Dad. All Opinions are mine alone and don't reflect the position of the podcast. https://www.talkingspaceonline.com
Pinned
Gene J. Mikulka
@genejm1017.bsky.social
· Feb 17
For the final time with both of the girls, Maxine 🦅(who flew into eternity today 2/16/2025) and Emerald 🦜wish all peace. Fly high, my little bald eagle, fly high. #TheDailyLovebird (Video recorded 22 November, 2018)
Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜 quietly presides over her domain. She wishes all peace 🕊️ #TheDailyLovebird
February 20, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜 quietly presides over her domain. She wishes all peace 🕊️ #TheDailyLovebird
And it's official, space fans, the Wet Dress Rehearsal for the #ArtemisII mission has concluded. NASA will hold a media event at 11:00 AM EST Tomorrow, 20 February, to discuss the data collected and see if we're going for the Moon in March.
February 20, 2026 at 3:24 AM
And it's official, space fans, the Wet Dress Rehearsal for the #ArtemisII mission has concluded. NASA will hold a media event at 11:00 AM EST Tomorrow, 20 February, to discuss the data collected and see if we're going for the Moon in March.
Countdown stopped at T- 28 seconds as advertised.
February 20, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Countdown stopped at T- 28 seconds as advertised.
via #NASA- 10:07 p.m.
NASA teams officially entered the second round of the terminal countdown, or the final ten minutes of today’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown, after successfully recycling the clock back to T-10 minutes. The new T-0 is set for 10:17 p.m. www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
NASA teams officially entered the second round of the terminal countdown, or the final ten minutes of today’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown, after successfully recycling the clock back to T-10 minutes. The new T-0 is set for 10:17 p.m. www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
LIVE: Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Coverage - NASA
Live updates for the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal will be published on this page. Live views of the launch pad and test are available online. All times are
www.nasa.gov
February 20, 2026 at 3:15 AM
via #NASA- 10:07 p.m.
NASA teams officially entered the second round of the terminal countdown, or the final ten minutes of today’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown, after successfully recycling the clock back to T-10 minutes. The new T-0 is set for 10:17 p.m. www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
NASA teams officially entered the second round of the terminal countdown, or the final ten minutes of today’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown, after successfully recycling the clock back to T-10 minutes. The new T-0 is set for 10:17 p.m. www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
Ok I thought I was going bonkers. This from NASA:
February 20, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Ok I thought I was going bonkers. This from NASA:
My error here, NASA is recycling due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, which was reported at 9:04, but for some reason, it's not showing up on the blog now. The team is still going to take another run at the Terminal Count and is recycling.
February 20, 2026 at 2:26 AM
My error here, NASA is recycling due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, which was reported at 9:04, but for some reason, it's not showing up on the blog now. The team is still going to take another run at the Terminal Count and is recycling.
Update on the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 9:04 PM EST -
February 20, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Update on the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 9:04 PM EST -
Looks like the clock has been recycled back to the 10-minute mark.
February 20, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Looks like the clock has been recycled back to the 10-minute mark.
Via #NASA - " 8:44 p.m.
The terminal countdown was paused due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, but resumed and continued to the planned recycle point. The team is now resetting the countdown as planned."
The terminal countdown was paused due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, but resumed and continued to the planned recycle point. The team is now resetting the countdown as planned."
February 20, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Via #NASA - " 8:44 p.m.
The terminal countdown was paused due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, but resumed and continued to the planned recycle point. The team is now resetting the countdown as planned."
The terminal countdown was paused due to a booster avionics system voltage anomaly, but resumed and continued to the planned recycle point. The team is now resetting the countdown as planned."
List of final events in the #WDR, the clock is off, and it looks like we might have concluded the test. Here's the 8:39 Report on the third placard indicating that the crew access arm had been retracted.
February 20, 2026 at 1:46 AM
List of final events in the #WDR, the clock is off, and it looks like we might have concluded the test. Here's the 8:39 Report on the third placard indicating that the crew access arm had been retracted.
Update via #NASA on the progress of the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 8:32 PM EST - Terminal Count as started.
February 20, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Update via #NASA on the progress of the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 8:32 PM EST - Terminal Count as started.
Clock stopped at T- 10 Minutes. This is a planned hold at this point, no issues.
February 20, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Clock stopped at T- 10 Minutes. This is a planned hold at this point, no issues.
This is the image on the NASA Blog right now. Sunset behind the Space Launch System Launch Vehicle. On the surface, things looked good during today's launch dress rehearsal. Let's see what is said during tomorrow's press event.
February 20, 2026 at 1:21 AM
This is the image on the NASA Blog right now. Sunset behind the Space Launch System Launch Vehicle. On the surface, things looked good during today's launch dress rehearsal. Let's see what is said during tomorrow's press event.
The business end of the Space Launch System, venting and bubbling away. The launch vehicle won't be going anywhere this evening, but there's a good chance it will happen in March, considering how things went, at least on the surface. We'll wait until the data is looked at to hear the official word.
February 20, 2026 at 1:06 AM
The business end of the Space Launch System, venting and bubbling away. The launch vehicle won't be going anywhere this evening, but there's a good chance it will happen in March, considering how things went, at least on the surface. We'll wait until the data is looked at to hear the official word.
One of my favorite camera angles on SLS, think it tries to convey this beast's "hugeitude"
February 20, 2026 at 12:58 AM
One of my favorite camera angles on SLS, think it tries to convey this beast's "hugeitude"
February 20, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
The closeout crews have left the white room at the end of the Crew Access Arm. So far today's Wet Dress Rehearsal has gone smoothly and we continue to count towards a simulated T-0 in approximately 100 minutes.
February 19, 2026 at 11:55 PM
The closeout crews have left the white room at the end of the Crew Access Arm. So far today's Wet Dress Rehearsal has gone smoothly and we continue to count towards a simulated T-0 in approximately 100 minutes.
This is why I like @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social . No hysterical headlines, just the facts.
NASA Classifies Starliner CFT as Type-A Mishap, Leadership Changes Coming spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-cl...
February 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM
This is why I like @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social . No hysterical headlines, just the facts.
February 19, 2026 at 11:19 PM
A 🧵 The WB-57 aircraft mishap a while back was also classified as a Type A Mishap. As defined by NASA, a Type-A Mishap is classified as an event that results in $2 Million or more in property damage, loss of a spacecraft or vehicle, or unexpected deviation from controlled flight. 1/
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
NASA declares Boeing’s botched Starliner flight a mishap on-par with deadly space-shuttle disasters
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
www.scientificamerican.com
February 19, 2026 at 11:18 PM
A 🧵 The WB-57 aircraft mishap a while back was also classified as a Type A Mishap. As defined by NASA, a Type-A Mishap is classified as an event that results in $2 Million or more in property damage, loss of a spacecraft or vehicle, or unexpected deviation from controlled flight. 1/
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
NASA declares Boeing’s botched Starliner flight a mishap on-par with deadly space-shuttle disasters
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
www.scientificamerican.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:24 PM
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
Update on the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 4:40 PM EST
February 19, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Update on the #ArtemisII #WDR as of 4:40 PM EST
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
OPPORTUNITY: The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, is searching for a Business Operations Division Head to lead our Business Resource Center which supports functions critical to the organization’s business infrastructure: https://bit.ly/4s3md0H
February 19, 2026 at 6:40 PM
OPPORTUNITY: The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, is searching for a Business Operations Division Head to lead our Business Resource Center which supports functions critical to the organization’s business infrastructure: https://bit.ly/4s3md0H