Ken Carpenter
@kenastro.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at NASA/GSFC. Fan of Exploration of the Universe in which we live, MD RenFest, and all things Trek & Disney. Posts are my own.
Selfies with some warm and friendly stars, at @shoreleavecon 2025. With Melissa Navia , Adrianne Palicki, J Lee, James Frain, and Dina Meyer!
July 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Selfies with some warm and friendly stars, at @shoreleavecon 2025. With Melissa Navia , Adrianne Palicki, J Lee, James Frain, and Dina Meyer!
"Far from a bold vision for American leadership, the administration has presented Congress with a blueprint for falling catastrophically behind on space exploration just as China and other nations are surging ahead." - Bill Nelson
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/o... (gifted article, no paywall).
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/o... (gifted article, no paywall).
Opinion | In the Quest to Shrink NASA, Trump Forgets National Security
www.nytimes.com
June 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
"Far from a bold vision for American leadership, the administration has presented Congress with a blueprint for falling catastrophically behind on space exploration just as China and other nations are surging ahead." - Bill Nelson
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/o... (gifted article, no paywall).
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/o... (gifted article, no paywall).
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
Here’s what will happen to our National Parks if Trump’s budget passes. Did you know America’s national parks actually generate more income than they cost to operate? Yet under Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, the National Park Service (NPS) would face devastating cuts:
June 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Here’s what will happen to our National Parks if Trump’s budget passes. Did you know America’s national parks actually generate more income than they cost to operate? Yet under Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, the National Park Service (NPS) would face devastating cuts:
All 4 #NASA #science divisions are decimated in the President's Proposed #FY26 Budget, with #Astrophysics, for example, down an astounding ~67%. This would destroy our scientific capabilities in these arenas for years to come. We are facing a new Dark Age if this war on science is not stopped.
May 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
All 4 #NASA #science divisions are decimated in the President's Proposed #FY26 Budget, with #Astrophysics, for example, down an astounding ~67%. This would destroy our scientific capabilities in these arenas for years to come. We are facing a new Dark Age if this war on science is not stopped.
#Luminous: The Symphony of Us - #Epcot, 13 May 2025. In Luminous, we finally have a worthy successor to #Iluminations - Reflections of Earth - beautifully done, with a story as inspiring as that of its predecessor.
May 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
#Luminous: The Symphony of Us - #Epcot, 13 May 2025. In Luminous, we finally have a worthy successor to #Iluminations - Reflections of Earth - beautifully done, with a story as inspiring as that of its predecessor.
"Walt the Dreamer" - statue at Epcot, WDW - 13 May 2025.
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
May 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"Walt the Dreamer" - statue at Epcot, WDW - 13 May 2025.
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
Never have I been able to get actual reservations for either the lounge or the main "Space 220" restaurant at Epcot - but on a lark, I tried for walk-in seating at the bar - and after a bit of a wait, bingo, finally got in! The food was superb, though expensive as promised. :)
May 17, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Never have I been able to get actual reservations for either the lounge or the main "Space 220" restaurant at Epcot - but on a lark, I tried for walk-in seating at the bar - and after a bit of a wait, bingo, finally got in! The food was superb, though expensive as promised. :)
"The Way of Water" - Epcot, World of Nature. 13 May 2025.
May 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"The Way of Water" - Epcot, World of Nature. 13 May 2025.
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
April 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
The American Astronomical Society is gravely concerned by the deep cuts to NASA science funding reported to be in the draft President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. Read more here: aas.org/press/aas-st... and take action now: aas.org/urge-nasa-su...
April 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The American Astronomical Society is gravely concerned by the deep cuts to NASA science funding reported to be in the draft President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. Read more here: aas.org/press/aas-st... and take action now: aas.org/urge-nasa-su...
The NASA GSFC SSDIF clean room in which the Roman Space Telescope (RST) is being put together. This is one of the few times you can see all of the different parts of the telescope together in the same room prior to full assembly. The Spacecraft, Telescope, & Instruments are all in the rear stack.
March 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The NASA GSFC SSDIF clean room in which the Roman Space Telescope (RST) is being put together. This is one of the few times you can see all of the different parts of the telescope together in the same room prior to full assembly. The Spacecraft, Telescope, & Instruments are all in the rear stack.
