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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith
@wordsmithfl.bsky.social
490 followers 160 following 1.4K 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 · 9h
#Space #NASA

Scientific American looks at the scheme by Texas senators to steal the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery from the Smithsonian and give it to Space Center Houston. It's expected that any attempt to move it would permanently damage it.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/movi...
The Strange Saga of the Great Texas Space Shuttle Heist
Texas lawmakers want to move the Smithsonian’s retired space shuttle to Houston. It’s “a vanity project that is apt to destroy a near-priceless American treasure,” one historian says
www.scientificamerican.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 12h
Growing up, my cat knew which bedroom window was mine, so she'd jump up on the screen and hang there until I came to get her. The flaw in her plan was that I wasn't always home. She might hang there for hours.
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 12h
#Space #NASA #Politics #Trump

From #Reuters: You may recall that Trump withdrew Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator nomination after he found out Jared sometimes donates to Democratic candidates. Now he wants him back.

If I were Jared, I'd tell him to f*** off.

www.reuters.com/science/form...
Former NASA nominee Jared Isaacman in talks to become agency's chief
Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut and Elon Musk ally who was removed from consideration to lead NASA earlier this year, met with acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy this week as a candidate for leading the space agency, a NASA spokesperson said.
www.reuters.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 15h
#StarTrek

My #Substack page "The Written Trek" looks at the writing and behind-the-scenes drama for each Original Series episode. The latest article looks at "Miri," the last episode for Grace Lee Whitney in a featured role as Janice Rand.

www.thewrittentrek.com
The Written Trek | Stephen C. Smith | Substack
This publication studies the written Star Trek. We'll go episode by episode, starting with TOS. We'll discuss how the writing evolves, decisions that were made, characters who were added, characters...
www.thewrittentrek.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 15h
#Politics #Trump

Five major broadcast networks, including #FoxNews, refuse to assign new Trump policy that would have let the Pentagon decide if stories could be published.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Five major broadcast networks say they will not sign new Pentagon press policy
The policy says reporters could have their press passes revoked if they publish information that has not been authorized for release by the Pentagon.
www.nbcnews.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 18h
#Space #NASA

This is the fictionalized version of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier 78 years ago today, in the movie "The Right Stuff."

The movie is one of the great American films of all time, but it's not a history lesson. Just enjoy the fictional clip.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXO...
Breaking the sound barrier - The Right Stuff
YouTube video by Johnny's War Stories
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 18h
#Space #NASA

The "Right Stuff" era of space flight began 78 years ago on October 14, 1947, when Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in a Bell X-1 at what is now Edwards Air Force Base.

This is a print of a classified intelligence briefing film released in 1948.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxI3...
USAF XS-1 (X-1) Briefing Film, 1948
YouTube video by rocket.aero
www.youtube.com
1 1 2

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 21h
#Space #NASA

The complete video of last night's #SpaceX #Starship test flight is on my Space SPAN YouTube channel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfOg...
SpaceX Starship IFT-11 Launch and Landing, October 13, 2025
YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
It reminded me of this scene from Star Trek III. Both were Starships.
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#Space #NASA

All going well with the 11th #SpaceX #Starship test flight. The Super Heavy first stage landed in the water just off the launch site. The upper stage deployed dummy #Starlink satellites.

The smudge in this photo is the upper stage as it passed to the south of #Florida.
A photo looking to the south of Florida at night. A white smudge that looks like a comet is moving from right to left, west to east. That's the Starship about ten minutes after launch from Boca Chica, Texas.
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#Space #NASA

#SpaceX is now targeting 7:23 PM EDT for tonight's #Starlink test flight from Boca Chica, Texas. Spaceflight Now is streaming live at the link.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrcL...
Watch live: SpaceX launches Starship Flight 11, finale of Block 2 upper stage
YouTube video by Spaceflight Now
www.youtube.com
1 1

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#Space #NASA

#SpaceX is planning another #Starship test flight tonight, with the window opening at 7:15 PM EDT / 6:15 PM local time in Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX says the livestream will begin 30 minutes before launch time. Here's the link.

www.spacex.com/launches/sta...
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#StarTrek

I've just posted my latest "Written Trek" #Substack looking at the episode "Miri." While filming this episode, Grace Lee Whitney ("Janice Rand") was sexually assaulted by an unnamed executive. Read about "Miri" at the link.

