Andrew Cortese
@orbitalmechanic.bsky.social
Principal Systems Software Engineer // Space Telescope Science Institute, Data Systems Branch // Pontificator of useless. Nobody of import.
Views expressed here are my own.
Views expressed here are my own.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
WE HAVE A TELESCOPE 🚀 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been fully assembled here in the cleanroom at NASA Goddard 😀🚀 and is on track to launch next fall!
December 18, 2025 at 7:42 PM
WE HAVE A TELESCOPE 🚀 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been fully assembled here in the cleanroom at NASA Goddard 😀🚀 and is on track to launch next fall!
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
NASA has completed the construction of #NASARoman! Last month, technicians joined the inner and outer portions of the observatory in Maryland.
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
NASA has completed the construction of #NASARoman! Last month, technicians joined the inner and outer portions of the observatory in Maryland.
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS
Reporting for Supercluster
Reporting for Supercluster
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS
Reporting for Supercluster
Reporting for Supercluster
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Cool video from Blue Origin of the New Glenn booster landing Thursday.
The booster was directed to approach the barge and then translate sideways.
(The original video has no sound.)
Credit: Blue Origin
The booster was directed to approach the barge and then translate sideways.
(The original video has no sound.)
Credit: Blue Origin
November 16, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Cool video from Blue Origin of the New Glenn booster landing Thursday.
The booster was directed to approach the barge and then translate sideways.
(The original video has no sound.)
Credit: Blue Origin
The booster was directed to approach the barge and then translate sideways.
(The original video has no sound.)
Credit: Blue Origin
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
WE ARE BACK!! And the Roman telescope is looking *GREAT* as we continue to prep it for launch here at @nasagoddard 🚀✨ Roman is designed to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe - dark matter & dark energy - as well as finding tens of thousands of new planets outside our solar system.
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
WE ARE BACK!! And the Roman telescope is looking *GREAT* as we continue to prep it for launch here at @nasagoddard 🚀✨ Roman is designed to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe - dark matter & dark energy - as well as finding tens of thousands of new planets outside our solar system.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Holy shit look at this
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), photographed by Chuck Ayoub on 30 October 2025.
The comet made its closest approach to Earth (90 million km) on October 2025.
Source: Chuck's Astrophotography (@chucksastropho1 on Twitter), h/t @p-s-v.bsky.social
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), photographed by Chuck Ayoub on 30 October 2025.
The comet made its closest approach to Earth (90 million km) on October 2025.
Source: Chuck's Astrophotography (@chucksastropho1 on Twitter), h/t @p-s-v.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Holy shit look at this
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), photographed by Chuck Ayoub on 30 October 2025.
The comet made its closest approach to Earth (90 million km) on October 2025.
Source: Chuck's Astrophotography (@chucksastropho1 on Twitter), h/t @p-s-v.bsky.social
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), photographed by Chuck Ayoub on 30 October 2025.
The comet made its closest approach to Earth (90 million km) on October 2025.
Source: Chuck's Astrophotography (@chucksastropho1 on Twitter), h/t @p-s-v.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
The preliminary report is that #JWSTCycle5 was another record-breaker! Well done everyone 👏🔭 Can't wait to see our slate of new #MIRI programs for the new cycle (though we will have to wait until 2026 for that).
October 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The preliminary report is that #JWSTCycle5 was another record-breaker! Well done everyone 👏🔭 Can't wait to see our slate of new #MIRI programs for the new cycle (though we will have to wait until 2026 for that).
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
The death of Jane Goodall hit me harder than I expected it would.
October 1, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The death of Jane Goodall hit me harder than I expected it would.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
My favourite quote from George came when I suggested that some methods used for studying the cosmic microwave background could be applied to the distribution of galaxies. His response was "Galaxies are shit"...
telescoper.blog/2025/09/26/r...
telescoper.blog/2025/09/26/r...
R.I.P. George F. Smoot (1945-2025)
We will no doubt read many official obituaries in days to come, but all I can say is that he was a character, a very original thinker, a fine scientist, and a very nice man. Along with many others,…
telescoper.blog
September 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My favourite quote from George came when I suggested that some methods used for studying the cosmic microwave background could be applied to the distribution of galaxies. His response was "Galaxies are shit"...
telescoper.blog/2025/09/26/r...
telescoper.blog/2025/09/26/r...
NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory Will Search for Life
YouTube video by NASA Goddard
youtu.be
August 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
As of July 2025, @mast-news.bsky.social contains nearly 300 million astronomical observations!
These new wallpaper images depict MAST’s View of the Sky. Download yours now: https://spacetelescope.github.io/mast-blog/mast-heatmap.html 🔭 🧪
These new wallpaper images depict MAST’s View of the Sky. Download yours now: https://spacetelescope.github.io/mast-blog/mast-heatmap.html 🔭 🧪
August 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
As of July 2025, @mast-news.bsky.social contains nearly 300 million astronomical observations!
