Josh Hopkins
@spacejosh.bsky.social
Designer of spacecraft and writer/editor in the space industry. History buff, rocket geek, orbits nerd, asteroid enthusiast, airship and aviation fan. Allergy warning: posts may contain puns.
Pinned
Josh Hopkins
@spacejosh.bsky.social
· Jan 18
Did someone mention Blue Sky?
New Glenn showing off its plumage on its first flight.
New Glenn showing off its plumage on its first flight.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
It might not look like much, but that white blob in the middle of this image is comet 3I/ATLAS—the third known interstellar visitor ever—photographed from the orbit of Mars.
November 6, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It might not look like much, but that white blob in the middle of this image is comet 3I/ATLAS—the third known interstellar visitor ever—photographed from the orbit of Mars.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
"Everything not a sheep is dangerous" works pretty well for Australia too, tbf
In Icelandic we have 'Ókind' for monster. But the translation is un-sheep. So everything not a sheep is dangerous.
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
"Everything not a sheep is dangerous" works pretty well for Australia too, tbf
Not now, monkey’s!
October 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Not now, monkey’s!
I have occasionally imagined an alternate history in which geologists were just a few decades slower to notice tectonic plates, and they get discovered by angry cartographers and astronomers detecting their real-time motion instead.
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/conti...
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/conti...
October 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I have occasionally imagined an alternate history in which geologists were just a few decades slower to notice tectonic plates, and they get discovered by angry cartographers and astronomers detecting their real-time motion instead.
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/conti...
imgs.xkcd.com/comics/conti...
See, this is the problem with California's lax approach to crime. If you don't jail otters the first time you catch them stealing surf boards, they'll just do it again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
An unknown sea otter was spotted stealing surfboards at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz this week. Is 841 back to her old ways or have other otters learned to hang 10? Check out my latest for @nytimes.com
An unknown sea otter was spotted stealing surfboards at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz this week. Is 841 back to her old ways or have other otters learned to hang 10? Check out my latest for @nytimes.com
Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
See, this is the problem with California's lax approach to crime. If you don't jail otters the first time you catch them stealing surf boards, they'll just do it again.
A person born in China at the end of WWII saw China's power rise as its working age population tripled in their lifetime.
But now it has plateaued.
A person born today will see that growth reversed. China's working age population will drop by 1 million people per month for decades.
But now it has plateaued.
A person born today will see that growth reversed. China's working age population will drop by 1 million people per month for decades.
September 25, 2025 at 4:01 AM
A person born in China at the end of WWII saw China's power rise as its working age population tripled in their lifetime.
But now it has plateaued.
A person born today will see that growth reversed. China's working age population will drop by 1 million people per month for decades.
But now it has plateaued.
A person born today will see that growth reversed. China's working age population will drop by 1 million people per month for decades.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
The Dept. of Education has pulled funding for programs in 8 states that support students with both hearing and vision loss.
A staffer at one program says he was told the Trump admin. took issue with 2 words on the grant application: “transition" and “privilege": www.propublica.org/article/trum...
A staffer at one program says he was told the Trump admin. took issue with 2 words on the grant application: “transition" and “privilege": www.propublica.org/article/trum...
September 14, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The Dept. of Education has pulled funding for programs in 8 states that support students with both hearing and vision loss.
A staffer at one program says he was told the Trump admin. took issue with 2 words on the grant application: “transition" and “privilege": www.propublica.org/article/trum...
A staffer at one program says he was told the Trump admin. took issue with 2 words on the grant application: “transition" and “privilege": www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Vaccines are battle training for your immune system. If you could give it intel on the enemy, why would you withhold that? Give me ALL the vaccines! I want to be prepared for everything!
As a guy who got a cancer that was probably caused by a virus, I think we should have /more/ vaccines.
September 8, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Vaccines are battle training for your immune system. If you could give it intel on the enemy, why would you withhold that? Give me ALL the vaccines! I want to be prepared for everything!
80 years ago, as WWII was ending, a young RAF engineer and science fiction enthusiast named Arthur C. Clarke published a short piece titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays" in the October 1945 issue of Wireless World. It changed the world.
🧵
🧵
September 7, 2025 at 11:04 PM
80 years ago, as WWII was ending, a young RAF engineer and science fiction enthusiast named Arthur C. Clarke published a short piece titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays" in the October 1945 issue of Wireless World. It changed the world.
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
apparently, yesterday was National Hummingbird Day, and it reminded me of something I saved off the other place a few years ago - someone (I’ve lost who, sorry) made this KC-135 Hummingbird feeder!
It got me thinking about a fighter-sized bird..
1/3
It got me thinking about a fighter-sized bird..
1/3
September 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
apparently, yesterday was National Hummingbird Day, and it reminded me of something I saved off the other place a few years ago - someone (I’ve lost who, sorry) made this KC-135 Hummingbird feeder!
It got me thinking about a fighter-sized bird..
1/3
It got me thinking about a fighter-sized bird..
1/3
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Here’s a picture of the Moon right now just in case weather or location do not permit you to see it.
September 5, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Here’s a picture of the Moon right now just in case weather or location do not permit you to see it.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
First powered flight of the Talon-A testbed, dropped off a pylon from a Stratolaunch 'Roc':
youtu.be/9UYj6jOXDV8
It's 8.5m long and under 3 tons, and it reached close to Mach 5 using its 22 kN kerolox rocket engine from Ursa Major.
youtu.be/9UYj6jOXDV8
It's 8.5m long and under 3 tons, and it reached close to Mach 5 using its 22 kN kerolox rocket engine from Ursa Major.
