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Gene J. Mikulka

@genejm1017.bsky.social
3.6K followers 1.7K following 13K 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. www.talkingspaceonline.com

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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station @arissintl.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Contact upcoming with Arkansas! University Heights School of Medical Arts in Jonesboro is scheduled to talk with Josh Kutryk on the ISS live via ham radio. Scheduled for Mon. Oct 5 at 15:27 UTC | 11:27 AM ET | 10:27 AM CDT via IK1SLD telebridge. Crew audio on 145.800 MHz FM
Graphic promoting an upcoming ARISS school contact. On the left, a person in a white SpaceX pressure suit stands in front of a Dragon spacecraft mockup decorated with mission patches and holds up both hands. A caption at the bottom notes that Josh Kutryk is pictured in a pressure suit during a pre-flight training session at SpaceX headquarters.

On the right, a dark blue information panel titled “US Contact Upcoming” lists details for an ARISS amateur radio contact with University Heights School of Medical Arts in Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA. The contact is scheduled for Monday, 05 October at 15:27 UTC, 11:27 AM ET, and 10:27 AM CDT local time. The astronaut participating from the International Space Station is Josh Kutryk, KJ5BFU, using ISS call sign OR4ISS. The Earth station is a telebridge in Italy via IK1SLD. Listeners can hear crew audio on 145.800 MHz FM, with a note that the cross-band voice repeater will be off during the event. A HamTV downlink is planned at live.ARISS.org/hamtv. The ARISS logo appears in the lower-right corner.
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SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 6h
It's World Space Week--celebrating the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 69 years ago today (Oct 4, 1957) and entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty 10 yrs later (Oct 10, 1967)! What’s Happening in Space Policy October 4-10, 2026 spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-h...
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Peter Vogel @petervogel.bsky.social · 6h
Morning beauty from METEOR M2-3 at 10:27 AM. Note the fog-filled valleys in the BC Interior, and fog over the Salish Sea and the Puget Sound area. All burnt off by the noon hour. Spectacular day in the region.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 6h
🧵Yeah, I know it sounds odd, when you think of a nuclei reactor you think of something with a large water tower and if you are of a certain age, Jack Lemmon. NASA has had nuclear reactor on the Moon before, during the Apollo era. The experiment packages left behind by some of the Apollo missions..
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 7h
A photograph taken from the surface of an asteroid by a small robot in 2018.
The surface of asteroid 162173 Ryugu. Turns out it looks like a poorly illuminated crawlspace at night.
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Dr. Wendy Bohon @drwendyrocks.bsky.social · 8h
Do you know what to do if you feel earthquake shaking? If you live in North America and the ground starts to shake the recommended action is to “drop, cover, and hold on”.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 11h
A personal note: I just saw the numbers of last night's edition of the "Daily Lovebird," which I posted late because I was recording a podcast installment. I wanted to thank everyone who acknowledged seeing Emerald and remain interested in her story. She still has many more stories to share.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 11h
In case you missed it or just want to see it again, the International Space Station Change of Command ceremony as Crew - 12 prepares to depart early Wednesday of this week. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU6g...
youtube.com
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Farewell and International Space Station Change of Command
YouTube video by NASA
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
HiRISE Beautiful Mars (NASA) @uahirise.bsky.social · 11h
HiPOD: Wallrock and Layering Contact In this location in Candor Chasma, we don’t have any coverage from the Mars Orbiter Camera, so we can take a fresh look at look at the contact between wallrock and light-toned layering. uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069672_1750 #Mars #NASA
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Stuart Atkinson @stuartatkinson.bsky.social · 14h
She's in a hollow, so the Clayborne Range - my 100% unofficial name for the jagged hills at the top of this valley - are beneath the ridge on the skyline still, but soon Curiosity's view from the top of it is going to be *glorious*... NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
David Dickinson @astrodave.bsky.social · 11h
The Moon has a full dawn dance card ahead, starting with two occultations coming right up tomorrow. First up, the -31% illuminated, waning crescent Moon occults the planet Mars for the Canadian Arctic at 5:32 UT; the rest of us will see a close pairing of the two.
