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Returning from New Zealand to Strasbourg to cover

Returning from New Zealand to Strasbourg to cover space stories. Here’s my layover at Singapore.

NEW ZEALAND SPACE STORIES: SOFIA is a #space sci

NEW ZEALAND SPACE STORIES: SOFIA is a #space science mission that has been running for over 12years, an airplane that has been observing our Universe with its infra-red telescope onboard and series of 5 instruments. It’s a mission jointly run by NASA and German Space Agency, DLR.
When based at NASA Armstrong in California, the plane flies at night to gather data. But thanks to the mobility of this telescope, it can also travel to other locations.
At least once a year, SOFIA completes deployments to New Zealand and other Southern Hemisphere locations. This region of our night skies are of particular interest to the International science teams involved.
Christchurch has become a big part of the annual schedule for the telescope. All the locals know about SOFIA, they’revery proud that this fascinating airplane and the teams of scientists and engineers spend time stationed at the International Antarctic Centre.
Over the years SOFIA’s unique far infra-red telescope has provided unique data about our cosmos. It is the only telescope observing the skies at this wavelength of light & their data should compliment the near and mid infra-red James Webb Space telescope data very well. All these telescopes creating together a mosaic image revealing the story of our place in the Universe.
Sadly, this NASA/DLR joint mission ends in September, ending 12 years of expertise and skill in operating and utilising this unique mobile space telescope. Today the plane returns to base at NASA Armstrong, California.
I was delighted to spend time with the teams for their very last deployment here at Christchurch. It’s been fascinating getting to know more about the science & engineering of running the telescope out of an airplane.
I made one last visit yesterday to the SOFIA base. It was very quiet, the offices and hangar are now practically empty, everyone’s making their way back home.
Safe travels home SOFIA. See you in California for one final farewell. Thanks to all the SOFIA teams for their support (especially David) and making my job all the easier.
More SOFIA space stories to follow.
Third image below is courtesy of
Bernhard Schulz, German SOFIA Institute, DSI

I can't wrap my head around the fact that #DreamBi

I can't wrap my head around the fact that #DreamBig: An Irish Woman’s Space Odyssey is over 2 years old already!
You can check out an excerpt
[Linktree in bio] and I am currently recording the audiobook format, more details of that soon.
#DreamBig @mercierpressbooks
#Books #Inspiration #Science #Space #FollowYourDreams #PersonalAnecdotes #ImpossibleDreams #ScienceReporter #SpaceArtist #Astronaut #Art #ScienceReporter #SpaceArtist #SpaceExploration #STEAM #Universe #Astronomy #galaxy #stars #cosmos #astrophotography #earth #nature #physics #astrophysics #planets #spaceart #NASA #SpaceMissions #EuropeanSpaceAgency

Three days from Strasbourg to Christchurch New Zea

Three days from Strasbourg to Christchurch New Zealand.
Sunday July 31st 00:30 am
I’ve arrived in Christchurch to cover the NASA/DLR science mission, SOFIA.
Here’s how I got there, more reels about my New Zealand adventures to follow!
#earth #palebluedot #newzealand #spaceinsociety #sofiatelescope

Strasbourg, Thursday July 28th 5.25am Hello ever

Strasbourg, Thursday July 28th 5.25am
Hello everyone! About to head to New Zealand to write about @nasa/ @germanaerospacecenter SOFIA telescope mission, the airborne observatory that’s been capturing images of our Universe with infra-red light for over 12 years. The mission is coming to an end & sadly it’s last ever deployment is currently wrapping up in Christchurch. This is my last chance to catch the human story of this mission, meet and chat with some of the team & also Christchurch locals. An homage if you will, to a very unique mission. Plus David is working on it & it’s a chance for us to catch up too!
Other space activities may also be happening, (more on that later) and thanks to those spacepals across the globe for connecting me.
Packing very light to allow me move between countries more easily. So it’s just me my camera,a small bag & a thirst to keep sharing awesome #space stories.
#spaceadventures #earth #palebluedot #dreambig #embracefailure #spacestories #spaceinsociety #france

I looked up the definition of 'failure' in a dicti

I looked up the definition of 'failure' in a dictionary once, and it read 'The absence of success'.
It made me realise that failure and success are the same, except on different ends of a scale. The scale between failure & success has a delicate balance.
We have to juggle so many different aspects that shape our perception of what success really is for each of us. Embrace failure, its an integral part of succeeding!
Its important to really think about what success means to you. And allow yourself fail on that journey to success.
That's what I talked about at #TEDxUCD 2014: Let's start successfully failing
[Linktree in bio]
@tedx_official #Inspiration #Space #Science #Talk #Astronaut #ScienceReporter #SpaceArtist #SpaceExploration #STEAM #Universe #Astronomy #galaxy #stars #spacex #cosmos #astrophotography #earth #nature #sky #physics #astrophysics #planets #spaceart #spaceship #NASA #SpaceMissions #EuropeanSpaceAgency

