iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Just received some cool "Live Show Party Favors" from @lafemmependu.bsky.social - thanks, Allison!

Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Selfies with some warm and friendly stars, at @shoreleavecon 2025. With Melissa Navia , Adrianne Palicki, J Lee, James Frain, and Dina Meyer!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Right back at ya, with another!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

"Far from a bold vision for American leadership, the administration has presented Congress with a blueprint for falling catastrophically behind on space exploration just as China and other nations are surging ahead." - Bill Nelson www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/o... (gifted article, no paywall).

nytimes.com

Opinion | In the Quest to Shrink NASA, Trump Forgets National Security

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 03/06/2025

If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow. The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Here’s what will happen to our National Parks if Trump’s budget passes. Did you know America’s national parks actually generate more income than they cost to operate? Yet under Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, the National Park Service (NPS) would face devastating cuts:

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

All 4 #NASA #science divisions are decimated in the President's Proposed #FY26 Budget, with #Astrophysics, for example, down an astounding ~67%. This would destroy our scientific capabilities in these arenas for years to come. We are facing a new Dark Age if this war on science is not stopped.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

#Luminous: The Symphony of Us - #Epcot, 13 May 2025. In Luminous, we finally have a worthy successor to #Iluminations - Reflections of Earth - beautifully done, with a story as inspiring as that of its predecessor.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

"Walt the Dreamer" - statue at Epcot, WDW - 13 May 2025. "...always be in a state of becoming." "Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow." #wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Never have I been able to get actual reservations for either the lounge or the main "Space 220" restaurant at Epcot - but on a lark, I tried for walk-in seating at the bar - and after a bit of a wait, bingo, finally got in! The food was superb, though expensive as promised. :)

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

"The Way of Water" - Epcot, World of Nature. 13 May 2025.

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

Punk on Bus Lives!🚍📻 @punkonbuslives.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Happy Trek Tuesday! Especially to our wise friends in Canada!🖖🏿🇨🇦 #StarTrek #TrekTuesday

La'an Noonien-Singh and Captain Kirk are standing on a street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. La'an says "you know, maple leaves, politeness, poutine." Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

American Astronomical Society (AAS) @aas.org · 11/04/2025

The American Astronomical Society is gravely concerned by the deep cuts to NASA science funding reported to be in the draft President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. Read more here: aas.org/press/aas-st... and take action now: aas.org/urge-nasa-su...

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

The NASA GSFC SSDIF clean room in which the Roman Space Telescope (RST) is being put together. This is one of the few times you can see all of the different parts of the telescope together in the same room prior to full assembly. The Spacecraft, Telescope, & Instruments are all in the rear stack.

The two major pieces of the Roman Space Telescope in the NASA GSFC Clean Room, as the telescope comes together before our eyes.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

This observatory is designed so that it could be built, operated, and maintained in collaboration with the human Artemis Program and is aptly named the "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)".

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

On behalf of the AeSI Team (second photo), I just submitted the Final Report of our year-long NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Study. In this study, we explored the feasibility and high-level design of a lunar surface-based, sparse aperture telescope (a.k.a., an Interferometer).

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

But here are two reasons it is hard to remain optimistic.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Hard to stay optimistic nowadays, but here are some wise words from LOTR.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Yes - I have a colleague who has in recent years poured her life into efforts to broaden inclusion and last year was put in charge of an office dedicated to this at NASA HQ full time. Now it looks like she may not just have that office dissolved from under her, but perhaps her job as well.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Not exactly a space movie. But by all means "Tomorrowland"!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.

Photo of nameplate on my visitor's office at NOIRLab. I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Hearty congratulations, @thespacegal.bsky.social - warp speed ahead!!!!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Interesting morning clouds over Carolina Beach, NC, Nov. 28, 2024.

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

RET @retviking.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

What do I do, you ask!? I make 👽 history!! 🚀 Well, I preserve it, share it, and curate the #NASA #Viking mission. 1st to Mars. 1st to #SearchforLife 1st to land on Mars in 1976! So many firsts! See what we do! drive.google.com/file/d/1C-k5... and Donate to VMMEPP square.link/u/37onYJ1n

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

And there was this "skier" coming off a ski jump in the sky last night as well. :)

Cloud structure in the sky last night that looks like a "skier" coming off a ski jump.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Some dramatic blue skies last night over Maryland!!!

Dramatic bumpy cloud structures in a blue sky over Maryland last night.

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

@michelespecht.bsky.social - Welcome to the blue skies of this warm and inviting app!

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

Sarah Kendrew @sarahkendrew.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Astronomers - our @jwstobserver.bsky.social account needs your follows! Please hit the button to stay informed of observatory, instrument & software updates. 🔭

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Reposted by Ken Carpenter

Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her) @astraughnomer.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Hello new Bluesky friends! Very happy to be here. For my first post, here's my favorite (still!) #jwst image - the Cosmic Cliffs of Carina 🤩 This image made me cry the first time I saw it. It's just so beautiful, and this is a good time to appreciate the beauty around and above us ✨

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Welcome to the world with the pure blue sky!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

An absolutely beautiful short film that brings back some old friends in a way that will send tingles up and down your spine. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgOZ... #startrek #tos #unification #kirk #spock #colt #saavik #mitchell #otoy

youtube.com

765874 - Unification (4K)

YouTube video by OTOY

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

You must watch Allison in S2 of The Diplomat!!!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Good to find you over here, under bluer skies!

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Ken Carpenter @kenastro.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Note: tags are to Instagram accounts when not available on bsky yet.

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