Mars OccultationMoon v Mars
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Marwella Zhang @marwellaspaceart.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Third Quarter Moon at 5.03 AM (UTC+7) on October 4, 2026. It's Race Day at Sepang!
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Digital Brain @yourdigitalbrain.bsky.social · 15h
This cloud looks frozen in place for hours, but air is rushing through it the whole time. Lenticular clouds form over mountains and often get mistaken for UFOs.
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station @arissintl.bsky.social · 11h
World Space Week is here! 🚀 We're kicking things off with a terrific SSTV event running through Tuesday, plus two ARISS contacts with Josh Kutryk this week: Monday with Arkansas and Tuesday with Scotland! 🌎📡
ARISS World Space Week schedule graphic. On the left, a NASA photo shows the International Space Station viewed from a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft against the blackness of space. On the right, a blue panel lists upcoming ARISS activities. Header: “World Space Week” followed by “No slowing down this week, we’re keeping space radio-active!” Events include: SSTV Series 33 “Student Education” underway through Tuesday, October 6 at 15:55 UTC (11:55 AM ET); a Joshua Kutryk STEM contact with Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA on Monday, October 5 at 15:27 UTC (11:27 AM ET, 10:27 CDT); and a STEM contact with Wick High School in Scotland with Josh Kutryk on Tuesday, October 6 at 13:00 UTC (9:00 AM ET, 2:00 PM BST). A note states that all times are subject to change based on spaceflight activities. ARISS logo at bottom right. NASA image credit: ISS from SpaceX Dragon in 2021.
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European Space Agency @esa.int · 11h
#WorldSpaceWeek2026 starts today! 🚀⚡ Explore space with Pokémon through exhibitions in Science museums across Europe, meet the Astronaut Pikachu that spent 67 days with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot aboard the International Space Station. #PokemonxESA Credit: ESA/NASA S. Adenot
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 22h
Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜demonstrating her ability to grip a wooden perch with both claws. That right claw has been sporadic but it is slightly stronger than it was. She wishes all peace 🕊️
A peach-faced pied lovebird stands on a wooden perch
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 22h
Just recorded #TalkingSpace 1807 with @markratterman.bsky.social & the @theheathernaut.bsky.social (I'm sincerely proud of this one) Topics: #Crew13 observations you won't hear anywhere else, #Starship14, #Starliner, & a debate on #CommercialCrew success or failure. Out NET mid week!
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NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @rubinobservatory.org · 02/10/2026
If galaxies had signature dance moves, this one's would be the spiral swirl 💃🌀 Meet Z 36-24, a barred spiral galaxy with two swirly arms. Bars are a common feature in spiral galaxies, where the arms connect to a straight bar of stars across its center. 🔭🧪
Spiral galaxy with bright core and swirling arms surrounded by numerous distant stars and galaxies in deep space.
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @rubinobservatory.org · 02/10/2026
Explore this galaxy (and many more!) in Skyviewer: skyviewer.app/explorer?tar... 📷: NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA
skyviewer.app
Explorer | Skyviewer
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NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @rubinobservatory.org · 03/10/2026
It's October 3rd, so we're wearing pink! 🌸 On Cerro Pachón in Chile, nature puts on its own show during twilight, painting the sky and NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory in glowing pink. We can't really enforce a dress code for the cosmos, but the Chilean skies clearly got the memo.
Large observatory with open dome on rocky terrain under a pink and purple twilight sky.A large boot-shaped observatory on the left and small cylindrical dome on the right, both perched on rocky hills under a vibrant pink and purple sunset sky.Boot-shaped observatory building against a gradient sky transitioning from orange up to deep purple.White astronomical observatory dome with closed shutter against a pink and blue twilight sky with pink sunset clouds.
