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Kathleen Mandt, PhD

@mommascientist.bsky.social
2.5K followers 569 following 144 posts

Planetary scientist and Yorkie Mom. Exploring the solar system. Opinions are my own.

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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Jonathan McDowell @planet4589.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Margaret Hamilton has died. Absolute legend, it was my honour to meet her and have a conversation with her just a few years ago, super nice and still sharp. Ave atque vale Margaret. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...
news.mit.edu
Margaret Hamilton, computing pioneer who led software development for the Apollo program, dies at 90
Margaret H. Hamilton, a profoundly influential computer scientist best known for leading the software engineering team at MIT’s Instrumentation Lab during NASA’s Apollo program, died at age 90.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Today, on the anniversary of the 1st photo of the Moon's far side (in 1959 from the USSR's Luna 3 probe), NASA released the preliminary science report and data from the #ArtemisII mission in April. Re-live the #Moon joy: science.nasa.gov/feature/arte... 🧪🔭🌘
science.nasa.gov
Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report - NASA Science
What did four NASA astronauts see, notice, and document as they traveled around the Moon? Here's your guide to Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
After a long journey #BepiColombo has reached the planet Mercury! Great coverage here on Bluesky from several @esa.int accounts. There is a NASA-funded instrument built by SwRI called STROFIO. It will study the exosphere, Mercury’s very thin atmosphere.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Jeff Foust @jfoust.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Liftoff of NASA's Roman Space Telescope on a Falcon Heavy, as seen from the KSC Press Site.
Falcon Heavy liftoff from KSC LC-39A.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Jonathan McDowell @planet4589.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Torifune is about 450m across with a mass of 180 million tonnes; Kamo'oalewa is about 20m across with a mass of only 7000 tonnes.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Erin M. May, PhD @astronomay.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I'll be at #Exoplanets6 next week with a poster on MiTHOS, our Astrophysics SMEX mission concept out of @jhuapl.bsky.social MiTHOS studies the climates of hot Jupiters with a large population study of spectroscopic phase curves 🌈 Come find me to grab a sticker and learn about MiTHOS! 💫 🪐🔭🧪
Top: A wordmark logo with bold text reading "MiTHOS" The Multi Telescope Hot Jupiter Survey, a Small Explorer Class Mission Concept. The O in the logo is a planet, with an orbit looping around the logo in a gradient of colors. 
The bottom lists the team members, with Erin May as PI.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
💔
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Jeff Foust @jfoust.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at its media day at NASA Goddard.
The Roman Space Telescope with some mood lighting.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Splashdown! www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3... Artemis II live: Crew to return home after historic mission furthest from Earth - #BBCNews
bbc.co.uk
Artemis II live: Crew to return home after historic mission furthest from Earth
The astronauts are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 00:07 GMT (20:07 EDT) on Saturday.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I love them! Thank you #ArtemisII for bringing hope and joy to the world. #NASA #CanadianSpaceAgency 🧪🪐🌗🪐🔭📺❤️
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Lunar flyby happens today. Follow @barbylon.bsky.social for an insider view from the #ArtemisII Lunar Science Team! 🧪🔭🌘🚀
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Jonathan McDowell @planet4589.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Integrity spacecraft just entered the lunar gravitational sphere of influence, at 0438 UTC Apr 6. Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen are now the 25th to 28th humans to have left terrestrial space.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Yes, I already shared this. Yes, I am unashamedly sharing it again. This image means so much to me personally as a #WomenInSTEM and space scientist 🔭🧪 🌗🪐🌎. Christina Koch once worked at GSFC, where I now work, and was at APL, where I worked before, when selected as an Astronaut!
