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andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder
@andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
250 followers 260 following 110 posts
Space and science reporter @HoustonChronicle.com. Foodie, adventure seeker, mom of two kids and one dog. Send tips and favorite sci-fi references to [email protected].
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andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 3d
‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines if Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight.

“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines how Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight
“Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space” is a short documentary on this religion during the Apollo moon landing, space shuttle and International Space Station.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 17d
Using a first-of-its-kind data tool, the Houston Chronicle has mapped out every property that Musk’s companies own in Texas.

We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.

www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
Search our maps of Elon Musk’s expanding Texas empire across 500 properties
From rockets to Cybertrucks, Elon Musk’s Texas footprint spans 6,000 acres and 500+ properties. See every site on our interactive maps.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 18d
Meet Anna Menon -- a Houston native, private astronaut, mom of two and now one of NASA's newest astronaut candidates.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Meet the Houston mom of two who’s on track to fly to the moon or even Mars
Houston native Anna Menon, who was inspired by a fourth-grade NASA field trip and has already flown to space on a SpaceX mission, has been selected as one of NASA’s newest astronaut candidates.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · 29d
Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars

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Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars
Texas A&M University geologist Mike Tice was on the international team of scientists that analyzed data from NASA's Perseverance rover that found a potential sign of past microbial life on Mars.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Sep 10
"This finding, by our incredible Perseverance rover, is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars."

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A rock on Mars could suggest tiny life once existed on the Red Planet, NASA says
NASA's Perseverance rover found a rock with "leopard spots" on the Red Planet that could have been created by ancient microbial life.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Sep 4
From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data.

They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data
Houston's Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Cognitive Space and Little Place Labs are  focused on the growing market of harnessing data collected in space.
www.houstonchronicle.com
andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 27
SpaceX successfully launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews

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SpaceX launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews
The SpaceX Starship rocket, the world’s most powerful rocket, took its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 8
Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.

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Dinosaur footprints spotted while clearing debris from Central Texas floods
Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 6
NASA tells Sen. John Cornyn it’s moving a shuttle to Houston, but nobody is saying which one

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA tells John Cornyn Houston is getting a space shuttle. But which one?
The future of space shuttle Discovery and its possible move to Houston remains murky after officials put out a series of vague statements Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1
NASA has until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. The Big Beautiful Bill was written with the intention of moving space shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the Smithsonian is fighting back:

“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Space Shuttle Discovery's move to Houston in limbo as deadline looms
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gave NASA Administrator Sean Duffy until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. Will space shuttle Discovery come to Houston?
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1
Three astronauts and a cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Friday, beginning a mission that will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the platform sheltering humans in space.

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SpaceX Crew-11 launches to ISS for 25th anniversary mission
Members of the Crew-11 mission – NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov – launched from Florida in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Aug 1
NASA is watching the weather, but Crew-11 is preparing for liftoff in 2 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...
NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 31
SCRUB for weather
andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 31
Crew-11 is about to launch. Time to tune in!

plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-vi...
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Launch
Coverage of the Launch of the NASA/SpaceX Dragon and Crew-11 to the International Space Station (Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov; launch scheduled at 12:09
plus.nasa.gov
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 28
The aerospace industry needs more fasteners -- bolts, nuts, washers, pin rivets, etc. -- and this is positioning Houston Precision Fasteners for growth, thanks to its new Italian ownership with roots in Formula One racing.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Italian firm with Formula One roots is fueling growth at this Houston bolt maker
Houston Precision Fasteners, which makes bolts, nuts, pin rivets and other fasteners for the aerospace industry, is grappling with increased demand and constricted supply.
www.houstonchronicle.com
andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 17
San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians who will handle biopharmaceuticals after they are returned from space.

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San Jacinto College joins Intuitive Machines in biopharma training program
San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians to handle biopharmaceuticals returned from space.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 4
The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block – as lawmakers push back against President Donald Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Congress delivers $10 billion to NASA, saving Houston-led program from Trump cut
The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jul 3
Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

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Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz got language into President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" that creates a path for getting a space shuttle to Houston.
www.houstonchronicle.com
andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 30
NASA astronaut Don Pettit is an energetic tinkerer and photographer. He’s designed a zero-g coffee cup, turned a vacuum hose into a didgeridoo and written the astronauts’ guide for space photography.

His last mission was about the "science of opportunity."

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
See NASA astronaut Don Pettit's stunning photos and experiments from the ISS
NASA astronaut Don Pettit, an energetic tinkerer and photographer, used his off-duty time on the International Space Station for photography and the 'science of opportunity.'
www.houstonchronicle.com
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andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 26
Starbase approved new zoning rules. Here’s how it could affect land not owned by SpaceX.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A new SpaceX city approved zoning. Here’s how it could affect Texas landowners.
Starbase, the new SpaceX city in South Texas, approved a new zoning ordinance this week. Some properties are now designated as "open" and cannot be developed.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 25
Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission, Ax-4, at 1:31 a.m. CDT. One of the mission’s roughly 60 science experiments looks to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.

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This Houston company hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes
Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission on Wednesday. One of the mission’s experiments hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 18
Pulsar Fusion, a U.K.-based firm attempting to unlock nuclear fusion to power space travel, is opening its first U.S. location in the Austin area.

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Texas will soon have a company developing nuclear fusion for space travel
Pulsar Fusion, a U.K.-based firm attempting to unlock nuclear fusion to power space travel, is opening its first U.S. location in the Austin area.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 13
One final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space with this Houston company’s memorial service

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One final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space with this Houston company
Kelly Dreyer is giving her dad one final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space. Houston-based Celestis is sending  more than 150 cremated remains and DNA samples into space later this month.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 12
NASA announced Thursday that it is delaying Houston-based Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station due to a leak on Russia’s Zvezda service module. Four commercial astronauts were scheduled to be on the mission.

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A leak on the space station is delaying the launch of commercial astronauts
NASA is delaying Houston-based Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station due to a leak on Russia’s Zvezda service module.
www.houstonchronicle.com
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Andrea Leinfelder @andrealeinfelder.bsky.social · Jun 12
Why is the Voyager Technologies IPO important?

"The ability for investors to make money is going to fuel the rest of the space industry," said Meagan Crawford.

It's the first time Houston-based VC firm SpaceFund is distributing money to investors, too.

www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
A Houston VC firm's portfolio company went public. What it means for space.
A portfolio company for Houston-based venture capital firm SpaceFund went public this week. It could signal a shift in space investing.
www.houstonchronicle.com