David Burbach ๐บ๐ธ๐น
@dburbach.bsky.social
Prof. National Security and International Relations. Space security, civil-military relations. Cats, science, photography for fun. Providence RI; Oregon at heart! Personal views ONLY; no govt resources used. Assoc Ed @TNSR.org
Pinned
My pinned tweet through Presidents of both parties: Sen. Leahy reminds an appointee that federal employees swear an oath to the Constitution, not of personal loyalty to any one man or woman.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
The Naval War College's most famous astronaut alum is Alan Shepard, America's first man in space and later commander of Apollo 14. Carlise, Maxwell, and NDU have *not* had any graduates walk on the Moon, as we have.
February 13, 2026 at 2:03 AM
The Naval War College's most famous astronaut alum is Alan Shepard, America's first man in space and later commander of Apollo 14. Carlise, Maxwell, and NDU have *not* had any graduates walk on the Moon, as we have.
Reposted by David Burbach ๐บ๐ธ๐น
It would be embarrassing under any circumstances to spend a year on this reactionary horseshit, but to have spent the year in which graduate students were sent to concentration camps for op-eds and the federal govt launched a no hold barred attack on academic freedom is just beyond
February 13, 2026 at 1:46 AM
It would be embarrassing under any circumstances to spend a year on this reactionary horseshit, but to have spent the year in which graduate students were sent to concentration camps for op-eds and the federal govt launched a no hold barred attack on academic freedom is just beyond
That too meant getting started pre-dawn; the Shuttle was a morning landing but it's a couple hours bus ride from Claremont to Edwards.
This week I'll have had 7:00am flight, 4:30am launch, 5:15 launch on successive days. Space is hard.
This week I'll have had 7:00am flight, 4:30am launch, 5:15 launch on successive days. Space is hard.
February 13, 2026 at 1:57 AM
That too meant getting started pre-dawn; the Shuttle was a morning landing but it's a couple hours bus ride from Claremont to Edwards.
This week I'll have had 7:00am flight, 4:30am launch, 5:15 launch on successive days. Space is hard.
This week I'll have had 7:00am flight, 4:30am launch, 5:15 launch on successive days. Space is hard.
This is not my first alumni guest visit to NASA: in 1988, Shuttle astronaut "Pinky" Nelson was a graduate of Harvey Mudd College and gave a bunch of spaces for the Shuttle landing at Edwards, and people I knew at Mudd got me included (I was down the hill at Pomona).
February 13, 2026 at 1:55 AM
This is not my first alumni guest visit to NASA: in 1988, Shuttle astronaut "Pinky" Nelson was a graduate of Harvey Mudd College and gave a bunch of spaces for the Shuttle landing at Edwards, and people I knew at Mudd got me included (I was down the hill at Pomona).
Thank you to the Crew12 crew and to NASA Guest Operations. And to NWC staff for being able to make the paperwork for this travel happen in the new civilian travel approval environment despite the launch date changing four times in three weeks, including a jump several days *earlier*.
February 13, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Thank you to the Crew12 crew and to NASA Guest Operations. And to NWC staff for being able to make the paperwork for this travel happen in the new civilian travel approval environment despite the launch date changing four times in three weeks, including a jump several days *earlier*.
Hathaway was not a student of mine, but at least one of his profs from my dept is still here, and remembers Hathaway as bright and personable
February 13, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Hathaway was not a student of mine, but at least one of his profs from my dept is still here, and remembers Hathaway as bright and personable
NASA Astronaut Jack Hathaway - NASA
Jack Hathaway, Captain, U.S. Navy
www.nasa.gov
February 13, 2026 at 1:49 AM
So, why *am* I at KSC? One of the Crew12 astronauts, CDR Jack Hathaway (3rd from Left), is a 2015 graduate of the Naval War College and was kind enough to have NASA give NWC a few guest seats at the launch. Our Provost and I will be at the Banana Creek guest site for the launch at 5:15am.
February 13, 2026 at 1:49 AM
So, why *am* I at KSC? One of the Crew12 astronauts, CDR Jack Hathaway (3rd from Left), is a 2015 graduate of the Naval War College and was kind enough to have NASA give NWC a few guest seats at the launch. Our Provost and I will be at the Banana Creek guest site for the launch at 5:15am.
