mastodon 4.7.3On a small red light in the night sky lives hundreds of pounds of thinking metal sent from Earth. I used to tell it what to do.
Opinions mine. He/him.
It was Voyager that inspired me to pursue robotic space exploration in the first place -- and I even got to be just the tiniest part of the mission when I once sent commands to dear old VGR. I love it that, five decades later, a faithful few continue to lovingly care for humanity's longest-operating spacecraft.
It is thanks to them, and to the amazing engineering that went into the twin VGRs in the first place, that our epic explorers continue to live long and prosper.
Can I just say how happy it's making me to see a female CAPCOM talking to an African-American astronaut (now officially a moon man!) aboard the #Artemis spacecraft #Integrity. It's not all white dudes any more. This is an important upgrade from the hallowed days of #Apollo, and I am 100% here for it. #space
Judith Love Cohen was the engineer who made Apollo's Abort Guidance System, which was crucial to saving the ill-fated Apollo 13. She finished it while in labor, then (the same day) delivered her younger son -- the actor Jack Black.
This is one of those utterly remarkable #space stories that I stumble over once in a while and it blows my mind afresh every single time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Love_Cohen
You will remember IBM as the company that helped Nazi Germany track down its Jews.
// IBM settles its DEI lawsuit with the DOJ for $17 million
https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ibm-settles-its-dei-lawsuit-with-the-doj-for-17-million-153749285.html?src=rss
And honestly, if it weren't for pressure from China, we wouldn't be going even now. So, thanks for the kick in the rear, China, I guess?
In any event, no matter when the launch actually happens -- and I do hope it's in the current window -- best wishes for a smooth ride, y'all. I'll be watching.
(And in particular I'll be crossing my fingers for Orion's dodgy heat shield. :-/ )
//
After more than 53 years, humans may finally return to the Moon this week
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/after-more-than-53-years-humans-may-finally-return-to-the-moon-this-week/ #space #Artemis
You'd think the FBI director would be aware that lawsuits involve a thing called a "discovery phase." Maybe he was too drunk to think of it. https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/20/media/kash-patel-fbi-atlantic-lawsuit-sarah-fitzpatrick
... with me.
Trump lost his war with Iran even worse than he lost the 2020 election.
Checkmate in Iran - The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/iran-war-trump-losing/687094/
People would rather be kings in hell than risk being servants in heaven.
And what they are in fact getting is: they are servants in hell. But at least they didn't have to share their swimming pool with brown people. >:-(