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Dr. Skylar Grayson @skylargrayson.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
NASA just dropped this image of Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch looking back at us. The first woman to ever see our planet in its entirety. I’m not crying you’re crying 🥹🔭🧪 📸: NASA
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Brian LaMarre @blamarre.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Awesome view of @NASAArtemis II, as viewed from NOAA weather satellite. Note the dark (warmer) dot launching off from Cape Canaveral and off to the northeast! #flwx #artemis
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
All of NASA had Challenger training required this spring as part of our regular safety training program. It was very much on my mind as I watched. May we never forget and never repeat those mistakes.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Oh, I was definitely crying! #NASAProud #ArtemisII 🌗👩🏻‍🚀🚀🧪🔭
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Mindful breathing time 🧘‍♀️ #ArtemisII 🌕🌘🌗🚀👩‍🚀
Television feed from Artemis II launch with less than 10 minutes to go
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Another satellite photo of Artemis on the pad, this very morning! By @vantortech.bsky.social
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
barbylon @barbylon.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Hi there, I'm Barbara and I work on the Artemis II Lunar Science team. I'll be here for a couple hours while watching the preparations for launch and happy to take your questions! www.youtube.com/live/Tf_UjBM...
youtube.com
NASA's Artemis II Crew Launches To The Moon (Official Broadcast)
YouTube video by NASA
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 01/04/2026
If you'd like to follow along with the #Artemis II launch, NASA has a live blog here: www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio... and you can watch the official broadcast on the NASA site here: plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-vi... or on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/live/Tf_UjBM...
nasa.gov
LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates - NASA
Live updates for launch of NASA's Artemis II test flight will be published on this page. NASA’s launch broadcast coverage is airing on NASA+, Amazon Prime,
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
I'm so sorry for your loss Michele ❤️
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
#ArtemisII rollout has begun!!!
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Hooray for #Pandora!! This is a mission led by Elisa Quintana of #NASA-GSFC, one of the most brilliant scientific leaders I know. This small satellite will study nearby #exoplanets at a level of detail we can't do with #JWST because of the high demands for time on JWST.🪐🔭🧪
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
There is so much more in this report. Enjoy reading it here: www.nationalacademies.org/read/28594/c...
nationalacademies.org
Driving progress for the benefit of society by providing independent, objective advice to advance science, engineering, and medicine.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
All three of the above campaigns assume 300+ days on the surface in one location. The final campaign involves three 30-day trips to three different locations.
Illustration of three campaigns in different locations: igneous and impact melt, sedimentary rocks, glaciers
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The third campaign is Seeking Life Beneath the Icy Martian Crust and requires deep drilling to get below the cryosphere in search of life.
Illustration of notional drill rig intended to explore 2-5 km deep beneath the Martian surface
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The second campaign seeks Synergy of Mars Science Measurements. This campaign includes deep drilling, which is a big scientific priority for Mars.
Illustration of a science station on Mars that includes a rover for geologic exploration, a deep drilling platform, a meteorology tower, and a lab.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The first, and preferred campaign is "Mars Science Across and Expanded Exploration Zone." This study does not recommend specific landing sites, but gives guidelines for landing site characteristics. This landing site should have a lot of variety in places to explore within range of the landing site
Map of an idealized landing site on Mars for a 300+ day campaign. The ideal landing site includes a variety of regions to explore.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
There are two objectives that cross boundaries of the science panels: In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and Radiation. These 11 goals defined the four campaigns that are outlined in the study.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
5 objectives focus on humans, plants, and animals from Earth that go to Mars: Impact on Crew, Effect of Mars on Genomes and Reproduction, Understanding Microbes, Martian Dust, and Plants and Animals in an Ecosystem. These are important not only for #Mars but for humans on the #Moon with #Artemis
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Additional objectives related to #Geosciences and #Atmospheres include Mars Geology — Characterize and map the geologic record to reveal Mars’ evolution. Dust Storms — Determine what controls the onset and evolution of the major dust storms that make Mars’ atmosphere so variable.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Also prioritized were: #2 Water and CO2 on Mars: Characterize the planet’s water and CO2 cycles to understand how they may have evolved. This question is important not only for #Astrobiology but also the history of Mars and our solar system. #Geosciences #Atmospheres
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Panels provided ~10 top science questions in our areas. The Steering Committee used this to identify 11 top science objectives overall. The #Search4Life was #1: Determine if evidence can be found on Mars of existing or extinct life, the planet’s habitability, or indigenous prebiotic chemistry.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
It started with four #Science panels that identified the top questions in #Astrobiology, #Geosciences, #Atmospheres and #SpacePhysics, and #BiophysicalSciences. I had the honor of chairing the brilliant team of scientists on the Astrobiology panel www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEP...
