Brandon Haber
@malderi.bsky.social
Space, software, occasional politics, and bird photos! Software engineer, working on rockets, spacecraft, and things that make fire and loud noises.
Currently: Flight software at Stoke Space. Formerly: APL/Dragonfly, Blue Origin/New Shepard+BE-3, Shuttle
Currently: Flight software at Stoke Space. Formerly: APL/Dragonfly, Blue Origin/New Shepard+BE-3, Shuttle
Will be quite the stress test. Glad there's no leap second around the same time otherwise the entire world might stop spinning.
We're about to get an unanticipated test of how robust the worlds' timekeeping infrastructure is to the failure of something that was widely expected to not fail.
December 21, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Will be quite the stress test. Glad there's no leap second around the same time otherwise the entire world might stop spinning.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
We're about to get an unanticipated test of how robust the worlds' timekeeping infrastructure is to the failure of something that was widely expected to not fail.
December 20, 2025 at 11:15 PM
We're about to get an unanticipated test of how robust the worlds' timekeeping infrastructure is to the failure of something that was widely expected to not fail.
I think I'm going to send this to my few remaining acquaintances still working at SpaceX.
Must-read series from @propublica.org painstakingly unravels what happened on the ground after Trump's foreign aid cuts
This story describes one mother's struggle to keep her children from dying of malnutrition after the US abruptly cut aid to her refugee camp
This story describes one mother's struggle to keep her children from dying of malnutrition after the US abruptly cut aid to her refugee camp
The Summer of Starvation: Amid Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts, a Mother Struggles to Keep Her Sons Alive
After the Trump administration cut off food from the third-largest refugee camp in the world, thousands of families faced impossible choices as their children starved.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I think I'm going to send this to my few remaining acquaintances still working at SpaceX.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
Holt is also the president of the US Conference of Mayors, and he offered my new mayor cohort some excellent advice: “Don’t be corrupt, don’t have an affair, don’t be an asshole.”
December 16, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Holt is also the president of the US Conference of Mayors, and he offered my new mayor cohort some excellent advice: “Don’t be corrupt, don’t have an affair, don’t be an asshole.”
Reposted by Brandon Haber
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
Zero inside information, but a well known spacecraft being in a different orbit than you expect is generally a very bad thing. Hope they can recover.
It appears that MAVEN may have suffered a more serious issue than initially thought. The spacecraft seems like it may be spinning and have changed orbit slightly.
It's unclear exactly what may have caused this but efforts are still ongoing to recover the spacecraft
science.nasa.gov/blogs/maven/...
It's unclear exactly what may have caused this but efforts are still ongoing to recover the spacecraft
science.nasa.gov/blogs/maven/...
NASA Continues MAVEN Spacecraft Recontact Efforts - NASA Science
NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission team, in partnership with the agency’s Deep Space Network, continues recovery activities after
science.nasa.gov
December 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Zero inside information, but a well known spacecraft being in a different orbit than you expect is generally a very bad thing. Hope they can recover.
Going into the theater for the 2009 Star Trek movie, for a full hate watch. I was burning. Ready to blow up at how they massacred everything.
By the end of That Opening Sequence, I was fully in and it's one of my favorite movies to this day.
By the end of That Opening Sequence, I was fully in and it's one of my favorite movies to this day.
Raising the always fun question: What are your most memorable theater-going experiences?
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
It was hands-down one of the most memorable theater-going experiences I can remember, a collective 30-minute butt-clench/armrest-grab for the final climb. And we knew he lived! Wild.
December 13, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Going into the theater for the 2009 Star Trek movie, for a full hate watch. I was burning. Ready to blow up at how they massacred everything.
By the end of That Opening Sequence, I was fully in and it's one of my favorite movies to this day.
