rpappalardo.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Under the proposed White House budget, the NASA Space Grant program would be eliminated. I was a NASA Space Grant recipient during my Masters—it funded my research on water on Mars. I then went on to work in science & mission ops on multiple NASA Mars missions immediately after graduation. (1/2)

submitted 10 days ago • 8 comments

Happy pride month! I worked with some LA-based scientists and engineers, and we have a kickstarter for space pride t-shirts! Consider backing! 🛰️🏳️‍⚧️🚀🏳️‍🌈🪐 www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...

submitted 16 days ago • 8 comments

Neat! NASA just released a thermal image of Mars taken by the Jupiter-bound Europa Clipper spacecraft. Their story is here; I'll provide some context in following posts. www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...

submitted 41 days ago • 6 comments

#EuropaClipper NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument. www.nasa.gov/missions/eur... #Mars 🧪🔭

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Europa Clipper captures Mars in the thermal infrared! "On its recent swing by Mars, NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument." www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...

submitted 41 days ago • 2 comments

From Io to Europa to Earth’s Moon: a fascinating tale of tidal heating! www.quantamagazine.org/whats-going-...

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

BREAKING: 36k people showed up in LA for Bernie and AOC’s rally. In the off year. Americans are pissed — and anyone ignoring that is making a big mistake.

submitted 70 days ago • 1377 comments

And to celebrate the occasion, AI brings us the hit song: 5 Years to JOI ! suno.com/song/cec6a57...

submitted 71 days ago • 0 comments

Psst…5 years from today is Jupiter Orbit Insertion for Europa Clipper. Everyone should mark their calendars.

submitted 71 days ago • 7 comments

Here’s more detail on the $420 million NASA says it has cut in contracts and grants. Oh wait - there is little detail publicly available. spacenews.com/nasa-termina...

submitted 89 days ago • 6 comments

“Resignations, layoffs, and disruptions are likely to affect NASA’s work far into the future. ‘A mistake made today might not come to fruition, so to speak, until an astronaut is on the surface of the moon in a few years…. Do you want to be the Administration that killed astronauts?’”

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Word. I wasn't sure what #LPSC2025 would be like. Some people were missing because of yanked funding or because they didn't feel safe traveling to Texas. Many don't know if they'll have jobs, or even missions, in a year. But the science was SO GOOD, and people had a fierce joy about that.

submitted 100 days ago • 0 comments

theonion.com/128-new-moon... 🪐

submitted 99 days ago • 2 comments

My wife and I baked a scrumptious gluten-free banana cream pie for the π-Day celebration accompanying the #EuropaClipper Post-Launch Assessment Review (PLAR) today! It's the first time either of us has made a pie, and we're very proud. I'm even more proud of the PLAR's outstanding presenters. #PiDay

submitted 100 days ago • 1 comment

In Whoville they say - that the Democrat's small balls grew three sizes that day. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03...

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

LIVE: NASA launches SPHEREx from California NASA launches SPHEREx, an observatory intended to improve the understanding of what occurred immediately after the Big Bang event that initiated the universe and to search our Milky Way galaxy for water. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do_X...

submitted 102 days ago • 4 comments

The old timers can attest that it’s not the same without the smell of gym socks. #LPSC2025 #Gilruth #popcorn

submitted 102 days ago • 1 comment

This is a great pre-emption of the inanity surrounding the idea that NASA could succeed with a 50% cut to Science. 2024 budget (in $M): Total: 24,875 ESDMD: 7,666 STMD: 1,100 SMD: 7,334 SOMD: 4,220 ARMD: 935 STEM Eng: 143 Safe, Secure, Mission: 3,129 Construction: 300 IG: 47.6

submitted 102 days ago • 1 comment

Mood. #LPSC2025

submitted 104 days ago • 0 comments

The Moon’s not doing so hot at #LPSC2025. Maybe it just needs to ‘embrace the challenge.’

submitted 104 days ago • 14 comments

Because a bunch of white guys without a science or technology strategy is a great way for #NASA to succeed.

submitted 104 days ago • 0 comments

Looking for something to call your Rep about today? #NASA is closing their Office of the Chief Scientist, their Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, and their DEIA office, and laying everyone off. A travesty for science & American leadership in space. nasawatch.com/ask-the-admi...

submitted 104 days ago • 1 comment

Just giving away space preeminence hand over fist.

submitted 104 days ago • 5 comments

It is criminal that this is the state of our nation — and this is what happens when the nation is run by a criminal.

submitted 105 days ago • 0 comments

“If this next chapter of space exploration is to be dominated by new enterprise, we must build wisely on the sustained collective wisdom of #NASA engineers. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the lesson of Apollo, putting the Moon and Mars even further out of reach.” - @cyberlyra.bsky.social

submitted 109 days ago • 0 comments

Now we finally know how #JPL splits on the topic of chocolate vs vanilla. #SPHEREx #IceCreamSocial

submitted 110 days ago • 2 comments

😔 blogs.nasa.gov/trailblazer/...

submitted 114 days ago • 2 comments

#EuropaClipper closing in on Mars this weekend, a gravity assist for the long journey to Jupiter (but back via Earth in Dec'26 for another speed boost). Looks like thermal imaging and radar will be tested during the flyby, can't wait to see the results. #planetsci www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...

submitted 117 days ago • 0 comments