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corrinerojas.bsky.social
Corrine 🌎🛰️
@corrinerojas.bsky.social
2K followers 420 following 150 posts
opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.
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corrinerojas.bsky.social
This week we celebrated the #NASAPACEMission “500 Days (And Counting) In Orbit” milestone, hosted by the #HARP2 team at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. I’ve been on the mission 3 yrs but the it’s been going on 10+ yrs and it was a well-earned day to enjoy w colleagues 🍻
Big colorful frosted sheet cake with the PACE mission logo in fondant (I think) and lettering that says “500 Days and Counting” A picture of one of the presentations by the HARP2 team, which is one of the payloads on PACE. It’s a polarimeter developed at UMBC and the presentation was a lighthearted story about the struggles of the concept, development, testing, and delivery of the instrument to Goddard prior to integrating it to the PACE observatory. Very timely! Fun little scale model of PACE on a standard sized Earth globe. The PACE model is not to proportional scale though.. it would dwarf us and violate at least 12 laws of physics. And likely not enough precious metals in the world to build it. BUT it would keep our hardware ppl busy :)
August 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
So what about earth and planetary science makes the US so special? These iconic images were made possible by Americans for all humans on earth in the name of science. NASA science is facing a 50% cut in funding and is at risk of losing its role as the leading space science agency. Unfathomable.
The photograph, taken on December 7, 1972 onboard the Apollo 17 spacecraft on its way to the Moon, is one of the most widely distributed photographic images in existence. Source: NASA Hubble Space Telescope’s “Pillars of Creation” image is so familiar that many people can call it by name without so much as a glance at their phone. Source: NASA “Taken by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990 as it departed our planetary neighborhood for the fringes of the solar system, it turned it around for one last look at its home planet and captured this portrait of our world. Caught in the center of scattered light rays (a result of taking the picture so close to the Sun), Earth appears as a tiny point of light, a crescent only 0.12 pixel in size.” Excerpt from planetarysociety.org “On April 19, 2021, NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made history when it completed the first powered, controlled flight on the Red Planet. Here is a “selfie” shortly after it deployed from the belly of the Perseverance Rover days before that flight. would make no more than five test flights in 30 days, the helicopter eventually completed 72 flights in just under 3 years, soaring higher and faster than previously imagined. Ingenuity embarked on a new mission as an operations demonstration, serving as an aerial scout for scientists and rover planners, and for engineers ready to learn more about Perseverance’s landing gear debris. In its final phase, the helicopter entered a new engineering demonstration phase where it executed experimental flight tests that further expanded the team’s knowledge of the vehicle’s aerodynamic limits. It flew for the last time on January 18, 2024.” Source: nasa.gov (a little sazon by me lol)
March 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
I took the day off yesterday to advocate for planetary science with new and old friends at @planetarysociety.bsky.social. One of my fave things about earth and planetary science is also something that makes the US special, so any proposed cut to science is very concerning to me as an American.
March 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
For those who may not know… this camera took this pic btw
One of the most famous pictures ever taken… Earthrise. From the nasa website: This iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard. Image Credit: NASA
March 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
finally got around to collecting the annual special edition cherry blossom metro card loot drop 🌸
picture of the annual WMATA SmarTrip National Cherry Blossom Festival design metro card. It’s a pretty water colored theme with bright colors and big flowers, and purples, blues, and yellows in the background leading to the Jefferson memorial and the Washington monument.
March 22, 2025 at 10:37 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Some Mars fun: Curiosity Cold Brew at the Mars Cafe. Which has gratuitous Mastcam-z landscapes of the Jezero crater rim on the walls—including my favorite outcrop in the entire solar system, Kodiak! The line was too long to try the cold brew but I’ll try it next time 🙂
March 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
I saw a version of an old dear friend of mine, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is the 1st NASA mission I worked on and kicked off my NASA career almost a decade ago (😳😅). I was a moon mapper!

Fun fact: the LRO control room at Goddard is now the PACE control room, the mission I work on now.
