Stephen C. Smith
@wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Writing about space policy and politics, from the Space Coast of Florida. Now retired after ten years doing public education at Kennedy Space Center. You can also find me on Counter.Social at the same handle, and on Substack at TheSpacePundit.com. .. more
Writing about space policy and politics, from the Space Coast of Florida. Now retired after ten years doing public education at Kennedy Space Center. You can also find me on Counter.Social at the same handle, and on Substack at TheSpacePundit.com.
Business
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Philosophy
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Watching the presser now. They believe they can fix the problem at the pad.
NASA Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Media Event, Kennedy Space Center, February 3, 2026
YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)
www.youtube.com
#Space #NASA #Artemis
Here's the video of today's NASA media event discussing yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v88...
Here's the video of today's NASA media event discussing yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v88...
#Weather #Florida #SpaceCoast
Some examples of the frost damage in my neighborhood. My landscape guy says most of this will grow back given time, i.e. wait until spring.
Some examples of the frost damage in my neighborhood. My landscape guy says most of this will grow back given time, i.e. wait until spring.
"Why can we not fund the competition?"
SpaceX and other commercial vendors are not "funded" by the government. They sell delivery services, just like you buy a ticket to fly on a plane. It's a myth that the government subsidizes commercial companies, nor more than you subsidize an airline.
SpaceX and other commercial vendors are not "funded" by the government. They sell delivery services, just like you buy a ticket to fly on a plane. It's a myth that the government subsidizes commercial companies, nor more than you subsidize an airline.
The SRBs shouldn't be a concern. Post-Challenger, the joint design was changed to deter a burn-through, and the vendor put heaters on the joints so the O-rings can't get cold and brittle. They have decades of data now proving they're reliable.
LH2 always causes leaks. I'm going to write a Substack.
LH2 always causes leaks. I'm going to write a Substack.
#Politics #Trump
A chilling article from the Washington Post via Archive.ph: #DHS is using administrative subpoenas to threaten and arrest people who criticize the Trump administration.
(Spoiler: don't send complaints via email.)
archive.ph/KO5zJ
A chilling article from the Washington Post via Archive.ph: #DHS is using administrative subpoenas to threaten and arrest people who criticize the Trump administration.
(Spoiler: don't send complaints via email.)
archive.ph/KO5zJ
Thinking the same. I may write a Substack about why we're still using LH2 for a booster stage.
I think one reason for the leaks may be the infrequent launch cadence. If they were launch 2-3 times per year they'd probably have identified the problem areas.
I think one reason for the leaks may be the infrequent launch cadence. If they were launch 2-3 times per year they'd probably have identified the problem areas.
I don't know, to be honest. A rollback obviously is expensive and time-consuming. I'd think they'd prefer to fix it on the pad if possible.
But if the problem is something that requires the high bay, they'll roll it back and charge we taxpayers. 😒
But if the problem is something that requires the high bay, they'll roll it back and charge we taxpayers. 😒
Artemis II launch pushed to March after leak, issues during rocket test
NASA's wet dress rehearsal did not go as smoothly as planned. As a result, the Artemis II launch is now no earlier than March 6. Here's what we know.
www.floridatoday.com
#Space #NASA #Artemis
From #FloridaToday:
"NASA's last major test of the #Artemis2 moon rocket did not go as hoped ... As a result, the launch was pushed back to no earlier than March 6."
www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/s...
From #FloridaToday:
"NASA's last major test of the #Artemis2 moon rocket did not go as hoped ... As a result, the launch was pushed back to no earlier than March 6."
www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/s...
Unable to tame hydrogen leaks, NASA delays launch of Artemis II until March
NASA spent most of Monday trying to overcome hydrogen leaks on the Artemis II rocket.
arstechnica.com
#Space #NASA #Artemis
#ArsTechnica on the liquid hydrogen leaks during yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman tweeted this morning that the launch is now no earlier than March.
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
#ArsTechnica on the liquid hydrogen leaks during yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman tweeted this morning that the launch is now no earlier than March.
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Test Terminated at T-5:15 - NASA
The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown was terminated at the T-5:15 minute mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak at the interface of the tail service mast
www.nasa.gov
#Space #NASA #Artemis
NASA terminated yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal early because of a liquid hydrogen leak.