These new wallpaper images depict MAST’s View of the Sky. Download yours now: https://spacetelescope.github.io/mast-blog/mast-heatmap.html 🔭 🧪
These new wallpaper images depict MAST’s View of the Sky. Download yours now: https://spacetelescope.github.io/mast-blog/mast-heatmap.html 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Rest in Peace, Jim. 😭
August 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Rest in Peace, Jim. 😭
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
July 16th - on this day in 1969: "Thirty seconds and counting. Astronauts report it feels good. T-25 seconds. Twenty seconds and counting.
July 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM
July 16th - on this day in 1969: "Thirty seconds and counting. Astronauts report it feels good. T-25 seconds. Twenty seconds and counting.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Carl Sagan on why books are human’s greatest invention:
July 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Carl Sagan on why books are human’s greatest invention:
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Folks in the US: fight harder than you have ever fought for science - and then some. 🔭☄️
Anything less than that will be the beginning of the end of science in America.
See e.g. @planetarysociety.bsky.social's resources for combating NASA cuts:
Anything less than that will be the beginning of the end of science in America.
See e.g. @planetarysociety.bsky.social's resources for combating NASA cuts:
May 31, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Folks in the US: fight harder than you have ever fought for science - and then some. 🔭☄️
Anything less than that will be the beginning of the end of science in America.
See e.g. @planetarysociety.bsky.social's resources for combating NASA cuts:
Anything less than that will be the beginning of the end of science in America.
See e.g. @planetarysociety.bsky.social's resources for combating NASA cuts:
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
How cool is this. Voyager 1 is coasting in interstellar space, more than 48 years & 25 billion miles from Earth. Its back-up manoeuvring thrusters failed more than 2 decades ago. But @NASAJPL have GOT THEM WORKING AGAIN!!!! www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-v...
NASA’s Voyager 1 Revives Backup Thrusters Before Command Pause
The mission team wanted to fix the thrusters, deemed unusable decades ago, before the radio antenna that sends commands to the probe went offline for upgrades.
www.jpl.nasa.gov
May 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
How cool is this. Voyager 1 is coasting in interstellar space, more than 48 years & 25 billion miles from Earth. Its back-up manoeuvring thrusters failed more than 2 decades ago. But @NASAJPL have GOT THEM WORKING AGAIN!!!! www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-v...
… Rational Rose.
**shudder**
**shudder**
May 18, 2025 at 1:16 AM
… Rational Rose.
**shudder**
**shudder**
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
A key portion of #NASARoman has cleared a thermal vacuum test. Tt was subjected to the hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space: go.nasa.gov/43cwDQL 🔭 🧪
May 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A key portion of #NASARoman has cleared a thermal vacuum test. Tt was subjected to the hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space: go.nasa.gov/43cwDQL 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
The 5 year mission plan for @nasaromantelescope.bsky.social summarized in an easy to read press release with some snazzy graphics. Which part are you most excited about? #NASARoman #LongLiveRoman
www.nasa.gov/missions/rom...
www.nasa.gov/missions/rom...
NASA’s Roman Mission Shares Detailed Plans to Scour Skies - NASA
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team shared Thursday the designs for the three core surveys the mission will conduct after launch. These observation
www.nasa.gov
April 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The 5 year mission plan for @nasaromantelescope.bsky.social summarized in an easy to read press release with some snazzy graphics. Which part are you most excited about? #NASARoman #LongLiveRoman
www.nasa.gov/missions/rom...
www.nasa.gov/missions/rom...
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Astronomers will keep pointing out to folks that the Roman telescope is *already built* and is being prepped for launch *next year* and I know we live in a stupid timeline but cancelling Roman at this point would be SO STUPID.
Took a little walk over to the giant #nasa Goddard cleanroom yesterday where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is looking great 😎 It’s assembled and going through testing before its scheduled launch late next year! It will study dark energy, dark matter (ahem @pearljam.com), exoplanets & more!
April 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Astronomers will keep pointing out to folks that the Roman telescope is *already built* and is being prepped for launch *next year* and I know we live in a stupid timeline but cancelling Roman at this point would be SO STUPID.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Took a little walk over to the giant #nasa Goddard cleanroom yesterday where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is looking great 😎 It’s assembled and going through testing before its scheduled launch late next year! It will study dark energy, dark matter (ahem @pearljam.com), exoplanets & more!
April 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Took a little walk over to the giant #nasa Goddard cleanroom yesterday where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is looking great 😎 It’s assembled and going through testing before its scheduled launch late next year! It will study dark energy, dark matter (ahem @pearljam.com), exoplanets & more!
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
Forever timeless
April 3, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Forever timeless
With each passing day, I expect to wake up tomorrow morning and find myself at the beginning of Interstellar.
Will it end like Interstellar.
Will it end like Interstellar.
March 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
With each passing day, I expect to wake up tomorrow morning and find myself at the beginning of Interstellar.
Will it end like Interstellar.
Will it end like Interstellar.
Reposted by Andrew Cortese
A pod of dolphins welcomes Dragon Freedom home! 🐬🚀
March 18, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A pod of dolphins welcomes Dragon Freedom home! 🐬🚀