Photos of the LRO Control room at NASA GSFC Selfie of me and the LRO Structural Verification Unit that was used to test the spacecraft structure during the severe vibrations of launch (vibe testing!).
March 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
I went to the National Air and Space Museum today, which was nicely timed after a particularly hard work week, and it felt like a reminder of what we’re fighting for. And BOY what a great reminder. I got to see THE Apollo 8 Hasselblad camera… yep, I fangirled out in the corner a bit.
This Camera Captured the World Using this Hasselblad camera, astronauts photographed Earth on the first crewed round-the-Moon space journey—the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. An astonishing image taken by William Anders was soon immortalized as Earthrise, becoming a profound symbol for humanity of Earth's place in the cosmos. The photo was adopted as an icon of the environmental movement. Hasselblad 500EL 70 mm Camera, 1968 Transferred from Kansas Cosmosphere Remember to Take Photos! This detailed checklist reminded astronaut William Anders to take photographs-for scientific purposes and to convey the story of space travel to everyone back home. William Anders' Checklist Apollo 8, 1968 This Camera Captured the World Using this Hasselblad camera, astronauts photographed Earth on the first crewed round-the-Moon space journey—the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. Hasselblad 500EL 70 mm Camera, 1968 This detailed checklist reminded astronaut William Anders to take photographs-for scientific purposes and to convey the story of space travel to everyone back home. William Anders' Checklist Apollo 8, 1968
March 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
odds weren’t great for clear skies in DC tonight BUT I went out anyway. during the tiniest window of opportunity I snapped one clear-ish phone pic of the blood moon eclipse in front of National Air and Space Museum 🥹🌖
not great pic of a very cloudy sky with one clearing between clouds where you can see a total lunar eclipse, which has a red-color appearance. I took it in front of the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
March 14, 2025 at 7:46 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
To put it lightly, I’ve been on edge this week. Tonight I took a long walk around campus and caught this view of the moonrise over Healy Hall. Tomorrow will bring us a full moon’s total eclipse with a coppery hue — a blood moon. And the date is the eve of the Ides of March. Poetry.
A photo of Georgetown University’s Healy Hall looking east towards a moonrise at dusk with an almost full moon.
March 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Finally logged off and ran to the snow! NWS reported 5”+ of fresh pow at the National Mall at the time and it’s still going ☃️

Said hi to the Smithsonian Castle which looks timeless with the snowy roof. The Monument is MIA but it’s for a good cause.
Snowy pic of the Smithsonian Institution Castle in Washington, DC The National Mall as it is actively snowing pretty good. Over 5 inches at this point. You can’t see the monument!
February 12, 2025 at 4:05 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Taking a break in between work and class (all virtual today) to go play in the snow now that it’s finally sticking on the sidewalks here in DC!
Picture of me in a coat, beanie, scarf outside in a wintry, snowy scene here in Washington DC
February 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Earlier the checkout line at the Eastern Market TJ’s wrapped all the way to the cheese section so a few of us got to chatting. The vibes are atrocious here in DC with all the uncertainty, but we agree the sense of community is strong. This cute tote caught my eye and felt appropriate to pick up 🧀🥂
New canvas tote bag from Trader Joe’s with a cheese theme graphic design. It’s got various little cheeses with “cheesy” little puns playing on their names. Very cute! E.g.: “Hole-lier than thou.” “Mi nombre es Manchego.” “Je'm appelle Comte.” “Life's so Gouda.” “I am fondue you.”
February 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Never skip weather risk assessment.
An image from the National Weather Service showing different kinds of frozen precipitation types. Hail: "Ball of ice" from thunderstorms. Forms in strong updrafts that loft raindrops into below freezing areas of storms. Graupel: Snowflakes that collect supercooled water droplets on the outer surface. Forms above freezing at the surface, but very cold aloft Sleet: Liquid precip that freezes before it reaches the ground. Forms near or below freezing at surface & warm aloft Snow: Water vapor turns to ice without going through the liquid stage. Forms below freezing at surface & aloft weather.gov/Iwx @NWS_BaltWash
February 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
… “By associating Whitman's poems with dozens of light bulbs on a single string, how does "Untitled" (Leaves of Grass) imagine American democracy as an ongoing project?”
