Stephen C. Smith
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith
@wordsmithfl.bsky.social
500 followers 160 following 1.5K posts

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. .. more

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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 23h
#Space

Today at #NASA #KSC Pad 39A. If you look on the pad, you can see the #SpaceX #Falcon9 horizontal for tonight's midnight launch. It lies on the erector that will take it vertical before launch. To the right, the tall tower will be for #Starship when operational here on the Cape.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#Politics #Trump

From #WaPo: Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees will investigate a report that Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered the killing of Caribbean boat survivors.

wapo.st/48k7g1S
Congressional committees to scrutinize U.S. killing of boat strike survivors
The Senate and House armed services committees’ pledge followed a Washington Post report revealing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that a U.S. strike leave no survivors.
wapo.st

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 2d
#Politics #Trump #Russia #Ukraine

From #WSJ via Archive.ph: The US peace plan for Ukraine is designed to create US-Russia joint business opportunities in Ukraine, bypassing the US national security apparatus.

archive.ph/9Fg37
Archive.ph

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 2d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: Trump says he's closing #Venezuela airspace, more evidence the US is about to go to war with Venezuela.

www.nbcnews.com/world/venezu...
Trump tells airlines Venezuela's airspace is 'closed in its entirety' in latest escalation
There was no immediate response from Venezuela, which maintains authority over its own airspace.
www.nbcnews.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 2d
Is this the anthology produced in the mid-1990s? I think it's important to remember it reflects the documentary style of the time.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 2d
Just noticed on the #Tesla website that the 1.99% APR deal for the Model Y is back. If you're thinking about buying a Tesla, now is a great time to buy if you qualify for the 1.99% finance rate.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Space #Russia #ISS #NASA

My latest #Substack is now online looking at the implications for NASA and the ISS after yesterday's failure of the Russian Soyuz launch pad at Baikonur.

Read "The Bottom Falls Out" for free at the link.
www.thespacepundit.com/p/the-bottom...
The Bottom Falls Out
Russia's orbital capability is in question after a collapse at its Soyuz launch pad in Baikonur.
www.thespacepundit.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Space #Russia #ISS #NASA

#ArsTechnica believes that the #Soyuz launch pad failure was due to someone failing to secure a service platform that fell into the flame trench after yesterday's launch.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...
Before a Soyuz launch Thursday someone forgot to secure a 20-ton service platform
“We are going to learn just how important the ISS is to leadership.”…
arstechnica.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

anatolyzak.bsky.social
Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 3d
A possible culprit in yesterday's accident at Site 31.
DETAILS: russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_r7_...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
In the MAGA version, the children awake to find the table barren because it's what they deserve, the little moochers, MAGA!

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Space #Russia #ISS #NASA

From #CNN: Russian launch pad damaged during #Soyuz launch to ISS. It's the only Russian pad currently capable of launching cargo or crew to the space station.

www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/s...
Launch pad damaged as Russian rocket blasts off for space station, agency says | CNN
A launch pad at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome space complex was damaged during Thursday’s launch of a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut to the International Space ...
www.cnn.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: Trump threatens yet again to begin a land invasion of #Venezuela "very soon."

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Trump says the U.S. will 'very soon' take action on land to stop alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers
Even as he increases military pressure, Trump has said that he could still hold talks with Venezuela's president, suggesting a possible diplomatic off-ramp.
www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

anatolyzak.bsky.social
Anatoly Zak @anatolyzak.bsky.social · 4d
Russia's only pad for crew launches suffers major damage:
russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_r7_...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
#Florida #SpaceCoast

Man's best friend has returned to our fake lake. 🐊
An alligator swims in an artificial lake surrounded by homes.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
#Baseball #Angels

My free-lance article is on the front page of this morning's #FloridaToday sports section.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
DOGE was Trump's sop for Musk after Elon gave him $280 million in campaign contributions. Once Elon left in disgrace, there was no reason for DOGE to exist.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
#Politics #Trump

From #Reuters: White House official says #DOGE no longer exists. 🤣 🤣 🤣

www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
www.reuters.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
My guess is Trump was too incoherent today to do a public event.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
How fortunate you were to have her as a lifelong best friend. I still grieve her absence and didn't even know her. I grieve because I know how much a "force" (pun intended) she was for all of you, and for the world. I would have loved to have seen her lead the Piggy resistance today.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Politics #Trump

Another #TACO?

