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.
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
Photos of the landed #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn today at Port Canaveral. The last photo is of the gathered paparazzi across the barge canal at restaurant row.
Photos of the landed #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn today at Port Canaveral. The last photo is of the gathered paparazzi across the barge canal at restaurant row.
November 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
Photos of the landed #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn today at Port Canaveral. The last photo is of the gathered paparazzi across the barge canal at restaurant row.
Photos of the landed #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn today at Port Canaveral. The last photo is of the gathered paparazzi across the barge canal at restaurant row.
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
History this morning at Port Canaveral as, for the first time, three launched and landed boosters have arrived. The #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn joins two landed #SpaceX #Falcon9 boosters.
History this morning at Port Canaveral as, for the first time, three launched and landed boosters have arrived. The #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn joins two landed #SpaceX #Falcon9 boosters.
November 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
History this morning at Port Canaveral as, for the first time, three launched and landed boosters have arrived. The #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn joins two landed #SpaceX #Falcon9 boosters.
History this morning at Port Canaveral as, for the first time, three launched and landed boosters have arrived. The #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn joins two landed #SpaceX #Falcon9 boosters.
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA #Mars #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn
Touchdown! The world has changed.
Blue Origin becomes the second launch company to achieve landing at sea.
The #SpaceX monopoly is over.
Touchdown! The world has changed.
Blue Origin becomes the second launch company to achieve landing at sea.
The #SpaceX monopoly is over.
November 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA #Mars #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn
Touchdown! The world has changed.
Blue Origin becomes the second launch company to achieve landing at sea.
The #SpaceX monopoly is over.
Touchdown! The world has changed.
Blue Origin becomes the second launch company to achieve landing at sea.
The #SpaceX monopoly is over.
November 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
Propellant loading is underway for the #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn second test flight. The payload is two #NASA satellites to orbit Mars, a program called ESCAPADE.
Their webcast will begin at 2:00 PM EST on Blue's website at the link.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
Propellant loading is underway for the #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn second test flight. The payload is two #NASA satellites to orbit Mars, a program called ESCAPADE.
Their webcast will begin at 2:00 PM EST on Blue's website at the link.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
November 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
Propellant loading is underway for the #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn second test flight. The payload is two #NASA satellites to orbit Mars, a program called ESCAPADE.
Their webcast will begin at 2:00 PM EST on Blue's website at the link.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
Propellant loading is underway for the #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn second test flight. The payload is two #NASA satellites to orbit Mars, a program called ESCAPADE.
Their webcast will begin at 2:00 PM EST on Blue's website at the link.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
From @juliabergeronnsf.bsky.social ...
Starting Monday November 10, the #FAA will restrict commercial space launches and landings to 10 PM - 6 AM local time. The initial impact most likely will on #SpaceX #Starlink launches.
Starting Monday November 10, the #FAA will restrict commercial space launches and landings to 10 PM - 6 AM local time. The initial impact most likely will on #SpaceX #Starlink launches.
November 7, 2025 at 1:08 PM
From @juliabergeronnsf.bsky.social ...
Starting Monday November 10, the #FAA will restrict commercial space launches and landings to 10 PM - 6 AM local time. The initial impact most likely will on #SpaceX #Starlink launches.
Starting Monday November 10, the #FAA will restrict commercial space launches and landings to 10 PM - 6 AM local time. The initial impact most likely will on #SpaceX #Starlink launches.
#Space #NASA
Out and about today at #KSC. The photos in order:
(1) Construction at #SpaceX Roberts Road site.
(2) Pad 39A, with the existing launch infrastructure and the new tower for SpaceX #Starship.
(3) Pad 39B, Space Launch System.
(4) The new mobile launcher ordered by Congress for SLS.
Out and about today at #KSC. The photos in order:
(1) Construction at #SpaceX Roberts Road site.
(2) Pad 39A, with the existing launch infrastructure and the new tower for SpaceX #Starship.
(3) Pad 39B, Space Launch System.
(4) The new mobile launcher ordered by Congress for SLS.
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 PM
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
November 6, 2025 at 2:03 AM
October 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
A new #SpaceCoast #Florida mural is going up in Merritt Crossing at Courtenay Parkway and Crockett Boulevard.
October 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
A new #SpaceCoast #Florida mural is going up in Merritt Crossing at Courtenay Parkway and Crockett Boulevard.
Good morning from the #SpaceCoast of #Florida.
October 17, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Good morning from the #SpaceCoast of #Florida.
#Politics #Trump #California
From #LATimes: Governor Newsom says the USMC will fire live ordnance over the I-5 into Camp Pendleton on Saturday.
As someone who lived for decades in the area, this is very remote. The USMC does this all the time.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
From #LATimes: Governor Newsom says the USMC will fire live ordnance over the I-5 into Camp Pendleton on Saturday.
As someone who lived for decades in the area, this is very remote. The USMC does this all the time.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
October 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
#Politics #Trump #California
From #LATimes: Governor Newsom says the USMC will fire live ordnance over the I-5 into Camp Pendleton on Saturday.
As someone who lived for decades in the area, this is very remote. The USMC does this all the time.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
From #LATimes: Governor Newsom says the USMC will fire live ordnance over the I-5 into Camp Pendleton on Saturday.
As someone who lived for decades in the area, this is very remote. The USMC does this all the time.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
#Space #SpaceCoast #SpaceX
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida ... We had a Falcon 9 launch at 5:27 AM EDT. The windblown vapor trail crosses the sky horizontally above the clouds on the horizon.