From the placard; Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996) "Untitled" (Leaves of Grass), 1993 42 light bulbs, porcelain light sockets, and electrical Overall dimensions vary with installation. Private collection Like many of Felix Gonzalez-Torres's titles, this one is both open and specific. "Untitled" invites viewers to bring their own meanings, while the parenthetical (Leaves of Grass) acts as an interpretive breadcrumb, referencing Walt Whitman's iconic poetry collection. As a government clerk in this building, Whitman kept a copy of Leaves of Grass on his desk for ongoing editing. When the volume was discovered in 1865, he was fired, likely for the poems' unabashed sensuality. Whitman anointed himself "the bard of Democracy." Gonzalez-Torres called democracy "a constant job." This light string is also "a constant job," requiring decision-making and continual maintenance. The work's owner and exhibitors can decide how to display the light string and whether to keep all the lights on or off, replacing bulbs when they burn out. By associating Whitman's poems with dozens of light bulls on a single string, how does "Untitled" (Leaves of Grass) imagine American democracy as an ongoing project?
February 2, 2025 at 2:38 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Today’s visit to the Gallery was specifically to see works from Felix Gonzalez-Torres. I saw headlines accusing the museum of erasing some of the important context of the iconic HIV/AIDS candy artwork so I went to see for myself. Happy to say I disagree and even learned more about queer history.
Picture leading to the Felix Gonzalez-Torres curated artwork section of the portrait gallery. It has some intro text on the wall that is too small to be legible on the photo but kinda sets the museum vibe Placard describing the next photo: “Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) Walt Whitman, 1891 (printed 1979) Platinum print National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution This intimate photograph of poet Wait Whitman (1819-1892), taken the year before his death, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres's nearby candy work, "Untited" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), were shown in the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture (2010-2011). We reunited them as a way to consider the nineteenth-century poet as a queer ancestor of the twentieth-century artist. Whitman and Gonzalez-Torres held creative strategies in common. Both continually modified their work, complicating notions of an original or static poem or artwork. Whitman requested medicinal candy for injured soldiers when he served as a Civil War nurse in this building. Gonzalez-Torres cared for his partner Ross Laycock, named in the candy work's title, who died from HIV/AIDS in 1991. Captions for Gonzalez-Torres's candy works often list specific "ideal" weights. Yet as caretakers, owners and museum staff must make ongoing decisions about the work's size and configu-ration, as well as whether to replenish the candy if visitors choose to take it.” Portrait of Walt Whitman. “Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) Walt Whitman, 1891 (printed 1979) Platinum print National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution This intimate photograph of poet Wait Whitman (1819-1892), taken the year before his death, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres's nearby candy work, "Untited" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), were shown in the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture (2010-2011). We reunited them as a way to consider the nineteenth-century poet as a queer ancestor of the twentieth-century artist. Whitman and Gonzalez-Torres held creative strategies in common. Both continually modified their work, complicating notions of an original or static poem or artwork. Whitman requested medicinal candy for injured soldiers when he served as a Civil War nurse in this building. Gonzalez-Torres cared for his partner Ross Laycock, named in the candy work's title, who died from HIV/AIDS in 1991. Captions for Gonzalez-Torres's candy works often list specific "ideal" weights. Yet as caretakers, owners and museum staff must make ongoing decisions about the work's size and configu-ration, as well as whether to replenish the candy if visitors choose to take it.” The iconic AIDS candy artwork. Not gonna lie, this piece got to me. “Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996) "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), 1991 Candies in variously colored wrappers, endless supply Overall dimensions vary with installation. ideal weight: 175 lb. The Art Institute of Chicago; gift of Donna and Howard Stone Attention: This candy was packed in facilities that handle dairy and nut by-products. Eating candy may present a choking hazard.” Adding for context: “Whitman and Gonzalez-Torres held creative strategies in common. Both continually modified their work, complicating notions of an original or static poem or artwork. Whitman requested medicinal candy for injured soldiers when he served as a Civil War nurse in this building. Gonzalez-Torres cared for his partner Ross Laycock, named in the candy work's title, who died from HIV/AIDS in 1991. Captions for Gonzalez-Torres's candy works often list specific "ideal" weights. Yet as caretakers, owners and museum staff must make ongoing decisions about the work's size and configu-ration, as well as whether to replenish the candy if visitors choose to take it.”
