Elizabeth Howell PhD (she/her) @howellspace@qoto.org

Hello world (and universe)! I'm a #space journalist from #Canada who writes about #spaceflight #rockets #astronomy #StarTrek #NASA and whatever else is trending that day.

I'm a full-time staff writer at Space.com and freelance for numerous other publications. I also teach communications at the post-secondary level.

My favourite stories cover #diversity, #stem and other ways to make our universe a little bit more inclusive. Here's an example:
https://www.space.com/world-space-week-learning-lunchbox-science-kit

In my spare time I enjoy #archaeology #history #libraries #gaming and learning #Latin.

Drop by and say hi!

The #moon is about to host one giant leap in artificial intelligence (#AI). A #Canadian machine learning system will make its way to the moon's surface onboard the United Arab Emirates #Rashid #rover that launched with #spacex Dec. 11.

https://www.space.com/moon-artificial-intelligence-system-first-solar-system #canada #space

A memory shared today for the #NASA Day of Remembrance: The day before the #Challenger launch disaster, senior NASA official James Beggs made an urgent phone call to the agency's chief engineer after seeing icicles on the launch tower.

https://www.space.com/challenger-launch-decision-anniversary-senior-nasa-official #space #columbia #apollo1

Canada just lifted a big barrier for #rocket launches to #space from the nation's soil. The government has given a green light to request orbital launch licenses in Canada, clearing a #spaceport in rural Nova Scotia to not only apply to host its first suborbital mission in 2023, but to strive for a test orbital launch in 2024.

https://www.space.com/canada-orbital-launches-60-years-after-alouette

A #rocket launched by #SpaceX may have left a brief "spiral" visible over Hawaii after it sent a Global Positioning #Satellite (#GPS) into space for the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday.

#space #astronomy #subaru

https://www.space.com/spacex-gps-rocket-launch-spiral-hawaii

You want homefries with those #launch photos?

The #SpaceX #falcon9 rocket livened up the breakfast hour on Wednesday (Jan. 18) with the flawless launch of an advanced #GPS satellite to orbit.

https://www.space.com/spacex-gps-launch-iii-photos-january-2023 #space

A physics student and 'aurora chaser' got a special treat after reserving a cabin in Iceland: A storm surge of green #auroras shimmering in the sky just overhead.

#astronomy #space

https://www.space.com/iceland-green-aurora-bonkers-january-2023

"Down through the airlock with lots of toys, all for the astronauts' #Christmas joys."

This is how #Santa will visit the #ISS. :) #space #nasa #astronaut

https://www.space.com/santa-international-space-station-airlock-holiday

Just ahead of Santa's normal delivery schedule, NASA's #Perseverance mission made a special shipment on #Mars: the first sample return dropoff for the backup depot area.

Read more about this chalk-sized piece of Red Planet history. #space

https://www.space.com/nasa-perservance-rover-mars-sample-first-tube-dropped

#zerog flight for #disability ambassadors shows #space is accessible for all! #astroaccess

https://www.space.com/disability-ambassadors-astroaccess-zero-g-science

The last view of #Earth from #space from NASA's #Artemis1 with ... a quote from #Apollo13 the movie that came to mind after I rewatched the film for the billionth time this weekend. #spacelove

Congrats to everyone involved in the successful splashdown!

https://space.com/nasa-artemis-1-orion-earth-last-view

I love how the #artemis1 #spacecraft casually flew by the #moon yesterday -- taking video of at least two craters you can see in a small #telescope.

#Orion #NASA #space

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-orion-moon-craters-flyby-video

In one of the most incredible #space livestreams I've ever seen in ~20 years of reporting, the #Orion spacecraft captured the #Earth and the #moon from deep space, beyond the equivalent distance of #Apollo13 in 1970.

#Artemis1 #nasa

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-orion-spacecraft-earth-moon-live-view

I'm still not over this video launch pad view of #Artemis1 from the #rocket POV ... lifting off in the darkness, colorful clouds billowing beneath the huge #SLS rocket as it flies to #space. On to the #moon!

#orion #nasa

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-rocket-camera-launch-videos

Any #TheWestWing people or fans on here? :)

About 22 years after the incredible #Thanksgiving #turkeys episode I finally worked in a timely reference in one of my #space stories. (Long live Eric and Troy!)

There's even a #NASA joke. (Not mine.)

https://www.space.com/thanksgiving-turkey-white-house-satellite-photo

#space #potus #biden #bartlet #whitehouse

I dunno what people are watching this weekend ... but I'm sure checking in on the #Artemis1 #Orion casually flying on to the #moon.

Yes, you can track the #spacecraft in real time! And the creatives here on #Mastodon can download the #space data for #STEM or other purposes. :)

I've summarized some of what you can do with the tracking data here: https://www.space.com/artemis-1-orion-tracking-website-moon-journey

#NASA

#Artemis1 is going to produce a lot of science not only about the #moon, but #radiation, #space and even a little bit of help for people living on #Earth.

I recently wrote about 10 passengers and payloads, some flying on the #Orion spacecraft for #STEM purposes and others carrying a wide variety of #science in #space right now.

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-strange-things-moon-mission

#artemis #nasa

Two weeks ago, Canadian #astronaut Dave Williams and I released our latest #book: "Why Am I Taller? What Happens to an Astronaut’s Body in Space."

It's a fun romp through #space and #spacemedicine with a literal space doctor (that would be Dave; I'm a space journalist.) I'd love to see our book appear in more #libraries, so do make a request at your local! Or, if you want a copy, do support your local bookstore. :)

https://ecwpress.com/products/why-am-i-taller-astronauts-body-in-space

#NASA #medicine #Mars #moon #ISS

I got to write about a *literal* flying saucer for work yesterday. https://www.space.com/nasa-inflatable-flying-saucer-mars-heat-shield-reentry-test

Will #LOFTID bring us to #Mars? It's early stage technology but the hope is it will allow for much, much larger payloads than #Curiosity or #Perseverance, perhaps even including human missions.

#TheMartian #NASA #space

Thanks for the warm welcome in the past day, folks! So many interesting people here!

Shorter version of my #introduction (which is pinned to my profile): I'm a #space journalist from #Canada. So far on #Mastodon, I'm focusing on tooting/boosting pretty #astronomy pictures I'm finding here!

I'm lucky to have a full-time job at Space.com. I also freelance space/science articles, teach communications, science and #diversity, and have hobbies (when I can spare the time.)

For those learning Mastodon alongside me, think about all the hard things you've figured out in the past few years. Since 30 I've learned how to #teach, code #Python (a little), do #yoga, follow U.K. ancient #history and #archaeology, and somewhat understand the dynasties on #GoT. :) I didn't even start driving until I was over 25! Good luck!