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida ... We had a Falcon 9 launch at 5:27 AM EDT. The windblown vapor trail crosses the sky horizontally above the clouds on the horizon.
October 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
#Space #SpaceCoast #SpaceX
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida ... We had a Falcon 9 launch at 5:27 AM EDT. The windblown vapor trail crosses the sky horizontally above the clouds on the horizon.
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida ... We had a Falcon 9 launch at 5:27 AM EDT. The windblown vapor trail crosses the sky horizontally above the clouds on the horizon.
It reminded me of this scene from Star Trek III. Both were Starships.
October 14, 2025 at 12:12 AM
It reminded me of this scene from Star Trek III. Both were Starships.
#Space #NASA
All going well with the 11th #SpaceX #Starship test flight. The Super Heavy first stage landed in the water just off the launch site. The upper stage deployed dummy #Starlink satellites.
The smudge in this photo is the upper stage as it passed to the south of #Florida.
All going well with the 11th #SpaceX #Starship test flight. The Super Heavy first stage landed in the water just off the launch site. The upper stage deployed dummy #Starlink satellites.
The smudge in this photo is the upper stage as it passed to the south of #Florida.
October 14, 2025 at 12:03 AM
#Space #SpaceCoast
#SpaceX had a #Starlink launch this morning from #CCSFS targeting 6:53 AM EDT. That's usually when I'm out cycling, so I thought, "Cool, I'll get a badass photo of the launch at sunrise."
As the T-0 approached, I watched this cloud roll in.
No good deed goes unpunished.
#SpaceX had a #Starlink launch this morning from #CCSFS targeting 6:53 AM EDT. That's usually when I'm out cycling, so I thought, "Cool, I'll get a badass photo of the launch at sunrise."
As the T-0 approached, I watched this cloud roll in.
No good deed goes unpunished.
September 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
#Space #SpaceCoast
#SpaceX had a #Starlink launch this morning from #CCSFS targeting 6:53 AM EDT. That's usually when I'm out cycling, so I thought, "Cool, I'll get a badass photo of the launch at sunrise."
As the T-0 approached, I watched this cloud roll in.
No good deed goes unpunished.
#SpaceX had a #Starlink launch this morning from #CCSFS targeting 6:53 AM EDT. That's usually when I'm out cycling, so I thought, "Cool, I'll get a badass photo of the launch at sunrise."
As the T-0 approached, I watched this cloud roll in.
No good deed goes unpunished.
NASA confirms the other two objects were Venus and Regulus.
September 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
NASA confirms the other two objects were Venus and Regulus.
#Space #SpaceCoast
Looking towards the eastern horizon just before sunrise ... From left to right, the moon (duh), a planet, and a star. Perhaps one of our resident experts can identify the latter two.
Looking towards the eastern horizon just before sunrise ... From left to right, the moon (duh), a planet, and a star. Perhaps one of our resident experts can identify the latter two.
September 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM
#Space #SpaceCoast
Looking towards the eastern horizon just before sunrise ... From left to right, the moon (duh), a planet, and a star. Perhaps one of our resident experts can identify the latter two.
Looking towards the eastern horizon just before sunrise ... From left to right, the moon (duh), a planet, and a star. Perhaps one of our resident experts can identify the latter two.
#SpaceCoast #Weather
#Florida being Florida. Looking east from Merritt Island towards the cities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and beyond them the Atlantic Ocean.
#Florida being Florida. Looking east from Merritt Island towards the cities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and beyond them the Atlantic Ocean.
September 17, 2025 at 8:35 PM
#SpaceCoast #Weather
#Florida being Florida. Looking east from Merritt Island towards the cities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and beyond them the Atlantic Ocean.
#Florida being Florida. Looking east from Merritt Island towards the cities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and beyond them the Atlantic Ocean.
#StarTrek
Doing some research, I came across a scan of an April 13, 1987 Paramount memo discussing possible actors for "The Next Generation." I've always been flummoxed that baseball player Reggie Jackson was considered for the role of Geordi LaForge.
Doing some research, I came across a scan of an April 13, 1987 Paramount memo discussing possible actors for "The Next Generation." I've always been flummoxed that baseball player Reggie Jackson was considered for the role of Geordi LaForge.
September 13, 2025 at 11:51 AM
#StarTrek
Doing some research, I came across a scan of an April 13, 1987 Paramount memo discussing possible actors for "The Next Generation." I've always been flummoxed that baseball player Reggie Jackson was considered for the role of Geordi LaForge.
Doing some research, I came across a scan of an April 13, 1987 Paramount memo discussing possible actors for "The Next Generation." I've always been flummoxed that baseball player Reggie Jackson was considered for the role of Geordi LaForge.
#Weather #Florida #Hurricane
The chart is only through 2020, but welcome to statistically the most likely day of the year for Florida to have a hurricane. It's all downhill from here. 😉
climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/hurri...
The chart is only through 2020, but welcome to statistically the most likely day of the year for Florida to have a hurricane. It's all downhill from here. 😉
climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/hurri...
September 11, 2025 at 10:20 AM
#Weather #Florida #Hurricane
The chart is only through 2020, but welcome to statistically the most likely day of the year for Florida to have a hurricane. It's all downhill from here. 😉
climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/hurri...
The chart is only through 2020, but welcome to statistically the most likely day of the year for Florida to have a hurricane. It's all downhill from here. 😉
climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/hurri...
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida.
August 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Good morning from the Space Coast of Florida.
I see your Pale Blue Dot and raise you Carl standing on the shore of the cosmic ocean.
August 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I see your Pale Blue Dot and raise you Carl standing on the shore of the cosmic ocean.