From #CNN: The White House cancelled today's planned event to announce its new health care proposal. No new date was given.

www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/p...
White House postpones expected unveiling of new health care cost proposal | CNN Politics
The White House has postponed its rollout of a new proposal to address health care costs aimed at averting a spike in premiums driven by the expiration of key Affordable Care Act subsidies, a White Ho...
www.cnn.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
@amikokelly.bsky.social Trump/Hegseth trying to go after a Kelly is like watching a gnat go after the front grille of a Peterbilt.

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Baseball

#FloridaToday published online today my free-lance article about #Angels minor-league pitcher Dylan Jordan, but some people encounter a paywall. If that's you, try this Archive.ph link.

archive.ph/PFSl4

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Politics #Trump

BREAKING from #NBCNews: Federal charges dismissed against James Comey and Letitia James. The judge ruled that Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding prosecutor was unlawfully appointed
Lindsey Halligan was appointed after President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute the former FBI director and New York attorney general.
www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

cnn.com
CNN @cnn.com · 7d
The Pentagon says it is investigating Sen. Mark Kelly and threatens potential court martial in wake of illegal orders video.
https://cnn.it/4oiTK4y

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

tomtomorrow.bsky.social
Your Internet Friend Tom Tomorrow @tomtomorrow.bsky.social · 7d
it's almost thanksgiving!

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Cartoon: Giving thanks
As always, if � you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, � Sparky’s List! � You can get it in your inbox or read it on ...
www.dailykos.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#FloridaToday has published a free-lance article I wrote about Angels' minor league pitcher Dylan Jordan. Unfortunately, it has the sports editor's byline! I've asked them to fix it. My understanding is that it will be in the print edition tomorrow.

www.floridatoday.com/story/sports...
Viera grad Dylan Jordan gains attention after impressing for Angels' minor league team
Dylan Jordan, a 2024 Viera High grad, advanced through the Angels' minor league system during 2025 season, gaining notice along the way.
www.floridatoday.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
This can't go on YouTube because of copyright, but you can stream or download from Google Drive ... In 2003, #ABCNews aired a 90-minute documentary that debunked the various #JFK assassination conspiracy theories. They proved the Warren Commission got it right.

drive.google.com/file/d/1yFzA...
20031120 Kennedy Assassination Beyond Conspiracy (ABC).mp4
drive.google.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
Today is the 62nd anniversary of the #JFK assassination. I have a YouTube playlist with various documentaries and other videos I saved over the decades. Please feel free to poke around.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
JFK Assassination - YouTube
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
#Politics #Trump

'll take Marjorie Taylor Greene's "resignation" more seriously if she doesn't run for US Senate next year. Jon Ossoff's seat is up in 2026.

The "I love my family too much" line will ring hollow if she decides to leave them behind again for the Senate.

www.ms.now/news/marjori...
Here's why Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has suddenly decided to retire
The shocking move by the former ally of President Donald Trump comes after a growing feud between the congresswoman and the president.
www.ms.now

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
#Politics #Trump

BREAKING from #WaPo: #SCOTUS justice Samuel Alito just put a pause on the federal court ruling that tossed the #Texas racially gerrymandered congressional districts map.

wapo.st/4rfWYsh
Supreme Court justice pauses order blocking Texas map favoring GOP
The order will give the high court time to consider an appeal by Texas, which is seeking to overturn the ruling by a panel of federal judges.
wapo.st