Happy Friday from Space Studies Programme Portugal

Happy Friday from Space Studies Programme Portugal.
So this is how things go down here: At lunch today it was my second time to observe the sun through a solar telescope this week. The science department kindly set it up for everyone, taking advantage of the beautiful clear skies here in Oeiras.
Observing the sun through this telescope, you see it as a big red object, and can distinctly see sunspots and activity on its surface. I caught 3 sunspots from the eyepiece today. Take a look at the picture below, taken by my phone. Incredible!
It’s my last few days here, I head back to Strasbourg on Monday to @spaceuniversity campus and my lovely European office & then onwards to New Zealand. For the next space adventure.
But that’s for another day. Lets bask today in this great picture of the sun.
Where else do you grab a look at the sun over lunch than at SSP22? Thanks again Hugh & Scott (Co-chairs of the Science department) for setting up the telescope. Much appreciated.
#earth #palebluedot #sun #solarflares #sunspots #oeiras #ssp22 #friday #love #portugal #space #spaceinsociety #summerofspace

Thursday July 21st 2022, Space Studies Programme

Thursday July 21st 2022, Space Studies Programme
It was the last day of Core lectures yesterday at International Space University ISU
Space studies program ending 7 months of work as Core chair of bi-weekly meetings,rolling out 46 lectures from the worlds finest global communicators of #space in science, engineering, humanities, law, business, and medical fields.
The participants have an exam this morning & then it is done.
It’s been a blast hanging out with my fellow Co-chairs Jim Green & Mike Simpson in that time & all the team that make SSP a reality.
Wishing every good wish to all the participants this morning and that they continue to excel for the remainder of the programme. I may be back…. but that’s for another day.
Go team!!
#earth #palrbluedot #ssp #exams #Portugal #space #dreambig #ssp22

July 12th Webb First Images Boom! Third, 4th & 5t

July 12th Webb First Images
Boom! Third, 4th & 5th images from James Webb Telescope just released.
IMAGE 3: SOUTHERN RING STAR DEATH 2 versions- images from near-infra red & mid-infra red, revealing differing features of this stunning dying star. See the side on view of the galaxy in the 3rd pic? Mind blown!!
Image 4: STEPHAN’S QUINTET: Shared live from ESA ESOC in Darmstaft- STUNNING! 5 galaxies locked together - a near infra red & mid infra-red image combined. It’s a 3D image going from our Milky Way all the way through to galaxies 13 billion years ago.
The next image of the quintet strips out some of data to show the stars in some of Thurs galaxies. The top Galaxy reveals a black hole at its centre.
IMAGE 5:
Carina Nebula 7600 light years away from our own galaxy the Milky Way! A stellar nursery, new data showing depth & texture of new born stars. Infra red telescope of JWST can see deeper into these images, giving a sense of depth the the image.
This is just the beginning- just one week of images! From now on we’ll be receiving this vast amount of data EVERY week!! EVERY WEEK!! Mind blown!!
Imagery credit : NASA/ ESA/ CSA
#jwst #ourplaceinspace #spaceinsociety #jameswebbspacetelescope #earth #palebluedot

Tuesday July 12th 2022 Today at @spaceuniversity

Tuesday July 12th 2022
Today at @spaceuniversity
core lecture series, @blueorigin VP of Advanced Dev Prog, Brent Sherwood is delivering his lecture on Space Architecture. How do we design for humans in space, how can we protect them from the hazards and harsh environments of space? How do we design for a future not yet here?
Later, the world will hear about 4 new images from @esawebb @nasawebb @canadianspaceagency James Webb Space Telescope. Last nights image was already enlightening.
In the image shared from last night
we’re looking at the earliest stars and galaxies ever formed,
over 4 billions of years ago.
We’re looking at the past.
Our past.
I’m reflecting on our future.
And also on our past.
To gain a better appreciation on how to live better in our present.
It’s a great day.
#architecture #jwst #design #spaceinsociety #earth #palebluedot #jameswebbspacetelescope #esa #nasa #jameswebb #portugal #love #space

This is the first image from the James Webb telesc

This is the first image from the James Webb telescope that released last night.
Four more images will be released today from 3.30pm
We’re looking at the earliest stars and galaxies ever formed, billions of years ago.
We’re looking at the past
Our past.
Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA 2022
#earth #palebluedot #jwst #galaxies #humans