February 2, 2025 at 2:32 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Lucky shot on my way home from the National Portrait Gallery: the Washington Monument with the crescent moon (my fave phase!) right next to Venus. I’m choosing to see this as a good omen from the universe (🤞).
A phone picture of the Washington Monument at night with the waxing crescent moon right next to a very bright Venus.
February 2, 2025 at 2:09 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
also had time to swing by the Smithsonian Castle, which of course looked magical 🥹
The Smithsonian Institution Building, aka the Smithsonian building, with a nice layer of snow on its roof and surrounding the whole building. The snow really brings out the lovely red coloring in its iconic sandstone facade.
January 7, 2025 at 1:44 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
from earlier today at the National Mall during my lunch break ☃️
a snowman in front of a snow covered National Mall facing east leading up to the Capitol building. prob about 5-6 ish inches of snow around this time (10:30am) A selfie in front of said snowman in front of a snow covered National Mall facing east leading up to the Capitol building. prob about 5-6 ish inches of snow around this time (10:30am)
January 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Woopee! I lived!!
A picture of a conference meeting room at American Geophysical Union 2024 facing a stage with the session chairs and me speaking at a lectern. Next to the stage is a screen with my presentation title slide. It’s called “CERES Deployed on Earth: A Planetary Science Engagement Planning Model”.
December 11, 2024 at 10:19 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Getting ready for my first conference talk ever! And of course it’s at #AGU24. Catch me at the following session: “Sharing Their Science:
Enabling Scientists in Public
Engagement and Communication
Efforts”
Just a simple picture of me posing in a hallway at the convention center in Washington DC that is hosting the American Geophysical Union 2025 conference. There are random scientists hard at work in the background.
December 11, 2024 at 9:02 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
One thing about #AGU24 is that you know the exhibitor hall is gonna be poppin! I’ll be back talking shop at the NASA booth on Wednesday 😊🌎🛰️
A simple selfie of me at the American Geophysical Union conference here in Washington DC at the exhibitor hall a few minutes before it opened to the public. I’m holding up my badge with my name and institution (NASA) and an “Ask me about PACE” pin as a subject matter expert for the NASA PACE mission. Documenting the calm before the storm!
December 9, 2024 at 9:48 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
a little starstruck this morning! did not expect the Chair of the National Space Council, Vice President Harris, to keep me on her holiday greeting card mailing list 🥹♥️ we fumbled you so bad Queen 😭
A picture of the inside of the greeting card from the VP that was mailed to me. Above the inner text is the official seal of the office of the Vice President of the United States. The card says “May the holidays fill your home with happiness and your heart with joy. From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and New Year”
December 5, 2024 at 4:58 PM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
Waxing crescent moon and Venus looking west-southwest tonight over Healy Hall at Georgetown this evening 🌙
description in the skeet
December 5, 2024 at 1:08 AM
corrinerojas.bsky.social
not even the funniest read I’ve seen… found this at the National Building Museum a couple weeks ago. this NYT headline had me fighting for my life not to laugh out loud and definitely belongs in a museum
New York Times Arts and Leisure 1974 headline: “The Hirshhorn Museum: An 'Important' Collection in a 'Bomb Shelter'”
November 24, 2024 at 10:14 PM