Under DOD's theory, forget mere speech, could any retiree Senator or Rep ever vote to impeach and convict the President or the Secretary?
BREAKING: Big loss in court for Pete Hegseth and Trump Admin
Judge rules in favor of Sen Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and urges Hegseth to โbe grateful for the wisdom.. of retired service membersโ
youtube.com/shorts/ADTlR...
Judge rules in favor of Sen Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and urges Hegseth to โbe grateful for the wisdom.. of retired service membersโ
youtube.com/shorts/ADTlR...
BREAKING: Big loss in court for Trump Admin & Pete Hegseth. Judge rules in favor of Sen Mark Kelly
YouTube video by Scott MacFarlane Reports
youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Under DOD's theory, forget mere speech, could any retiree Senator or Rep ever vote to impeach and convict the President or the Secretary?
Not to inject a downer but one of my Portland hs friends, him staying in Portland, was a bit like that, the only friend I'd been close to from childhood through today continuously. Died of an unexpected cardiac thing three years ago, crushing.
February 12, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Not to inject a downer but one of my Portland hs friends, him staying in Portland, was a bit like that, the only friend I'd been close to from childhood through today continuously. Died of an unexpected cardiac thing three years ago, crushing.
To the Moon ...
February 12, 2026 at 7:35 PM
To the Moon ...
Current status:
February 12, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Current status:
I have sensible watches, some timex for everyday wear and some low end Seiko and citizen for dressier, but feel like watches could be a splurge item for me. Seiko 5 or other mechanical, tritium, or nicer but that appropriately postures me
February 12, 2026 at 5:25 PM
I have sensible watches, some timex for everyday wear and some low end Seiko and citizen for dressier, but feel like watches could be a splurge item for me. Seiko 5 or other mechanical, tritium, or nicer but that appropriately postures me
Also has larger implications for Starlink. They claim to obey local law on whether service is permited and they have geolocation of receivers so in they can do that. System isn't perfect, but deliberately cooperating with USG to provide service to dissidents sure aint what China wants from musk
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Also has larger implications for Starlink. They claim to obey local law on whether service is permited and they have geolocation of receivers so in they can do that. System isn't perfect, but deliberately cooperating with USG to provide service to dissidents sure aint what China wants from musk
oh and "seagulls" since they are a particular picnic hazard
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
oh and "seagulls" since they are a particular picnic hazard
I can distinguish about at the level of "songbird - woodpecker - raptor - wader - poultry"
February 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
I can distinguish about at the level of "songbird - woodpecker - raptor - wader - poultry"
The photo does make it look much much darker than reality -- bright sunset cloud reflection off the water
February 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
The photo does make it look much much darker than reality -- bright sunset cloud reflection off the water
The bayshore / estuary I live near gets egrets frequently, and a few GBH. Though the ones I've seen don't look quite as big and fancy as the ones I've seen in Portland OR (where it is the official city bird)
February 12, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The bayshore / estuary I live near gets egrets frequently, and a few GBH. Though the ones I've seen don't look quite as big and fancy as the ones I've seen in Portland OR (where it is the official city bird)
I have seen a few takes in the arms control community writ large that the inaccuracies in "Nuclear War: A Scenario" and "House of Dynamite" are good, actually, because yes people need to be scared
February 12, 2026 at 2:50 PM
I have seen a few takes in the arms control community writ large that the inaccuracies in "Nuclear War: A Scenario" and "House of Dynamite" are good, actually, because yes people need to be scared
Little Blue?
February 12, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Little Blue?
100% gratuitous baby cheetah from Oregon 2023, just happened to be in the same folder on the laptop
February 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM
100% gratuitous baby cheetah from Oregon 2023, just happened to be in the same folder on the laptop
Another one, took the color a different direction
February 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Another one, took the color a different direction
Heron (?) on the Indian River shore. I really like the almost woodblock print look to it
February 12, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Heron (?) on the Indian River shore. I really like the almost woodblock print look to it
Earth production of all solar cells, not just for satellites
February 12, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Earth production of all solar cells, not just for satellites