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ESA Exploration @exploration.esa.int · 02/10/2026
And our Image of the Week is ESTEC, ESA's technical heart, photographed by Sophie Adenot from the Station, 400 km above Earth... Sophie is due to come home in just a few days & as she sends a wave to her ESA colleagues from orbit, we wish her a smooth journey back! 🔗 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
esa.int
ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart, seen from orbit
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
ESA Exploration @exploration.esa.int · 03/10/2026
"Day 232, orbit 3596 – Yoohoo! Crew-13 has arrived! It feels so good to welcome new crewmates aboard the Station 😄" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot! #εpsilon
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SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
NASA is targeting Wednesday, Oct 7, at 1:05 am ET for the Crew-12 undocking, with splashdown about 11:25 am ET on Thursday, Oct 8. Weather permitting as always. www.nasa.gov/blogs/spaces...
nasa.gov
NASA, SpaceX Set No Earlier Than Oct. 7 for Crew-12 Departure  - NASA
Following a review weather and splashdown conditions off the coast of California, NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 1:05 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, Oct. 7, for the undocking of the agency’s Crew...
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
ESA Earth Observation @esaearth.esa.int · 02/10/2026
IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation is complete🛰️ The final satellites reached orbit on 1 October, equipped with multispectral sensors that will capture images of Earth’s surface for applications including land monitoring, coastal observation and emergency mapping. 🔗 www.esa.int/Applications... 📸SpaceX
A white rocket with a dark band near its base climbs diagonally through a clear blue sky, trailing a bright orange-white exhaust plume.
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European Space Agency @esa.int · 03/10/2026
We’re heading to the #IAC2026 🔴 Watch live on Monday: ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher in the plenary “Why Does the World Need More Space?” 📅 5 October at 10:00 CEST ▶️ Watch on ESA Web TV 🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_at_the_77th_International_Astronautical_Congress
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Kym @ The Evening Sky Map @skymaps.com · 03/10/2026
🌗 3 October: Last Quarter Moon at 13:25 UT (now). Last Quarter marks the start of dark moonless evening skies for the next 7 to 10 days. Download a copy of The Evening Sky Map (PDF) from skymaps.com/tesm/ and enjoy an evening under the stars! 🔭 #stargazing More sky events: skymaps.com/sc2610/
Lunar face split by a sharp terminator down the center, revealing detailed craters, bright ray systems and dark basaltic maria on the sunlit left side and deep shadowed surface textures on the right. Image source: NASA.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A sleepy Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜 wishes all peace 🕊️ #TheDailyLovebird
A peach-faced pied lovebird sleeps with her head tucked over her shoulders.
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
SpaceQ @spaceqmedia.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Canadian Centre for Space Isotopes launches in Toronto The Nuclear Innovation Institute said Thursday it has launched the Canadian Centre for Space Isotopes in Toronto, a group that will study how Canada can become a leader in supplying the… spaceq.ca/canadian-centre-for-space…
spaceq.ca
Canadian Centre for Space Isotopes launches in Toronto
The Nuclear Innovation Institute said Thursday it has launched the Canadian Centre for Space Isotopes in Toronto, a group that will study how Canada can become a leader in supplying the radioactive isotopes that power deep-space probes.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Via NASA | NASA Astronaut Christina Koch to Join NFL Fans in Philadelphia www.nasa.gov/news-release...
nasa.gov
NASA Astronaut Christina Koch to Join NFL Fans in Philadelphia - NASA
As part of NASA’s ongoing Inspiration Tour, NASA astronaut Christina Koch will highlight America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
FYI...
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 02/10/2026
Astronomers: Join us for the Rocky Worlds DDT Workshop, a community gathering focused on the science enabled by the Rocky Worlds Director’s Discretionary Time (DDT) program, at STScI on November 16-18. Registration closes October 16: bit.ly/4edubQ7 🔭
A banner for the Rocky Worlds DDT Workshop, detailing "Data Challenge Results & Rocky Worlds DDT Science" from November 16 to 18, 2026. It features a red planet and small yellow planet on the right side, with the Rocky Worlds logo and colorful blocks at the bottom.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Blue's darn lucky to have him!! All the best!!
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
🧵 *Le Sigh* I'll remind the folks at @futurism.com that, when it comes to access to space, the US has its own spacecraft and the means to launch it. So access to space is NOT at risk. I got laughed at over on "X" for saying the US Taxpayer deserves ...1/
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Imitation is always the sincerest form of flattery.
Image of the New Shepard suborbital spacecraft (Credit: Reuters). China's Transcender-1 spacecraft looks almost identical.