writtentrek.substack.com/p/miri-episo...
Miri (Episode 12)
Grace Lee Whitney was sexually assaulted while filming this episode, then was told her contract would not be renewed.
writtentrek.substack.com
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Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

tomtomorrow.bsky.social
Your Internet Friend Tom Tomorrow @tomtomorrow.bsky.social · 1d
I hate that zuckerberg has stolen the word "meta" from us but in the old sense of it I went a little meta this week

with bonus Felix cameo

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Cartoon: Closing time
This is, in fact, the final cartoon that will appear in OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE , and I decided to have a little fun with that. The campaign runs another two weeks, but we are getting things ...
www.dailykos.com
26 86 550

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

From #NBCNews: Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo close due to lack of funding by Trump administration.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Smithsonian museums and National Zoo close temporarily as government shutdown drags on
The Smithsonian Institution drew on funds from the prior year to stay open for 11 days after the shutdown began on Oct. 1.
www.nbcnews.com

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

From #NYTimes via Archive.ph: Trump administration racing to reinstate #CDC employees fired by Trump.

archive.ph/yUvS3

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

From #TheHill: Trump fires dozens of #CDC employees, including the Epidemic Intelligence Service and the staff of the weekly morbidity and mortality report.

thehill.com/policy/healt...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
From #CNN: National Transportation Safety Board opens investigation into #Tesla Full Self-Driving.

Comment: Tesla just released a major FSD update. But as the article says, we're all just Elon's testing ground.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/b...
Tesla under investigation after cars with the self-driving feature ran red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road | CNN Business
US federal regulators have opened yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving feature after dozens of incidents in which the cars ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometim...
www.cnn.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Weather #Hurricane #Florida #Milton

A year ago, Hurricane Milton was coming ashore from the Gulf, through Tampa and on to the #SpaceCoast.

This is WBBH Fort Myers coverage from 9 PM EDT to midnight, if you want to watch in real time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyhM...
Hurricane Milton, WBBH Fort Myers Coverage, October 9, 2024, 2100-2400 EDT
YouTube video by News from the Past
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Weather #Hurricane #Florida #Milton

A year ago, Hurricane Milton was coming ashore from the Gulf, through Tampa and on to the #SpaceCoast.

This is WTSP Tampa Bay coverage from 9 PM EDT to midnight, if you want to watch in real time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N21H...
Hurricane Milton, WTSP Tampa Bay Coverage, October 9, 2024, 2100-2400 EDT
YouTube video by News from the Past
www.youtube.com
1

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: At Trump's order, #DOJ brings federal mortgage fraud charges against New York state attorney general Letitia James.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Grand jury indicts N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump opponent, on bank fraud charges
James, a Democrat, has clashed with President Donald Trump after she brought civil charges against him in New York.
www.nbcnews.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: Federal judge (#Biden appointee) temporarily blocks Trump attempt to send National Guard troops to Chicago.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Chicago
The judge said the administration's directives violate the Constitution and would “only add fuel to the fire that the defendants themselves have started."
www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Kimberly A. Prather, Steve Peers , and 10 more

newyorkstateag.bsky.social
New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 5d
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
1.8K 11K 39K

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Politics #Trump

From #LATimes: Trump administration is considering the cancellation of $300 billion worth of clean energy projects.

www.latimes.com/environment/...
Leaked list shows Trump administration considering $15 billion in additional clean energy cuts
Projects promoting hydrogen, electric vehicles, carbon capture and direct air capture are among the list of potential cuts from the Department of Energy, according to a leaked list reviewed by The Tim...
www.latimes.com
1

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Space

If you're thinking "The Right Stuff" or "Apollo 13," don't get your hopes up. It's a horror film. You can tell #NASA didn't cooperate because they're using phony NASA logos.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF3g...
The Astronaut | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical
YouTube video by Vertical
www.youtube.com

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

From #WaPo via Archive.ph:

Trump has assigned nearly one-fourth of #FBI agents to immigration enforcement.

(Field day for bank robbers ...)

archive.ph/a4wUm
archive.ph
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
From #FloridaToday: The man arrested by #DOJ for starting the Palisades fire was living here in west Melbourne, #Florida. He received a traffic ticket in Palm Bay in August.

www.floridatoday.com/story/news/c...
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
BREAKING from #DOJ ... The suspect arrested for starting the Palisades fire was from here, in nearby Melbourne, #Florida.

Why am I not surprised.

www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 6d
BREAKING from #LATimes:

Authorities arrest a #Florida man suspected of having set the fire that rekindled and caused the Los Angeles Palisades fire.

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Uber driver accused of intentionally starting fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades
Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.
www.latimes.com
1 1

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Politics From #CNN:

While they're working unpaid during the federal shutdown, #Trump has ordered #FBI employees to scour the agency for any records about ... Amelia Earhart.🤣 🤣 🤣

www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...
FBI employees ordered to immediately search for records related to Amelia Earhart, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, and New York to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia ...
www.cnn.com