nationalacademies.org
A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars: Panel on Astrobiology
As one of four panels that will provide input to the steering committee of
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
This study took two years to complete and was led by the amazing Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the PI of the #NASA #PsycheMission and Dava Newmon of MIT. The task was to identify the highest priority science objectives and define campaigns to achieve them www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEP...
nationalacademies.org
A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars
When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones. These first steps will be the result of decades of research, engineering, and imagination coming together, marking t...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
I'm a day late with this because I was at the National Academies for this briefing. The big takeaway is that the search for life should be the top science priority when we send humans to land on #Mars! 🪐🧪🔭 #Astrobiology www.nationalacademies.org/news/search-...
nationalacademies.org
Search for Life Should Be Top Science Priority for First Human Landing on Mars, Says New Report
When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones, marking the start of a new era of discovery on another planet. A new National Academies report identifies the highes...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Make sure to follow @nationalacademies.org. The briefing will be held at the National Academies Keck Center in Washington D.C. and livestreamed online on December 9, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET). Register at the link above. 🧪🔭🪐 You can read more here: nationalacademies.org/humans-on-mars
nationalacademies.org
A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars
A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars will identify high priority science objectives (in all relevant disciplines) to be addressed by human explorers across multiple science campaigns o...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
🚨🚨Big #PlanetaryScience News🚨🚨 Tomorrow the National Academies will release the report on their study "A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars." I was honored to chair the #Astrobiology Panel for this study. Make sure to watch the briefing!🧪🔭🪐 www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEP...
nationalacademies.org
A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars: Report Release Event
When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones. These first steps will be the result of decades of research, engineering, and imagination coming together, marking t...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Congratulations to Michele!! I first met her when I was a graduate student working on Cassini. She was awe-inspiring then and continues to be now. 🧪🔭🪐
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
#BBCNews - UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years
Prof Michele Dougherty is the first woman to be appointed to the influential post.
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Reposted by Kathleen Mandt, PhD
Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 27/06/2025
Earlier today, a small meteoroid exploded high in the atmosphere over northern Georgia. That explosion was imaged from space by the GOES-19 satellite. Credit: NOAA/CIRA (h/t @cira-csu.bsky.social)
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Would you be able to follow me so I can DM you?
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Thread was broken. Here is the #ASLStream bsky.app/profile/momm...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
And that's it! The most important takeaway I would like everyone to remember is how important robotic space missions are. These spacecraft go where no humans can travel and discover things we can't learn from Earth-based observations #NASA #ESA #PlanetaryScience #Astrobiology 🪐🧪🔭 🧵18/18
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Also, here is the #ASLstream of my talk for those who are interested. #NASA #ESA #PlanetaryScience #Astrobiology 🪐🧪🔭 www.youtube.com/live/VDpyzls...
youtube.com
ASL STREAM-The Origin of Earth's Oceans (Exploring Space Lecture Series)
YouTube video by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Which leads to my team's results that are explained here #PlanetaryScience 🪐🧪🔭 🧵17/x bsky.app/profile/momm...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Another big surprise was how high D/H was. It didn't match the amount of CO and N2 in the comet or other Jupiter Family Comets #PlanetaryScience 🪐🧪🔭 🧵16/x bsky.app/profile/momm...
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Robotic space science missions are also an adventure and are sometimes scary. The spacecraft used star trackers to check its pointing. When the comet was really active we flew too close. Ice-covered dust confused the spacecraft and made it shut down. We had to replan! #PlanetaryScience 🪐🧪🔭 🧵15/x
Image showing what the star trackers saw when the spacecraft was surrounded by ice-covered dust lit up by the Sun. It's impossible to tell which dots are stars and which are dust.
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Kathleen Mandt, PhD @mommascientist.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Robotic space science missions are amazing!!! The second surprise Rosetta provided was to show that the activity is complicated. We expected to see gas sublimating from the surface lifting dust to make a coma but also found jets bursting out of the surface #PlanetaryScience #Astrobiology 🪐🧪🔭🦆 🧵14/x
Three Rosetta camera images taken 7 seconds apart. The middle image shows a jet coming from the nucleus but the jet does not appear in the other two.
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