TONIGHT 8.30pm in Space University YouTube channel

TONIGHT 8.30pm in Space University YouTube channel: STEM Education/ Outreach in Space event
I’ve been working with the Rodzinyak family for the last 3 months to host an event commemorating our dear space pal, Kenn Rodzinyak who left us far too soon last November.
Kenn was as passionate as I am about igniting people’s curiosity & using space as a valuable platform for doing that.
Tonight’s event is part of ISU’s space studies programme suite of evening events and sponsored by Kenn’s colleagues in the Canadian military space sector. Kenn gave a lot to his community in Canada to promote space so it’s lovely to honour him tonight with a conversation which I’m sure he’d have a lot to contribute to!
So we’ll be speaking with educators, scientists, space archaeologists & space industry specialists on what we have done well in promoting STEM education and what we can do better.
I’m delighted to host a hybrid panel of specialists to discuss this with me: Alice Gorman Kristyn Rodzinyak Charity Weeden & James Green. Introduced by Kenn’s former work colleague and sponsor of the event Jim Krill.
Join us from 8.30pm Irish time/3.30pm Canada on the ISU You tube channel - QR code has the direct link.
https://youtu.be/J_P1narG98c
#education #events #canada #space #STEM #earth #palebluedot #ssp22 #outreach #Portugal #ireland #canada

LISBON: Day trip to Oceanario, Sunday July 10th

LISBON: Day trip to Oceanario, Sunday July 10th
It’s a day of rest and time to check out a little bit of Lisbon. We visited a zero Carbon sustainability conference at Ciencia Viva and the stunning Oceanarium right beside it.
The ocean makes up 90% of our planets biomass. And 97% of the water on our planet is made up from our oceans. So many beautiful creatures rely on us to take care of this abundant but endangered resource.
#earth #palebluedot #ocean #planetearth #sustainability #sundayfunday #love #portugal #lisbon #oceanarium #aquarium

SUNDAY at SPACE STUDIES PROGRAMME SSP22 Lisbon Po

SUNDAY at SPACE STUDIES PROGRAMME SSP22
Lisbon Portugal
It’s a day of rest and time to check out a little bit of Lisbon. We visited a zero Carbon sustainability conference at Ciencia Viva and the stunning Oceanarium right next door.
The ocean makes up 90% of our planets biomass. And 97% of the water on our planet is made up from our oceans. So many beautiful creatures rely on us to take care of this abundant but endangered resource.
Space even had its place in the exhibition: Carl Sagan’s #PaleBlueDot speech was playing in one central section, to remind us of our place in spaceship Earth and our shared responsibility to make better #sustainable choices as humans.
Engaging, informative & climate conscious.
In other news: 2 more sleeps til the long anticipated James Webb Space Telescope NEW images release announcement! What wonders will we be treated to? Live broadcasts from @esawebb & @nasawebb Tues July 12th at 3.20pm IRISH time.
#earth #palebluedot #ocean #planetearth #sustainability #sundayfunday #love #portugal #lisbon #oceanarium #aquarium #jameswebbspacetelescope #space

SPACE STUDIES PROGRAM 2022, Oeiras Portugal Firs

SPACE STUDIES PROGRAM 2022, Oeiras Portugal
First evening walk along the beach tonight in terrific company. Wonderful.
#earth #palebluedot #spaceinsociety #oeiras #saturday #love #portugal #ireland #ssp22 #space #dreambig

Join me after 11am on @rte2fm, chatting with the a

Join me after 11am on @rte2fm, chatting with the awesome @jenzamparelli about @spacex, returning to the #moon & onwards to #mars & why the first images from @jameswebb_nasa telescope coming out next week is so exciting for all us #space nerds!
#earth #palebluedot #spaceinsociety #2fm #rte #radio #letstalkspace #niamhspacenews

The latest edition of ‘Niamh’s Space News’ i

The latest edition of ‘Niamh’s Space News’ is out!
Check it out on www.niamhshaw.ie/my-blogs/
#earth #palebluedot #thoughtsbecomethings #meetyourheroes #dreambig #spaceinspires #love #mondaymotivation

To all my US friends, Happy 4th of July! In the

To all my US friends, Happy 4th of July!
In the last year, as we crawled out of lockdown, I’ve been fortunate to visit some truly inspirational places and people. The US continues to become a bigger part of my life, mostly thanks to David (& the growing space sector).
Have a great day wherever you are!
#earth #palebluedot #july4th #4thofjuly #america #usa #spaceinsociety #space

This was my June! Have a super summer of #space C

This was my June! Have a super summer of #space
Check out my latest Newsletter about the event with @colchrishadfield at @ucdfestival on my website.
More updates from @spaceuniversity to follow!
#earth #palebluedot #ssp22 #summerofspace #ireland #june #love #spaceinsociety

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