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Eric Berger

@sciguyspace.bsky.social
12K followers 141 following 229 posts

Senior Space Editor, Ars Technica. Likes rockets.

PostsRepliesMedia
Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This is remarkably bad for Blue Origin, and possibly even worse for NASA. arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
arstechnica.com
The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida
New Glenn was due to play a starring role in NASA's Artemis Program.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
NASA just made huge changes to the Artemis Program. arstechnica.com/staff/2026/0...
arstechnica.com
NASA shakes up its Artemis program to speed up lunar return
Launching SLS every three and a half years or so is not a recipe for success."
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
I got a peek at Blue Origin’s new lunar plans. Here’s what I found: arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
arstechnica.com
Why is Bezos trolling Musk on X with turtle pics? Because he has a new Moon plan.
It’s time to go back to the Moon—this time to stay."
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
I went in-depth here on Bridgit Mendler and Northwood Space. There's a lot of bad news out there, but this is one of the most uplifting stories I've reported on in awhile. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
She was a Disney star with platinum records, but Bridgit Mendler gave it up to change the world
“The space industry has a ground bottleneck, and the problem is going to get worse.”…
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Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
NASA to end work in nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion for deep space exploration. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Some parts of Trump’s proposed budget for NASA are literally draconian
“That’s exactly the kind of thing that NASA should be concentrating its resources on.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Major shakeup at NASA's premiere science facility. Effective June 1, Laurie Leshin is resigning as director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Scientists, would you consider the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to be a success? Is the tracking layer upgrade worth it? If you don't want to comment publicly, feel free to message me instead. Not looking for on-the-record quotes.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Did you know that SpaceX asked the FBI to investigate the ULA sniper theory back in 2016? Until last week, I did not. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
SpaceX pushed “sniper” theory with the feds far more than is publicly known
“It came out of nowhere, and it was really violent.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Don Pettit wants to go back to space again. And you know what, he should. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
What’s it like to be 70 years old in space? “All those little aches and pains heal up.”
“When the flight docs say I’m ready to go back, I’m ready to do it.”…
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 21/04/2025
Despite recent comments from the Secretary of Transportation, if Katy Perry wants to call herself an astronaut, there's no one who can tell her she's not.
arstechnica.com
Trump official to Katy Perry and Bezos’ fiancée: “You cannot identify as an astronaut”
It turns out the FAA now takes no role in identifying who is an astronaut.
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Jonathan McDowell @planet4589.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Soyuz MS-26 has begun its return to Earth, undocking from the ISS Rassvet module at about 2157:33 UTC Apr 19 with crewmembers Ovchinin, Vagner and Pettit
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Matt Lanza @mattlanza.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Losing 200 employees to early resignations with no sign of backfilling will be a detriment to public safety nationally.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
This really is an extinction level event for NASA's science programs. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
“This would decimate American leadership in space.”…
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Maria Varmazis @varmaz.is · 02/04/2025
I love love love this shoutout to the Mission Control team from Wilmore here in this great @sciguyspace.bsky.social piece: arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
Wilmore: "Thankfully, these folks are heroes. And please print this. What do heroes look like? Well, heroes put their tank on and they run into a fiery building and pull people out of it. That's a hero. Heroes also sit in their cubicle for decades studying their systems, and knowing their systems front and back. And when there is no time to assess a situation and go and talk to people and ask, 'What do you think?' they know their system so well they come up with a plan on the fly. That is a hero. And there are several of them in Mission Control."
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
You probably won't believe how desperate Starliner's flight to the space station got last summer ... arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
United Launch Alliance gets some great news: Vulcan is officially certified for national security launches.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
What’s going on with Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA? arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Momentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator
“We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA.”…
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Jonathan O'Callaghan @astrojonny.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Hi space people, I'm looking for non-NASA experts to comment on the MAV portion of Mars Sample Return, and why it's so challenging to take off from Mars. If that's you, or you know someone, do get in touch. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com Thanks!
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Sarah Hörst @planetdr.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
NASA started terminating grants :(
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Kevin M. Gill @kevinmgill.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
Sol 1453 (tosol!) WATSON closeups of rock near the Mars Perseverance Rover. White balanced. flic.kr/p/2qTv2F3 flic.kr/p/2qTtR8Q
Rock and sand.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Kevin M. GillRocks and sand.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Kevin M. Gill
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Andrew @nomadd.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Thank you to @sciguyspace.bsky.social for putting words to the “ick” I’ve been feeling about the language around bringing the Starliner astronauts home. arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/can-n…
arstechnica.com
Can NASA remain nonpartisan when basic spaceflight truths are shredded? - Ars Technica
“Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!”…
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Oliver Morton, Eater of Sun @eaterofsun.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
A giant step back for womankind? On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows web.archive.org/web/20250313...
text from https://web.archive.org/web/20250313041133/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/
which reads:
Artemis
With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
You sit on a throne of lies. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Can NASA remain nonpartisan when basic spaceflight truths are shredded?
“Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Then they came for the Brookies ... arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Popular program to promote women becoming aerospace engineers is at risk
“Ten years ago this was embraced by everyone, and seen as a win-win for all.”…
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Jonathan O'Callaghan @astrojonny.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Somewhat ridiculously, Saturn now has 128 new moons, bring its total to 274. These are mostly tiny rocks, a few miles across, that orbit the planet backwards – but they might be evidence of a recent smashup in the planet's orbit. Story by me in The New York Times www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/s...