September 3, 2025 at 3:15 AM
First powered flight of the Talon-A testbed, dropped off a pylon from a Stratolaunch 'Roc':
youtu.be/9UYj6jOXDV8
It's 8.5m long and under 3 tons, and it reached close to Mach 5 using its 22 kN kerolox rocket engine from Ursa Major.
youtu.be/9UYj6jOXDV8
It's 8.5m long and under 3 tons, and it reached close to Mach 5 using its 22 kN kerolox rocket engine from Ursa Major.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
It was the Kuybyshevsk refinery, not the neighboring Novokuybyshevsk refinery.
August 28, 2025 at 5:22 AM
It was the Kuybyshevsk refinery, not the neighboring Novokuybyshevsk refinery.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Imagine the complicated and precious genius of the girl who made this embroidery sampler in 1811
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
August 27, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Imagine the complicated and precious genius of the girl who made this embroidery sampler in 1811
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
I wish to pass this magnificent tweet along for you to read.
Praque once had a defenstration problem so bad they had to introduce yeetless mondays.
August 26, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I wish to pass this magnificent tweet along for you to read.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Just realised the previous post's 2nd & 3rd were by Frank R Paul, which I posted 4 months ago on one of his anniversaries, so here's some more Hugo Gernsback-edited 'Science and Invention' illustrations from 1920-1921 (1&4 Howard V Brown, 2 George Wall, 3 [couldn't identify - possibly Frank R Paul):
August 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Just realised the previous post's 2nd & 3rd were by Frank R Paul, which I posted 4 months ago on one of his anniversaries, so here's some more Hugo Gernsback-edited 'Science and Invention' illustrations from 1920-1921 (1&4 Howard V Brown, 2 George Wall, 3 [couldn't identify - possibly Frank R Paul):
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Dark Star (1974): Scout spaceship, art by Ron Cobb
August 16, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Dark Star (1974): Scout spaceship, art by Ron Cobb
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
PS if you’re a member of the press: I and my colleagues will happily talk about 3I/ATLAS until the (interstellar) cows come home. But my only comment on whether it’s an alien spacecraft is: Avi is talking nonsense on stilts, and doesn’t understand comets.
August 8, 2025 at 6:09 AM
PS if you’re a member of the press: I and my colleagues will happily talk about 3I/ATLAS until the (interstellar) cows come home. But my only comment on whether it’s an alien spacecraft is: Avi is talking nonsense on stilts, and doesn’t understand comets.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Sometimes one sees a structure and thinks, 'damn, that would look badass in SAR'
August 10, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Sometimes one sees a structure and thinks, 'damn, that would look badass in SAR'
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
On August 7, 2025, James Lovell passed away — the astronaut who flew to the Moon twice but never set foot on it. In a brief cameo role at the end of #Apollo13, he shakes hands with Tom Hanks, who played him — a touching moment between reality and movie. #RIPJamesLovell #apollo13
Www.contactlight.de
Www.contactlight.de
August 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
On August 7, 2025, James Lovell passed away — the astronaut who flew to the Moon twice but never set foot on it. In a brief cameo role at the end of #Apollo13, he shakes hands with Tom Hanks, who played him — a touching moment between reality and movie. #RIPJamesLovell #apollo13
Www.contactlight.de
Www.contactlight.de
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Volatile time! As anticipated for a comet ☄️, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is now showing water - thanks to OH emission seen by Swift in the UV. A little distant at 3.51 au, but that suggests it could be from water ice grains in the coma.
Xing et al., ApJL submitted 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2508.04675
Xing et al., ApJL submitted 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2508.04675
August 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Volatile time! As anticipated for a comet ☄️, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is now showing water - thanks to OH emission seen by Swift in the UV. A little distant at 3.51 au, but that suggests it could be from water ice grains in the coma.
Xing et al., ApJL submitted 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2508.04675
Xing et al., ApJL submitted 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2508.04675
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Some real numbers on Juno. After its insertion into its initial Jovian orbit, the estimated remaining propellant mass was 785 kg. Loeb et al. assumed they had 2032 kg to work with to get their needed Del V of 2.7 km/s.
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_k...
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_k...
Jupiter Orbit Insertion Press Kit | Fast Facts
The Juno spacecraft will, for the first time, see below Jupiter’s dense cover of clouds. This is why the mission was named after the Roman goddess, who was Jupiter’s wife, and who could also see through clouds.
www.jpl.nasa.gov
August 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Some real numbers on Juno. After its insertion into its initial Jovian orbit, the estimated remaining propellant mass was 785 kg. Loeb et al. assumed they had 2032 kg to work with to get their needed Del V of 2.7 km/s.
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_k...
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_k...
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Josh Hopkins
3I/ATLAS measurement from HST is in: can see the coma but not the nucleus. Sets effective nuclear radius of r < 2.8 km (H>15.4), significantly smaller than earlier estimates (as anticipated).
Jewitt et al, (submitted?) arxiv.org/abs/2508.02934 🔭☄️
Jewitt et al, (submitted?) arxiv.org/abs/2508.02934 🔭☄️
August 6, 2025 at 3:17 AM
3I/ATLAS measurement from HST is in: can see the coma but not the nucleus. Sets effective nuclear radius of r < 2.8 km (H>15.4), significantly smaller than earlier estimates (as anticipated).
Jewitt et al, (submitted?) arxiv.org/abs/2508.02934 🔭☄️
Jewitt et al, (submitted?) arxiv.org/abs/2508.02934 🔭☄️