On behalf of the AeSI Team (second photo), I just submitted the Final Report of our year-long NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Study. In this study, we explored the feasibility and high-level design of a lunar surface-based, sparse aperture telescope (a.k.a., an Interferometer).
March 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
On behalf of the AeSI Team (second photo), I just submitted the Final Report of our year-long NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Study. In this study, we explored the feasibility and high-level design of a lunar surface-based, sparse aperture telescope (a.k.a., an Interferometer).
But here are two reasons it is hard to remain optimistic.
February 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
But here are two reasons it is hard to remain optimistic.
Hard to stay optimistic nowadays, but here are some wise words from LOTR.
February 15, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Hard to stay optimistic nowadays, but here are some wise words from LOTR.
@ericamelisandre.bsky.social welcome to the Blue Skies!!
January 22, 2025 at 1:57 AM
@ericamelisandre.bsky.social welcome to the Blue Skies!!
Here is one way to begin helping our friends and colleagues at NASA/JPL who have been impacted severely by the ongoing wildfires in LA. gofund.me/1dede3e8
Donate to Support NASA JPL HabWorlds teammates in the Pasadena fires, organized by Jason Tumlinson
We are raising money to assist friends of ours who are displa… Jason Tumlinson needs your support for Support NASA JPL HabWorlds teammates in the Pasadena fires
gofund.me
January 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Here is one way to begin helping our friends and colleagues at NASA/JPL who have been impacted severely by the ongoing wildfires in LA. gofund.me/1dede3e8
I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.
December 9, 2024 at 5:06 PM
I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.
Hearty congratulations, @thespacegal.bsky.social - warp speed ahead!!!!
Hi friends! I thought I’d try posting here as well! My name is Emily Calandrelli, and I just became the 100th woman in space! Wahoo!
December 3, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Hearty congratulations, @thespacegal.bsky.social - warp speed ahead!!!!
Interesting morning clouds over Carolina Beach, NC, Nov. 28, 2024.
December 3, 2024 at 12:02 AM
Interesting morning clouds over Carolina Beach, NC, Nov. 28, 2024.
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
What do I do, you ask!?
I make 👽 history!! 🚀
Well, I preserve it, share it, and curate the #NASA #Viking mission. 1st to Mars. 1st to #SearchforLife 1st to land on Mars in 1976! So many firsts!
See what we do! drive.google.com/file/d/1C-k5...
and Donate to VMMEPP square.link/u/37onYJ1n
I make 👽 history!! 🚀
Well, I preserve it, share it, and curate the #NASA #Viking mission. 1st to Mars. 1st to #SearchforLife 1st to land on Mars in 1976! So many firsts!
See what we do! drive.google.com/file/d/1C-k5...
and Donate to VMMEPP square.link/u/37onYJ1n
November 27, 2024 at 6:49 AM
What do I do, you ask!?
I make 👽 history!! 🚀
Well, I preserve it, share it, and curate the #NASA #Viking mission. 1st to Mars. 1st to #SearchforLife 1st to land on Mars in 1976! So many firsts!
See what we do! drive.google.com/file/d/1C-k5...
and Donate to VMMEPP square.link/u/37onYJ1n
I make 👽 history!! 🚀
Well, I preserve it, share it, and curate the #NASA #Viking mission. 1st to Mars. 1st to #SearchforLife 1st to land on Mars in 1976! So many firsts!
See what we do! drive.google.com/file/d/1C-k5...
and Donate to VMMEPP square.link/u/37onYJ1n
And there was this "skier" coming off a ski jump in the sky last night as well. :)
November 25, 2024 at 11:17 PM
And there was this "skier" coming off a ski jump in the sky last night as well. :)
Some dramatic blue skies last night over Maryland!!!
November 25, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Some dramatic blue skies last night over Maryland!!!
@michelespecht.bsky.social - Welcome to the blue skies of this warm and inviting app!
November 25, 2024 at 9:22 PM
@michelespecht.bsky.social - Welcome to the blue skies of this warm and inviting app!
Reposted by Ken Carpenter
Astronomers - our @jwstobserver.bsky.social account needs your follows! Please hit the button to stay informed of observatory, instrument & software updates. 🔭
November 21, 2024 at 12:19 PM
Astronomers - our @jwstobserver.bsky.social account needs your follows! Please hit the button to stay informed of observatory, instrument & software updates. 🔭