nytimes.com
Saturn Gains 128 New Moons, Bringing Its Total to 274 (Gift Article)
The objects around the ringed planet are tiny, but some of them may have formed relatively recently in the solar system’s history.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
It has been an uncharacteristically messy start to the year for the world's leading spaceflight company, SpaceX. Why? arstechnica.com/uncategorize...
arstechnica.com
After years of acceleration, has SpaceX finally reached its speed limit?
SpaceX has long had a hard-charging culture. Is it now charging too hard?
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
So long, Solar System. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
White House may seek to slash NASA’s science budget by 50 percent
“It would be nothing short of an extinction-level event for space science.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Albedo is nearing the launch of its first atmosphere-skimming satellite. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
How low can you go? Firm near launch of atmosphere-skimming satellite.
Flying closer to Earth delivers higher-resolution imagery, but there’s a catch.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
"We need an off-ramp for reliance on the SLS.” Quite the turn here from an influential voice in space policy. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Long-time advocate of SLS rocket says it’s time to find an “off-ramp”
“A revised Artemis campaign plan should be a high priority for the new NASA Administrator.”…
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Loren Grush @lorengrush.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Spoke with Pam Melroy, NASA's former deputy administrator, about the claim that the agency was offered an earlier return of Butch and Suni from the International Space Station: “An offer to bring the crew home early, it never came to headquarters." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Ex-NASA Leader Never Heard Musk Offer of Early Astronaut Return
NASA’s top officials never received an offer from Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring home two US astronauts marooned in space earlier than planned, the agency’s former deputy administrator told Bloomberg.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
New NASA appointments. • JSC’s Vanessa Wyche named NASA’s acting Associate Administrator • Jackie Jester named Associate Administrator for Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at HQ • Kathy Koerner to retire, Lori Glaze to replace her as acting associate administrator for ESDM
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
We are going to find a lot more asteroids like 2024 YR4, and that’s a good thing! arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is going to miss Earth, but the story doesn’t end there
“The YR4 episode is just the beginning.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
In a remarkable statement Thursday, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the International Space Station should be deorbited "as soon as possible." Here's what I think this all means. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Elon Musk recommends that the International Space Station be deorbited ASAP
“There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Here's the story with more information on NASA's reprieve from cutting more than 1,000 employees today.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
I am hearing *unconfirmed* discussion that NASA was spared from today's probationary employee cuts at the 11th hour. Working to verify.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
A dark and painful day at a space agency that brings so much light and joy to the world. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
By the end of today, NASA’s workforce will be about 10 percent smaller
A dark and painful day at a space agency that brings so much light and joy to the world.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Humans to Mars is back on the menu for NASA. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
NASA nominee previews his vision for the agency: Mars, hard work, inspiration
Jared Isaacman says NASA should invest a “reasonable amount of resources” in Mars.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 15/02/2025
the single most un-american and anti-constitutional statement ever uttered by an american president
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Blue Mood. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Citing too much “bureaucracy,” Blue Origin to cut 10 percent of its workforce
“We grew and hired incredibly fast in the last few years.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Noctilucent clouds on Mars, as human eyes have never seen them before. Amazing. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Curiosity spies stunning clouds at twilight on Mars
The noctilucent clouds only appear in some locations on Mars, near the equator.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Some news. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Boeing has informed its employees that NASA may cancel SLS contracts
The White House has not made a final decision yet on the large rocket.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Here's the latest twist in the saga of Butch and Suni. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
NASA moves up target to return Butch and Suni, but not for political reasons
NASA can no longer wait on the development of a new Crew Dragon vehicle.
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Jakub Janovsky @rebel44cz.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
I swear, the European aerospace insdustry is (except for Airbus airliners) run by morons and saboteurs... arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Europe has the worst imaginable idea to counter SpaceX’s launch dominance
This plan, if it ever gets off the ground, seems destined to fail.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
This concern was heightened late Friday when Petro announced that a longtime SpaceX employee named Michael Altenhofen had joined the agency "as a senior advisor to the NASA Administrator." arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Concern about SpaceX influence at NASA grows with new appointee
Morale at the space agency is absurdly low, sources say.
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Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
I went to post about the National Japanese American Memorial in D.C., which is beautiful but usually missed by tourists. It is a deeply staggering admission of guilt and a warning to future Americans. I went to link to the inscriptions and- Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...
stone text inlay: HERE WE ADMIT A WRONG
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Jon Ostrower @jonostrower.com · 30/01/2025
CNN carrying FAA statement just now that confirms the collision of a CRJ and a Black Hawk helicopter near DCA tonight.
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Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
BREAKING: a plane has gone down in the Potomac on approach to Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. Reports that it collided with a helicopter.
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
WTF, man. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
Why did Elon Musk just say Trump wants to bring two stranded astronauts home?
“We will do so.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Blue Origin has roared into orbit, finally. So what's next for the company everyone wants to see emerge as a viable competitor to SpaceX? arstechnica.com/features/202...
arstechnica.com
With successful New Glenn flight, Blue Origin may finally be turning the corner
“This is the very beginning of the Space Age.”…
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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Don Pettit is a national treasure. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
arstechnica.com
A NASA astronaut may have just taken the best photo from space—ever
During his third stay in orbit, Pettit is absolutely killing it.
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