Gene J. Mikulka
@genejm1017.bsky.social
2.7K followers 1.3K following 8.8K posts
Founded the Talking Space Podcast in 2009. Immersed in spaceflight since the Apollo days, Space Advocate and lovebird Dad. All Opinions are mine alone and don't reflect the position of the podcast. https://www.talkingspaceonline.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
genejm1017.bsky.social
For the final time with both of the girls, Maxine 🦅(who flew into eternity today 2/16/2025) and Emerald 🦜wish all peace. Fly high, my little bald eagle, fly high. #TheDailyLovebird (Video recorded 22 November, 2018)
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
nasawatch.bsky.social
Shut down but not silenced: Federal workers find their voice
www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

"[Monica] Gorman works at NASA and is a member of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE). #NASA #NASASTRONG #RIF #shutdown
Shut down but not silenced: Federal workers find their voice
After months of layoffs and funding cuts by the Trump administration, the government shutdown has given some federal employees hope that their voices are finally being heard.
www.npr.org
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
American Astronautical Society (AAS) says the Von Braun Exploration Symposium *will* be held as planned Oct 27-29 regardless of govt shutdown situation. It's at the Univ of Alabama in Huntsville. Govt speakers will only be there if the shutdown is over, tho.
genejm1017.bsky.social
Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜 stands tall and proud after her bath. She wishes all peace 🕊️ #TheDailyLovebird
 A peach-faced pied lovebird sitting on her caretaker's finger. Her feathers are all wet from her bath.
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
geoshanz.bsky.social
Nor’easter inbound. Obviously that meant recon time. Here’s a quick clip from Virginia today. #VAWx
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
OMB Director Russell Vought says the government layoffs -- Reductions in Force (RIFs) -- that the White House has been threatening if Congress doesn't vote to reopen the government have begun.
x.com/russvought/s...
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
carlzimmer.com
We will be writing more of these. If you’re a scientist and your science has been disrupted, we want to hear from you: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/c...
Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
spahn711.bsky.social
One year ago today, a spectacular aurora display graced the night sky across much of the globe. This was my view in *Oklahoma.* What a beautiful world we are fortunate to live on. #photography
Pink, green, and orange aurora pillars with a SAR arc and moon-lit clouds over relatively still waters of a large lake. The andromeda galaxy between a red SAR arc and the Milky Way. Numerous pinkish aurora pillars with a bluish-purple sky and spotty clouds over relatively still waters of a large lake. Pink, green, and orange aurora pillars with a bluish-purple sky over relatively still waters of a large lake.
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
spacenewsinc.bsky.social
Planet announces new line of satellites for daily Earth imaging

Planet has announced a new class of imaging satellites that will replace a line of spacecraft dating back to the company’s earliest days.
Planet announces new line of satellites for daily Earth imaging
Planet has announced a new class of imaging satellites that will replace a line of spacecraft dating back to the company’s earliest days.
spacenews.com
genejm1017.bsky.social
October 10, 1967 - The United Nations Outer Space Treaty goers into effect. www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourw...
27 January 1967

The Treaty of Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies, was signed by a number of Governments today in London, Moscow and Washington, capitals of the depositary Governments. The Treaty enters into force when ratified by five Governments, including those of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Mr. Dean Rusk (2nd from right), Secretary of State of the United States, signing the Treaty at a White House ceremony. At the table, right to left: President Lyndon B. Johnson of the United States; Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN; Sir Patrick Dean, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN; and USSR Ambassador to the United States Anatoly F. Dobrynin. ( Photo Credit - UN Photos - https://media.un.org/photo/en/asset/oun7/oun7420754
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
davidbflower.bsky.social
Waning Gibbous Moon. 0219UT 10 October 2025. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
The Moon at waning gibbous phase on a dark background.
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
davidbflower.bsky.social
The Great Orion Nebula. 10 October 2025. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
The Orion nebula at centre. Many star dots.
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
samillingworth.com
🌌 The expiration date of the universe

A new study suggests dark energy may be slightly different than we thought. If it includes a small negative term, the universe could collapse in a 'big crunch' about 33 billion years from now.

🔗 www.sciencealert.com/physicists-p...

#SciComm 🧪 🔭
Physicists Predict When The Universe Will End in a Reverse Big Bang
If recent discoveries that dark energy is evolving hold any water, our Universe will collapse under its own gravity on a finite timeline, new calculations suggest.
www.sciencealert.com
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
elisecutts.bsky.social
Different wavelengths ranges are... Halloween costumes for planets?

IR Jupiter is a pumpkin, a classic if maybe a little low-effort spooky look. (1/n) 🧪🔭
drfunkyspoon.bsky.social
Since spooky season is here: Jupiter in the infrared looking like an angry red pumpkin planet.
(Square-root-enhanced images of Jupiter's thermal emission from cloud tops at 5.1 microns from NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility in October 2020)
🧪
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
esa.int
🚀It’s almost time to shape the next chapter of Europe’s journey in space.

The European Space Agency’s Council Meeting at Ministerial Level, known as #CM25, will take place in Bremen, Germany, on 26 and 27 November 2025.

Journalists register here 👉
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
esa.int
🌎 Let's take a look back at when Cyclone Errol was heading towards the coast of Western Australia on 16 April.

In this @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social Sentinel-3 image, the typical pinhole eye – a small, well-defined eye often associated tropical cyclones – is clearly visible.
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Senate just passed the FY2026 defense policy bill--the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). House passed its version last month. Now on to conference. The NDAA has been enacted every year since the first in 1961, a rarity.
Stmts from SASC's Chair and Ranking Member:
Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
exploration.esa.int
This is not static noise 📺

It's a gel forming in space. The white & black speckles are anything but random. Understanding its behaviour in orbit has great potential for longer-lasting medicines, paint and cleaning products on Earth.

More on @esa.int's Colloidal Solids: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...