Stephen C. Smith

@wordsmithfl

Writing about space policy and politics, from the Space Coast of Florida. Now retired after ten years doing public education at Kennedy Space Center. You can also find me on Counter.Social at the same handle, and on Substack at TheSpacePundit.com.

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Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· 22d

#Economy #Florida #SpaceCoast Convenience stores will always be a bit higher, but just wanted to note that the local Circle K has gone over $4.00/gallon.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· 23d

Florida Today 57 years ago this morning.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· 29d

"Mom, was I adopted?"

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Jul 9

#Space ##SpaceCoast #SpaceX Launch and moon.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Jun 13

#Politics #Trump Overnight from AP: Workers started to remove Trump's name from the #KennedyCenter but left around 3:30 AM EDT. They placed tarps around the scaffolding so the public can't see, but a photographer found a gap and got a picture of a letter being removed. apnews.com/article/trum...

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Jun 12

#Politics #Trump This is a lightning map of DC just now, courtesy of Weatherbug. This is most likely why the workers came down from the scaffolding, AKA lightning rods.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Jun 8

#Space #SpaceCoast Smartphone photos of this morning's #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink launch from #CCSFS. If you look closely in the final photo, within the "jellyfish" exhaust plume you can see the upper stage, the returning booster, and the two payload fairings.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Jun 1

#Space #NASA #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn Launch Complex 36, before and after the kaboom. Source: SpaceFromSpace.com, a very cool website.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· May 27

#Space #NASA I popped into the #KSC Space Life Sciences Lab yesterday on personal business. The second photo shows you a list of tenants. There are more than those. SLSL almost folded after W. Bush told NASA to phase out ISS. Obama saved and extended ISS, bringing back SLSL tenants.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· May 20

#Space #NASA A reminder that this event is coming up on Thursday at 8 PM EDT / 5 PM PDT ... The link to register is below. I'm told that 100+ have already registered. I'm planning a special surprise guest as well. Register at the link below. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· May 15

#Space #NASA I love that the #SpaceX #Falcon9 landing site at #CCSFS Launch Complex 40 used to be the admin building parking lot! The F9s used to land down the road at the old L-13 but SpaceX consolidated. I parked there many times while in the admin building.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· May 14

#Space #Moon Good morning from the #SpaceCoast of #Florida.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· May 5

Wernher von Braun outside the LC-5/6 blockhouse pacing while waiting out the hold. It looks pretty much the same today.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 25

#Florida #SpaceCoast We have a new neighbor. Not #Caturday.

A young alligator swimming in a lake. Merritt Island, Florida.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 19

#Space #SpaceCoast This sunrise photo was supposed to have a #NewGlenn launch in it, but #BlueOrigin delayed 40 minutes, so I went cycling. That'll teach 'em.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 14

#Space Just awakened to a #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink launch from #CCSFS.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 11

#Space #NASA #SpaceCoast Photos of this morning's #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch and landing. The final photo is on approach to landing at Launch Complex 40, where it launched eight minutes before.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 7

#Politics #Trump #Iran The White House Zombie Twitter account just posted this image. Conditions an agreement on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 7

#Politics #Trump #Iran #Florida and US gas prices courtesy of AAA.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 4

#Weather #Florida #SpaceCoast Sixty years ago today ... Tornadoes came through Cocoa and Titusville. The Cocoa Tribune is an ancestor of Florida Today.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Apr 1

#Space #NASA #Artemis Amateur smartphone photos of the #Artemis2 launch as seen from north Merritt Island.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 31

#Florida #SpaceCoast Out on a lunch-time drive on SR-3 through central Merritt Island ... Most non-member gas stations seem to have unleaded at $4.299/gallon.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 21

#Economy #Florida gas price averages as of today, per #AAA.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 14

#Politics #Iran #Trump US and #Florida gas prices per AAA.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 13

#Space #NASA #CoSoWriters The book copies I'm contractually owed showed up today. The contract only gave me a few copies. Use the promo code 31DC326 to order at a significant discount ($25 instead of $38) by March 31. floridapress.org/978168340656...

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 6

#Economy #Iran From the AAA Fuel Prices webpage ... Out and about today, I noticed long queues at the discount warehouse gas stations. I think people are starting to panic-buy. Because we drive an electric vehicle, we're unaffected so long as it doesn't affect the power utility's operating costs.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Mar 4

#Space #SpaceX #Starlink #CCSFS A spectacular "jellyfish" launch this morning just before sunrise from Cape Canaveral. These are amateur photos with my smartphone.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Feb 20

#Space #SpaceCoast Still photos of tonight's spectacular #SpaceX #Starlink launch from #CCSFS.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Feb 13

#Politics #Trump #Florida #SpaceCoast This is a Trump roadside stand I spotted last night in Suntree. It's in the parking lot of a pawn shop. The inflatable Trump has a crown on its head. Note the TRUMP 2028 flags. One flag reads, JESUS IS MY SAVIOR, TRUMP IS MY PRESIDENT.

Stephen C. Smith@wordsmithfl· Feb 6

#Politics #Trump #Florida #SpaceCoast Today's proof that the cult is alive and well here in Trumper Central. At the BJ's wholesale club this morning in Merritt Island.