By the end of That Opening Sequence, I was fully in and it's one of my favorite movies to this day.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
So, if you're someone who follows the bureaucratic side of aviation safety, you probably already know about this, but if you aren't, you might not. This is something that I feel the need to raise awareness about. (1/10)
December 11, 2025 at 7:43 PM
So, if you're someone who follows the bureaucratic side of aviation safety, you probably already know about this, but if you aren't, you might not. This is something that I feel the need to raise awareness about. (1/10)
Reposted by Brandon Haber
📝Mark your calendars, folks!📅
On Sunday, December 14th, at 3:00 p.m. EST / 20:00 UTC, NASASpaceflight will be live for another Astro Live show in collaboration with the Intrepid Museum: "Dragonfly - Searching for Life on Saturn's Largest Moon".
On Sunday, December 14th, at 3:00 p.m. EST / 20:00 UTC, NASASpaceflight will be live for another Astro Live show in collaboration with the Intrepid Museum: "Dragonfly - Searching for Life on Saturn's Largest Moon".
December 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
📝Mark your calendars, folks!📅
On Sunday, December 14th, at 3:00 p.m. EST / 20:00 UTC, NASASpaceflight will be live for another Astro Live show in collaboration with the Intrepid Museum: "Dragonfly - Searching for Life on Saturn's Largest Moon".
On Sunday, December 14th, at 3:00 p.m. EST / 20:00 UTC, NASASpaceflight will be live for another Astro Live show in collaboration with the Intrepid Museum: "Dragonfly - Searching for Life on Saturn's Largest Moon".
Speaking as a Seattle resident, it is entirely possible that Iran, Egypt, a corrupt FIFA, and others will prevent Pride from being inside the stadium. Somehow... I doubt that'll work much outside of it.
Iran and Egypt have complained to FIFA over Seattle’s plans to promote LGTBQ+ support during a World Cup match this June.
Seattle Has Designated A World Cup ‘Pride Match’—Between Two Countries That Punish Homosexuality
Iran and Egypt have complained to FIFA over Seattle’s plans to promote LGTBQ+ support during a World Cup match this June.
www.forbes.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Speaking as a Seattle resident, it is entirely possible that Iran, Egypt, a corrupt FIFA, and others will prevent Pride from being inside the stadium. Somehow... I doubt that'll work much outside of it.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
No, this is wrong, stop reposting this absurd and miscalculated meme.
It assumes Cratchit is working a 40 hour work week (he isn't) and that straight line inflation extrapolations over centuries are valid (they're not) and fails to understand both Victorian class and household finance.
It assumes Cratchit is working a 40 hour work week (he isn't) and that straight line inflation extrapolations over centuries are valid (they're not) and fails to understand both Victorian class and household finance.
December 11, 2025 at 1:54 AM
No, this is wrong, stop reposting this absurd and miscalculated meme.
It assumes Cratchit is working a 40 hour work week (he isn't) and that straight line inflation extrapolations over centuries are valid (they're not) and fails to understand both Victorian class and household finance.
It assumes Cratchit is working a 40 hour work week (he isn't) and that straight line inflation extrapolations over centuries are valid (they're not) and fails to understand both Victorian class and household finance.
Bless your heart, and welcome to Seattle.
FIFA decided to have a ceremonial match commemorating Pride Month during the World Cup and it ended up being scheduled for Egypt and Iran. Both countries have complained, with Egypt saying it “categorically reject[s] any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match.”
Egypt and Iran complain about planned World Cup 'Pride' match in Seattle
Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations that target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over the scheduling of a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that’s expected to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.
apnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Bless your heart, and welcome to Seattle.
Hard to make a meme stock from private markets. Possible, but hard.
December 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Hard to make a meme stock from private markets. Possible, but hard.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
The thing I try to explain the most to those who don’t live here is that the Nuzzis of the world live in Washington (the place that deserves your ire) and the rest of us live in D.C., a collection of diverse, mostly quiet, walkable residential neighborhoods with no federal representation
I live in DC. You think “official Washington” didn’t care what Trump administration 2 was likely to do?