The molecules are so small and LH2 is so cold (-423°F) that microfractures form in delivery and storage systems causing leaks.
www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
NASA terminated yesterday's #Artemis2 wet dress rehearsal early because of a liquid hydrogen leak.
The molecules are so small and LH2 is so cold (-423°F) that microfractures form in delivery and storage systems causing leaks.
www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
Skynet. Just sayin'.
Skynet. Just sayin'.
#Space #NASA
From Yahoo Finance: #SpaceX acquires #xAI to build data centers in space.
"Musk said the big push behind the merger are data centers in space and space-based AI."
finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-co...
From Yahoo Finance: #SpaceX acquires #xAI to build data centers in space.
"Musk said the big push behind the merger are data centers in space and space-based AI."
finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-co...
Musk confirms SpaceX merger with xAI ahead of IPO
SpaceX will merge with xAI in a deal that consolidates two of Elon Musk's biggest private startups.
finance.yahoo.com
By the way ... Because Zombie Twitter is owned by xAI, this means that Zombie Twitter is now owned by SpaceX. 😱
Wrap your brain around that ...
Wrap your brain around that ...
Musk confirms SpaceX merger with xAI ahead of IPO
SpaceX will merge with xAI in a deal that consolidates two of Elon Musk's biggest private startups.
finance.yahoo.com
#Space #NASA
From Yahoo Finance: #SpaceX acquires #xAI to build data centers in space.
"Musk said the big push behind the merger are data centers in space and space-based AI."
finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-co...
From Yahoo Finance: #SpaceX acquires #xAI to build data centers in space.
"Musk said the big push behind the merger are data centers in space and space-based AI."
finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-co...
archive.ph
#Politics #Trump
From #NYTimes: Tulsi Gabbard was in Atlanta for the Fulton County ballot seizure so Trump could speak directly to the #FBI agents conducting the search.
archive.ph/bCSnG
From #NYTimes: Tulsi Gabbard was in Atlanta for the Fulton County ballot seizure so Trump could speak directly to the #FBI agents conducting the search.
archive.ph/bCSnG
Mute for you, troll.
I don't bother with people like that. They're trolling for attention. Best to put them on mute and deny them the attention they crave.
That is nonsense. Mute for you.
He mentioned a couple weeks ago that he might order NASA to fly him to the space station, but then retracted it, said he was joking. His heart couldn't survive the launch anyway.
Launching Trump would require a heavy-lift booster. 😉
No, the flag is correct.
As mentioned upstream, this is the only time a shuttle stack came out of High Bay 2 on the west side. HB-2 had been renovated for Safe Haven, in case a hurricane was approaching. The crawlerway was restored from HB-2; it had been abandoned after Apollo.
As mentioned upstream, this is the only time a shuttle stack came out of High Bay 2 on the west side. HB-2 had been renovated for Safe Haven, in case a hurricane was approaching. The crawlerway was restored from HB-2; it had been abandoned after Apollo.
To be blunt, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, I got that all the time from guests. "The flag is backwards!"
I carried a printout of the US flag code with the relevant section highlighted (as you illustrated). After reading it, they usually grumbled and handed it back to me.
I carried a printout of the US flag code with the relevant section highlighted (as you illustrated). After reading it, they usually grumbled and handed it back to me.
Reposted by Stephen P. Smith
Cartoon: President Miller
As always, if � you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, � Sparky’s List! � You can get it in your inbox or read it on ...
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oh hey it's monday which means it's 🎵cartooooon time🎶
www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
They are not mutually exclusive.
For recently subscribed followers ... Thank you.
I have a #Substack you might enjoy, called The Space Pundit. The subscription and articles are free.
www.thespacepundit.com
I have a #Substack you might enjoy, called The Space Pundit. The subscription and articles are free.
www.thespacepundit.com
Congress created SLS in 2010 to protect Space Shuttle jobs. They didn't care about the cost, and still don't $55 billion later.
You haven't a clue what you're talking about. Mute for you, troll.
The dumbass doesn't even know the difference between NASA and commercial companies. The only rocket NASA owns is SLS, which has launched only once and might launch again later this month.