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Dr Dave Clements @davecl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
More news of PRIMA, this time from our own press office @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social @imperialphysics.bsky.social www.imperial.ac.uk/news/article...
imperial.ac.uk
Imperial researchers join landmark NASA mission to explore the hidden Universe
NASA has selected the PRIMA space telescope mission to study the history and evolution of the Universe
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Space Job!!!
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SETI Institute @setiinstitute.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
#PPOD: A large new scar has appeared on the Moon. McGetchin crater formed sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024, when an asteroid or comet roughly the size of a multi-story building slammed into the lunar surface. 🧪 🔭 🌕️
Fresh impact crater centered on a dark, heavily cratered lunar surface, with a bright radial ejecta blanket and streaks extending outward from the rim, indicating a relatively recent collision and surrounded by many smaller, older craters.
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Paul Voosen @voosen.me · 02/10/2026
Update on this: Alan Stern, New Horizons's PI, just told me that the instruments will stay on until Oct 12, when the first opportunity comes to send instructions to turn them off in this new fiscal year. So there's still some time.
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Paul Voosen @voosen.me · 02/10/2026
Update on this: Alan Stern, New Horizons's PI, just told me that the instruments will stay on until Oct 12, when the first opportunity comes to send instructions to turn them off in this new fiscal year. So there's still some time.
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ESO @eso.org · 01/10/2026
Plunge into a stellar ocean ✨ This is IC4701, a nebula twice as wide as the full Moon in the sky and located in the Sagittarius constellation. But what causes the intense reddish hue seen in this picture? Find out: www.eso.org/public/images/potw2310a 🔭
A densely packed star field glows against clouds of reddish-pink gas. Bright blue-white stars are scattered throughout the image. Image by ESO/VPHAS+ team. Acknowledgement: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit.
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Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Yesterday, DLR successfully launched the suborbital MAPHEUS-17 mission from Esrange, carrying several small experiments and technology demonstrators.
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NASA | ESA Space Updates @nasaupdates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission has successfully launched! 🚀 This kicks off several months of scientific exploration aboard the International Space Station
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Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 02/10/2026
This will never stop blowing my mind. A 12-year sequence of real telescope images of a star 133 lightyears away. And around it, four planets slowly orbiting. Four real exoplanets, each more massive than Jupiter, imaged as they move around their host star.
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Elizabeth Tasker @elizabethtasker.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If you missed the Martian moons kick-off of the IAU 100 Hours of Astronomy 🔭, you can watch a recording of the live feed here (including me, how could you miss it?!)! 🛰️ Stacks of content on the JAXA Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, which will launch on October 20 🚀🚀🚀
youtube.com
Mission: Mars. Unravelling the mysteries of the Solar System with MMX
YouTube video by IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach
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Reposted by Gene J. Mikulka
SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Crew-13 Arrives at ISS as Crew-12 Prepares to Depart spacepolicyonline.com/news/crew-13...
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Will Quinn @willquinnart.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Daily bunny no.3459 is getting ready
A couple of bunnies haul a gigantic pumpkin home from a pumpkin patch, dragging it down the sidewalk in an old-fashioned red toy wagon. A third bunny rolls a smaller pumpkin sideways along the sidewalk just behind them
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Emerald Lucille Lovebird 🦜 sat watching the Crew 13 activities all day today. (PS I love when she does this!) She had another good day, dealing with her new limitations but making the best of it. She wishes the upcoming ISS increment the best, and wishes all peace 🕊️ #TheDailyLovebird
A peach-faced pied lovebird stands on the lap of her caretaker.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Crew 13 is on board the International Space Station with the Expedition 75 Team.
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Gene J. Mikulka @genejm1017.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
October sky map!!!
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Alejandro Soto @soto.space · 01/10/2026
I don't know what to make of this change, but I worry that in this "rush, rush" environment we may trample, metaphorically and literally, on potentially great science. #planetaryscience needs a measured plan for planetary protection. Is this a good plan? www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
scientificamerican.com
NASA directive might increase the odds of contaminating Mars
The new push loosens U.S. regulations for sterilizing spacecraft bound for the Red Planet and calls for modernizing the science of “planetary protection”
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