Talk to someone who works at NIH. Or State. Or CFPB. Or DOJ. They all knew what was at stake. They were all scared + furious.
And reporters like Nuzzi saw none of it because they didn’t care.
Talk to someone who works at NIH. Or State. Or CFPB. Or DOJ. They all knew what was at stake. They were all scared + furious.
And reporters like Nuzzi saw none of it because they didn’t care.
December 8, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The thing I try to explain the most to those who don’t live here is that the Nuzzis of the world live in Washington (the place that deserves your ire) and the rest of us live in D.C., a collection of diverse, mostly quiet, walkable residential neighborhoods with no federal representation
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars/Trek, LOTR or Marvel.
December 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars/Trek, LOTR or Marvel.
"Can't accept a gap"
For this particular elder millennial space engineer, everything old is new again.
For this particular elder millennial space engineer, everything old is new again.
#NASA #SENATECOMMERCE - Sen Cruz ISS is scheduled to be retired by 2030. Will you commit to a continued US presence in LEO? Isaccman, we can't accept a gap. I dream of the day when we have multiple stations in LEO, but we need to utilize ISS for the remainder of its life.
December 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"Can't accept a gap"
For this particular elder millennial space engineer, everything old is new again.
For this particular elder millennial space engineer, everything old is new again.
Interesting that rolling back software might be recommended. There's a few ways that a new software version could lead to SEU vulnerability here, but most of them are really unlikely (like breaking a validation/checksum step). I hope more details will be released to the public.
What’s going on: Solar flare vulnerability in A320 software forces emergency action by airlines theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @theaircurrent.com) #staycurrent
Solar flare vulnerability in A320 software forces emergency action by airlines
Three-hour fix may cause widespread disruption during Thanksgiving travel period
theaircurrent.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Interesting that rolling back software might be recommended. There's a few ways that a new software version could lead to SEU vulnerability here, but most of them are really unlikely (like breaking a validation/checksum step). I hope more details will be released to the public.
It looks like major adjustments may be coming to the ISS program with the possible long term loss of the Soyuz and Progress launch pad yesterday. Not a lot of good options. I suspect a crew reduction may be in the cards, but other stuff like CMG desats is going to be tough to figure out.
November 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It looks like major adjustments may be coming to the ISS program with the possible long term loss of the Soyuz and Progress launch pad yesterday. Not a lot of good options. I suspect a crew reduction may be in the cards, but other stuff like CMG desats is going to be tough to figure out.
Reposted by Brandon Haber
star trek is about a utopian vision of the future bordering on fantasy where people someday will be able to make good choices about complicated problems by talking to each other and involving people who know about things
The thing about Star Trek is that the majority of it has the crew spending most of the episode trying to figure out, through arguing and investigating, what's the right thing to do in a complicated situation and I don't think any shows do that now? Like in a Very Special Episode but not all the time
November 27, 2025 at 3:46 AM
star trek is about a utopian vision of the future bordering on fantasy where people someday will be able to make good choices about complicated problems by talking to each other and involving people who know about things
Didn't hit me with the full barrage, but... close.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 24, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Didn't hit me with the full barrage, but... close.
Ten years ago today, a few hundred people made spaceflight history, landing a rocket booster back on Earth safely after a trip to space. I had the honor and luck to be there, working on that flight of New Shepard. I contributed both flight software and some paint brushstrokes to the tank.
November 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Ten years ago today, a few hundred people made spaceflight history, landing a rocket booster back on Earth safely after a trip to space. I had the honor and luck to be there, working on that flight of New Shepard. I contributed both flight software and some paint brushstrokes to the tank.
Just trying to channel a small bit of aviation photography from earlier in the year. (This was with a very long lens and they were not close to each other in reality)
November 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Just trying to channel a small bit of aviation photography from earlier in the year. (This was with a very long lens and they were not close to each other in reality)
Reposted by Brandon Haber
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
No Kings but Kingfishers.
November 18, 2025 at 3:03 AM
No Kings but Kingfishers.